Jordan Smith, “Stand in the Light”

The Voice Season 9 winner Jordan Smith has released his debut single, Stand in the Light. Smith has decided to cast his nets wide, with an inspirational song that finds space easily in the Contemporary Christian arena. Released by Republic Records in tandem with Roma Downey and Mark Burnett’s Lightworkers Media, Stand in the Light precedes Smith’s debut album, Something Beautiful, which dropped March 18.

I have to admit that Stand in the Light doesn’t make much of a first impression. I wanted to like this song very much, and its pedigree–Oscar and Grammy nominee Stephan Moccio, who has worked with artists like The Weeknd, Ellie Goulding, Sarah Brightman, Josh Groban, and Miley Cyrus–boded well for the song. The instrumentation is glorious. The lyrics are clearly sung, and Smith’s impeccable vocals are on point. It’s a ballad, which was Smith’s strength to begin with. So where does the song fail?

Ultimately, it’s about the song, and the song is just… vanilla. Despite its message of self-acceptance, the song itself is rather ordinary, and such a sad thing, considering that the artist is truly extraordinary. The melody is difficult to follow, the structure is woefully straightforward, and it doesn’t allow Smith chances to truly shine. I am disappointed.

As an aside, while the video offers nothing new thematically, I gotta give Smith and his handlers props for casting an Asian man with a Caucasian female. It’s relatively groundbreaking because the minority of choice in most American media is African-American, so to cast an Asian-American lead role, even in a music video, says a lot about the kind of walls that people are trying to tear down. I’m really happy.

STAND IN THE LIGHT Lyrics
Jordan Smith

Stand in the light and be seen as we are

Didn’t I tell you I hear what you say?
Never look back as you’re walking away
Carry the music, the memories and keep them inside
You
Laugh every day
Don’t stop those tears from falling
Down

This is who I am inside
This is who I am, I’m not going to hide
Cause the greatest risk we’ll ever take is by far
To stand in the light and be seen as we are
So stand in the light and be seen as we are

With courage and kindness hold onto your faith
You get what you give and its never too late
To reach for the branch and climb up leaving sadness behind
You
Fight hard for love
We can never give enough

This is who I am inside
This is who I am, I’m not going to hide
Cause the greatest risk we’ll ever take is by far
To stand in the light and be seen as we are
So stand in the light and be seen as we are

Riding the storms that come raging towards us we dive
Holding our breath as we break through the surface
With arms open wide
With arms open wide

This is who I am inside
This is who I am, I’m not going to hide
Cause the greatest risk we’ll ever take is by far
To stand in the light and be seen as we are
So stand in the light and be seen as we are