Singer-songwriter Marc Jordan is one of the most well-known figures in the music industry about whom likely only certain people know. Throughout the course of his decades-long career, Jordan has helped craft songs that have been popularized by the likes of Rod Stewart, Diana Ross, Joe Cocker, Cher, Chicago, and even Bonnie Raitt and Bette Midler. He has also crafted and released 15 albums of his own content throughout his career, each of which have helped to cement his place in the music community. Late this past April, he further cemented his reputation with the release of his 16th solo recording, Waiting for the Sun To Rise, which was released through Linus Entertainment. The 12-song album is an interesting presentation and does well making its place among this year’s field of adult contemporary records, as its varied songs make clear. The album’s title track, which will be discussed shortly, is a prime example of what makes the album stand out in its noted field. It will be examined shortly. ‘Rio Grande,’ which comes a little later in the record’s 53-minute run time, is another strong show of what makes the album engaging and entertaining. It will be discussed a little later. Even later in the record’s nearly hour-long run, there is another notable entry in the form of Jordan’s cover of Tears for Fears’ ‘Everybody Wants To Rule The World.’ Each song noted here does its own part to make the album overall worth hearing. When the trio is considered along with the rest of the album’s entries, the whole makes the album overall a presentation that any adult contemporary fan will find appealing.
Waiting for the Sun To Rise, the 16th solo album from famed singer-songwriter-producer Marc Jordan, is a presentation that any adult contemporary fan will find worth hearing at least once. This is made clear from the beginning to the end of the nearly hour-long record. The album’s title track, which comes early in the album’s run, is just one of the songs that supports the noted statements. The song’s musical arrangement is a beautiful, flowing composition and fully immersive what with its simple pairing of piano alongside Jordan’s vocals. The simple yet so rich presentation is immediately comparable to some of the much softer works from The Nomadic and even from Peter Cincotti, to a slightly lesser degree. The eventual addition of the string arrangement to the composition adds even more to that comparison, making the song all the more engaging and entertaining.
The song’s lyrical theme makes for its own point of interest in this song. It would seem that in listening through the song’s verses and chorus, the very statement in the song’s chorus that Jordan’s subject is “waiting for the sun to rise” is metaphorical language of sorts about waiting for something better to come along. That is just this critic’s interpretation. The inference gains even more traction as listeners take into account the content in the song’s lead verse and chorus, which states, “Looking at the stars/Trying to find my way/Watching as they move/Closer than away/I was looking at the stars/From the side of the L.A. freeway/My heart is burning like a river/Burning like a hillside/And the city lights shiver/Like a tear in your eye/’Cause I’m still waiting/Waiting for the sun to rise.” That seeming sense of…cautious optimism and even maybe some melancholy….is enough to move any listeners, especially when paired with the song’s noted flowing musical arrangement. The song’s second verse adds to that rich, moving emotional impact as Jordan sings, “I was looking at the stars/And it took my breath away/Lightning on the highway/So near/So far away/As the fires burn/And the pages turn/It’s like the book of Revelation to me/It’s the hand beneath the ocean waves/It’s the wild horse of intention/And I’m still wondering/I’m still waiting for the sun to rise.” The added note in the song’s third verse of a man waiting for a dance with a woman and waiting for the sun to rise in that woman’s eyes is more of that sense of hoping for something more, something better to come along. The whole is a unique lyrical presentation that when paired with the song’s less is more musical approach, makes the whole here such a powerfully moving work in its own right.
‘Waiting For The Sun To Rise’ is just one of the songs that makes Marc Jordan’s new album worth hearing. A little later in the album, listeners get another example of what the record has to offer in the form of ‘Rio Grande.’ This song’s musical arrangement is the polar opposite of the record’s title track. Instead of the simple contemplative pop arrangement featured in that work, this song keeps the adult contemporary vibe going while moving the album in a folksier direction. The subtle use of the strings and piano and the occasional use of the harmonica gives the arrangement so much emotional depth.
