If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something, Compact Disc [CD]

If you had one chance to deliver a message to someone what would you say? Rebecca St. James explores this question on her first new studio album in several years. Hearing the opening chords of the first single, "Alive", you know Rebecca has returned to the music scene with an explosive blend of rock and pop. Additionally, you can hear the urgency in her voice as she sings songs of hope (You Are Loved), God's promises (Shadowlands), and surrender (God Help Me). After listening to If I Had One Chance To Tell You Something, you'll hear why her music and message connects with listeners in profound ways.

A truly rocking revelation

“She’s untouchable.” Frankly, that’s how a lot of us felt about veteran songstress Rebecca St. James throughout the first leg of her spotless and somewhat cliché-prone career. We liked her: It just didn’t seem as if she struggled alongside the rest of us mortals—or maybe she was just liberally sprinkled with fairy dust? There was faith, there was encouragement, there was victory in Jesus, but there wasn’t a whole lot of Rebecca underneath the triumphant delivery and whitewashed words.

Until now. After a trip to L’Abri and the kind of painful soul-searching that defies platitudes, she has finally given us something raw—and something rock. With this record, Rebecca hits a nerve—and suddenly, she’s on the same level as her listeners, fragile, human, lonely, tired. She launches out with lyrics so honest, they could give even Alanis Morissette a complex: “From the deep I cry/I need change in my life…I’m running out of time to live, running out of love to give, running out of life within…God help me…I don’t care who stares/I never want to be what I’ve been again” (“God Help Me”). Whoa.

If her breathy vocals seemed demure in the past, against these punchier rock arrangements Rebecca pulls forth an impassioned delivery that makes the electric guitars sound tame, notably on the second track, “Alive.” Entwining throaty guitar riffage with an adrenaline-charged melody, the chorus locks in listeners with her first belting of “You make me come alive.” Just as convincing, the standout “I Need You” bursts forth with a ballroom string arrangement and a gentle Rebecca crooning “I hide no more behind the mask/What you see is what I am,” but morphs into a haunting, urgent plea that represents the emotional crux of the record. Clearly, Something very, very good is happening here.

The record then moves into more worshipful, though still unapologetically rocking, territory. The irresistible chorus of “Beautiful Stranger” describes hearing the voice of God calling out through the questions and pain of life. Moving piano ballad “Forgive Me” offers the most beautiful singing from Rebecca in recent memory. And the eighth track, “Love Being Loved By You,” transforms an oft-tiresome subject into a tingly worship anthem that could shake a stadium: “Jesus, You are so wonderful/I cannot live without your love.” Just for kicks, it would also make a mighty fine techno mix.

To be fair, the rap-inflected “Thank you”—while its sincerity is undoubted—leans toward Sunday School-esque with a simplistic refrain of “Thank you thank you thank you thank you, I’ve got two words for you…I’ve got three words more than thank you/I love you.” On the whole, however, this is the watershed record of Rebecca’s career so far, and to miss this disc is to miss the artist she was born to be.

ANDREA BAILEY- CCMMagazine.com

Average Rating:

8 of 9 Reviews Showing:(View All Reviews)

Reviewed by Eryn (peru (originally USA)), February 02, 2007

This is an awesome cd. Beautiful stranger is one of my favorite tracks!! This is her best cd, hands down. she wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on it. Rebecca show real depth and soul in this album; this album is worth the wait.

Reviewed by Rhia H. (Somewhere), January 21, 2007

Rebecca St. James totally rocks!!!

Reviewed by Obadiah Holmes.happygolucky)o (or), April 26, 2006

This album by RSJ is so deeply powerful. The songs "God Help Me", "Alive" & "Beautiful Stranger" really went back to RSJ's rock roots. "I Can Trust You' "You Are Loved", "Shadowlands" "Love Being Loved By You" & "I Need You" are wonderful pop songs, while "Lest I Forget", "Take All of Me" and "Forgive Me" add am annointed piece to this wonderful project. I also really enjoy the song "Thank You" recorded with tobyMac. It's cool! So thanx Rst.J for another great cd!

Reviewed by erin (wilbraham,ma), December 28, 2005

A exciting album of gods love he has for us!!Rebeccas best album ever,go girl.. The songs are just moving and true to the heart!

Reviewed by Hoogler (Oregon), December 06, 2005

This album is flawless! Has awesome rock songs like "God Help Me" and "Alive", wonderful pop songs like "You Are Loved", "Shadowlands", "Love Being Loved By You", "Beautiful Stranger", "I Need You" and "I Can Trust You", great renditions of popular worship songs like "Take All of Me" and "Forgive Me" she even includes rap/hip-hop "Thank You" and worship "Lest I Forget" into it! This album is awesome and really shows RSJ's passion for God! ROCK ON BECCA!!!

Reviewed by Sarah (NC), November 24, 2005

This album is so anointed! Rebecca is one of the few artists to have really stayed the same and stayed true to the word of God. "Love Being Loved By You" is my second favorite--it really makes you feel the importance of God in her life, and how much he has done for every one of us. I plan to use this song in my youth group. My favorite though is "Beautiful Stranger." The words are perfect in showing love and compassion for the Least of These.

Reviewed by JJC (Oregon), November 03, 2005

I love this cd! I toom your advice Rst.J Luver and went rsjames.nl! The music is so awesome! And for the people who don't have Windows or Real Media go to her website www.rsjames.com, she has a new jukebox!

Reviewed by Marie (Bronx,Ny), October 22, 2005

This cd is beautiful!.

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