Music Review:  This Time Around – Tedashii
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Tedashii follows his 2014 album Below Paradise with this 7-song EP.  He describes the project as completely different from anything he’s ever done before, but still authentically who he is. It features the kind of optimism that comes from overcoming the tragedy of losing his one-year old son in 2013. The project shows his growth in all ways – the sound, lyrics and themes. It shows his growth as an individual and artist, his progression as an artist and being himself.  Although he is still dealing with the tragedy, the new music exemplifies who he has become after everything he has gone through.

Tedashii worked with several producers on this effort, including GAWVI.  Three songs were released prior to the EP release date, the first of which was “Be Me”, produced by GAWVI, in which he states “No matter what happens, I’m still unashamed”.

The second single released, my favorite on the EP, and favorite song thus far this year, is the celebratory “Jumped Out the Whip”, which he debuted at the 2015 Dove Awards. It is also produced by GAWVI.   Watch the video here. The third single was “808”, a slow jam that is a love song for his wife. She makes his heart beat like an 808 drum machine.

You, you got my heart
You got my heart goin’ down in flames
And it’s beatin’
And it’s beatin’ like an 808
Like boom, boom, boom, boom, boom  

The other new songs are:

This Time Around – opens with news clips from today’s headlines, with him singing that with all that is going on in the world these days, we can make it better this time around. He’s tired of all of the funerals taking place around him. He’s realistic, but optimistic as well about a better future.  This is a slow jam that includes some backing female vocals.

I Get It – he really brings it on this track, which features some additional vocals. He gets it, and hopes we do too.

In My Life – a very different track from the others, this acapella number features a female lead vocal, with effective backing vocals. She sings that as long as you’re here with me, I can do anything. Though creative and different, it’s still my least favorite of the seven new songs, and perhaps the one misstep here.

I’m Good – Tedashii sings lead and backing vocals over a guitar backing. It’s an optimistic closer with a very catchy chorus that will leave you humming it throughout the day and will sound great live in concert. Behind “Jumped Out the Whip”, it’s my favorite of the new songs musically, and my favorite lyrically.

• Watch Bono and Eugene Peterson talk about their common love of the Psalms.
  http://www.relevantmagazine.com/slices/watch-bono-and-eugene-peterson-talk-about-psalms
• Jumped Out the Whip Video. Here is the brand new video of my favorite song of the year, “Jumped Out the Whip” by Tedashii.
• Illuminate.  Listen to “Illuminate” a new songs from Lecrae, featuring Dria.
• Melancholy Mood. Listen to “Melancholy Mood”, the first song released from Bob Dylan’s upcoming Fallen Angels
• Ride with You. Did you see Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Dion perform this song from his 30^th solo album New York is My Home recently on The Tonight Show?
• How was “In Christ Alone” Written? Watch this interview with the songwriters Stuart Townend and Keith Getty on the 15^th anniversary of this wonderful modern hymn.
• Like Any Prince. Jon Bloom writes about follow Minnesota native Prince on the night of his death.  Denny Burk adds his thoughts about Prince here.  Mike Cosper adds his thoughts here. Watch Bruce Springsteen open his April 23 show in Brooklyn by covering Prince’s “Purple Rain”.
• Artists and Poets. Watch this talk by Lecrae, in which he inspires us all to see the magic inside a personal story put to poetry and a poem put to song.
• Carrie Underwood on American Idol Finale. Carrie Underwood performed “Something in the Water” with a brief interlude of “Amazing Grace” on the series finale of American Idol.
• Watch the video of the Newsboys song “Hero”, from their new album Love Riot.

Music Quotes:  

• People get mad when you don’t fit in their boxes. Boxes were made for products not people. Lecrae
• If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him? Crowder

  I Saw Her Standing There – Paul McCartney and Jimmy Fallon

Watch the host of The Tonight Show join the former Beatle onstage in Vancouver April 20 for the Beatles classic “I Saw Her Standing There”.

Author: Bill Pence

I’m Bill Pence – married to my best friend Tammy, a graduate of Covenant Seminary, St. Louis Cardinals fan, formerly a manager at a Fortune 50 organization, and in leadership at my local church. I am a life-long learner and have a passion to help people develop, and to use their strengths to their fullest potential. I am an INTJ on Myers-Briggs, 3 on the Enneagram, my top five Strengthsfinder themes are: Belief, Responsibility, Learner, Harmony, and Achiever, and my two StandOut strength roles are Creator and Equalizer. My favorite book is the Bible, with Romans my favorite book of the Bible, and Colossians 3:23 and 2 Corinthians 5:21 being my favorite verses. Some of my other favorite books are The Holiness of God and Chosen by God by R.C. Sproul, and Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper. I enjoy music in a variety of genres, including modern hymns, Christian hip-hop and classic rock. My book Called to Lead: Living and Leading for Jesus in the Workplace and Tammy’s book Study, Savor and Share Scripture: Becoming What We Behold are available in paperback and Kindle editions on Amazon. amazon.com/author/billpence amazon.com/author/tammypence