Customer Reviews

If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Rebecca St. James is a veteran of the Christian music scene with a couple of gold records, a Grammy Award, numerous prestigious titles including "Favorite Female Artist" named by CCM magazine and "Best Female Artist of 2005" at Campus Life Magazine, and a recipient of Christian Music's highest honor, the Dove Award. She is a spokesperson for sexual purity and a respected author as well. These are amazing accomplishments for one at the ripe old age of 28 and yet she says "I'm not called to be a star...God has called me to be a servant."

St. James recently released "If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something" (11/22/05). The last CD with original material from St. James goes way back to "Transform", released in 2000. There have been a couple of worship CDs along the way and a greatest hits package, and some tracks found on various compilations CDs, but at last we have something new and original. "If I Had One Chance..." is well worth the wait.

Filled with solid, scripture-backed lyrics, (a St. James trademark), and strong music that is thoughtfully produced, this CD is destined to help add to St. James collections of awards.

This CD was touted before its release as a return to the "rock-style of her "God" album", and that was welcome news to this reviewer. After numerous listenings, I would say that yes, it captures some of the raw rock edge of the "God" album, but more so, it is a combination of that raw rock sound St. James burst onto the CCM scene with almost ten years ago and the mature symphonic-layered, melodic hooks that made her "Pray" CD a stand-out. It is loaded with powerful, heart piercing lyrics that explore the extravagant, deep and passionate love that God has for us.

"God Help Me" kick starts the album with a raw edged guitar and keyboard mix driven by a bass line that puts an exclamation point on each line of the chorus, "God Help Me!" The steady 2 and 4 drumming keeps the song rocking along until the bridge when St. James, the singer, is left sounding almost vulnerable, crying out to God to help her, with a simple and quiet line from the keyboard. There is a gradual build from that point adding cymbal, guitar, cello and full band carrying the cry for help to end the track.

This well balanced CD contains more guitar driven tracks such as "Alive", "You Are Loved" (which took me back to "I'll Carry You" from her "Pray" album), "Love Being Loved by You", "Beautiful Stranger", and "I Can Trust You". These are songs that get the blood pumping and the volume turned up! "Shadowlands" is a tune that waltzes along in 6/8 time with a very melodic line from the lead guitar that lifts the main vocal melody and holds it up high, as if lifting up an offering, a thank you for the hope God always provides to those who love him.

"I Need You" is introduced with symphonic stringed instruments that segue nicely into the poetic and melodic, and at times, breathy heart song to God. With help from Tobymac on "Thank You", St. James sings over a funky, bass driven beat accented with rhythm guitar. I find this tune a bit repetitive and one of the very few lowlights on "If I Had One Chance..."

"Take All of Me" starts with sustained chords on the keyboard over which St. James sings her breathy prayer. The drums then pick it up and the song is birthed into unapologetic rock anthem of a worship song as she professes her unashamed love for Jesus Christ.

Tour mates Barlow Girl lend vocal support and blended harmonies to "Forgive Me", a piano ballad with floating string arrangements accompanying the melody that draw on the deepest emotion of a hurting soul. The last track, "Lest I Forget", keeps a haunting slow beat and soft chords that support a simple melody. This song crescendos, or builds, to a climax and ends with the signature St. James whisper, an encouragement to always remember how good God has been to us.

This CD is well worth the wait. St. James gets credit for her hand in penning all but one song on this, possibly her best, CD. The amazing talent and spiritual maturity, of this young woman, including her joys and vulnerabilities, is laid right out for world to listen to and embrace. A complete album in that it offers lyrics grounded in scripture and personal experience that are well presented through excellent music. It has a raw rock edge, as well as polished ballads that serve to touch the emotional center in all of us. Great to listen to while driving with the windows rolled down and the music cranked up, and yet, one can also curl up in a warm blanket and worship the Lord through heart prayers spawned through the quiet and personal songs St. James shares.

