Single Review: I’m Ready

This is Jolandi Ford’s third single since moving to Aotearoa from her native South Africa, and right from the first note one can why she has already been making a dent in international Country music charts. Although her voice is lighter in some ways, with a nice twang, her approach is quite reminiscent to the more rock-based approach of the likes of Shania Twain. It starts off gently, both lyrically and musically, but as the song progresses it becomes a song of defiance. The drums come in, the electric guitar becomes more pronounced, yet there are always the piano and acoustic guitar underlying proceedings. Her vocals are multi-tracked in the later sections, instruments are more in your face, the strings come in, and while never turning into a rocker it is definitely on the harder edge of Country.

She has a wonderful voice, airy and fresh, and I found myself wishing the song was double the length, and I can certainly imagine this becoming an anthem at concerts with everyone joining in. As Jolandi says, I’m ready! Are you ready? Are the masses ready? To get back up and fight…To forgive…To heal, turn your wounds into scars… To Let go… For whatever life throws at ya…To find redemption, where the sun is setting… To get back up!  The final chorus where she throws her voice up higher is just wonderful, and when she stops to allow the strings to gently take us out, I find myself feeling upset that it is over, so all I can do is play it again. It is a song full of summer, perfect for the radio, for singing along with in the car and is just plain fun. The accompaniment is superb, with just the right amount of build and edge, and special mention must be made of the drums which do not feature at all in the beginning, are basic in the middle, then driving and all over the kit by the end.

This is my first introduction to Jolandi, and I am looking forward to hearing a great deal more as this is a wonderful modern country rock pop number.