Independent
Release Date: January 1st 2021
Reviewed by: Joshua Andre
Tiffany Alvord– Dear 2020 (Single) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- Dear 2020
No one could have ever expected what 2020 brought to the table last year. COVID-19, the death of George Floyd, many films and TV shows postponed to later dates, the harrowing bushfires in Australia in January and February; as well as the historic election win by Joe Biden in the U.S. Still, by and large this past year (largely because of COVID-19) is a year that most, if not all of us would like to forget about. We either know someone with COVID-19 or we’ve seen it so much on the news that we’re sick and tired to hearing that ‘there’s been another 5-10-20-50 cases overnight, and some deaths also’. We’re frustrated because of all of the lockdowns and the quarantine and the restrictions and the part about being cooped up at home. 2020 has produced many separations and divorces, as well as people in isolation- physically and emotionally- because of not being able to meet face to face. It’s a year that we can be proud of that we actually survived it, but it’s a year we’d never want to go through again.
2020 makes us grateful for 2021- a new unwritten chapter in the book called our lives. We can look back at 2020 with fondness somewhat as it taught us how to be stronger in the face of adversity, yet we can also look at 2020 in disgust, shame and sorrow, as we are glad that the horrid time is behind us. And so we are met with a somewhat satirical song that voices all of our feelings about 2020. Youtuber and independent singer/songwriter Tiffany Alvord is an artist whom I haven’t heard any of her songs. But it doesn’t matter here- as we can hear “Dear 2020” with a new appreciation of what’s to come- a year where we can make it whatever we want it to be.
“Dear 2020” is essentially a break-up song if we think about 2020 as a person. And thus we can know that we can never see 2020 again (which is for the best mostly!), however the lessons we’ve learnt from that ordeal of last year- cherish relationships and take active charge of your own life- are paramount and key. And as we move into 2021, as we lean on our family, friends and God; let us never forget that going through the fire refines our character, going through trials makes us stronger, and experiencing the bad makes us love the good all the more. Does this mean that we should praise 2020? No, not if we don’t want to. But as Tiffany reminds us that ‘…I’ve met someone, I’m moving on to 2021…’, we should always remember that we cannot dwell on the past. Let us be thankful for what 2020 has taught us, but let us move forward, head held high and asking God to guide us through the unknown of 2021. And with my philosophical rant over… let me listen to more Tiffany Alvord songs! 2021 is the time for something new, am I right?
Score: 4/5
RIYL: Selena Gomez, Little Mix, Kurt Hugo Schneider, Peter Hollens, Cimorelli, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes