Sony Music Entertainment
Release Date: November 5th 2021
Reviewed by: Jonathan Andre
Tenille Townes – Villain in Me – Single (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- Villain in Me
Canadian musicians, especially Canadian country artists, have thrived for quite some time recently. Artists like Shania Twain, Lindsay Ell, Jess Moskaluke, K.D. Lang, Meghan Patrick and Tenille Arts have all had varying degrees of success in both the Canadian and American markets of late, and further extending to just Canadian artists in general, artists like Drake, The Weeknd, Celine Dion, Bryan Adams, Justin Bieber, Avril Lavigne, Shawn Mendes, Carly Rae Jepsen, Michael Buble, Matt Maher, Marc Martel and The City Harmonic, are just some of the many Canadians who have been in circulation in music for quite some time over the last decade or two. So it comes to no surprise that rising country superstar and powerful vocalist, Tenille Townes, comes from Canada. In fact, her rise to the top has been so exponential and instrumental, that she’s been recognised for various Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMAs) and Juno Awards within the last couple of years. Her 2020 album The Lemonade Stand was a critical success, we as a site even reviewed the album here. Birthing singles like ‘Somebody’s Daughter’, ‘Jersey On the Wall’ and ‘When I Meet My Maker’, Tenille’s trademark voice and her enthusiastic passion had made The Lemonade Stand one of 2020’s most unique albums, and one of the best kept secrets (album-wise) for that particular year. Now we fast-forward to the end of 2021, and upon the heels of her powerful and emotive July radio single ‘Girl Who Didn’t Care’ (that was one of my favourite songs of 2021 thus far, and a track that we as a site reviewed), we see Tenille deliver another emotive and poignant track for us all to hear- ‘Villain in Me’. If the next few songs from Tenille (that will probably make up album #2 for Tenille in the future) are just as compelling as both ‘Villain in Me’ and ‘Girl Who Didn’t Care’; then this next musical offering from Tenille (coming TBA 2022) is sure to be one of next year’s most anticipated, and album album that will certainly propel Tenille to new heights in the upcoming year ahead!
Standing at a bit over 3 and a half minutes, we see Tenille offer up an acoustic guitar riff and personal lyrics as we see vulnerability take centre stage…and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, indeed. For too long have songs danced around issues because it was seen to be taboo in songs for feelings to be shown- in particular, being vulnerable and admitting through song that you don’t have it all together as you seem to portray. ‘Villain in Me’ allows listeners to see that Tenille struggles with things that everyday people seem to do, and even us listeners struggle with, as well. And the chorus seems to hit home, allowing us to relate to Tenille as she voices that ‘…the voice that I don’t wanna hear, the hurtful words I say, the long list of things about myself I wanna change, the heavy cloud that won’t leave even after it rains, I try to be a hero ’til it brings me to my knees, yeah, there’s a villain in me…’ More often than not, we want to hide the fact away that there are things within us that are as capable of doing villainous things, as there are things inside us capable of doing heroic things. There are parts of us that we want to hide away, and then there are parts of us that we celebrate. And yet we hide the things away that we deem to be ‘not worthy enough’ or even not ‘inspirational’ enough. We hide things away because we believe what we have to offer isn’t what people want to see. But sometimes even the ‘villainous’ things about us that seem to shame and bury us deep, are nevertheless things about us that we have conquered in our lives before; and will do again. For when we become honest and unveil that we do struggle with things in our lives that we want to be rid of, it makes us be much more relatable to the people that are dealing with similar struggles to us. And others can open up and share that they also have these things inside of them as well, and people won’t feel as alone as they think they are.
‘Villain in Me’ isn’t a song solely about the acknowledgement of the darkness inside of us- it is, but that isn’t the initial point of it all. The song first comes as a reminder that yes, there are villainous things inside of me, and yes, I do have to acknowledge that there are things within my very being and soul that long to undertake dangerous and treacherous things…but that just reminds me of how much in need of a Saviour, I am. ‘Villain in Me’ is a great reminder of my own sin, but it doesn’t stop there. Knowing my sin, should spur me on to long for a Saviour, and as I have mentioned countless times on this site before, I know my Saviour is in Christ Jesus. And if a song by Tenille can evoke a reminder like this, then I’m sure God Himself was in the process of writing this song together with Tenille…right? ‘Villain in Me’ reminds me of Romans 7:13-25, and how Paul spoke of how he longs to do the right thing, but sin keeps him from undertaking what he knows to be right, and true and good. Tenille’s song can hopefully be a lifeline to many who may be struggling from feeling like they have let people down by what they have done in the past (or what they’ll continue to do in the future)- ‘Villain in Me’ reminds us that we are not alone in this thing called ‘sin’ that we’re all dealing with; and whether we call it ‘sin’ for what it is, or even call it ‘demons’, ‘inner ghosts’, ‘things inside us’, ‘spirits’ or even ‘wickedness’ and ‘evil’; we still have to deal with it. A song that has become a great way of dialoguing about this thing inside us that we all have to acknowledge is there, but really see if we want this ‘villain’ around in our lives anymore; this is a great song to start off the journey of Tenille towards her next album (alongside her July upbeat single, ‘Girl Who Didn’t Care’). Well done Tenille for this powerful and compelling song, can’t for the new album, whenever that may arise!
Romans 7: 13-25 (ESV)
Score: 4.5/5
RIYL: Tenille Arts, Caylee Hammack, Lindsay Ell, Maren Morris, Carly Pearce