Music review: Rick Astley – 鈥楤eautiful Life鈥�
With a career spanning more than three decades and over 40 million records sold worldwide, Rick Astley solidifies his music comeback with 鈥淏eautiful Life.鈥�
The 52-year-old English crooner of infectious dance-pop follows up the success of 2016鈥檚 鈥�50,鈥� with a new album of 12 tracks full of bubbly hooks and feel-good vibes all penned by Astley and sure to keep fans smiling and singing along.
It was 1987 when Astley burst on the music scene with an unforgettable debut release that featured the hits 鈥淣ever Gonna Give You Up鈥� and 鈥淭ogether Forever.鈥� Now that I鈥檝e mentioned these two tracks, I dare you to try to keep the catchy melodies out of your head for the remainder of the day. It鈥檚 been a week and I still can鈥檛 stop humming the chorus, 鈥淣ever gonna give you up/Never gonna let you down/Never gonna run around and desert you.鈥�
Fortunately, Astley鈥檚 latest work provides some new singable content for me to focus on during my drive to work.
The message of the album can be best summed up on the title track opener with Astley declaring, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a beautiful life if you give it a chance/It will make you dance.鈥�
鈥淐hance to Dance鈥� immediately follows with an invitation to cut loose on the dance floor to allow the problems of the day to slowly fade away one beat at a time.
Astley delivers a number of tender love songs such as 鈥淪he Makes Me,鈥� 鈥淪hivers鈥� and 鈥淟ast Night on Earth鈥� that emphasize the life-changing power of love with a gentle reminder to cherish every minute of every day with the person who holds your heart.
The highlight of the album comes during Astley鈥檚 vocal performance on 鈥淭ry.鈥� The inspirational confessional is a soaring ballad about having the faith and courage to push on when hopes and dreams seem shattered and turned to dust. It鈥檚 a moving reminder that something wondrous and beautiful can indeed rise out of the ashes when we remain steadfast in our convictions.
鈥淭he Good Old Days鈥� brings the album to a nostalgic finish with Astley reminiscing about his early musical influences and how the music saved his life every single night as he listened to the stereo under the covers of his bed.
Astley鈥檚 reflections on a blessed life and all its beauty make for an album that never lets you down.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.