HOLYWOOD SCOOP: TORI KELLY A RISING STAR WITH A POSITIVE MESSAGE
I love this former Youtuber, American Idol contestant, and now rising singer-songwriter Tori Kelly’s passion to be herself and all she represents in her beliefs. Tori Kelly is making her mark on the world with her new debut album, “UNBREAKABLE SMILE,” which teaches young people that you don’t need to be risque to make a difference, to become a singer and regardless she would still do her thing in music anyways. Some of her lyrics of the album and single, “Unbreakable Smile,” are below:
“Somebody told me fame is a disease
You start singing the blues when you start seeing the green
But I think it’s all about what you choose
The way you live your life, depends on you
That’s when I realized I wanna make a difference
Change other people’s lives, give hope, even for a moment
Use my name for good and change the game I could
Because to make it you think I gotta act a certain way,
Be a little bit insane, live a little, it’s okay
I guess we have different definitions of living, but you’ll twist my words anyway
You’ll say that I’m naïve, like I don’t have a past,
You’re the one being deceived, I see right behind the mask
Tryna to stir me up and get me mad
I smile because happiness is all I have, so
La da da da dee, you’re not breaking me
La de da da da, ain’t got time for ya, singing
La da da da dee, you won’t shatter me
La de da da da, got an unbreakable smile…”
Watch Tori’s music video “Unbreakable Smile,” right here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVOvhKCYKAc
I love that she stands her ground in her faith and moral but also is fun, sassy and talented in her music. She shares truth and gives her audience real-talk without being preachy, or on the contrary raunchy like many pop or even R & B artists (not all artists are but many who are successful tend to sell for shock value). She wants to go against the grain not because she wants to be rebellious but simply, to be Tori. She is strong, knows her identity and I believe will be a strong Christian leader in her generation.
In a way, Tori Kelly is kind of undercover (as a Christian artist) because she doesn’t always talk about her faith, but on Instagram she posted a scripture verse, is open in her lyrics about her values and belief system and talks openly about God. She is bold and is unshakeable in the sense that she won’t bow down to what is “popular” to please people, to sell records, and so forth. This is at least the image and message she projects, which I think our culture so desperately needs. Of course I am a hard core worship fan of straight up Christian Gospel music too, but I like my pop and mainstream artists who keep it classy and have fun, upbeat, positive songs. She is a rare artist who is shining some light in Hollywood, and I really believe our generation is on the brink of a movement which I call, a “purity movement” where people are going to want something more wholesome rather than the over the top shock value of perversion, cussing, and disrespect. Those days are coming to a close people. No one wants to hear you disrespect your Mom, ex, and or wants to hear you talk about popping bottles. Seriously, where are the real deal kind of people who use their art to inspire, to spread love, truth, and hope? We need that.
People desire positive, encouraging messages. I know darkness will exist, but I believe “HOLYWOOD” (the movement that this blog speaks of), will begin to become more and more evident in this next couple of years. The darkness will continue to darken, and the light will only get brighter. You will see. I hope this article inspires you to support artists like Tori. WE the people, also (I am speaking to myself), need to stop supporting artists who are damaging the youth and next generation with harmful words, or even “symbolic” (yet derogatory) music. I don’t care if it is a metaphor or they didn’t mean to cuss or they were making a point…it is NOT okay to keep promoting destruction to young people on mainstream radio and TV. People we need to wake up, put on the armor of God (for those who are followers of Christ-Eph 6), pray, and really support people who actually care and want to help make this world a better place. Amen?
