Review by Daniel Hoyt & Staff
“You Know I Have Angels” is glorious combination of samba and gospel. The beat is clearly a samba beat; however, many of the vocal elements are reminiscent of a church choir. Even the harmony of the piece utilizes many gospel techniques and chords.The song features acoustic guitars strumming a clear samba groove, horns really blasting the festival in the streets vibe, and there are even chimes playing in the background, which is almost a staple in any Christmas song. Fans of both genres will delight in this unique and exciting combination.
“You Know I Have Angels” features lyrics and music by Karen WilloughKaren has a natural vocal talent that provides a nice, relaxed tone over the mix. The song has lyrics in Spanish and English,which adds a cool little “Feliz Navidad” kind of twist, making this holiday tune one that will appeal to a wide audience.
"Yo tengo ángeles / Que me cuidarán / You know I have angels / They’re part of God’s plan / And I’m so very grateful for all that they’ve given me / And on long winter nights I’m saved from being lonely."
The song sparkles with the religious meaning of Christmas as it has very strong themes of turning to God when you need strength and even turning to those that God has given us.“Don’t forget you have aid you can call on,” is a clear line that you can either pray to God for assistance or seek the help from your own loved ones.There are also lines such as, “we find it hard to trust one another,” which brings in a different theme of brotherhood.
In a way, this song is also calling for us to unite, as humanity, and not look for our differences. Karen Willough has written a really catchy and upbeat song, which follows the theme of uniting as one. The song conjures images of dancing in the streets, spreading joy and love. “You Know I Have Angels” reminds us that there are angels everywhere, here in our lives, and watching over us from above.
"You Know I Have Angels” On National Indie Radio
“You Know I Have Angels" is in rotation on National Indie Radio (WNIR) commencing December 1st through December 31st as part of BWH Music Group’s Holiday Radio Special. WNIR features the best independent artists in the world and is part of the highly selective and nationally renowned BWH Music Group platform. The Holiday Radio Special will feature original holiday songs as well as covers by exceptional independent artists. Station information can be found at National Indie Radio’s website.
About Karen Willough
Classically trained, Willough completed her undergraduate education at the College of New Rochelle She then went to New York University for graduate studies in Psychology. She quickly discovered that Psychology was not for her and tried an assortment of jobs while continuing to study music and pursuing a career in songwriting. After living on another continent and traveling to over 25 countries, Willough finally returned to where she belongs - the world of music.
In the Netherlands, Willough sang with Capella Sint Jan for several years before returning to the U.S. Since 2012, Willough has been singing with Chicago’s prestigious Mount Carmel Morning Choir under the direction of Paul French. She also studies and works with the incomparable Beckie Menzie, who introduced her to the world of cabaret.
Willough made her solo debut with “Tra le tue Braccia.” It was followed by the duet "World Without You" with Chicago jazz musician Michael Jones who plays trumpet on the song.
Willough's first EP, Scrumptious, includes a swing version of “Whispering,” a tune most notably recorded by Paul Whiteman in 1920, as well as a sultry rendition of the 1975 Orleans song “Dance with Me.” The title track, “Truly Scrumptious” comes from the enchanting film “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” The song also features a flugelhorn solo by Caleb Mitchell, a graduate of the prestigious music program at DePaul University.
For more information on Karen Willough, please visit her website.
Listen to more music by Karen Willough on Spotify.
Purchase on Google Play.
Comments