Yesterday I finally got to listen to the both of Ryan Kelly's albums, In Time (2010) and Life (2013).
I have to admit I was almost a little bit surprised by how much they're both great. Of course... I've expected that it's gonna be totally worth my time, because... It is Ryan Kelly after all. But this?! Wow.
The fact, that Ryan is an excellent singer, I've known since I heard him sing with Celtic Thunder. But now I've also found out that he's one hell of a composer and a writer.
Since the times, when I was maybe 15 years old and started listening to Bruce Springsteen, the most important thing about songs for me has been the lyrics. Because that's what Bruce is the best at - writing a story that touches your heart. And then he adds the music which stays with you for a long time after you heard the song. Ballads that have the ability to make you cry or smile just because they're so well-written and well-sung. Yeah, that's what Bruce does. When me and my best friend were on his concert in Prague in summer 2012 and he started singing The River, the only thing I was able to do was to hold my friend's hand and try so hard not to cry. Because Bruce's music and emotions are practically the same thing. Bruce is so important to me whether it is because of his lyrics or how great person he is or how amazing and unforgettable experience was his concert or just because it's one of the things I can share with my best friend. And I have to admit that since I discovered his music I've never found anything else that's so special and close to my heart. And let me tell you that I've found a lot of great music. Of course, Celtic Thunder has many songs that are really close to that (they made me cry too, right!), but I guess there is something about the fact that there has to be one singer who just sits down, writes a beautiful lyrics, then composes the music for it and sings it the way that you can see right through him. Just here we go! That's it, my soul, my heart, take it all! And that's the thing. You can just sit, shake your head however you want but you just can't believe that somebody was able to create something so beautiful.
And out of nowhere there was Ryan Kelly in my life. First with his one-hour Live Chats which I didn't see live of course but only from the recordings on YouTube, where I little by little started realising how amazing human being he is, dog lover (like me!), but most importantly what a huge talent he's got for music. And I thanked firstly Ryan for that he hasn't become an accountant (what he studied for) but he's chosen the music path for himself, and secondly I thanked God that he didn't take Ryan after that unfortunate accident in 2012 and left him here to us so Ryan's second (hopefully not last) album could have been created.
I'm so happy that I've discovered his music. I don't know how I could have lived without it for so long. But that's the thing that nobody really knows much about him (or Celtic Thunder) here in Czech Republic. So I'm really glad that I'm one of the chosen ones, that know about this irish gift from God (ha! I've said it! and I'm not ashamed of it!).
For a long time (before Ryan happened) I actually hadn't come by any album from one particular performer from which I'd love all the songs. Usually there are two or three I listened to once and then I'm skipping them 'cause I just don't like them as much as all the others.
But that's not Ryan's case. Every single song on both of his albums is somehow special to me. And let's be honest, in most of the cases it's mainly because of the lyrics and the story.
Let's start with his debut album In Time from 2010. In one of his Live Chats Ryan said that the inspiration for writing usually comes from his own life or lifes of the people around him. The whole album shows his great taste in music and you can see that he's inspired by various music influences, from irish music to acoustic music, rock or pop music. And all of that is coming together in eleven unforgettable songs.
Emily is a perfect choice for the first track of the album. Upbeat melody about broken heart - one of my favorite music combinations. Let's be honest, almost everyone can write a sad, slow ballad about how much it hurts when you're in love and it just somehow doesn't work. But just a few can put this kind of story into the melody that has a great faster rhythm and in some other cases it could actually be really positive. Of course, Ryan is one of those people. When it starts you're thinking "Look, this is probably gonna be really cool and positive song!" and when it ends, you're just like... "Damn! That broken heart hurts!"
Number two and this time it's more of a classical ballad about unfulfilled love called In Too Deep. It starts with a piano, then violin comes along. Ryan then sings with just a piano melody but just his voice is enough for you to feel... Lyrics are not so complicated but sometimes even just two lines are enough for your heart to do a backflip. I mean:
It's over now, what coulda been, can never be.
So I'll move on, I'll find a new song, I'll find a new me.
Like a knife to your heart. For me the best lyrics on the whole album, without a doubt. And I bet... Everyone went through the breakup that really hurts at least once in their lifetime. Everyone can empathize with this song. How it feels when you love someone and then you just make a mistake and everything is crumbling like a house of cards. But that's the life and what else you can do than shake it off and no matter how hard it is and how much it hurts you have to go on and find happiness somewhere else. That's what this song is about I guess and it's so important to me. Because you know how that old saying goes: what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. It's a cliche, I know, but it's true.
Next on the list is Make You Proud. Ryan's voice and acoustic quitar is all I can say about this song. Totally worth listening to it. I've already heard it like a million times and I'm still not bored with it. Every time I hear it I find a new part where my heart just melts. It reminds me of Emily a little bit. The chorus is the best part, and the last line in particular "All I wanna do is make you proud of me". Ryan's voice sounds really great there.
