Columbia Records
Release Date: November 10th 2023
Reviewed by: Joshua Andre
Alana Springsteen– Christmas Comes In Waves (Single) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- Christmas Comes In Waves
Ever since 2019 and our ever-on-going blog series (which we’re still in the middle of- I assure you, despite our lengthy 1 year absence so far!), I’ve been branching out and listening to music that I wouldn’t normally in the past. And I’ve found that ‘mainstream’ music, which was marketed to me as ‘bad’ and ‘evil’, actually isn’t. These people who are singing songs for the mainstream media, are just people, and ordinary people like you and me. They’re going through life, writing honest music from the heart, from their perspective and their point of view. What other thing is there for these ordinary people to do, than write and sing honestly? Anyway, I’ve since determined that country music is the genre (apart from CCM), which I have been most hard-hit by in a good away, and I’ve found that I’ve resonated greatly with artists like Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Thomas Rhett, Shania Twain, Lindsay Ell, Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Runaway June, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, Lady A, Tenille Townes, Tenille Arts, Maddie & Tae, Mickey Guyton, Walker Hayes, Carly Pearce, Lauren Alaina, Gabby Barrett and even Taylor Swift. Even though I’m not American, it is these artists above (and plenty, plenty more!), who have helped place this genre in a special place in my heart. And as we’ve reviewed country albums over the years and seem God move in ways beyond imagination and comprehension with these artists, and as we’ve seen God be praised and given the glory in the marketplace; here we are in 2023 with another ‘new-ish’ artist and her heartfelt, honest, inspiring, vulnerable, and poignant music. Alana Springsteen (no relation to Bruce! Go figure… do we really believe they’re not related somehow? Is Bruce a long-lost uncle or something like that?), has released her brand-new debut full length album, titled TWENTY SOMETHING in August 2023. And boy, let me tell you, Alana’s release in super deep and meaningful, and inspiring to the max as well. We reviewed the impressive 18-track debut album here, and now Alana recently released the deluxe edition debut album with 3 extra tracks.
And now that we have reviewed that album also, let’s briefly touch upon Alana’s Christmas single “Christmas Comes In Waves”. I mean, we’re still in the Christmas spirit, we’re technically in the period of ’12 days after Christmas’. But while we expect a song about snow and winter and a northern hemisphere type of cold Christmas, Alana flips the script and sings about Christmas on the beach and by the ocean and sunbathing with a tan. It’s a song that is synonymous with Christmas in Australia or New Zealand; but Alana reminds us just how universal Christmas is; and that however you want to express that celebration of one of the most important holidays ever, each and every way is more than ok. in fact, they’re all valid, they’re all beautiful and they’re all important. A white Christmas and a Summer-y Christmas are equally as profound and inspiring, because each in their own way point us to Jesus. And each are indicative of the country or city you’re living in at the moment. Alana sings about Christmas in the sand and on the beach because it matters to her; and that’s all that matters in the end.
I’ve mentioned this again and again- I’m a single white male, so Alana Springsteen’s music shouldn’t resonate with me that much. But it does! Who would’ve thought. But anyway, Alana’s vocals are crazy awesome, and you all need to listen to this debut album so that you can get into the mind of a 20-something year old and into the mind of someone from this generation. TWENTY SOMETHING (Deluxe) reminds us that it’s ok to fail at things when you are young (or at any age, actually!), because you can then get back up and start again. Alana has a brilliant career ahead of her, and I can’t wait to hear what is next. Oh, and “Christmas Comes In Waves” is pretty cool as well! Well done, Alana, you deserve all the praise and then some more!
Score: 4/5
RIYL: Lindsay Ell, Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Runaway June, Little Big Town