A little while back, I mentioned that we might have to go silent for awhile and that time may well be here. This computer is about 15-20 minutes away from expiring once and for all and forever. I bought a back-up device but, surprise, it turns out not to be compatible with this computer. *sigh* It's not as simple as just switching from one computer to another, either. I'd wanted to make it through Christmas, but the plan (the necessity) has always been to move everything to the other house. This one's gotta be sold. By everything, that means the computer, the internet...and Missy Katz. Not looking forward to that particular transition; I don't think she's going to understand, really. And, while I'm sure she'll be excited at new territory to explore for a day or so, the houses are close enough to each other that I think I'm going to have trouble keeping her from returning to this house, after its no longer mine. Anyway, not your problem. Let's see if I can get this thing written before the computer dies.
Rehya Stevens was born in California and, with her father being a professional musician, grew up around music. She started writing songs at the age of 8. When she began her professional career, she did so with an EP that leaned toward Country Pop, but she never felt entirely comfortable with that genre. Her heart, going back to her earliest years, had always been in R&B, in all its assorted shades. In 2013, she released the album "Vintage Love"--an album much more reflective of who she was as an artist. A prolific songwriter, Rehya's music has made its way into numerous television shows and movies (now I gotta go back and watch my "Unforgettable" DVDs again, since she apparently placed some music there and I loved that show). In 2018, she turned her desires and attentions to creating a Christmas album. But not just a Christmas album...a Christmas album of all original songs that nonetheless had the feel of the classic Christmas albums of the past.
"A Christmas Song" is notable for several things. First are the sweeping strings, which are reminiscent of those lush romantic Christmas albums of the late 50s and early 60s. Second is the exceptional guitar of Chris Standring (Chris had a fairly awesome Christmas album of his own, "Send Me Some Snow"). And third is the ever so slightly smokey and very sultry vocals of Rehya Stevens. It's a distinctive voice that calls you like the sirens of seafaring mythology.
Now, if every song on "Celebrate" had the same character, the same lush sweeping strings, the same romantic mood, that would be one thing. But that's not the case. There are as many different moods and approaches on "Celebrate" as there are songs.
Now, if every song on "Celebrate" had the same character, the same lush sweeping strings, the same romantic mood, that would be one thing. But that's not the case. There are as many different moods and approaches on "Celebrate" as there are songs.
| 1. Happy Holiday 2. A Christmas Song (feat. Chris Standring) 3. Come In From The Cold 4. Jingle Jangle 5. Celebrate 6. Fly Past My Roof (feat. Jessy J.) 7. Gloria 8. Welcome Home 9. Snowfall |  |
"Celebrate" kicks off with "Happy Holiday", a 70s Soul number that, for me, called to mind artists like Ronnie Dyson and Deniece Williams, with the romance of the Delfonics. Once again, I'm sure I'll come up with a better comparison after this piece is posted, but that's where I'm at right now. "Happy Holiday" has that mid-tempo rhythm that should make it popular with the Carolina Beach Music crowd, too. And that "Hurry up, hurry up" refrain will stick with you (in a good way, of course).
Following "A Christmas Song" is "Come In From The Cold", an AC ballad that plays on a theme heard throughout "Celebrate"...coming home. I feel weird making this "comparison" but, growing up, we had some Bible story records and "Come In From The Cold", for whatever reason, made me drift back to the story of the Prodigal Son from those records. I doubt that's what she had in mind, but...
Changing directions yet again, Rehya follows with "Jingle Jangle" which, musically, is a bit of a Mash-up of "Rocking Around The Christmas Tree" and "Marshmallow World" and perhaps a couple of other early 60s Rock Christmas tunes. I can't deny it's appeal, and it does have a way of pulling the rest of the album together, but, honestly, it wasn't my favorite (your mileage may vary and probably will). There's a Gospel feel underlying the album's title track--subtle but effective. And then come's my personal favorite from the set, "Fly Past My Roof".
Following "A Christmas Song" is "Come In From The Cold", an AC ballad that plays on a theme heard throughout "Celebrate"...coming home. I feel weird making this "comparison" but, growing up, we had some Bible story records and "Come In From The Cold", for whatever reason, made me drift back to the story of the Prodigal Son from those records. I doubt that's what she had in mind, but...
