Word Label Group
Release Date: March 15th 2019 [Maybe It’s Ok (Strings Mix)] / May 3rd 2019 [Maybe It’s Ok (Neon Feather Remix) (feat. Steven Malcolm)] / May 31st 2019 [Maybe It’s Ok (Chill Mix)]
Reviewed by: Jonathan Andre
We Are Messengers – Maybe It’s OK (Strings Mix) (Amazon mp3/iTunes) / Maybe It’s OK (Neon Feather Remix) (feat. Steven Malcolm) (Amazon mp3/iTunes) / Maybe It’s OK (Chill Mix) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- Maybe It’s OK (Strings Mix)
- Maybe It’s OK (Neon Feather Remix) (feat. Steven Malcolm)
- Maybe It’s OK (Chill Mix)
We are Messengers are a band that are the unassuming type- no grandiose presence on social media, no song that charts real high on the Billboard charts, basically a band that has been ‘there’ since their inception in 2016, and their self titled album that brought with it songs like ‘Point to You’, ‘Magnify’ and ‘Everything Comes Alive’. Fast forward to 2019, and Darren Mulligan, the lead singer, and the band, have unveiled to us a follow-up EP titled Honest, featuring hit single ‘Maybe It’s Ok’. The song blew up so much in popularity since it’s release digitally in 2018, that here in 2019, we see three renditions of the songs in it’s entirety- a string version of ‘Maybe It’s Ok’, a remix rendition by Neon Feather, featuring rapper Steven Malcolm, alongside an electronic ‘Chill Mix’ version, all delvieirng the same powerful truth, but choreographed and staged in various different ways.
‘…I believe that God works all things together for the good of those that love Him. But I can’t escape the fact that we’re hurting, anxious, disappointed, and afraid. This song is my surrender. By admitting that I need God to put everything right. I find that Jesus is with me in the heartache holding onto me and leading through the tough times. Everything sad is being undone. But it’s going to take a little time. Getting well is a messy business. So, take it easy on yourself. God has taken every mistake, every hurt, and make it something really beautiful. I’m in the reality of where I am right here, right now, and I’m trusting in Jesus. I’ve realized, maybe it’s okay, even when I’m not okay…’ It is in light of this quote that I can safely say that there’s nothing much more to say about ‘Maybe It’s Ok’, aside from the fact that it is one of my favourite songs of 2019 thus far. It is heartfelt, poingnant and emotive, and really gets to the heart of what everyone wants to know- are we truly ok with being not ok?
Is our obsession to be ‘perfect’ so that God can love us a tiny bit more, overriding the freedom that comes from surrendering to God and being allowed to struggle to be ok, in that freedom? I think so- we are all so focused on trying to ‘be’ better that more times than not, we try to do so in our own strength. When really, all we really need to do is to just be, just come to Christ as we are and acknowledge that yes, we’re not ok, and maybe we’ll never be fully ok, in the area in question. But to be humble enough to even admit that to the Lord takes courage and faith, takes humility and a sense of the love of God over us that we know that we’re unconditionally loved regardless. This is what the song is about, and I am thankful for Darren and co. for creating what I reckon is one of the most liberating and life-giving songs I’ve heard in 2018, even as emotional as Cory Asbury’s ‘Reckless Love’ or Lauren Daigle’s ‘You Say’. And so here we are with 3 renditions of the song- I mean, there’s nothing that beats the original, but for me, the remix version comes close. Personally I felt the strings were too much in the foreground in the string mix of the song, while for the chill rendition, I was waiting and waiting for some climax to come…but it never did. Regardless, the song itself and the versatility of Darren as a songwriter, makes these single renditions a rank of 4.5/5, which by my standards is very good. Well done Darren for such a God-given song, can’t wait to see it change more lives both now and into the future!
Score: 4.5/5
RIYL: Rend Collective, Delirious?, Tenth Avenue North, Casting Crowns