The “BEcoming” of Stacey Barthe

princess abumere

September 21, 2015 3:09 PM

What some of us would write in our diaries about our true feelings and never broadcast to the world is what she’s put on blast.

Stacy Barthe is a hidden treasure. Having written tracks for the likes of Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus and even Rihanna, the Motown artist finally put out her own album called “BEcoming”.

Her debut album speaks a lot of truth. It encompasses questions and challenges that we go through as human beings in this journey called life. The 17-track album has only two guest features from Common and John Legend.

The intro track ‘My suicide note’ grabs your attention. The violins and her lyrics set the scene and actually create a visual image. The follow up track ‘In my head’ is one of the best songs on the album. From the song you can tell she’s battling illusions but yet you might dance to the crazy.

Barthe almost reminds me of Amy Winehouse in the sense that she has an awesome voice and she uses it to sing about real events. “BEcoming” is a story; it’s a story of transitioning. Track one to six is about a woman who’s depressed, lost and is in a “me versus the world” battle.

“I keep my eyes wide shut

Cause the world is just too scary to face sometimes

I just don't know,” she sings on ‘Eyes wide shut’.

From track seven, ‘Find it’, there’s a new progression, it seems as though this woman has found her voice and is ready for change.

“When that old thing ain't working no more

You better find a new way to live, find it”, she belts out.

Following this, it’s a different story, a story of a lady on the path to living the life of her dreams.

“Sometimes

We gotta lose it to find it

We gotta lose sometimes

We win”, she harmonizes on 'Flawed beautiful creatures’.

From track seven to 12, it’s about celebrating oneself and acknowledging our purpose in life.

From 13 to 17, it’s about self worth, love and heartache. Her cover of Anita Baker’s ‘Angel’ with John Legend is pure joy.

I love the genuineness of Barthe’s lyrics. What some of us would write in our diaries about our true feelings and never broadcast to the world is what she’s put on blast.

I quite like the real sounds/ actualities on track one where you hear the pills being poured out of the bottle and everything else in the background as well as the sound of the rain on ‘Find it’.

There’s a lot of emotional power on this lyrically rich album. "BEcoming" is a combination of fear, love and honesty, a metamorphosis from doubt to confidence.

Best songs: ‘In my head’, ‘Sleep to dream’, ‘Eyes wide shut’, ‘War IV Love’, ‘Angel’, ‘Flawed beautiful creatures’ and ‘In the meantime’.

princess abumere