Christian Ingebrigtsen - Got To Be (album review)

Buy/stream Got To Be here (external link)

When you have crafted an enduring career in the music industry in the way that Christian Ingebrigtsen has, it is pretty much always the anniversary of something. 2017 sees the 15th anniversary of Christian's group A1's still excellent Make It Good album (if you haven't revisited it for a while, you should - brilliant pop songs that stand the test of time); this past Christmas saw 10 years since Christian released his charming Christmas album, Paint It White; and another 10 year anniversary occurs later this year, this time for his solo album, The Truth About Lies. Between these milestones, Christian has been busy reforming and gigging with A1, writing songs for other people and now, finally, releases his rather excellent fourth solo album, Got To Be. It is a collection of songs that eschews the current fads and trends of repetitive beats and cookie cutter dance sounds; instead the album is clearly driven by an honest integrity that shines through in each song. Lyrics and melody are key, swathed in textured, oft-complex arrangements that enhance the narrative of each track. Christian remains the heart and soul of each track, bringing stories to life with his mellifluous voice that seeks out every nuanced emotion. Even the cover art seems to accentuate the ethos of the album - a simple image of Christian, sleeves rolled up after a hard day in the studio yet satisfied with the work he has done. Immerse yourself in this experience because these are songs that will awaken dormant memories, soundtrack current experiences and be your go to songs for when your soul needs soothing in the future. Here are just some thoughts on the tracks contained within...

