Sparrow Records / Capitol CMG
Release Date: February 21st 2020
Reviewed by: Jonathan Andre
Riley Clemmons – Over and Over (Single) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- Over and Over
After such a whirlwind music career ever since she debuted her self-titled album in 2018, featuring standout songs like ‘Broken Prayers’, ‘Hold On’, ‘Broke’ and ‘Better For It’, to name a few; Riley Clemmons has been giving to us, hit after hit after hit. In 2019, Riley unveiled the chart-topping single ‘Fighting For Me’ alongside the up-and-coming emotive and poignant song ‘Free’ later on during the year. She also gave to us a Christmas EP that was released late 2019, that featured songs like ‘Last Christmas’, ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ and ‘Silent Night’, to name a few. Now here we are in 2020, and another song of hers has dropped digitally around a month ago- titled ‘Over And Over’- a song that, if given the right airplay, can be as, big, maybe if not bigger, than ‘Broken Prayers’. While not even twenty yet, Riley’s maturity and her lyrical sensitivity is far beyond her years, and a song like ‘Over and Over’ is evidence of this.
It is in this quote that I’ve come to understand the message behind this song, and in light of that, I’m enjoying the execution of it quite well- there’s gospel backing vocals, there’s powerful drums and a swaying beat that is very catchy while also quite meaningful. God shows us that we are His, that we’re blessed, that we have everything we need, over and over again, often on a daily basis. ‘Over and Over’ is a song not only showing us that God shows us things over and over, but we as children of God have to make the decision, conscious one at that, if we want to follow Jesus- over and over again each day. God presents us this case- Jesus; and we have to respond. He gives the gift of grace, and we have to choose. Over and over, each day, knowing full well that what we do or say is no determinant on how we are loved or accepted. God cares for us in spite of what we do or don’t do. ‘Over and Over’ just hopefully gives us all a little push in the right decision as we see whether this Jesus-thing is good enough for us to keep choosing it everyday. Well done Riley for such a thought-provoking song; can’t wait for the new album, most likely with this track on it, whenever it arises.
Score: 4/5
RIYL: Kelly Clarkson, Francesca Battistelli, Cimorelli, Selena Gomez, Love & the Outcome
Riley Clemmons’s songs are all great, including “Loved By You,” but this is tied with “Fighting for Me” and “Broken Prayers” for being her best as of now. This song is one big beautiful harmony lyrically, musically, and emotionally testifying to God’s faithfulness no matter the circumstances that has served as a great reminder to me the past few years. May God continue to bless Riley’s musical career.