- Bryon Harris
Chakra Bleu - 'I'd Rather Stand Alone'
BWH Music Group’s Keepin' It Country, Vol. One, by Various Artists, contains an eclectic mix of 17 songs by today's best independent Country artists and songwriters. With great storytelling and heart-felt performances at the core of each song, the album spans traditional and contemporary Country music. Off the compilation, Chakra Bleu’s song "I’d Rather Stand Alone" offers a beautiful and moving love song about love and loss.
Chakra Bleu recounts a melancholic, yet sweet love story in her song “I’d Rather Stand Alone.” The song begins as a duet between acoustic guitar and voice. The bright guitar compliments the warmer timbre of Chakra's vocals as she opens with the chorus. “I’d rather standalone my love, if I can’t have you. I’d rather walk through life alone, if I’m not next to you. I’d rather stand-alone my love, if I can’t hold you. I’d rather walk through life alone, if I’m not loving you.” Soon, the accompaniment builds with the addition of bass and delightful, legato melodies on the fiddle. After the first verse, an instrumental break introduces light percussion and keys to liven the arrangement. The overall arrangement is exquisitely tasteful.
With each passing verse, Chakra swoons listeners with beautiful vocal phrases that relay the emptiness she was feeling without her love. Somehow, when Chakra sings you feel as though she is singing just for you - she conveys such a personal and intimate touch. Flourishes of backing vocals add sparkling depth as the song continues to build from chorus to verse, to bridge.
"I'd Rather Stand Alone" has a melody that truly feels like an old friend. It has the sound of yesterday and today as if the song always was and will always be, it was just waiting for the right artist to reveal it. Chakra Bleu has written a classic, a song that artists in years to come will want to cover and that is the highest form of flattery you can give a songwriter.
In today’s brash world, a love song that goes deep beneath the surface and expresses honest feelings with simple words is breathtakingly refreshing. The one word that comes to mind after hearing “I’d Rather Stand Alone” is “timeless.”
'Keepin' It Country, Vol. One' is available on all major digital outlets. For more information about the album and artists, visit BWH Music Group.
About Chakra Bleu
Chakra Bleu is a singer-songwriter who has a broad Americana style that includes country, pop-rock, r&b and reggae. Playful, intriguing and empowering describe how this captivating artist connects with her audience. Chakra Bleu has released nine albums to date. Off her 7th album, the single "All of Me" charted #2 on the Top 40 as well as #1 on the Indie Top 40. The second single, "The Shadow," went to #4 on the NMW Top 40. Off her 6th CD, Souvenir, five singles simultaneously bedazzled the charts. Off Chakra Bleu’s fifth album,You're the One, the single "When I Hold Your Hand"charged the AAA and Americana airwaves, charting #5 on the STS Top 30 Indie chart and #27 on the STS Top 40 Main chart. Her prior single, "Hopelessly In Love," from the Seize the Day album, scored big as well, making it to #16 on the national A/C chart. Chakra has received airplay from various cuts off her CD’s on Top 40, A/C, Country, AAA, and Americana radio in the U.S. as well as Europe. She has been the Spotlight Artist at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe and a BMI Showcase Artist. She is an Arena Award recipient - this prestigious community service honor has been granted to only a few artists including Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, and Jo Dee Messina.