Independent

Release Date: June 17th 2022

Reviewed by: Joshua Andre

Samantha Jade– Dance Again (Single) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)

Track Listing:

1. Dance Again

For me, dancing is such a pure form of expression. The music, the lyrics and the movement all come together to create a combined energy. These past few years I’ve really missed performing in front of my fans and feeling that energy. Life doesn’t always go to plan. This song reminds us to look for the positives so we can keep going, bring back the joy and find a way to dance again. It is really nice to feel like you own your craft. I am for once listening to my own voice and that has been drowned out for a while now, not due to other people but due to myself and not backing. myself. This time is really fun because I am not really answering to anybody. It is inspiring.

Inspiration, encouragement, joyfulness, happiness, and optimism are all in short supply considering the last few years we’ve all had. In 2020 and 2021 especially (and also coming up to the midpoint of 2022, and a resurgence in COVID-19 cases), we all have been relentlessly knocked down and discouraged by COVID-19- especially the Delta and Omicron variants, the bushfires, the murder of George Floyd, and the falling away of a number of high-profile Christian celebrities from the faith. And in some ways, 2021 was like 2020, and it was a write-off and something that we all wished to be over. However, as I have mentioned many a time, I’ve come to still be encouraged and inspired in the midst of trials, chaos, and calamity. I’ve predominately been inspired through the likes of many different genres of music; and while you can read many of our extensive reviews here, outlining albums from artists across many different genres (country, pop, rock, CCM, worship etc), another new song I’ve been blessed to hear is Aussie pop artist Samantha Jade’s latest single (and her first as an independent artist), called “Dance Again”. Now I haven’t had the pleasure of diving deep enough into much of Samantha’s music at all- given that she is a mainstream artist and I have only been listening to mainstream artists on a regular basis since the beginning of 2019, for around about 3-ish years now. Though I first was introduced to Samantha’s songs in late 2019 through YouTube recommending me “Bounce”; since then, I’ve enjoyed many of her songs- but I wouldn’t say I’m an avid fan though. Yet “Dance Again”, like previous tracks “Beautiful And Golden” and “Back 2 Back”, is such a joy to listen to; and has me quietly anticipating Samantha’s brand new album, whenever that may be.

So, I wrote it in lockdown. And, obviously, what are weird time that we were all going through. And my family are from Perth, so I hadn’t seen them in so long. Every time I would book a trip, like, the Perth borders would close again. And I would– literally, like, there were two times that I was in the car, on the way to the airport, and the borders would close.

I know. And it’s, like, heartbreaking, especially when you haven’t seen them in so long and all of the things that we were going through at the time. And I kind of had written in that time because we weren’t allowed to dance. Remember that? It sounds insane, to say it now.

But it was a thing, you know? So, I wrote it in that time. And I also drew inspiration because I was going through– I suffer from anxiety a little bit. And I was kind of going through a bout of my anxiety. And my mom, when she was sick– my mom was a dancer from when she was three. She danced, her whole life. She loved to dance. It was what, like, singing does for me, just like a relief.

And when she got sick, basically, the cancer kind of went through her whole body. And she couldn’t walk anymore. She couldn’t use her legs, and so she was, like, bedridden for six months, until she passed away. And I just remember her being like– she was still, like, dancing a little bit, you know, like, just the top of her body. And she’d make me dance around the room. She’d still put music on, and we’d have little dance parties; and I thought about, like, you know, God, what am I complaining about, that I can’t go out dancing and I can’t– at least I can dance around the room. She couldn’t.

And so, I wrote this song about, like, when you’re going through moments and you’re sad. And things seem like the world’s going to end. It takes one thought or one thing to turn that around.

Essentially an uplifting and inspirational song about rising above adversity and dancing or being positive in the face of your many trials and tribulations; “Dance Again” is an emotional, vulnerable and personal piano ballad, and is lyrically one of the strongest songs of 2022. It’s a song that is self-explanatory and though it’s lyrically quite simple, the song is incredibly profound and impacting- it’s a song that needs to be heard and experienced to be believed! Though mainstream pop music and I didn’t really mix well for a while; there are still a handful of songs though that speak out to me. For Samantha Jade though, there’s something special about her music that is so optimistic and feel-good and just plain enjoyable, that I can’t help but be moved and inspired in almost every song. The same goes for “Dance Again”- and as Samantha Jade forges on and readies her next full-length album in the midst of COVID-19 (whenever that may be!); we are reminded about the power of dancing and being positive in the midst of hardship and pain. Sure, this song isn’t a ‘Christian’ song per se… but God still works through this compelling and confronting gem of a melody. And now, let me ask what are you waiting for? Do you want to be comforted in the confines of a gentle and comforting ballad? Well then “Dance Again” is your thing- and I’d say listen because you might find your next pick-me-up tune that you turn to when you need encouragement. Well done, Samantha, I can’t wait to hear what’s next in store for you.

Score: 5/5

RIYL: Kylie Minogue, Jessica Mauboy, Delta Goodrem, Ricki-Lee Coulter, Little Mix, Ellie Goulding