Changing directions yet again, Rehya follows with "Jingle Jangle" which, musically, is a bit of a Mash-up of "Rocking Around The Christmas Tree" and "Marshmallow World" and perhaps a couple of other early 60s Rock Christmas tunes. I can't deny it's appeal, and it does have a way of pulling the rest of the album together, but, honestly, it wasn't my favorite (your mileage may vary and probably will). There's a Gospel feel underlying the album's title track--subtle but effective. And then come's my personal favorite from the set, "Fly Past My Roof".
Yowzah! That's steaming hot! In case anyone is confused on the matter, Jessy J (who provides the smokin' sax solo on "Fly Past My Roof") is not Jessie J. Jessy J also has a Christmas album worth checking out, "California Christmas".
Rehya follows "Fly Past My Roof" with the album's sole religious track, "Gloria". "Gloria" was last year's single, in advance of the album. It may be the album's only spiritual track but, in many ways, it's the most successful. "Gloria" has that magnificent majesty of the vintage arrangements of traditional hymns that were always a part of the annual television Christmas specials from Bing, Tennessee Ernie and Jim Nabors. Rehya starts with a virtual whisper, her voice first floats then soars, the song rises to a glorious symphony of love and light--you can practically feel the star appearing in the east--and then closes gently like a feather coming to rest. I can't deny that "Fly Past My Roof" is my favorite on "Celebrate", but "Gloria" is a close second. It just has that grandeur about it. Listening to as much Christmas music as I do, I come across a lot of CCM (and other) music trying to convey the immensity of the birth of the Savior. It's not easy to do and few truly succeed. "Gloria" succeeds...and then some.
"Welcome Home" takes on the role of lullaby. Here, more than anywhere, you appreciate how well "Celebrate" is paced. "Gloria" is so "big" and powerful while "Welcome Home" is so simple and intimate. The tendency might be to want to separate them from each other. But the combination is just so perfect. Baby Jesus needs a lullaby, after all.
"Celebrate" closes with another of my favorites--"Snowfall". To me, "Snowfall" is the perfect marriage of words and music, of song and arrangement, of artist and song. A facile description would be of a mid-tempo early 70s Soft Rock tune. But that's just so...facile. The lyrics of "Snowfall", in keeping with the theme that runs throughout "Celebrate", speak to coming home in a way that I think is so relatable to anyone. You spend your early years in a hurry to grow up and move on to a life that's bigger and better. Then you spend the rest of your life trying to get back to what you didn't realize you had (because you were in such a hurry to move on). The house you grew up in--that seemed so big when you were so little--suddenly seems tiny, but in a wonderful way. Little things which you barely noticed or took for granted--like the old windows that let in a bit of the winter chill--suddenly there's something wonderful and extraordinary about them. And every sight and sound of the old home and neighborhood brings back memories so strong, they're as real as the smell of the turkey in the oven in the next room. The lyrics are just utterly brilliant. Ah, but the music to those lyrics and that arrangement. Those lyrics could have been far less effective or, worse, wasted entirely, without the music (and, yes, Rehya Stevens does her own arrangements). The strumming guitar that predominates assumes the feel of the falling snow while the steady beat so completely gives me the feel of being in the car, driving to Grandma's house (or wherever you went or go for your family gatherings). And Rehya's vocals are just perfect for this song; so understated and yet every last bit of emotion is in there. Hey, maybe it's just me, but all together like that? It was a virtual reality experience. One of my Grandmothers has been gone for 30 years, the other for 20, and both of my parents have passed. I have brothers but it's been ages since we gathered for a holiday. But "Snowfall" brings it all back to me as if it were yesterday. So thank you for that.
Rehya follows "Fly Past My Roof" with the album's sole religious track, "Gloria". "Gloria" was last year's single, in advance of the album. It may be the album's only spiritual track but, in many ways, it's the most successful. "Gloria" has that magnificent majesty of the vintage arrangements of traditional hymns that were always a part of the annual television Christmas specials from Bing, Tennessee Ernie and Jim Nabors. Rehya starts with a virtual whisper, her voice first floats then soars, the song rises to a glorious symphony of love and light--you can practically feel the star appearing in the east--and then closes gently like a feather coming to rest. I can't deny that "Fly Past My Roof" is my favorite on "Celebrate", but "Gloria" is a close second. It just has that grandeur about it. Listening to as much Christmas music as I do, I come across a lot of CCM (and other) music trying to convey the immensity of the birth of the Savior. It's not easy to do and few truly succeed. "Gloria" succeeds...and then some.
