Provident Label Group
Release Date: May 6th 2016
Reviewed by: Jonathan Andre
Danny Gokey– Tell Your Heart to Beat Again EP (iTunes/Amazon mp3)
Track Listing:
- Tell Your Heart to Beat Again
- Tell Your Heart to Beat Again (Spanglish Version)
- Que Tu Corazon Vuelva a Latir
- Tell Your Heart to Beat Again (Remix)
- Tell Your Heart to Beat Again (Accompaniment Track)
Over the last few years, Danny Gokey and his songs have become one of CCM’s most underrated, and since his breakout CCM album Hope in Front of Me that released in the middle of 2014, Danny has been delivering hit after hit after hit, from songs like “Hope in Front of Me”, “More Than You Think I Am” and the promotional hit “Love Will Take You Places”. American Idol finalist, and quite possibly one of the most underrated vocalists of this generation (across both Christian and mainstream music genres); Danny’s story of how he lost his first wife Sophia just mere weeks before his American Idol audition, and his resolve to continue on his journey towards hope and encouragement, has touched many listeners of his music, so much so that his new single, “Tell Your Heart To Beat Again”, has become one of Danny’s most popular songs, ever.
While the song was a cover from the Phillips, Craig and Dean worship hit that was recorded initially in 2012, it is Danny’s version, with a few re-worked lyrics, that has become a mega-hit over the globe. And I’m sure when Danny sings the song, he himself is reminded of how far he has come, from his American Idol audition to CCM success all these years later. With a vocal similarity that of Matthew West or fellow American Idol alum Phil Stacey; this 3rdplace finalist in the 8th season of the reality program has crafted a poignant and powerful song, to the point of this EP release. While the EP may seem redundant, considering the advent of Pandora, Spotify and Youtube, we nevertheless see this 5 track EP release on May 6th.
Comprised of just “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again”, in all its facets (the original version, a Spanish version, a version with both languages, and an instrumental backing track as well as a remix version); we see how impactful the song has been over the years, as we listen to these 5 tracks. Drawing similar parallels to both EPs from Newport and UNITED, each of them promoting their songs “Chasing Your Heart” and “Oceans” respectively; we ask a similar question- as the release of this EP ‘worked’? “Oceans” is by far one of UNITED’s most loved and enjoyable songs they’ve ever done, and Newport are starting to come into their own, with “Chasing Your Heart” emitting a vocal similar to that of Melodie Wagner of Hillsong Young and Free. And Danny’s song “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again”? If you’re a fan of emotional music with a positive edge; that can transcend and impact listeners of both the inspirational and pop kind; then Danny’s newest song is for you. Why it is not on mainstream radio impacting listeners there is anyone’s guess (my recollection is that “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again” is not on mainstream radio, but I may be wrong). “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again” is a song of starting over, to make anew and move on from tragedy, to have the resolve to get up and keep going even if everything in your body tells us we can’t.
And while at times it can seem like a self-help song at times, we are reminded through the ever-poignant bridge, that we ought to ‘…let every heartbreak and every scar be a picture that reminds you who has carried you this far, cause love speaks farther than we ever could, in this moment heaven’s working everything for our good…’ What a perfect picture of a perfect God who is holding every situation in His hands, reminding us who is in control, that we were never meant to carry whatever we are carrying on our own. A song that I reckon will be a shoe-in on WOW Hits 2017, Danny’s hit, that I’m sure will be a crossover one in the near future, is what I reckon will be a moment and a source of healing for many in the future. Well done to Danny and the team for creating an EP, that while it may have not as many purchases as it would’ve liked, will still be impacting and encouraging as the song continues to be in circulation on radio in the months to come!
3 songs to listen to: Tell Your Heart to Beat Again, Tell Your Heart to Beat Again (Remix), Que Tu Corazon Vuelva a Latir
Score: 4/5
RIYL: Jonathan Thulin, Jason Crabb, Mark Schultz, Phil Stacey, Matthew West