Rachael Sage Chandelier

Genre pop Publisher MPress Records External Links Official Rachael Sage Website

Have you ever wondered what Michele Carlton, Norah Jones and Kelly Clarkson would sound like mixed together? Well, I’ve got news for you; you can hear a combination of these talented ladies in the work of Rachel Sage’s 8th album Chandelier.

Thanks to her parents’ musical influence, Sage taught herself how to play the piano. She couldn’t decide whether to follow her love for music or ballet. Sage, obviously, decided to go with music. After the crimson-headed songstress earned a degree in drama from Stanford University, Rachael returned to New York and stumbled upon MPress Records.

In that record company she released 7 albums dating all the way back to 1997. In Sage’s 2008 album, Chandelier, she creates a sense of relaxation and peacefulness. The album opens with mind-blowing piano and vocal skills in “Vertigo” which seems like a “welcome to my world” song. She sings of her racy inner thoughts over the river of piano chords. “I know what I know/I know it’s not right/And I shouldn’t run far/For you held me tight/And I feel what I feel/Feel this is wrong/and I shouldn’t run fast”. Sage delivers simple but powerful lyrics over the sea of strings that accompany her piano expertise.

One of my favorite songs that I enjoyed is “Beloved” in which Sage gives her listener a break from her angelic voice and lets the music speak instead. The sound of the piano, strings and harmonica create a symphony in which Sage steps back and heightens the listener’s appreciation for her piano skills.

Another favorite is “Chandelier” in which the album is named after. “What if I woke up tomorrow and couldn’t play/the truth is I don’t really know if I’d be brave/or if I’d give into the obvious news/that I’ve been misusing my muse.” It’s not often that you hear an artist sing about what they would do if they didn’t have the talent that they were given. Sage steps down from her songstress status and bares all and shows that she is human to her listeners.

The only downfall of this album is that it is so relaxing that it can put you to sleep. I do not recommend listening to it while driving. Aside from the NyQuil effect, I would definitely purchase Chandelier on May 6th. Without a doubt, you will get more than expected.