Review by Anthony Nguyen
With a delightfully whimsical personality, Rita Tanner delivers on a stellar country song in “Say a Little Prayer to the Lord”. The rhythm section plays wonderfully off each other. The drums are light and playful while the bass chugs away with a powerful low end. This gives the rest of the song a rock-solid foundation on which to rest. The guitars are nice and inviting with a bit of a looser rhythm which allows the song to bounce. The banjo is a nice addition that gives the song a classic country twang. The violin is also a brilliant addition. It never is in the forefront aside from a small solo in a transition but adds nice harmonic interest throughout. Tanners vocals are simply amazing. They are full of personality and exude an infectiously bright and hopeful outlook on life, and combined with her excellent technical prowess make this performance something special.
The sections flow into each other quite seamlessly, in large part due to the excellent musicianship displayed. Little licks by the banjo, violins, or guitars allow the transitions natural. The verses are nice and simple, while the chorus picks up in energy with clever arranging and a more spirited performance from the musicians. There is a small bridge/solo section towards the end of the song that features a solo from the banjo and fiddle players. They both display breathtaking musical abilities while still maintaining the energy and personality of the song. It serves as the perfect palate cleanser going into the last chorus. Overall the song is arranged quite excellently, and time and time again continues to surprise throughout its run.
The song is unashamedly dedicated to the Lord, and Rita does a good job of illustrating this. “Momma said there’d be days like this, things go wrong and that’s the way it is, just try to make the best of it and say a little prayer to the lord”. Ultimately, this song is about hope and faith, and the lyrics and production seem to match this sentiment perfectly. With a superb performance from Rita and the band along with industry-leading production values, “Say a Little Prayer to the Lord” is a standout achievement in songwriting.
About Rita Tanner
Rita Faye Tanner has always been musically gifted. From a young age, she has been singing, performing, and playing a variety of instruments. Throughout her musical career, Rita Faye Tanner has won over the hearts of music lovers from all walks of life; performing at a variety of venues, making loads of public appearances, all the while recording new music. Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Entertainer, is what she is known as.