Rebecca St. James has spent most of the past four years enjoying her success of "Wait For Me" with a book, greatest hits album etc...I have to admit I wondered what her next release would be like. Did she get lazy or was the extra time spent making her next album going to make it better than ever? The answer is easily: it's better than ever.

Each song on this cd is stout and solid and ready to be enjoyed. I can't pick out a favorite as each song I thoroughly enjoy. This cd will make a great gift for every Christian music fan on your Christmas shopping list as well as a great gift for a birthday and a great gift for yourself. I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this cd! I plan on getting this cd for people on my Christmas list as I know they'll enjoy it. I'm going to buy it from my local Christian bookstore however as I want to support local Christian organizations.

This is so awesome! The songs are so powerful - from the desperateness of "God Help Me" to the hopeful "You Are Loved" to the simplicity of "Thank You" - and the music is great. This is NOT a headache maker, as some might say, and the singing is wonderful, though quite different from previous St. James albums. All in all, this CD is great! A reccomendation for ANY Christian, wheather they like St. James or not!

This DVD is so good! I love it! Here's my rating selction by selection:

1. CREATION WEST CONCERT SONGS
-God Help Me 5/5
-Lamb of God 5/5
-God 5/5
-Alive 5/5
-Wait For Me 5/5
-You Are LOved 5/5
2. ACOUSTIC TRACKS
-God Help Me 5/5
-You Are Loved 5/5
3. PHOTO GALLERY
Has picture shoots of her wearing:
-a red dress
-pink shirt and brown jacket
-victorian dress in a glass circle
-yellow shirt and tie
-gray shirt
-gray shirt w/ hood
-ball gown
Also has "You Are Loved" playing in the background!

Note: This is a limited edition, so get now (also comes w/ CD)!

Hope this review helped you!

Love in Christ,
Hoogler

I looked forward to this CD all year and was thrilled when I got it. It's her best with "Transform" almost right behind it.
The title of the CD comes from the song "You Are Loved" and the story behind it was on a friend of Rebecca's with whom they had lost contact, and after talking to a mutual friend, she found out he had really fallen away and was deep into drugs. She wrote the song and the message became the theme of the whole album - God's love and living it.
The songs "God Help Me", "Shadowlands", "Beautiful Stranger" and "Forgive Me" also enforce that same theme with amazing credibility.
I have to say, I love every song, with the exception of "Thank You", but even that is slightly growing on me.

This is a wonderful CD! I never really listened to Rebecca St. James in the past, but when I was on the computer one day, I came across this CD. And for some reason, I just bought it. I hadn't even heard any of the songs before. I don't regret my decision to buy this CD at all! I've listened to it every day since it came in the mail. Each song is written beautifully, every one talking in some way about Jesus, some even about her personal struggles with the Lord. I highly recommend this CD for anyone! There's probably a more rock edge to it than her other CD's, but I like that. Great CD!

This is another great album in the tradition of Rebecca St. James.

She has combined deeply spiritual lyrics with a great sound. Rebecca certainly has an amazing voice and it delivers a sonic delight with this collection.

There are several standout songs. I particularly like Shadowlands, Take All of Me, and Love Being Loved By You. The lyrics on a couple of the songs are incredibly moving.

One other song that really deserves special notice is 'Beautiful Stranger' which is a tribute to the great work done by Compassion International. I would recommend this song, this album, and helping Compassion by donating money or sponsoring a child.

I really enjoyed this C.D. by Rebecca St. James. She has a great voice and has wonderful lyrics. Overall just a great C.D. to worship God with.

Rebecca St. James is my favorite female singer. She has been for more than 13 years. I bought this CD back in 2005, but never wrote a review on it. She gave inspiration and wisdom in times that I needed to be inspired and enriched. This is an excellent artist with the most important message anyone can hear.

This project started out with a band on "God Help Me." It showed plenty of variety including guest appearances by rapper Toby Mac and the girls group Barlow Girl.

My favorite tracks were "God Help Me", "Alive", "You Are Loved" (I love the lyrics on assurance), "I Need You", "Forgive Me", and "Lest I Forget".