Justin Reeve

Released in 1983 as the lead single for the album Frontiers, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” is a keyboard-driven rock anthem about the emotional struggle and ultimate resilience following a painful breakup. A quintessential 80s rock hit, the song was co-written by singer Steve Perry and keyboardist Jonathan Cain while the band was on tour, inspired by the divorces that guitarist Neal Schon and bassist Ross Valory were going through. Perry and Cain sought to write a song that, instead of being a traditional ballad, was an uplifting and urgent declaration of self-determination, acknowledging the pain (“Here we stand, worlds apart”) while holding onto the hopeful conviction that true love will eventually return (“Someday love will find you”).

The lead Swahili vocals in this arrangement are sung by Jaqueen Mwende. 🌍💔🥁

Download MP3: https://music.justinreeve.com/separate-ways-worlds-apart/

Hapa tumesimama, mbali tumetengana
Mioyo imevunjika, nimejawa na huzuni
Usiku sipati usingizi, nafsi inanong'ona
Nitakupata wapi wee ndoto haziishina

K**a atakuumiza roho
Mapenzi ya kweli hayakimbii
Unajua bado nakupenda

"Gone Away" by The Offspring is a powerful and emotional track that stands out from their usual punk rock. Featured on their iconic album Ixnay on the Hombre, the song is a somber, piano-driven ballad about profound loss and grief. Unlike their more rebellious anthems, Dexter Holland's vocals capture the universal pain of missing someone you can't get back.

The song's emotional weight has made it a popular choice for covers, the most well-known likely being Five Finger Death Punch's heavy metal anthem cover, with a powerful music video about a soldier losing his friends in war.

I experimented with an African fusion style for this song, and found it vibed rather well with the melody. 🌍🥁💔

Download MP3: https://music.justinreeve.com/gone-away/

It's been awhile since I've posted a new song, even though right now I have nearly a dozen almost completed that I've been trying to wrap up. I find I'm rarely completely satisfied with how anything turns out, but eventually I'll take a deep breath and tell myself to just "put a pin in it!" So with any luck I'll be posting something soon.

In the meantime, here's an original from a few years back, "Braes of Bonnie Doon," a nice little tune with a Celtic vibe.

Pachelbel's Canon...in space!!! 🛰✨🪐

https://music.justinreeve.com/pachelbels-starship/

A short song with an outer-spacey vibe. 🚀🌌🌎

https://music.justinreeve.com/dreams-of-terra/

An original piano/instrumental song. Somehow it reminds me of the last days of spring, a bittersweet farewell to the end of the early blooms. 🌺🥀🌸

Sheet music and accompaniment track available at https://music.justinreeve.com/a-fading-blossom/ 🎼🎵🎶

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Can the rose of summer fade,
The bright and blooming rose?
Shall winter sweep the glade,
Where its tender beauty blows?
There is perfume in the air,
And it steals from the opening flower;
But the winds shall rudely tear
The treasures of field and bower.

They fade, — how soon they fade,
The flowers of earth and sky!
Was all that beauty made,
To smile a moment and die?
O, will not the colors stay,
That glow in the west at even,
And the hues of the rising day
Be ever the charm of heaven?

O, let me not think the flowers
Shall ever be borne away
From the full and loaded bowers,
Where they welcome the early day.
I would not indulge one thought,
That a rose or a cheek could wither;
But believe their colors, caught
From heaven, shall be wafted thither.

- James Gates Percival

Crafted in 1857 by John Henry Hopkins, Jr., "We Three Kings" stands as a perennial ode to the Nativity story, drawing inspiration from the biblical account in Matthew 2, where visitors from the East present gifts to the newborn Jesus. While the Bible does not specify their number or title them as "wise men" or "kings," Hopkins introduced the imaginative trio -- Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar -- in his carol, each carrying symbolic gifts that have woven themselves into the fabric of Christmas lore.

The first of these gifts, gold, serves as a regal tribute, symbolizing Jesus as a king and emphasizing his divine authority. It's a nod to the recognition of his elevated status. Frankincense, the second offering, not only possesses aromatic allure but also holds spiritual significance. In the biblical context, its smoke was thought to carry prayers heavenward, making it a fitting symbol for acknowledging Jesus' divine nature and spiritual importance.

The third and perhaps most poignant gift is myrrh, an aromatic resin associated with burial rituals. This gift, laden with symbolism, foreshadows Jesus' sacrificial journey and eventual crucifixion. Myrrh becomes a poignant acknowledgment of the mortality inherent in Jesus' earthly existence, tying together the joy of his birth with the somber events that would unfold in his life.

The enduring appeal of "We Three Kings" lies not only in its musical composition but also in its ability to distill profound theological themes into a simple and evocative narrative. The carol has become a cherished part of Christmas traditions, resonating through generations as it invites listeners to reflect on the profound meanings woven into the fabric of the Nativity narrative.

👑🐪🎄

Download MP3 and sheet music: https://music.justinreeve.com/we-three-kings/

"A Spaceman Came Travelling" from the "Moon of Wintertime" album. One of my favorite Christmas songs! The first time I ever heard it was in a cover by Gregorian over 15 years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxka0DcoibE Since then, after listening to the original and other arrangements of the song, the melody kept growing on me, until I finally wanted to make my own. 🛸👽⭐