I love this song for its message, which is simple but is not so simple. It is the basic reason Jesus came to the earth. It was literally to save us from sin and to enable us live our lives for His glory. The story of even needing salvation in the first place is not such a long one actually. So lets’ circle back.
Mercy starts raspy against the piano playing softly on this Ballad fit for a musical. She then becomes soft, along with the backups and slightly soft digital trumpet. Her voice becomes slightly animated as the digital instrumentation does a pizzicato number. It’s almost like a whole orchestra comes in at ‘Oh, what a father I have in you’, immediately giving me the imagery of the whole of Heaven’s Armies coming to your rescue when you choose God over anyone else. I love how she spontaneously recites God’s lovely names in Igbo, as the proud badges He owns, especially ‘Onyekwaranta’ and ‘Ekueme’. This is the most classical piece on this album, and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the juxtaposition of igbo and classical music.
‘Lavish’, a country piece sung on D major is indeed the best saved for last, like a gentle slow walk march past. The violins, the guitars and the calm drums are so soothing.
Canadian born singer, Avril Lavigne, released a gospel track recently called ‘Head Above Water’, where she bared her soul on her struggle with Lyme disease…when she felt like she was going to die, and so this song came out of that experience. She literally needed God to keep her alive. My heart went out to her… Let’s talk about healing and confessions.
The intro, like wine pouring into a glass, coupled with the amazing beat makes the song pop…Zeal is pure RNB on this simple rendition on B flat, reminding me of Samsong.
I think my ultimate favourite moment is when Obiwon and Glowreeyah sing in harmonies the line, ‘Search all over the earth’ ad libitum as the choir chant ‘Holy Spirit’…Obiwon pulls the bridge an octave higher in the quintessential rock style…Glowreeyah sings her verse staccato, adding more smack and smoke to the piece!
This video evokes fitness vibes and would be the perfect work out song, sung on the scale of F# major with a cool techno beat and a variety of keyboard sounds. It’s all in set with different scenes with some house of macro effects of rain, lightning and the like. Riley Clemmons wears sporty outfits and headphones, and is either running, dancing or meditating in different scenes.
This song kept playing in my heart all by itself. I had heard it in church a few times, and I reckoned it’d be Travis Greene or Ty Tribett. But unbeknownst to me, it was a heartfelt Nigerian voice, Folabi Nuel.
I love how Taya slurs the word ‘touch’ when she sings ‘I touch the sky when my knees hit the ground’, in proper r&b style, and her vocals take on a more dramatic quality as the song climaxes.
One thing I absolutely love about Meredith Andrews is that she shows vulnerability. Her lyrics always show a total reliance on God, with none on herself…
