http://www.myspace.com/dannygokey

When Danny signed his deal he said that he loved the fact that he could sing mainstream songs which had messages and didn’t hide his faith, something he does with ‘It’s Only.’  With a voice that recalls Larry Stewart of Restless Heart at times and Lionel Richie in others, Gokey sings a message song that proclaims that love can and is all around us from various places, including Jesus and church. This is a song that recalls ‘Jesus Takes The Wheel,’  in that it melds a message of faith and love and giving one’s self up to a higher power in a time of need. The production from Mark Bright is crisp and never over the top. You can hear the acoustic mandolin and fiddle in the background while Gokey singls the message-filled lyric in a soft, tender and tuneful way.

…it’s hard to argue with the first results of his new deal with 19/RCA Nashville. ‘It’s Only’  is a smartly produced song that proves that Danny Gokey can sing and the vocalist does have a place in country music’ ¦ this one is a perfect winter/spring single and a good lead-off track for a new artist to release to radio.

I did also ran across comments by at least one Christian/’family friendly’ radio station personality who loved it and said that it should have no trouble crossing over into her market.

Bottom line? I think Gokey’s hard core AI fans will love this song. I’d be surprised if country music fans who aren’t particularly AI fans embrace this song. However, I think it has a good shot at being accepted by the contemporary Christian music genre. Good luck, Danny!

Also Danny said himself he wanted to take the twang out of country music. Well that didnt work Danny.

Danny has never said he wanted to take the twang out of country music. He’s made only respectful comments about country artists, twangy or otherwise. What he did say is that he himself has no twang and didn’t envision getting any. As he was going through his process to work out his record deal, that was clearly a point where he wanted reassurance that his twang-less style wouldn’t be an obstacle.

After hearing his song, doesn’t appear to me that it will be. I didn’t hear any pseudo twang in Danny’s song, at all. I did hear a fairly subtle country styling in the delivery, but more in the timing and phrasing to give it just a bit of country-ish swing. Similar really to what I felt Danny developed this summer as he performed the two country songs on his AI tour set.

As a country music fan (among other genres), when I first heard them, I didn’t get much country feel out of Danny singing those two songs although I enjoyed them anyway because I enjoy Danny’s distinctive vocal qualities and emotionally connected singing style. Toward the late stages of the tour though, I did start to pick up a hint of country vibe in Danny’s singing, and in the way he performed to the audience.

Hard to describe exactly what it was, but definitely felt there was a subtle difference he’d developed over time that was working for him. Part of it may simply be that he generally got more comfortable and relaxed deeper into the tour. I think this song uses Danny’s vocal strengths very well. I can really envision him knocking it out of the park in a live performance.

Okay, I listened to it. It’s 100% Danny dealing with Christian issues and helping people So props to him for being sincere. It’s not something you’re going to want to listen to over and over again.

I am one who does not mind listening to it again and again. I will take all the positivity that can come my way, concerning all the negativity that life brings. As a Christian, I am taught to have a faith that will help me through the rough times of life, and I think the song brings that message. I loved the softness and tenderness he put in the song, and loved the falsetto. Go Danny! It is a winner for me.

The single won’t hit iTunes until Dec. 14th? So why are thet premiering it 5 weeks early?

I am thinking that they wanted to bring it to the public before Adam’s and Kris’ cd’s come out. They did something similar with Phil Stacey, when he released “If You Didn’t Love Me.” It was on radio in January, but it was released as part of his cd till April. You never know; they may even make it available sooner than

And Tess, concerning your earlier post: Danny is not the kind to mock anyone, I feel. I believe that country is the way he was encouraged to go because that is the genre his style fits in the best. Whether country embraces him or not, that remains to be seen. I know he will have many a fan who will not care about what genre the song falls under. If the song touched them, I know they will listen to it and request it.

I think Danny has said he wants to touch hearts and have his music be a “movement” so I think he will do fun stuff too, but I think we will continue to see a lot of songs with messages about caring for one another and humanity.

I thought it was beautiful! Not what I expected; thought we’d hear more big voice Danny with his growl (sure there will be plenty of that on the album), not sensitive, falsetto Danny but I really loved it.
Think they picked a song like this for his first single because it is so different from the other Idol’s pop songs and because it is the Christmas season- a time of messages.
Definitely not a song to dance to, but I will listen to it again and again because the vocals are superb and the melody is beautiful.