Thoughts on "My Story"

It's been more than a month since Jenny Berggren's album, "My Story", was released and I haven't been able to properly write down my thoughts on the album - until now.

I've been playing the album in my car and in my stereo for more than thirty days and it's not lost any of its charm. It seems like I hear something new with every listen, even after a month. Actually, I'm listening to it now and the music still feels just as fresh as the first listen.

I think this album will be one of the few albums I own that I can revisit again and again without the sound wearing thin or getting old. It's easily on track to become a foundation album in my collection.

Click here for previews of the songs on Jenny Berggren's website.

Here's my take on the individual songs:

Intro: The opening doesn't give many clues as to what this album will hold for the listener. Will it be dance? Or rock? Or pop? Or? It doesn't give away much. The intro is a little foreboding and a little mysterious. Yet, the words point to, and harbor, a sense of quiet safety. The specifics of the future are unknown, yet there persists an underlying sense of guidance.

Free Me: This song breaks out of nowhere. First, you're in the intro wondering what to expect, then you get thrown into this track. This album version is more melodic than its original version. The lyrics are clearer than the original. The guitar hooks are clever and get their due by being lifted closer to the front of the track on this version. The song is still fresh and crisp after ten months of listening. It still packs a powerful draw.

Living in a Circus: If anyone is still trying to classify the album into one category at this point in their listening journey, they've probably all but given up with this curious intro. The colorful circus sounds add a bit of playfulness to the sound, but also add a touch of seriousness to the lyrics. The song doesn't contain much downtime in terms of sound. It moves steadily along, giving the listener a sense of of constant travel with no let up.

Spend this Night: The first song on the album that echoes the Ace of Base sound. The absence of the beat at the beginning of the song works hand in hand with the lyrics because it introduces a strong sense of anticipation to the song. Its placement also works to heighten this sense throughout the song. The vocal flourishes add to the sense of desire that threads through the lyrics and music. The sensuality in the song comes from its lyrical restraint. The words are not overly revealing or crude and that's the main reason why the sense of anticipation and desire is so strong and deeply woven throughout the entire track.

Dying to Stay Alive: Another song with an Ace of Base pedigree. The guitars, dark lyrics, and low vocals at the beginning make the listener think this one is going to be a rock track. The song takes a quick turn during the chorus and shifts to dance. The guitars, vocals, and synths twist into a rock/dance hybrid. This song is a strong candidate for a floor filler at the clubs with its driving bass and memorable chorus. The chorus is also infectious and demands that the listener sing along, whether they want to or not.

Numb: The backwards vocals at the beginning sets an ominous, foreboding tone. The sound of the wind creates an atmosphere of unknowing. The beat is reminiscent of a mechanical device, a cold piece of medical equipment. It's the sound a life-support machine. The musical elements serve as a foundation for the lyrics. The lyrics are open, raw, and honest. The vocals are colored with emotion. When the bridge begins, the bass and beat drops down to reveal and highlight the vocals. The dropping out of these elements is powerful, as it evokes a sense of loss and a sense that everything has stopped, including the heart and the breath. The only thing that is left is the person and the pain. The powerful, emotional vocals are almost overwhelming at times and the listener can almost sense the hurt within themselves. The song ends just as it began - with the backward vocals and with no resolution.

Gotta Go: The kick from Numb to Gotta Go is a startling one. The energy revs up several notches with the track change. The beat is no longer slow and sad, but determined and always pushing forward. The song is a fast mover and the energy never lets up. The drum beats hit at just the right moments and do an incredible job emphasizing the urgency of the situation. The lyrics are strong, on target, and honest. The vocals add punch and grit to the lyrics. The emotion in the vocals convey the feelings in the words.

Here I Am: This song always has a celebration feel for me. The beat slowly builds and suddenly breaks into the vocals. Once the chorus hits, it becomes a declaration - a joyous triumph of celebrating who you are in the scheme of life. Songs like these were made for singing at the top of your lungs. It has a great beat, with singable lyrics that everyone can relate to in some way.

Give Me the Faith: The piano opens with a sense of contemplation and a touch of apprehension. The notes then slide into a sort of quiet, gentle solitude. The lyrics reveal deep thoughts and questions. The song is framed as a sincere and hopeful prayer. The vocals are heartfelt, revealing, and open. The vocal layering adds even more emotional punch to the song. The song is extremely effective because it unravels a difficult situation and displays it so understanding and healing can begin.

Beat of My Heart: This one has a little Latin flavor to the beat and the synths. There's also an 80s feel to the synths. The intertwining of the main vocals with the backing vocals is done well and adds a further dimension to the song. The inner-thoughts revealed in the lyrics provide the listener with a different perspective.

Air of Love: This song is the opposite of Numb. Or the answer to it. The beat is not cold or mechanical. It's organic. It's living. It's fresh. The song catches you, carries you along, and energizes you at the same time. The lyrics and vocals are strong and confident. The music is upbeat and happy. And those high notes are incredible. The song radiates security and wonder. It makes me want to dance and sing along. It makes me want to put it on repeat - forever.

Natural Superstar: The whistle stands out from the first listen and it's hard not to whistle along on subsequent listens. The guitar and synths have a little 70s feeling to them. The lyrics pull you in from the first phrase and make you listen closely. The song is a good social commentary on the appearance-fixated world we live in. And it redirects our focus to our natural beauty. It's a fun song, with a great beat and an important message.

Here I Am Remix: I think the beat nicely frames the vocals. The echo is a nice touch and the drums add some playfulness to the remix.

Going Home: The opening is captivating in its simplicity with the violin, the guitar and the vocals. This song has a singer-songwriter feel from start to end. It feels incredibly Southern and I think it could run on "New Country" music stations in the US. The vocals are clean and clear and expressive. The sound is warm and joyful. The song moves along at just the right pace. It feels like you're traveling home and are almost where you want to be. You're just around the bend. The break into the chorus is powerful and unforgettable, while the bridge captures the essence of longing and hope. When I listen to this song, I always shake my head because I can't believe it's so good.

Overall: "My Story" is a diverse and multifaceted album. You can listen and dance. You can listen and contemplate. You can listen, dance, and contemplate. It's both serious and fun at the same time. The album contains a wide blend of music styles from rock and pop to dance and acoustic and more.

I think the tracklisting of the album is a bit jarring. To step from "Here I Am" into "Give Me the Faith" is a type of cold shock. One minute you're dancing and singing along to this sort of anthem, the next minute you're plunged to the depths of your emotion. I suppose I was expecting a storybook instead of a story. Many storybooks have a clear path. They contain an intro, a rising action, a climax, a falling action, and a resolution. Storybooks progress through these steps without fail. This album doesn't follow that pattern. Instead, the action rises high and comes crashing down. It climbs back up and stands tall, only to fall again. Very much like life itself.

And it seems this tracklist portrays just that. Life. You can have an incredible day, then be thrown into chaos. You can be humming along during one week and be met with unbelievable circumstances the next week. Life is a little unpredictable and that's how I would classify this tracklisting. It's a little chaotic, a little unpredictable. You're not sure what you'll find next.

And maybe the tracklist is a little echo, a little reverberation of the story that is "My Story". A story that says the future is unknown, but no matter what happens in life, whether it's good or bad, high or low, triumph or tragedy, there's a peace threading its way through everything and a guiding hand showing the way.