By Megan King

Not many female vocalists can boast a career so impressive and large quite like Cher. Her power ballads and up-tempo tracks have been a staple on top 40 and adult contemporary radio stations for over four decades. Like other notable one-name pop singers, Cher has reinvented herself year after year to stay with the times. As a result, she has gained the adoration of multiple generations of new fans. Her Very Best of Cher album displays this enormous career.

Cher starts off her Very Best of CD with her 1998 smash hit, “Believe.” Infusing dance and techno beats together to create a new Cher sound, this diva shows that even in her sixties, she still has what it takes to produce number one hits. The same fresh sound is also found on the ninth track, “Strong Enough” and the Rodney Jerkins-produced song “A Different Kind Of Love Song.”

Early 90s chart-toppers like “Just Like Jesse James” and “If I Could Turn Back Time” (written by pop song queen, Diane Warren) are essential to this compellation. Her remake of the classic “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss)” definitely lives up to the original, showing that Cher’s musical talent can deliver those timeless 50’s standards in a new and fresh way. “After All,” her famous duet with Peter Cetera can be found on the album as well, a classic example of the pop ballads that Cher is most known for. Her 70s disco sound is represented in such notable songs as “Take Me Home,” “Dark Lady,” and “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves.” Also, not to overlook the Sonny and Cher days, she includes such unforgettable tunes as “The Beat Goes On” and the extremely catchy “I Got You Babe.”

This 21-track compilation is a fitting representation of Cher’s outstanding 40-year career in the musical spotlight. Even in her sixties, Cher’s unique style and distinctive voice continue to be a dominating force in popular culture throughout the world.