SINGLE REVIEW: JENN BOSTIC - KEEPIN' ON
Oh my word! - on our review for Jenn Bostic's last single #TEAMw21 did mention that her songwriting did seem to be becoming a little insular however with "Keepin' On" she has kicked off the shoes, put on the thigh high boots and teamed with Jeff Cohen and Cedric Israel to produce a single so bright and so vibrant you may need sunglasses to even listen to it!!! Previewed at this years Buckle & Boots festival, this song has everything thrown at it, backing singers, a brass section, a relentless feel good beat, and it has resulted in something so glorious that you want to celebrate being alive - it is that uplifting.
Even before listening to a single beat, it is also worth noting the cover, with Jenn looking over her shoulder, and the passing crowd not knowing whether to also take a picture, look faintly embarrassed or try to remain cool while taking a quick sideways glance. This and other pictures from the same session seemed to uncover an array of "characters!"
The opening of a guitar and keyboard nicely set the scene and even a robotic sounding clapping beat was not enough to dissuade us from liking this tune, for soon Jenn arrives and is firing out those lyrics with purpose, nailing down every individual word, each one undercut by a drumbeat.
"Hard days, long nights
Stay in this fight
You're closer than you think you are
Deep breath, What's next?
Heart beats in your chest
Didn't come this far to only come this far"
Things immediately start to happen with the next set of lyrics, which sees a choir of backing singers echo each line immediately after Jenn has finished singing it. This is celebratory, a reminder that life is for living.
"Don't give up
Even when you're down
I know it's tough
But you're not six feet underground!"
If you weren't already on your feet, then Jenn has the answer in a chorus that is simply irresistible
"It ain't over till it's over
It ain't over till it's up
And when you feel yourself getting older
God you've only just begun
You got to keep on keeping on,
Keep on keeping on,
Keep on keeping on"
By the end of the chorus, the full on brass section, think Earth Wind & Fire and you won't go far wrong, has turned the sound into an optimistic upbeat exuberant wall of sound.
"Some days out of tune
Get nothing done
No matter what you do
I guess you could say
That makes you human
Dust it off and start again
We don't break we only bend
If you're not in the game
You're only losing
A instrumental break allows suitably celebratory solos on both organ and guitar.
From there on in it is pure celebration, it feels like it should come with a huge video of Jenn dancing through the streets with an uplifted crowd following her like a happiness Pied Piper. Surely the feel good song of the summer!
