As a One2One Member, I was given the opportunity to review the new Joy Williams album, VENUS, before it came out.
This album, you guys.
THIS ALBUM.
It’s no freaking secret that the past few months have been struggly for me, and as I sat looking at a text from my friend (who has NO IDEA about what’s transpired between myself and the boy we met through) asking me if I was going to his hike, I was literally identified with these words from Joy’s song “One Day I Will“:
One day I will remember how it felt
when it was good
I won’t feel torn each time I hear your name
as if I could.When I look back, I’d like to say
you’re better off because of me.
Safety in numbers, I guess. That’s the best part about music. You listen to a great song and you go “OH MY GOSH I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS.”
This also gives me a really good chance to address something I’ve kind of been figuring out how to address this. I love all of the songs on VENUS. Every single last freaking one of them.
But when I was listening to the song “What a Good Woman Does” I actually started sobbing.
I can’t carry the weight of this war
I can’t do it anymore
Everyone’s wounded
Nobody’s won.Don’t feel sorry for yourself
You got everything you want.
Everyone’s watching
you pick up and run...I could tell the truth about you leaving
but that’s not what a good woman does.
Here, take a listen for yourself:
A few weeks ago, I posted a blog post out of anger. and frustration. and some hurt. and I had to take it down, because.. well. Posting a very true blog with passive-aggressive intentions? That’s not what a good woman does.
Luckily I was able to cry out the frustration with Joy’s beautiful song playing in my ears.
Safety in numbers, my friends. Safety in numbers.
VENUS is a beautiful, raw, vulnerable collection of songs. In an interview, Joy was asked if this was a break up album and she said, “I like to think of it as a break through album. ” Perfect. It is SO PERFECT. Her response to themes found in this album?
Letting go of things that don’t serve you.
Many of you might know of Joy Williams as 1/2 of The Civil Wars, but with this album she proves that she is full of talent and creativity and beautiful music on her own.
VENUS comes out on June 29th. You can pre-order it on iTunes & Amazon.
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I participated in the Joy WIlliams Venus album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided an album to review but all opinions are my own.
ok i need this album. that song = YES!
i read her interview & this is my favorite quote “You can’t write about the sun when it’s raining. I’ve just been through one of the darkest periods of my life. What I found is when you stare into the dark, it’s not as scary as you think it is. Yes, I’m a little sadder for it, but stronger and more resilient.” so, so true!
UGH! THAT QUOTE! SO GOOD! thank you for sharing it…. aaaand it inspired a blog post. 🙂
Well I loved the lyrics but then when you mentioned she’s the woman in the Civil Wars I’m even more interested! Love her voice!
her voice is STUPID BEAUTIFUL. i can’t even begin to process what life is like to open your mouth and have angels fly out of it hahaha.
FIRST OF ALL. Joy Williams has been my inspiration since I first heard her hit “We” when I was SUPER LITTLE. I fell in love with her voice and I’ve followed her journey through being Joy Williams, then being the Civil Wars chick, and now back to being Joy Williams. The way her heart has broken, openly, over time and we’ve been able to witness her strength and her beauty in the most honest of ways has made me love her as the strong woman she is, and encouraged me to keep moving. When I was going through a breakup, the song “Poison & Wine” was HOLY MOLY speaking to my heart. When I feel like praising, “How Deep the Father’s Love For Us” makes me cry and raise my hands at the same time. THANK YOU FOR LOVING HER TOO. I get so excited when I find someone who adores her music!!
i TOTES remember her from her CCM days, though i wasn’t actually a fan… i just remember her name being EVERYWHERE. she’s freaking talented… anyone who can be as vulnerable and open as she’s being with her music gets automatic respect from me because man. so much power in being so honest.
Exactly. She’s so vulnerable.