Kingdom Productions/Lionsgate
Release Date: March 6th 2020
Reviewed by: Joshua Andre
Various Artists– I Still Believe (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- I Still Believe (feat. KJ Apa)
- Jeremy Says Goodbye
- This Man (feat. KJ Apa)
- Take My Hand [David Leonard]
- Find Me In The River (feat. KJ Apa & JJ Heller)
- Some Stars Shine Brighter Than Others
- My Desire (feat. KJ Apa)
- Dwelling Place (Dialogue)
- Right Here (feat. KJ Apa)
- Melissa Loves Jeremy
- You Call I’ll Answer [David Leonard]
- Walk By Faith (Dialogue)
- Ancient Stories Still Relevant
- Hey, What’s Your Name Again?
- Walk By Faith (2020 Version) [Jeremy Camp]
- I Still Believe (2020 Version) [Jeremy Camp]
- I Can’t Save Myself (Bonus Track) [Adrienne Camp]
Here’s one fact that I know right now, even as the world is upside down as we know it at the moment. And it is this. That the emergence of the virus COVID-19 has turned everything on its head and has thrust us all into situations that we would think are unthinkable at the start of the year. Cafes and restaurants reduced to takeaways. Sports of virtually every kind cancelled. Movie cinemas closed. Movies released direct to DVD and/or digital platforms like Netflix and Disney +. Albums and/or songs delayed indefinitely. Music tours postponed. Livestreams on Facebook/Youtube now in abundance. These are unprecedented and remarkable times we are living in now…so I reckon that while we are in a holding pattern now at home, what we can do in order to stay safe, is to follow the instructions on social distancing and how to wash our hands, as well as also praying that God will come and impart a miracle to the whole world. Now more than ever before we are in need of encouraging and uplifting entertainment and information; as we seek to navigate this broken, messed-up world.
Well let me introduce you all to I Still Believe– a movie based on the true story of Jeremy Camp which released in cinemas last month, and onto DVD and other digital platforms not too long ago (because of the virus). With the film predominately about CCM singer/songwriter Jeremy Camp and his relationship with his first wife Melissa who passed away in 2001 due to ovarian cancer, and Jeremy’s subsequently journey out of that pit of despair; the movie starred KJ Apa and Britt Robertson in the lead roles, and was directed by Jon and Andy Erwin- The Erwin Brothers, famous for I Can Only Imagine and October Baby. Rest assured everyone; I Still Believe will be reviewed by us at the end of the month, because I reckon that even if you aren’t a believer, there still is something that you can gain out of the film. But what I will quickly discuss is the companion soundtrack of the movie. I Still Believe (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) released at the beginning of March, and is perfect for fans of Jeremy, or fans of the movie. If you haven’t seen the movie or haven’t listened to Jeremy’s music before, I suggest you undertake either of those two activities (watch the movie or listen to a Jeremy Camp CD!) before you read on!
With the sublime and exquisite score being overseen and orchestrated by John Debney, there are a number of instrumental numbers, or scores, that are absolutely captivating and powerful to listen to. I never was very much into ‘songs’ without words; but Michael W. Smith’s instrumental albums Glory and Freedom changed all of that. Now I can sort of see and understand the feeling and the emotions behind most instrumental pieces- and the scores in this particular album are no different. Yet it is the songs re-recorded by KJ Apa which I reckon is what makes this project. Now I’d wager that the general public would know who KJ is- he’s the lead guy in the CW series Riverdale– yet KJ has said personally that it is this project where it has meant the most to him as a believer. Now I’m unsure of the faith beliefs of everyone else, but from what I have discovered of KJ’s genuine faith in Jesus, you can tell from the songs that he has rerecorded and sung with an intense passion.
“I Still Believe”, “Right Here”, “This Man” and “My Desire”, as well as Delirious?’s “Find Me In The River” have all been rerecorded by KJ (but with also additional vocals mixed in from Tenth Avenue North frontman Mike Donehey, who was KJ’s mentor in singing on the project!), and all are somewhat different to the original recordings, yet all are exquisitely performed and recorded beyond belief. Ex-All Sons And Daughters frontman contributes two new recordings to the project (“Take My Hand” and “You Call I’ll Answer”) while Jeremy Camp himself reworks both “I Still Believe” and “Walk By Faith”, originally from his 2002 album Stay. Jeremy’s wife then rounds out the impressive soundtrack with a rock single “I Can’t Save Myself”, a personal highlight as well as hopefully a sign that Adie is returning to music in the future sometimes! While I don’t want to delve much into each of these new tracks, particularly when you all might want to watch the movie first (I may in the movie review, and these songs are in their own youtube playlist and on Spotify anyway!); let me just mention that I personally reckon that I Still Believe is one of the most inspiring movies of the year, and this album is poignant and heartwarming too, despite the glaring omission on this soundtrack of the credits’ song (a collaboration between Jeremy and MercyMe on their song “Almost Home”). Yet these songs make more sense when viewed together with the movie as a package.
In this time of COVID-19, everything has stopped, from movies and sports and music to shopping centres and restaurants. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t be inspired, and God can’t talk to us in this period. He certainly has moved me in both the movie and soundtrack of I Still Believe, and I’m sure He can do the same for you. Jeremy’s story is one for the ages, about how he stood firm for Jesus even in the face of immense adversity and tragedy…so what are you waiting for everyone? Both the movie and the soundtrack of I Still Believe deserve a watch and a listen respectively, so I suggest you all hop to it! After all, we all have the time now… Well done Jeremy for such a wonderful testimony that shows the power and faithfulness of God. I can’t wait to hear what God has next for you! Kudos to KJ Apa and Britt Robertson also, and may God draw you closer and closer to Himself every day!
3 songs to listen to: I Still Believe (feat. KJ Apa), I Still Believe (2020 Version), I Can’t Save Myself
Score: 4.5/5
RIYL: MercyMe, Tenth Avenue North, Matthew West, Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman