Danny Gokey's "My Best Days Are Ahead Of Me"

The second runner-up of 'American Idol' season 8 Danny Gokey has released his first ever music video last Tuesday in support his upcoming debut single "My Best Days Are Ahead of Me" off Gokey's forthcoming RCA debut album "My Best Days" which is aimed for March 2 U.S. release. It replaces song "It's Only" which was previously unveiled prior to the single, I posted on November 10, 2009.
Clearly excited about all of his 2010 projects, Gokey told fans "Good morning! If you haven't seen it yet you can still check out my new music video. I hope it helps make your day go better... I'm so happy." Gokey is singing the song in an abandoned warehouse in the video. "I love this song for what it stands for," so said Gokey when commenting on the track. "I don't live in the past. I live in the 'now'... in the future... and in the dreams that I have. I know that my best days really are ahead of me."
The song shares those songs' sense of self-awareness and the result is a believable, earnest effort that's bland and entirely forgettable. In fact, the song finds Gokey stripped of everything but his clean-cut, positive image. However, the most glaring omission from the song is its lack of narrative, the backbone of country music that pulls listeners from beginning to end. Save its dreadful bridge, the only image Gokey paints is one of glowing candles on a birthday's cake, leaving only a string of vaguely uplifting clichés like "age ain't nothing but a number" in its wake.
The 29-year-old's soulful voice and incredible outlook on life, despite the sudden loss of his young wife, moved everyone who heard his voice and his story. Gokey was the darling of American Idol's Season 8, finishing third but leaving with a dedicated fan base who fell in love with the worship leader with his heart on his sleeve. After Idol, he's launched a career into the country/pop music genre.
Gokey is at a crossroads, both literally and lyrically. Like other reality show finalists, he must find his niche in an over-saturated market without alienating the fans he picked up through the television airwaves. And while he was originally billed as a contemporary Christian singer with a built-in inspirational message, he is attempting to channel that momentum into the country music world Carrie Underwood, Bucky Covington, Josh Gracin, Kellie Pickler and Kristy Lee Cook have each made their own, to varying degrees of success. The video will be added to the GAC Top 20 Country Countdown voting ballot today, starting about 10 am ET.

Danny Gokey Debuts First Single "It's Only"

American Idol second runner-up Danny Gokey debuted his first song, "It's Only," during a surprise call to his hometown country-music radio station in Milwaukee last Friday. The swooning, countrified ballad track serves as the lead single from his upcoming RCA Nashville country debut album. Giving a clue into the content of the new single and soon-to-be-released album, on his MySpace page Gokey states, "I have two passions, music (entertainment) and helping people. It's not religious. It's not political. It's only love!" The digital single will be released on December 14, followed by a full album in March of 2010.
Many fans have been waiting patiently for, earlier this year, Gokey made waves when he said he was thinking of releasing a country album. Turns out, he wasn't joking, eventually fans finally got to hear his first foray into the genre. "It's Only" was written by Lady Antebellum's Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley and produced by Carrie Underwood collaborator Mark Bright. As you might expect with that crew, the song has a country vibe to it. The song details the trials of the jobless and the homeless and doesn't shy away from the topic of faith either. It's a big, inspirational ditty and emotional ballad that speaks of life, love and definitely the type of tune Gokey fans wanna hear. His breathy voice is remarkable, and nearly drowned out by a super-mournful slide guitar at various moments.
"It has such a touching lyric. It's so beautiful. I love all the songs that appear on my CD, but this one...when I sing this song, a passion comes out of me," Gokey said of the song. "The song went past the mental element and came directly into my heart. I don't know how to explain it. I feel it when I sing it." Gokey has stayed true to what he said he wanted his song's to have a message to be your inspiration, and has set the bar very high with his debut song. "It's Only" is the perfect blend of stunning, distinctive vocals and a beautiful message that comes from the heart. It'll perform well thanks to its holiday-season release timing, heart-filled message and could totally see this song becoming a big country hit (possible for the Christian charts as well) for Gokey.