Powerful vocals, nostalgic instrumentals and even more powerful themes define Elton John and Brandi Carlile’s new album by evoking pop, the blues and folk.
“Who Believes in Angels?” was released on Friday, April 4, and leads listeners to become hopeful dreamers that truly do believe in the seemingly impossible.
The collaborative album has been a long time in the making. While official production only began in October 2023, a letter written by Carlile in 2009 to John is to thank for this work. The fan letter led to a collaboration between the two on Carlile’s 2009 album, “Give Up the Ghost.”
The two have remained very close since, seeing each other as inspiration; Carlile has explained that John is a major influence as to why she began making music.
The two LGBTQ+ singers and activists struck magic on this album. A few of the songs fall short, but the ones that hit, hit perfectly.
“Who Believes in Angels?” is split into two parts, with “Disc 1” ending with Carlile’s only solo on the album, “You Without Me.” It’s one of the most beautiful and stripped songs on the album, following the country singer’s genre more closely. The acoustic track is an unexpected break from all the fun instrumentals in the world of Elton John but nonetheless does not feel out of place and wraps up the first half of the album perfectly.
The album opens with two tracks paying homage to musical legends of the past. The first song, “The Rose of Laura Nyro” is about a young folk singer-songwriter who was popular in the 1960s and ’70s, who died prematurely. Nyro never publicly came out, but she had relationships with both men and women during her lifetime.
The next song, “Little Richard’s Bible,” is of course about the infamous soul and rock singer, Little Richard. Richard himself identified as gay, and much like John, was a terrific piano player and vocalist.
Personally, I think the first two songs on the album are not as well-produced as the rest, but their lyrical themes and content are necessary to set the tone for the rest of the work. They serve as a way of giving thanks to early LGBTQ+ artists who made important contributions to the genres John and Carlile make music in.
The following tracks, “Swing for the Fences” and “Never Too Late” are both upbeat and whimsical, following a more traditional John sound.
“Disc 2” of the album opens with the title track. This half of the album is the real standout. With lyrics, such as “Who believes in angels anyway?” and “Man, I’ve been there,” this song is a beautiful duet about two people losing hope and trying to find it again in each other. In other words, the song is a message of seeking out light in the dark.
Making a transition to folk and the blues is “The River Man.” The song showcases Carlile’s vocals, blending seamlessly with John’s. Next, “A Little Light” is another ode to hopefulness and “Someone to Belong To” is a gentle warm embrace of friendship and love.
“When This Old World Is Done with Me” is John’s solo and the final song on the album. Similarly to the ending of the first half, a solo in the artists’ signature style is showcased.
In “When This Old World Is Done with Me,” John reminisces on not only his career but his life. John pleads with his audience for freedom when he is forgotten: the freedom to return to where he came from.
He wishes to be scattered amongst the stars and reminds his listeners that although his life has been a beautiful journey, it was never an easy one. Closing out the song is an emotional piano outro, leaving audiences to ponder on the final lyrics of the song, “Release me like an ocean wave / Return me to the tide.”
Rating: 3.5/5
Featured photo courtesy of @brandicarlile/Instagram