Fall Back in Love
Posted September 15, 2014
By KevinDavis_NRT, Staff Reviewer
The first time I heard Plumb's song "God-Shaped Hole," released at the end of the 90s, I immediately connected to the catchy melody and poignant lyrics. Throughout her career, she has continued to entertain and challenge listeners, looking to point us to the One who can fill that "God-shaped hole in all of us."
Plumb's album Need You Now has been one of my favorite albums to savor in years. The combination of Tiffany Arbuckle-Lee's incredible vocal range and her compelling and relevant lyrics have never been more perfectly combined than with this stellar and flawless masterpiece, which was my 2013 Album of the Year. Plumb's longtime producer Matt Bronleewe perfectly describes her unique sound as "raw, lyrically introspective vocals floating across an epic soundscape."
Need You Now (Deluxe Edition), available everywhere September 16, is a collection of powerful and emotional songs including the four new songs "Starting Over," "Fall Back In," "Faithful" and single "Lord, I'm Ready Now." They are songs about the restoration of her marriage after a separation from her husband Jeremy, also chronicled in her book NEED YOU NOW: A Story of Hope.
"Beautiful" perfectly displays the reality of marriage with the poignant lyrics "Oh I don't deserve you ‘cause I always hurt you / then you say the perfect thing / you're beautiful, so beautiful to me." I've been married for twenty years, and the "crazy cycle" of marriage is one that hinges on compromise and asking for forgiveness. Just like in "Real Life Fairytale," Plumb captures the marriage dynamic in a catchy song. Now a mother of three, she seasons her lyrics with her life experience, making them even more relatable to listeners.
The unity message of "One Drop" is also my prayer for my marriage: for God to be at its center. This song is an offering of submission to God's supernatural ability to keep together what would otherwise fall apart. Christians in marriages need to stand up and pray "I need you, and you need me / left alone we will never be who we could be / so take my hand, and don't forget that we can do anything together."
"Starting Over" showcases Plumb's wonderful voice and celebrates the restoration of her marriage. It brings me to tears of joy as I sing along with Tiffany "I'm gonna love you with all that I've got / like it or not, no matter how hard / we can't change all the damage we've done / I'm for starting over." "Fall Back In" continues that theme with the beautiful description of how Tiffany's marriage was restored.
"Faithful" is also deeply moving, especially when Tiffany tenderly sings "You are faithful to me / I am not afraid no matter where I go / You will never leave me / in You I am home." As a father of three daughters and a chosen son of my Heavenly Father, I can't listen to this gorgeous song without being moved. The picture of God's unconditional love for us after all that we've done wrong is profoundly captured in the song.
"Lord, I'm Ready Now" has a catchy melody and reflects how I feel as a believer. Like "Need You Now" and "I Don't Deserve You," it is a wonderful song of encouragement and a prayer to ask God to break your pride, live redemption's story and move closer to who we're meant to be in Christ. God wants us to know that He's faithful to complete what's He's started in all of us who have put our hope and trust in Jesus. The song celebrates restoration with the lyrics "You called my name, I turned away / But now I am listening / I was so caught up in who I'm not / Can you please forgive me?"
Closing Thoughts:
As a Christian father and husband, I can really relate to Plumb's songs about anxiety, marriage and parenthood. Tiffany Arbuckle-Lee is one of my favorite writers in all of Christian music because her songs are so emotional, vulnerable and authentic. These songs come right from her heart and express how many of us feel. All of these songs inspire, challenge and move me.
Need You Now (Deluxe Edition) is a soothing and stirring listening experience, with the additional tracks beautifully complementing the original release material. Every song is catchy and focused on higher truths that we all need to hear and pass on. Plumb is an anointed songwriter and singer, and she has a profound way of piercing my soul with her poignant words, tender singing and inspirational truths. I get welled up singing along with several of these vulnerable songs, especially "Beautiful," "One Drop," "I Want You Here," "Unlovable," "Need You Now," "Don't Deserve You," "Starting Over," "Faithful" and "Lord, I'm Ready Now." All of these majestically beautiful offerings celebrate Plumb's "Real Life Fairytale" and stir listeners to "Fall Back In" love with God and spouses.
Song to Download Now:
"Lord, I'm Ready Now" (Get it on iTunes here.) View All Music And Book Reviews By KevinDavis_NRT | View KevinDavis_NRT's Profile
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