Independent
Release Date: June 28th 2024
Reviewed by: Joshua Andre
Steven Curtis Chapman– Do It Again (Single) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- Do It Again
In 2008, singer/songwriter and CCM artist Steven Curtis Chapman endured and suffered the most horrific pain you could ever imagine. The long and short of it was that Steven’s son Will was backing into the driveway of their home, and accidentally killed youngest daughter Maria. The family was a wreck after that, Steven almost quit music all together, and the family questioned whether God was good. And… it’s understandable what Steven was doing. In effect… he was deconstructing his faith and questioning why God ‘allows’ suffering. And of course, they had to do all of that, they had to grieve, ask questions, go through that entire process. When you’re in the pit like that, it’s no good if someone yells out ‘Jesus is with you, so get up and you’ll be fine’. Sure, you will be fine after a while, and that sentiment may be true, but it’s not something you want to hear right now, and those words will probably do more harm than good. When you are feeling rotten, just like Steven was back in 2008 and probably still will now 10 years later, and into the future; the best thing for someone else to do is to sit with you, cry with you, and just be there. Which is what most of the faith community, and most of the world did for Steven and his family. They rallied around him, they didn’t ask questions, they just let him be. And when the 2009 album Beauty Will Rise released with most of the music sounding very similar, and the lyrics very emotional and the melodies quite sombre- because the content was inspired by Maria’s death; no one complained, no one lectured- they just let Steven be and heal from this ordeal.
Now, more than 10 years later, Steven’s relationship with Jesus is as strong as ever, and while no one can fully heal from a death as profound as that, we can now understand the purpose in the pain. The meaning behind Steven’s suffering. And it’s for us to realise how much we need Jesus in our lives. And how dead we all would be without Jesus, but how grateful we all should be because of Him. Though I know suffering isn’t of God, it is still used by Him, in order to show us how much we should rely on Him. After the album Beauty Will Rise, he released a collection of re-worked hits Re:Creation in 2011, a full length studio album The Glorious Unfolding in 2013 also inspired by Maria’s death, as well as a worship album in 2016 called Worship And Believe, an album that wasn’t inspired by Maria’s death, but was an album that by that time, Steven could have sung and recorded in spite of Maria’s death. Since 2016, Steven released a smattering of original singles such as “We Remember”, the 25th Anniversary edition of “The Great Adventure”- re-recorded with MercyMe frontman Bart Millard, “Remember To Remember” and “Together (We’ll Get Through This)” with Brad Paisley, Lauren Alaina and Tasha Cobbs Leonard. In 2022, Steven re-signed to Provident Label Group for a number more years and albums; released his album STILL; while also collaborating with Mitchell Tenpenny for his single “Don’t Lose Heart”. We reviewed the single here… and so; let’s now briefly talk about our thoughts for Steven’s next single “Do It Again”, which unexpectedly is Steven’s first independent release, despite still signing to Provident Label Group.
“Do It Again” is again a stellar and near-flawless song from Steven. It reminds me of God’s faithfulness to us again and again, and speaks about how we can fully trust His word and His promises- because He has fulfilled hopes and dreams and prayers for people in the past, and He has said countless times that he will do it again. A song that provides us comfort and reassurance and perspective and sometimes healing; Steven has beautifully crafted a legacy song that we will look back upon and see God’s hands upon it. Steven has had a wonderful career thus far, and God deserves a lot of the accolades and praise, don’t you think? A melody that is just as encouraging, healing and comforting as it is thought-provoking and confronting, Steven has undoubtedly created another masterpiece, and a song I will listen to many times over before the year ends.
Steven Curtis Chapman’s “Do It Again”, like many other songs in his discography, is a perfect reminder that Jesus Christ is in control and that we can depend and rely on him immensely and at all times- as He has proven time and time again, that He will and can ‘do it again’ with reference to performing miracles beyond our wildest dreams and comprehension. “Do It Again”, comforts, heals, and provides hope, and reminds us to not lose heart and to always keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. And as such, Steven has to be congratulated many times over. And now, there’s nothing more to say about this song other than… go listen to it and go buy it! You won’t regret it at all! Well done Steven for a sublime and near-flawless melody that will be timeless in the coming months and years! Maybe another new album this year?
Score: 5/5
RIYL: MercyMe, Lady A, Rascal Flatts, Lauren Alaina, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Michael W. Smith