Once upon a time, in a small village nestled between the mountains, there was a beautiful flower that bloomed only once every hundred years. The villagers called it "the Flower of Destiny" as they believed it held a magical power. Legend had it that anyone who plucked this flower and made a wish would have their deepest desire granted. However, there was a curse attached to this flower. The curse dated back to ancient times when a young woman named Isabella fell in love with a prince. In her desperation to make him fall in love with her, she plucked the Flower of Destiny and made a wish to be with him forever.
**Pressing Note**
Variant 2: Stamped "O" in runout indicates LP's pressed at Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Jacksonville.
I love Christmas, it is the best time of the year for many reasons, said Reilly, noting it was 90 degrees outside when the songs were coming together in the music studio. WESTFIELD-Singer and songwriter Dee Reilly loves Christmas so it s not a surprise that her latest album, The Magic of Christmas, captures the essence of the holiday season.
In her desperation to make him fall in love with her, she plucked the Flower of Destiny and made a wish to be with him forever. Little did she know that the flower's magic came at a great cost. As Isabella and the prince began their life together, their happiness was short-lived.
Reilly captures the ‘magic’ of Christmas on new album
WESTFIELD-Singer and songwriter Dee Reilly “loves Christmas” so it’s not a surprise that her latest album, “The Magic of Christmas,” captures the essence of the holiday season.
“This is my first Christmas album and I did all of the Christmas classics,” said Reilly who resides in the city. “My whole goal was to perform the songs I remember growing up.”
The 12-track album includes “Winter Wonderland,” “White Christmas,” “Silent Night,” and a medley of three songs, “There’s No Place Like Home For The Holidays,” “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” and “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow.”
Westfield resident Dee Reilly has just released her latest album “The Magic of Christmas.” (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
While Reilly was born in Holyoke, her family moved to Westfield when she was around age 10. She attended local schools and graduated from Westfield High School in 1987. Her family owned Erin’s Own Irish Imports and Erin World Travel in the downtown area.
Reilly noted that growing up, she was surrounded by the music of her family’s Irish roots, as well as their love for country music.
“I grew up in a house full of music,” said Reilly, adding she also performed with her stepfather, Leo Doherty, in his show band during her early years.
“I also have fond memories of performing with the Westfield High School Concert Choir,” she said.
Her big break came when a cousin encouraged her to audition at the Berklee College of Music in Boston for talent scouts from the Opryland Show Park in Nashville, Tenn.
“I had never auditioned for anything like that,” said Reilly. “I did the audition and they picked me out of thousands of people for the Country Music USA show. It turned out to be one of the best things career-wise that ever happened to me.”
After three seasons performing at the show park which began in 1989, Reilly started writing music, performing and discovered her calling – for both Irish and country music. She spent close to 25 years living in Nashville and also traveled the world – sharing her love of music from Ireland to Australia.
Singer and songwriter Dee Reilly is seen in the vocal booth at Hilltop Studio in Nashville, Tenn., earlier this year. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Since Reilly had always wanted to record her own Christmas album, she connected with producer Buddy Hyatt in Nashville to make her dream a reality this past summer.
Singer and songwriter Dee Reilly is seen with her album producer, Buddy Hyatt, at his studio in Hendersonville, Tenn., earlier this year. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
“I love Christmas, it is the best time of the year for many reasons,” said Reilly, noting it was 90 degrees outside when the songs were coming together in the music studio.
“Watching this album come to life is a lot of work and also a labor of love for me,” she said.
While the album features 12 classic Christmas songs, Reilly admits it was difficult to narrow down the list.
“Buddy has a heart for the music and it is an honor to work with him,” said Reilly. “He is one of the great respected producers in Nashville and we go back close to 30 years.”
Reilly noted that Hyatt put together the “A Team” of Nashville players to work with Reilly on her endeavor.
“I was fortunate to have the top of the top, so much incredible talent, on this album,” she said, adding, “I was blown away with the arrangements.”
Dee Reilly, on left, collaborates on several harmony parts with her background singers Marsha Thornton and Michael Lusk for her latest album, “The Magic of Christmas.” (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
For area residents interested in more information about Reilly and all of her album offerings, visit www.deereilly.com.
For persons who would like to make arrangements to pick up a copy of “The Magic of Christmas” from Reilly, send her an email to [email protected] .
“Christmas makes people very happy and they want to share joy,” said Reilly, adding, “My heart feels good to have accomplished this Christmas record this year.”
It seemed that the flower's curse had taken root in their lives. They faced one tragedy after another – their kingdom was plagued by droughts, their crops failed, and their people suffered. It became clear that every happiness that came their way was always followed by a devastating loss. Word of this curse spread throughout the land, and people became wary of the flower's enchantment. They feared that their wishes would come true but at a terrible price. Generations passed, and the Flower of Destiny became a symbol of caution and warning, rather than hope and desire. Despite the curse, there were always brave souls who dared to chase their dreams. They would venture into the mountains to find the rare flower and make their wish, hoping to escape the fate of Isabella and the prince. Some made selfish wishes for material wealth and power, while others wished for love and happiness. But no matter how noble or selfless their wish, the curse always exacted its toll. Those who wished for wealth found themselves bankrupt, those who wished for power became tyrants, and those who wished for love were left heartbroken. The flower had a way of twisting their desires, turning their dreams into nightmares. Yet, the allure of the Flower of Destiny remained strong. It continued to captivate the hearts and minds of the villagers, who couldn't resist its seductive power. They were willing to risk everything for a chance at their deepest desires, even if it meant facing the curse head-on. The curse of the flower served as a reminder that true happiness cannot be attained through shortcuts or magical interventions. It highlighted the importance of accepting life's trials and tribulations, and finding contentment in the present moment. As the villagers learned the hard way, sometimes the pursuit of our desires can come with dire consequences. In the end, the curse of the flower was a cautionary tale that taught the villagers to be careful what they wished for. It showed them that true fulfillment lies not in the fulfillment of their desires but in the journey itself. They learned to appreciate the beauty of life's unpredictability, for it is the challenges and setbacks that shape us into who we are meant to be. The Flower of Destiny may have held a curse, but it also held a valuable lesson – that sometimes, the greatest treasures are found in the trials we face..
Reviews for "The Cursed Beauty: The Fallacy of the Flower"
1. John - 2 stars
I found "Curse of the Flower" to be extremely boring and slow-paced. The plot lacked any excitement or suspense, and the characters were one-dimensional and quite unrelatable. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult for me to engage with the story. Overall, I was disappointed with the film's lack of originality and its failure to capture my attention.
2. Amanda - 1 star
"Curse of the Flower" was an absolute snooze-fest. The storyline was so predictable and formulaic that I could predict each plot twist and turn within minutes of the film starting. The acting was subpar, with the cast delivering their lines with no emotion or conviction. The whole movie felt like a waste of time, and I cannot understand the hype surrounding it.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
I had high expectations for "Curse of the Flower," but it fell flat for me. The pacing was uneven, with some scenes dragging on for far too long, while others were rushed and confusing. The cinematography was uninspiring, and the visual effects felt cheap and dated. The story itself had potential, but the execution was lackluster, leaving me feeling underwhelmed and uninterested.
4. Michael - 3 stars
While I didn't dislike "Curse of the Flower" completely, it failed to leave a lasting impression on me. The plot was convoluted and difficult to follow, and the characters lacked depth and development. The film had a certain charm and visually pleasing moments, but it was not enough to redeem its flaws. Overall, it was a forgettable cinematic experience.