The song’s lyrical content hints at being a sociopolitical commentary of sorts, though again, this is just this critic’s interpretation and could very well be completely off. The inference is made right from the song’s outset as Jordan sings, “Can anybody hear me?/Can anybody see?/The murder of stars/Chasing the sky/Dipping the hat to eternity/Maybe none of this ever happened anyway/And it was all just for fun/Maybe there’s a God in heaven/Maybe there’s not/Waiting for America to drop the gun.” He continues in the song’s second verse, “There’s fires in the canyons/And the hills of L.A./Burning like a river/Right down to the freeway/And I love it when you lie to me/And you see right through/Love it when you lie to me/’Cause every word is true/So tell me that you want me/Pour it out like sand/Take it to the deep end/Of the Rio Grande”. This alone comes across so much as a statement about the state of the nation, if not the world. There is so much negative happening in the world, it seems to be saying, between the violence happening and the environmental issues happening.
The seeming commentary continues in the song’s next verse, as Jordan sings, “Maybe I’m castles in the sand/But I consider myself one of the lucky ones/Such a fortunate son/Waiting for America to drop the gun.” He then continues, “Underneath the freeway/It’s a cold day in the sun/There’s an old man dressed like John Way/Looking for someone/But I love it when you lie to me/See right through/Love it when you lie to me/’Cause every word is true/So tell me that you want me/When the day is done/Waiting for America/You take the future/And I’ll take the past/Even though we know…When you’re old and weary/Time goes so fast/Sometimes I dream I’m flying/Dreaming I’m begging Mother Nature for one last chance.” This comes across as a plea for things to change even more, as he is seemingly addressing the issue of homelessness as well as trying to learn from the past for the future. If in fact this is what Jordan is doing overall, making a commentary about the world right now and where it may be heading, then the execution is truly original in its style and powerful at that. The fact that this seeming overall commentary is paired with a musical arrangement that is so simple and so rich in its simplicity, makes for all the more engagement and entertainment. In turn, the whole of the song shows in its own right, how much the record has to offer audiences.
‘Rio Grande’ is just one more of the songs that show how much Waiting For The Sun To Rise has to offer listeners. Even later in the record’s run, Jordan takes on a timeless classic from Tears For Fears in the form of ‘Everybody Wants To Rule The World.’ Anybody who does not know this classic song obviously has never listened to any mainstream terrestrial radio station, classic or otherwise. The keyboard-driven arrangement and distinct vocals are immediately identifiable by anybody who knows the song. Even people who are not fans of Tears For Fears know and enjoy the song. Jordan’s take on the song completely turns it on its ear, giving it something of an easy listening jazz style arrangement. The familiar guitar and keyboard lines are there, just replaced by a piano and horns in this take on the song. The song does strive to stay as true to its source material, but unquestionably gives the original a whole new identity here that is well worth hearing. The subtle choral vocals and the strong use of the drums alongside the more subtle elements of the overall instrumentation makes that clear too. All things considered, this cover of ‘Everybody Wants To Rule The World’ is, musically a unique, original take on the timeless classic. Taking into account the song’s obvious lyrical commentary about the world, it is another good fit for Jordan’s new album, too. When this cover is considered along with the originals from Jordan examined here and alongside the rest of the album’s entries, the whole of the album proves itself an intriguing addition to this year’s field of new overall albums that is certain to find a place among any adult contemporary radio station play lists and fans of said genre.
Waiting For The Sun To Rise, the latest album from Marc Jordan, is a unique new offering from the veteran singer-songwriter-musician. His 16th solo recording, it is certain to find appeal among a distinct range of audiences. That is proven throughout the record, and the trio of songs examined here make that clear. Keeping that in mind, the album overall proves through its musical and lyrical content alike, it is a work that any adult contemporary fan should hear at least once and that deserves its own place at any adult contemporary radio station.
Waiting For The Sun To Rise is available now through Linus Entertainment. More information on the album is available along with all of Marc Jordan’s latest news at:
Website: https://www.marcjordan.com
