Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!
Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!

JFH Music Review


Beckah Shae, Champion
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Beckah Shae
Champion



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Pop
Album length: 15 tracks: 56 minutes, 4 seconds
Street Date: May 6, 2014


READER RATING:   


Despite noteworthy success in both the Christian and mainstream arenas, California native Beckah Shae may be one of music's most successful best-kept secrets. To be sure, even with a Dove nomination, a half dozen singles on the Billboard Christian Singles chart, and appearances on albums by everyone from American blues prodigy Jonny Lang and platinum-selling R&B singer Montell Jordan (of "This Is How We Do It" fame) to CCM mainstay TobyMac, most listeners would be hard-pressed to name even one of her songs.

Her latest release may or may not change all that, but that doesn't take away from the fact that it is still filled with an exemplary and generous assortment of tracks that are as melodically infectious as they are lyrically uplifting. On the latter front, Shae tosses in just the right balance of humble vulnerability and confident self-affirmation. Indeed, for every time she sings "Even when I want to quit/ I just keep on pushing it/ Determined to make a hit," she's quick to balance such sentiments with a clear reference to the source of such strength, as she does on cuts like "Vision."

Sonically, despite its overall adherence to the dance-pop idiom, Champion's grooves are anything but homogenous, as the nimble transition from the smooth, techno-tinged title song to the insistent, driving chants of "Heartbeat" and the classic-soul-meets-pop underpinning of "Me and My God" more than ably prove. To be sure, the project's relative eclecticism, which is only heightened by guest slots from some of Christian music's most revered practitioners from a wide array of genres (Crystal Lewis, T-Bone, Israel Houghton), may well be its strongest selling point.

There isn't anything on the record destined to rewrite the dance-pop rule book or convert hordes of listeners to the idiom. But those with an existing appreciation for toe-tapping inspirational fare will find that Shae's buoyant, beat-heavy new album is a rock-solid endeavor that matches, or perhaps even surpasses, the better portion of work done by other artists of her ilk, regardless of whether they happen to belong to the CCM or general-market camps.

- Review date: 12/12/17, written by Bert Gangl of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 

. Record Label: Shae Shoc Records
. Album length: 15 tracks: 56 minutes, 4 seconds
. Street Date: May 6, 2014
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon.com
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)

  1. Champion (3:58)
  2. Incorruptible (3:39)
  3. Turbo Style (3:32)
  4. My All (feat. T-Bone) (3:36)
  5. Promise (3:02)
  6. Jericho (feat. Israel Houghton) (4:13)
  7. Heartbeat (3:46)
  8. Me and My God (feat. Eric Dawkins) (4:24)
  9. Pioneer (3:35)
  10. Legacy (feat. Crystal Lewis) (3:45)
  11. Your Kingdom Come (feat. Joy & Grace) (3:39)
  12. Vision (3:31)
  13. Me First (3:20)
  14. Turbo Style (Jack Shocklee Remix) [feat. Canon] (3:23)
  15. Incorruptible (David Thulin Remix) (4:41)

 

 JFH Album Sample Player

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH



This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images