presents

April 29, 2021 Macel Falwell Recital Hall MUSIC 305 8:00 PM

Before We Let the Sun Go Down The New Respects

Why Can’t We Be Friends? Jordan Searcy

It Would Be You Ben Rector

One and Only Adele

Damage Sam Herlihy and Kaycee Ketron arr. Sam Herlihy

Never Me Kaycee Ketron arr. Sam Herlihy

How to Be Alone Kaycee Ketron arr. Sam Herlihy

Bits and Pieces JP Cooper

Abide Noah McLeroy and Kaycee Ketron

Ease My Mind Ben Platt Before We Let the Sun Go Down With all the energy and heat of summer, this funk/pop tune sings to the allurement of the things unknown—with others and with ourselves. It hints at not having everything figured out but continuing on nonetheless. By the end, it hopes to spur in you some confidence to keep going and enjoying the moments along the way, even when the specifics aren’t falling together, and feeling satisfied at the end of the day that you’re doing alright.

Why Can’t We Be Friends? This singer-songwriter tune from Searcy’s last album, “Love? Songs” shines a spotlight on that awkward in-between of a relationship. Once the closest of friends now slowly becoming strangers, one questions why everything changed when it all seemed so good at one point. Throughout the song, Searcy tries to come to terms with the newness of what his friendship once was, but in the end it’s just another unanswered question.

It Would Be You Having written this song in the midst of the pandemic we’re all acquainted with by now, Rector plays cleverly with the lyrics, claiming that there is no other he’d rather live through a pandemic with than the one he loves. “It Would Be You” puts a delightful spin on the otherwise dark setting and brings a fresh breath of perspective to the listener.

One and Only Famous for her songs of love and loss, Adele brings her talents to this song with a soulful flare. The foundation of the piano and the catchy rhythm are the staples of this sound. Adele’s message and vocals here fold over the music like silk as she makes a plea for a chance to show she could make someone happy. It’s the epitome of puppy love with each verse portraying the idea of being so smitten with someone that you would do anything to let them know and hope they let you know the same. Damage With love comes heartbreak. This idea is delved into in “Damage” as a duet between a man and woman who have reached the end of what once was. Where there was fire now ash, a spark now dimmed, a future now nonexistent. As the song progresses, you find that both sides see themselves as the victim, both sides wounded by the love they’ve tried to give and haven’t felt they received. Often in relationships, this idea rings true, that it’s not always one person’s fault or err that sent the union crumbling, but a passage of time that ends in neither person being right for the other, as much as they might wish it were true.

Never Me In this song that plays on the themes of a wedding, a girl is seeking once again that which she’s always sought—someone. Ensnared further with every rejection the idea of having one to call her own, the listener follows from her perspective throughout the cycle of having a crush and getting crushed when someone else seems to have already caught their interest’s eye. Accustomed to this ending, the girl sits in a moment of questioning, wondering, “why not me?” before moving on to await the next chance she can’t seem to let go of.

How to Be Alone Written in a season of confusion and anger over what seemed like a lifetime of unanswered questions, this song is an outpouring of those emotions, finally screaming, “This is how I’ve really been feeling. Are you listening?” The lyrics describe the period they came from where the days felt lonely, the nights felt pointless, and the future felt far. I wrote this feeling angry at God, really, that I’d been told He’s been with me my whole life but for so long it hadn’t seemed like it. In writing the majority of the song, that was what I was drawing from, but in the end, I forced myself to a reminder that what I feel might seem valid in the moment, but the bigger picture is of the truth that I know, and that’s that you’re never alone, even at your loneliest. Bits and Pieces The lyrics here paint a story of someone who was at their lowest point. They felt beaten down, lost, like no one could hear them—not unlike many people feel on the daily. Throughout this song, Cooper is lifted from these pits by one—we’re led to believe it’s maybe a lover—and set back on solid ground, finally seen and heard and rebuilt into the person they are now. Though the words never say it outright, the song itself screams of a biblical message of someone lost and broken who finds Christ and lifted from a dark place to a place of newness. It’s the gospel story in 4 minutes, and whether it was intentional or not, these words are full of truth.

Abide In John 15, believers are told that “[Christ] is the vine; you are the branches. If you abide in [Christ] and [him] in you, you will bear much fruit.” This simple song takes this concept and breaks it down into the picture it paints, attempting to teach that, while scripture and biblical language can often be overcomplicated to, not just believers, but the world, resting in the Lord can truly be as easy as breathing.

Ease My Mind It’s no secret that today’s generation suffers more greatly than any other from depression, anxiety, and worry. In this final piece, Platt speaks to those very troubles in another “lover-rescue that screams biblical ideals” song. It’s hinted with the use of the word, “darling” in the chorus that Platt means to say a human relationship is what has saved him from the dauntless worries of his every day, but this tune is riddled from front to back with the relationship of Jesus Christ. And He truly is the one who saves from the ailments so many are chained to.

To my parents, Paul and Tammia, without whom I wouldn’t even be in this room, in this building, or on this campus. They have supported and upheld me in so many unseen ways over the past four years and in a million more ways before I even set foot on this leg of the journey. To Jasmine and Megan, and now Danyel, the first women who showed me that living with someone other than my family isn’t so bad. To Alex and Kaylan, for being beside me since week one, and to Noah, for being, and remaining, my first friend here and for writing with me for a night such as this. To Bridgett and Jonny and Sam who have all, in some small and some massive ways, kept me going when I didn’t think I could, made me laugh when the circumstances called for anything but, and allowed me to be myself every day in every way. To my professors— especially Dr. Campbell—for all the grace, patience, and belief that I would make it to and through today. You are true heroes to me. And finally, to Jesus, who—unlike all the above—has saved me, called me, equipped me, and walked with me every second of every day of every week of every month that has led me here. You have seen, understood, and loved me in unimaginable ways, and I would not be a fraction of who I am today if not for the life you have called me to. Thank you all, a million times over, for being a part of my story.

Kaycee Ketron is a student of Dr. Patricia Campbell.

This recital is presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Music in Commercial Music: Artist Development Concentration degree.

We would like to thank the Liberty University Administration for their faithful support of the School of Music.

Dr. Jerry Prevo, President Dr. Scott Hicks, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Stephen Müller, Dean, School of Music The School of Music Administration, Faculty, and Staff