• Someone To Live For ~ The opening track often sets the tone for the album and Someone To Live For is just the right song. An elegant ballad, infused with country influences, driven by warm guitar and ornate piano. Chris sings of the purpose of realising how love will always elevate your life journey and that selflessly putting others before yourself will make the world a better place. There is an aching in his voice that seems to reflect the state of the world today and the timely need for such a universal message - it adds a level of pathos and emotion to the song that are almost tangible. Beautifully sung, it sends your heart soaring with hope just as your Got To Be journey begins...
• Still ~ This is a song about the juxtaposition of love vs. lust and how that can impact on a burgeoning relationship. There is an off-kilter groove that is wrapped in dramatic percussion, fluid piano riffs and enticing guitar licks. Christian's passionate vocal helps emphasise the gorgeous melody that the song has to offer - and he sings it with such yearning intensity that he becomes symbiotically at one with the complex arrangements. I like that the production hasn't taken an easy route - they've used non-traditional (for pop) chord progressions in a way that makes the music as vital as the lyrics for mirroring that internal struggle to identify how you feel about someone.
• Break Me ~ Heartache and hurt has oft yielded great art and that is certainly the case with the elegiac Break Me. The effulgent piano (surely, other than Christian, Got To Be's most valuable player?!) serve to demonstrate how the sunshine in the world continues even when your soul is overcast with darkness and shadows. It makes Christian's sorrow even more palpable, particularly when he reminisces about what could have been. It feels like the musical manifestation of lying awake in the middle of the night and collecting the thoughts in your head, just perhaps more eloquently than most of us could manage. This will sound just as organic and raw (in the best possible way) in twenty years as it does now.
• Perfect Day ~ It's not all doom and gloom, however, and perhaps the night's introspection of Break Me has lead to a new attitude for Christian. Perfect Day just has to be a summer single - it is the type of song that unites people, gets your fingers clicking, your hands clapping and your face smiling before he's even got to the first run through of the ebullient chorus. There is a giddy glee to Christian's singing that is all too infectious - giving you an endorphin rush of epic proportions. Whenever you are feeling blue, pop this song on, grab the one you love and shimmy. Bound to brighten your day. Less of a song and more of a public service announcement for the ages!
• You Can't Help It ~ Another uptempo gem, though with more of a driving rock beat than the song that precedes it. It speaks to any of us who have had friends/family/lovers who have made decisions based on the true desires of their heart - we may not always understand it, but following your dreams and passions sometimes means making difficult decisions. Christian is in absolution mode here, removing any vestiges of guilt and ensuring that singing along to the vibrant chorus feels like a cathartic release. Note, if Thomas Rhett released this song it would probably be top ten on the US Country charts for weeks on end. Christian should be afforded exactly the same level of success.
• Once I Had Wings ~ if this was a vinyl release, this would be the closing track of side one - and (like the opening track)the perfect song for the job. Once I Had Wings is an intimate song of self-reflection, regrets and realisation. Christian may have had his wings clipped by the rigours of life, but this song soars to the heavens and gives that glimmer of optimism that he will fly again. Of all the songs on the album, this is the one that perhaps reflects his boy band heritage the most - you can imagine four guys in suits, sitting on stools singing it with as much verve and intensity as Christian does. That is not to say its generic - far from it. Classic song structure is classic for a reason and this song will endure through the ages.
• Got To Be ~ The album's title track (and technically the start of vinyl side two) is another single-in-waiting. The type of song Take That would kill for, Christian has crafted a dynamic anthem with a chorus that lingers long after the song has finished. He peppers his message of picking yourself up and becoming a stronger, better person with layered harmonies, spirited vocal and a toe tapping groove that just makes you want to reach out and hug someone. Feel good vibes pervade the music (with inspiration from acts as diverse and legendary as Beach Boys and Elton John), meaning this song gets under your skin - and that you are more than happy for it to remain there.
• Rain On My Parade ~ Buoyant island rhythms and sunshine grooves percolate and bubble this song into existence. As refreshing as the ocean waves lapping onto the shore,
  or sunbeams dancing off a glistening lake, Rain On My Parade masks a melancholy message with this joyous instrumental. Christian sings of how life can seem perfectly fine and dandy, until someone comes in a stirs old feelings you thought were long since buried - and he sings it with a resignation that is not so much weary, but hints at a level of acceptance that indicates he might secretly want these feelings to blossom again. It is this type of intricacy and subtlety within his compositions that make this album as compelling as any novel with thousands more words.
• Best of Friends ~ If I may be as bold to say that Christian has his big Whitney/Mariah moment on this lofty track that is a testament (as the title suggests) to the power of the unconditional love that is most often found in lifelong friendships. Whether that friendship be romantic or not, Christian has persuasively articulated the sentiments and feelings that accompany this type of relationship. He inspires and uplifts, almost like he is singing a hymn (and certainly there are some gospel influences permeating the vocal and score). Raise your hands to the sky and preach, because fervent, poignant passion at its absolute finest. Play, then play it for your best friend (and try your best not to end up an emotional wreck).
• Grateful ~ Whoever picked the order of the tracklisting for this album did a tremendous job. It is a task that cannot be underestimated - songs need to flow into each other and keep a cohesive feel to the album. Got To Be does that from start to finish; Grateful, following on from Best of Friends, is a splendid example of why this works. There is a reverence and humility to Grateful that makes it feel like a confession, the quieter moments of thanks after the glorifying Best of Friends. Christian certainly knows how to master a melody and bend a note to maximum effect, yet never making it feel overwrought - it is evidence that this song was lived and breathed from conception to final version, making it a living piece of art that rewards with each successive listen.
• Shakespeare On The Dancefloor ~ when you have a title as catchy and emphatic as this one, you had better make sure you have the goods to back it up with! At this point of the album, Christian has more than earned your trust and more than delivers with this charming ditty. An intriguing, detailed instrumental complements the verbose lyrics that Christian performs with a spirited enthusiasm. Much like Still, he doesn't choose an easy arrangement for the track and this is fitting, as when did Shakespeare choose easy prose for his enduring body of work? The key ingredient for both Shakespeare and Mr Ingebrigtsen is making it accessible - and I can't help but think that Will would certainly approve of his name in this song.
• Be Strong ~ The album comes full circle with the final song. A recurrent theme has been one of clinging to hope, looking for the slither of sunshine and letting those around you lift you back to where you need to be. Be Strong is the coalescing of these narratives, closing the album with a song as heavenly and encouraging as the one that opened it. It rounds off a stellar collection of music that becomes your passport for everyday life - Christian's message and dreams shining through and taking you to cloud nine. Mr Ingebrigtsen, I salute you.