Heaven Bound follows. Very important song. I'd say it's almost like you MUST listen to this one. The one about how life is sometimes so unfair, especially to those who doesn't deserve it. Child abuse. Disgusting, right?! In one of Ryan's Live Chats somebody asked him if this song is written from his own experience. He said luckily no but he knew or knows someone who went through that. Which is sad but unfortunately there is more people like that. It's not nice. It's a bad thing. But I think we should talk about it more. And I'm applauding Ryan that he was so brave to write a song about it, and on top of that he did such an amazing job doing it. It touches your heart, whether it is the lyrics and the topic itself or just how beautiful the song is. I love the melody. Ryan sings like god. He gives everything into it. And maybe because of that or beacause of how amazing and accurate the lyrics are, sometimes I'd say Ryan sings it from his own experience. Not that I'd want this to happen to him, no way! But this song is just one of those that can make you cry if you really really listen to them. And it starts with the few first lines:
The tiles are cold,
nipping at my feet,
I just want to be asleep.
I'm ten years old.
Another night assault.
Is it really all my fault?
...
I wish that his grave would take my pain.
I'd bury it there and start again.
For memories like that don't fade away.
That ten-year old boy still cries today.
...
I don't blame them all,
but those who eyes were blind
thought to leave this wreck behind.
I guess we should sometimes open our eyes and observe more what's happening to people around us and don't be so apathetic to that. Thanks Ryan for this one!
A quitar, a piano and Ryan's voice and we're on number five Go If You Want To. Some kind of rock ballad about that you can't step twice into the same river. At least that's what I see in it. And I've got a lot of experience with that. Or rather with that I didn't follow this rule even if I should have. That's the truth! Trust me, this rule really applies! Past is in the past for a reason, there's no purpose in going back, it never ends well. When it didn't work once, it won't work on the second attempt. This song brings a lot of memories. Not all good but I'm still grateful for them because they made me who I am now. I could listen to this song for hours on repeat, if only for the nostalgia.
Next to the number six is super cool upbeat love song Secret Bit of Right from Wrong. It's happy, it's got a spark, Ryan's voice sounds amazing, of course (he could sing a phone book and it would sound perfect). He dedicated it to his fans and it's got a great video on YouTube:
So catchy, it won't leave your head for a while!
Lucky number seven belongs to Get Over You, which got me! This song is so much about me... Honestly I don't know what reasons Ryan had for writing it but I'm oh so glad he did. This thing means so much to me. Because sometimes you just make a mistake, I've made a lot of them, and you hate yourself for that. And suddenly the person who brings you down the most is you. And I went through times when I just didn't like myself at all, I didn't believe that I would have ever done something right, didn't know what to do, where to go next. I'm so grateful to Ryan for this song. I've got a feeling that somebody really gets me. And now I also know that all bad times can be overcome and someday one person who cares about you just walks into your life and proves that you're not as bad as you think. And for that one person you are perfect.
Number eight is for Broken Things. Another one about broken heart... Maybe you think that Ryan's got a lot of similar songs. But really! Listen to this album. In every song you can find something different, something new... New message, new story. I love all of them because every song stands for something else. I can empathize with every single one of them, but in different ways. And of course, every song has its own beautiful melody. And I could listen to Ryan's voice forever.
You can have my heart
If you don't mind broken things
You can have my love
If you don't mind these tears.
Ryan tries to tell you that no matter how much it hurts someday you will meet somebody who dries your tears, mends your broken heart, gives you everything they've got and leads you to your happiness.
Ninth track is called Not Far Apart and it's kinda christmassy and very sad for me. It's been more than ten years since my grandpa died and I still miss him very much. And around Christmas the most, that's for sure. So every time I hear this song I think of him. And Ryan's voice with piano and violin in the background is sometimes strangely beautifuly broken as if he was about to start crying which is really sweet but it just makes me want to cry even more. Simply wonderful, heartbreaking christmassy ballad. One of few Christmas songs that always make my eyes teary.
Perfect Man is kinda rock-swing thing that touches your heart and leaves you speechless. Tragic story about love that nobody really gets. Ryan's voice sometimes goes into that beautiful velvet growl which makes my heart skip a beat. I don't really know why but his voice reminds me of the song Bad, Bad Leroy Brown. I can see it quite clearly... Chicago, downtown, you're sitting in the bar, sipping from your drink and listening to live music. Back at the stage there are two background vocalists, both wearing beautiful glittered long dress and up front there is a singer, the main star of the night, in expensive tuxedo with a hat sitting low on his forehead and with a small bittersweet smile he's singing this song about the perfect man who hurts you but you still love him.
And I'm lighting a cigarette, closing my eyes and enjoying the song.
Last, eleventh song of the album: The Village That They Call "The Moy". Ryan pays a tribute to his home village and musically he's going back to Ireland too. Amazing song! I love it (like all the others). I totally get Ryan. Every time I hear this song I think of the place where I came from. And even though I love living in Prague, the big city, I'll always love going home, to the village. All the childhood memories when I was running around the forest and fields with other kids and we were laughing and enjoying life with no worries. I'm grateful for where I am now but I love the memories, I wouldn't change them, they'll stay with me forever and they are beautiful. There's no place like home.
That's it for today. I will be adding something about the second album soon.
Have a great day, enjoy the beginning of the summer and listen to some great music. For example Ryan Kelly! You won't regret.
bye.
And if you want to buy the album you can here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ryankelly1
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