Plumb Music
Release Date: July 21st 2017
Reviewed by: Jonathan Andre
Track Listing:
- God Help Me
Plumb has had quite a history over the years. Starting her career under her stage name Plumb (her real name is Tiffany Arbuckle Lee) in the late 1990s, she has garnered much success over the years, presenting to the public chart-topping songs like ‘Stranded’, ‘Cut’, ‘Real’, ‘I Can’t Do This’, ‘Here With Me’, ‘In My Arms’, ‘Hang On’, ‘Better’…you get the picture. But then 2013 rolled around, and Plumb delivered what was, and what will always be, her most vulnerable and personal album yet- Need You Now. Borne out of a re-igniting of a marriage under strain for so many years, Plumb and her husband were on the brink of their relationship heading down the aisle of divorce, but that was not to be the case. What resulted from a lot of counselling, prayer and seeking the Lord together, we have been blessed with Plumb and her husband still going strong in their marriage years later, and her testimony of healing and hope after a period of hurt. Plumb had a career revival of sorts after a return from a 5 year hiatus and therefore, her new passion to tell heartfelt stories about her own life and use that as an encouragement to others is enough for me to be excited for whatever she releases in the future, inclusive of her new song ‘God Help Me’. From transitioning from being in a band, to solo, hiatus and now back to touring and making music, Plumb continues to create music, having something to say, and nothing has changed with her new release. ‘God Help Me’ is a must have for anyone who has been a fan of Plumb’s earlier music, or anyone who wants to hear a track that has a message of prayer and crying out to the Lord in desperate times of need.
‘…I’ve said the words “God Help Me” so many times last year and a half of my life. “God Help Me” to stay faithful and obedient, when I’ve wanted to just give up from the frustrations of my career, marriage and parenting challenges and personal insecurities… of anxiety, depression and fear. Sometimes it’s been as simple as God, help me breathe through this moment. “God Help Me” is a prayer; a sincere and simple call for help in the moments we need Him most. I’ve discovered my favourite songs are the prayers that can be screamed at the top of my lungs. “Need You Now’ was that way, as was ‘Lord I’m Ready Now.’ ‘God Help Me’ is most definitely like that. I’ve even taught my kids that when they’re stuck or scared and don’t know what to say they can just say His name. Jesus. God Help Me. And He always listens. He is always there…’ This above quote by Plumb is, in a nutshell, what ‘God Help Me’ is about. It is a prayer, a moment when we realise that we can’t do anything, and I mean anything, without the Lord God with us and fighting for the battles we know we can’t face on our own.
The song, just like any pop-rock song written and arranged by Plumb in the past for radio, is safe musically (but still edgier and more interesting than any other song you’d probably hear on K-Love though…), but it has and always will be the lyrics that stick out for me the most- especially the chorus. As Tiffany expresses in confines of the chorus, we are able to see the desperation in these words, and how she wants the Lord to ‘…help me to move, help me to see, help me to do whatever you would ask of me, help me to go, God help me to stay, I’m feeling so alone here and I know that You’re faithful but I can barely breathe, God help me…’ And I reckon that it is by these lyrics and these lyrics alone that this song ought to be considered by anyone who can appreciate vulnerable music to at least listen to the track just once (maybe more), and maybe, possibly, be encouraged that God can handle our honesty, and that asking the Lord for help isn’t a sign of weakness but rather it is a moment of humility, knowing that we can’t handle everything, and that the Lord is big enough for us to place all our hurt, worry, disappointment and shame on His shoulders. ‘God Help Me’ are three words of courage rather than weakness, and this song hopefully can shed some light on such a discussion point!
Plumb has had a unique and humbling career, and this new song ‘God Help Me’ isn’t really different from any other vulnerable song she’s written in the past. But it is the topic of asking the Lord for help that is very much needed, especially during the climate of today. From “Cut” to “Real”, “In My Arms” and “God Shaped Hole”; fans of Plumb’s older melodies, and other artists like Jars of Clay or Natalie Grant will be sure to check out ‘God Help Me’. This is a song that has quickly shot up to be one of my favourite songs of the last few months, and I’m sure that anyone who hears the track will agree as well. Plumb isn’t going anywhere in a hurry, and this song is a testament to how much the Lord has stayed faithful to Plumb throughout her years of relationship and marriage difficulty of the past. Kudos to Plumb for such a vulnerable song, can’t wait to the next full-length album whenever it arises!
3 songs to listen to: God Help Me x 3, and then realise that this is song #3 in a three song chapter- consisting of ‘Need You Now’, ‘Lord, I’m Ready Now’ and this current song, all of which are some of the most vulnerable songs Plumb has created…ever!
Score: 4.5/5
RIYL: Rebecca St. James, Switchfoot, Jars of Clay, Bebo Norman, BarlowGirl