:)
Posted May 18, 2010
By LauraCC,
Diagnosed with cancer at age 11, she made a wish to record a Christian album. The ensuing project was well received, and lead to interviews on “Today” and “Extra”, as well as a contribution to the
Bath & Body Works Holiday album in 2005. Flash forward to 2009. Now 19 and healthy,
she’s determined not to waste the lessons she learned while witnessing life and death.
Wake Up begins with "Episode", a song which starts off quietly but crashes its way into
your ears much as the message is meant to shatter your illusions. It's a caution for
dreamers that the grass isn't as green; for slackers that time is precious; in short, it's a
tirade against tunnel vision. It's kind of hard to hear the lyrics over the music though.
Too often we confuse saying the right words with caring. And when the time comes to
defend our "stance", we roll over and play dead. "Apathy" is an upbeat kick in the butt
that reminds us that "We’ve only got this one moment/To leave our mark." It's a
message our society can't hear enough. "Come Alive" encourages us to find the one thing
we have a passion for and dive in head first. It's a song that screams "music video!" I
could also easily see it being picked up for a TV show soundtrack.
"I Say" is encouragement for young people who think they can't make a difference
because of their age (although as far as I'm concerned, Paige herself is living proof!!)
This is no karaoke song; the melody is hard to follow. In its favor though there's an
awesome guitar solo part near the end.
In the Fireflight-sounding "Wake Up", we return to the "actions speak louder than words"
theme; however, this time, Paige is confessing to not caring. In humbling herself, she
may actually reinforce the message of "Apathy", not weaken it. She's real, human,
mortal, and to her credit she says so. This one also has a cool guitar solo part.
"Thoroughly Complete" is a departure from the album so far, a quiet and reflective
acoustic track. The moment when everything is breaking apart and save for God, she'd
collapse. We've probably all had moments like this, and the marked difference between
this song and those previous is a pleasant jolt. The next song, "Lights Burn Out"
would've probably worked better as an acoustic track (perhaps a free download or EP
down the road?) and is yet another "speak out, get passionate" song.
Sometimes staying pure takes more guts than than compromise. That's the message of "I
Dare You", a song directed towards girls. Now I've never actually been in the situation
the song is describing (being barraged by pick-up lines and giving in to sex), but there
are so many girls who find themselves in this situation that it bears saying over and over.
That is, if you can hear it. The background music and beat consume this one too.
"Airbrushed Magazines" (now here I've been.sorta) is a body image song that gets kind
of vague around the seesaw chorus ("What’s wrong/What’s right/We don’t give up the
fight/It’s time, to feel,/What it is to be real/And though, they say/We should live life their
way/Who are they,/To say who we are.") It's a rocking song that makes use of both
female and male vocals, and gets gradually harder near the end chorus repeat.
Every life has a defining crisis, where the world is flipped upside down and we either rise
or fall. "The Story Song" is Paige's story, or it could be yours. Paige asserts that "No
one’s spared to just keep silent/No one’s saved to just keep still". The point is, once
we've been through something and have come out alive on the other end, what good is it
if we just button up and live? Who benefits? Rather, she believes we should use these
moments to be a powerful witness for God's power and glory.
Lastly, the album closes with "Unbreak Me", a beautifully intimate worshipful track. The
quiet violin and piano parts accent this account of a seeking and pleading heart looking
for love and healing. It's a sweet song which really ought to be submitted for CHR adds.
Despite the occasional moments where instrumentals steal the show, Wake Up does just
that. Whether it's the loud stomping-on-toes of"Apathy" or the quiet beauty of "Unbreak
Me", you won't leave this one without a favorite track. View All Music And Book Reviews By LauraCC | View LauraCC's Profile
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