"Welcome Home" takes on the role of lullaby. Here, more than anywhere, you appreciate how well "Celebrate" is paced. "Gloria" is so "big" and powerful while "Welcome Home" is so simple and intimate. The tendency might be to want to separate them from each other. But the combination is just so perfect. Baby Jesus needs a lullaby, after all.
"Celebrate" closes with another of my favorites--"Snowfall". To me, "Snowfall" is the perfect marriage of words and music, of song and arrangement, of artist and song. A facile description would be of a mid-tempo early 70s Soft Rock tune. But that's just so...facile. The lyrics of "Snowfall", in keeping with the theme that runs throughout "Celebrate", speak to coming home in a way that I think is so relatable to anyone. You spend your early years in a hurry to grow up and move on to a life that's bigger and better. Then you spend the rest of your life trying to get back to what you didn't realize you had (because you were in such a hurry to move on). The house you grew up in--that seemed so big when you were so little--suddenly seems tiny, but in a wonderful way. Little things which you barely noticed or took for granted--like the old windows that let in a bit of the winter chill--suddenly there's something wonderful and extraordinary about them. And every sight and sound of the old home and neighborhood brings back memories so strong, they're as real as the smell of the turkey in the oven in the next room. The lyrics are just utterly brilliant. Ah, but the music to those lyrics and that arrangement. Those lyrics could have been far less effective or, worse, wasted entirely, without the music (and, yes, Rehya Stevens does her own arrangements). The strumming guitar that predominates assumes the feel of the falling snow while the steady beat so completely gives me the feel of being in the car, driving to Grandma's house (or wherever you went or go for your family gatherings). And Rehya's vocals are just perfect for this song; so understated and yet every last bit of emotion is in there. Hey, maybe it's just me, but all together like that? It was a virtual reality experience. One of my Grandmothers has been gone for 30 years, the other for 20, and both of my parents have passed. I have brothers but it's been ages since we gathered for a holiday. But "Snowfall" brings it all back to me as if it were yesterday. So thank you for that.
Taking a different musical approach on nine original Christmas songs, you might think it difficult for "Celebrate" to resonate as a cohesive album, but it does and it does so quite well. This speaks to the intelligent ordering of the tracks. Rehya moves gracefully from one style to another and not once do you feel anything but a smooth ride. And as for having the feel of the classic Christmas albums? Again, you might think that would be difficult to accomplish with such a variance of styles and sounds. But it turns out that "Celebrate" is as warm and comfortable as your favorite blanket. You feel perfectly comfortable just wrapping yourself up in "Celebrate" with Rehya's wonderful voice providing the flame for your mental fireplace. Finally, you might wonder if an album of original Christmas songs that so harkens back to Christmas albums of old will stand on its own or just fade into the shuffle. But, while the songs may borrow some of the trappings of earlier Christmas stylings, they're well enough written and performed to withstand the comparisons. Rehya writes and sings like Rehya, ultimately, and borrowing a dash of Bing and a sprinkle of Brenda just adds a little spice to the Christmas cookie without changing its own unique flavor. And the standout tracks really standout (for me, that's "Fly Past My Roof", "Gloria", and "Snowfall", but I'm sure you'll settle on favorites of your own).
Technically, "Celebrate" by Rehya Stevens was released October 19. I've only just moved it there on our List (we've had it at October 2, which had to do with the Pledge Music campaign). Autographed CDs (with download included) are available exclusively from the Rehya Stevens web store, while digital downloads should be available wherever digital downloads are sold. If you're looking for something that feels familiar without feeling as played out as day old chewing gum, something new and fresh that delivers those old memories in emotional technicolor with spiritual surround sound, Rehya Stevens' "Celebrate" could be just the string of brightly colored lights your musical Christmas tree has been missing.
Technically, "Celebrate" by Rehya Stevens was released October 19. I've only just moved it there on our List (we've had it at October 2, which had to do with the Pledge Music campaign). Autographed CDs (with download included) are available exclusively from the Rehya Stevens web store, while digital downloads should be available wherever digital downloads are sold. If you're looking for something that feels familiar without feeling as played out as day old chewing gum, something new and fresh that delivers those old memories in emotional technicolor with spiritual surround sound, Rehya Stevens' "Celebrate" could be just the string of brightly colored lights your musical Christmas tree has been missing.
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