Music review: Kenny Chesney – 鈥楽ongs for the Saints鈥�
鈥淭his brokenness will heal/This weakness will be strong/Let鈥檚 lift our voice together as the saints go marching on,鈥� sings Kenny Chesney on the opening track of his latest album.
鈥淪ongs for the Saints鈥� serves as a love letter and source of encouragement to the people of the Virgin Islands who are rebuilding after Hurricane Irma devastated their little piece of paradise last year.
Chesney, who owns a home on St. John, began a relief fund called Love for Love City to offer assistance where it鈥檚 needed to help his neighbors recover from the damage left behind.
The new material perfectly reflects Chesney鈥檚 love for the island life and Jimmy Buffett influence he initiated back in 2008 with 鈥淟ucky Old Sun.鈥�
Being a huge fan of both Chesney and Buffett, it truly warms my heart to listen to songs penned from behind a cool pair of shades with a seemingly endless supply of white sand, clear blue water and cold refreshments to aid the process.
The 50-year-old Tennessee native and converted beach bum offers up 11 tracks about perseverance, hope, faith and love with the help of guest appearances by Buffett, Ziggy Marley and Mindy Smith.
鈥淕ot a Caribbean soul I can barely control/And some Texas hidden here in my heart,鈥� sings Buffett early in his career. I always thought this was also a fitting description of Chesney.
There are several comparisons that come to mind that link Chesney and Buffett on the new album.
On 鈥淓very Heart,鈥� Chesney compares the heart to an island that we are all trying to reach during the storms of life.
On 1981鈥檚 鈥淚sland,鈥� Buffett sings, 鈥淚sland I see you in the distance/I feel that your existence/Is not unlike my own.鈥�
Chesney鈥檚 鈥淧irate Song鈥� addresses the freedom of sailing the sea with Chesney declaring, 鈥淚 wish I was a pirate out there under my own flag/Running for no reason and no reason to turn back.鈥�
The 1974 鈥淎 Pirate Looks at 40鈥� finds Buffett expressing the same sentiment when he sings, 鈥淢other, mother ocean, I have heard you call/Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall.鈥�
The two singers even get together for a memorable version of Buffett鈥檚 鈥淭rying to Reason with Hurricane Season鈥� from 1974.
For me, the centerpiece of the album comes on the introspective 鈥淏etter Boat.鈥� 鈥淚 think I鈥檓 stronger than I was/I let God do what he does,鈥� announces Chesney on the stirring closing number that deals with self-examination and working hard every day to become a better person and more equipped to navigate life鈥檚 storms.
The overall mood of the album can be summarized in just a few lines from 鈥淕et Along.鈥� 鈥淲e ain鈥檛 perfect but we try/Get along while we can/Always give love the upper hand.鈥�
Words we all need to take to heart.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.