Courtesy: Sugar Mountain PR
Family entertainer Roger Day will release his latest album Invincible next week. The 10-song record is another enjoyable presentation for the whole family. While only his third full-length studio recording, it is another presentation that shows promise for his future. That is proven through the album’s musical arrangements and its lyrical themes. The album’s lead single/title track/opener is just one of the songs that serves to support the noted statements. ‘Big Picture,’ which comes late in the album’s run, is another way in which the album shows its strength. It will be discussed a little later. The same can be said of the album’s closer ‘Love Is My Super Power.’ It will also be addressed later. When each of the songs addressed here are noted along with the rest of the album’s work, the whole of the album proves to be its own “super” new offering from Roger Day.
Roger Day’s new album Invincible is another successful entry from the up-and-coming family entertainer that listeners of all ages will enjoy. As noted that is due to its musical arrangements and its lyrical themes. One of the songs that serves well to support that statement is the album’s opener/lead single/title track. The song’s arrangement is a catchy kindie-pop composition. It is grounded in its piano line. The use of the guitars and drums joins with the piano line to make the song The combination of Day’s singing and “spoken word” delivery adds a unique touch to the song that makes it even more interesting for audiences. The confidence in his delivery as he sings plays well into the song’s lyrical theme, which is accessible in its own right, to young listeners.
The theme of ‘Invincible’ is actually dual faceted. On one side, Day is promoting literacy in the song. That is obvious as he sings in the song’s lead verse, “When the bad guys got you cornered/And it looks like there’s no escape/There’s no need to wait/For superheroes anymore/I can save the day/Through the turning of the page/I’m invincible/It’s undeniable/I got a power that’s unbeatable/My imagination can knock down walls/nothing’s impossible/I’m unstoppable/Every puzzle is solvable/I can do anything at all/Through the pages of a book.” That message is continued in the song’s second verse, in which he singles, I can blast off in a jet pack/Or I can lift up a monstrous monster truck/Or be a secret agent/Picked by the President/I can crack the code/I can vanquish any foe.” He adds in the song’s third and final verse, “I start at the beginning/And then I read to the middle/I don’t’ stop/until I reach the end/So if you’re hanging off the cliff face/And the evil genius is closing in/Take a tip from me/You will be flying free/’Cause it’s a bird/No/It’s a plane/No/It’s the power of your brain.” Again, here is a song whose primary message is that is that of promoting literacy. On a related note, it also encourages listeners to use their imaginations. When children use their imaginations, that plays into their mental and emotional development. So that development and development of reading skills together are collectively key for every child. To that end, this dual pronged lyrical theme proves just as important to its whole as the song’s musical arrangement. When it is considered alongside the song’s upbeat musical arrangement, the whole makes the song a positive first impression from Day and his new album. It is just one of the album’s most notable songs. ‘Big Picture’ does is own part to show what makes Invincible a success.
Much as is the case with ‘Invincible,’ the musical arrangement at the center of ‘Big Picture’ is a kindie-rock composition that also boasts a little bit of a college rock sound. While the song’s guitar line guitar and drums form the foundation for the song’s arrangement, its bass line does its own share to make the arrangement engaging and entertaining. It adds welcome accents to the arrangement at fixed points, with the end result being a song in whole that is just as infectious as any of the album’s other musical works. It is just one part of what makes the song work. The song’s lyrical theme adds to its impact, too.
The lyrical theme featured in this song is another pro-educational statement. This time the statement is more in the vein of promoting science education. Day sings in the song’s lead verse, “Call me citizen scientist/I’m ready for adventure/My questions lead me everywhere/I unravel mysteries/I see the big picture/And I break it down/I can’t wait to investigate/I see the big picture/When I look around/I can’t wait to investigate.” He continues in the song’s second verse, “I might discover something unknown/Maybe an ecosystem/I use my magnifying glass/And see a whole new universe in my backyard.” He adds in the song’s third and finale verse, “I observe it, sketch it, write it all down/Measure it/Write it all down/Solve for X and I write it all down.” He even goes so far as to sing from the subject’s point, “It’s all out there waiting for a scientist like me.” This again is meant to come from the vantage point of a child, and it works well from this angle, too. Add in the push to promote science education, this lyrical theme proves to be its own positive. When this theme is joined with the song’s catchy musical arrangement, it becomes even clearer why this song helps to show why Invincible is another positive offering from Roger Day. It is just one more way in which the album proves its strength, too. ‘Love is My Super Power’ is yet another way in which the album proves itself well worth hearing.
‘Love Is My Super Power’ stands out as its musical arrangement is distinctly different from any of the album’s other arrangements. This song boasts a folk-rock/Americana style arrangement at its base. That style crosses with a touch of southern rock for a whole that will certainly keep a wide range of audiences engaged and entertained. The gentile nature of the song’s arrangement works well with its lyrical theme, which is a statement about the power of love; not romantic love but plutonic love.
Day sings in the song’s lead verse, “I can’t jump/Over buildings/I can’t see/Through a wall/I can’t lift up/My school bus/Or catch a star when it falls/But I’ve got something better/beating in my heart/It might not save the whole world/But it’s a pretty good place to start/Love is my super power.” He continues in the song’s second verse, “I can’t make a web/With the flick of my wrists/Or fly above people down below/Or turn myself invisible/Or be the star of my own show/But I’ve got something stronger/And you’ve got it, too/Together we can make the whole world shine like new/Let it shine/Let it shine/Let it shine.” There is no doubt left here that this is a song promoting love among the world’s people, and that while we may not be super heroes like in comic books, we still have the super power of love, which can impact the world just as much. It’s a powerful statement and one more way in which Invincible proves such an impressive presentation. When it is considered alongside the other songs noted here and the rest of the album’s works, the whole of the album unquestionably proves it deserves a place on any critic’s list of the year’s top new family music albums as much as those lists’ other entries. Invincible is scheduled for release Friday.
Roger Day was scheduled to perform live in Cary and Durham this past Spring, but the performances were postponed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Day has worked with the United Arts Council of Wake County for the past 20 years and has held workshops and assemblies at schools in Orange and Durham counties. He is scheduled to perform live in March at the Bond Park Amphitheater in Cary
More information on the album is available along with all of Roger Day’s latest news at:
Website: http://www.rogerday.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RogerDayMusic
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