There are times as a ‘tastemaker’ in country music where my senses are over stimulated with all the new songs that I hear. In fact, sometimes I get so lost in the world of new singles that I forget why I got into this business in the first place, because I genuinely love music. So when a new single crosses the desk that renews my love of music, I’m gonna shout to the rooftops about it. The latest single for Danny Gokey, “I Will Not Say Goodbye” is one of those kinds of songs.
Featuring a slightly haunting intro, Gokey sings the first verse of this Lari White, Chuck Cannon and Vicky McGehee collaboration like he’s wringing out every ounce of emotion in his soul. “I Will Not Say Goodbye” is a song for anyone who lost somebody unexpectedly and doesn’t want or care to ‘say goodbye’ to the one they loved. This is what separates the song from a list of other ‘goodbye’ songs and an obvious comparison, Rascal Flatts’ “Here Comes Goodbye.”
It’s not a song about a break-up but a song about loss and how painful that loss can be and how real it is for somebody after they lose the love of their life (or somebody close to them). The lyrics are stronger than the average song of this type and Gokey’s vocal performance, which is all in, is a definite show stopper. While completely a contemporary country production, producer Mark Bright’s production never gets to be too much or overtakes Danny Gokey’s strong, passionate performance.
I knew from the first moment that I saw Gokey perform on American Idol that he had the capacity to sing songs like “I Will Not Say Goodbye.” What I didn’t expect was for him to deliver the kind of song that reminds me why I love doing what I do for a living. I love hearing great lyrics, great vocalists and great melodies. When these things are all added together the way it is on “I Will Not Say Goodbye,” it’s simply magical.
I will be completely shocked if this song doesn’t become Danny Gokey’s signature single from My Best Days and it should help to prove skeptics about his choice of genre wrong. Country music most certainly has room for a singer like Danny Gokey, especially if he continues to deliver songs like “I Will Not Say Goodbye.”
You can support Danny Gokey by purchasing this single at Amazon | iTunes.
Check out our review of Danny's debut album by clicking here.
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