Review For Vibes Web3 Music Competition Week 40

I have just watched the Week 40 Vibes Web3 Music Competition entry by annahnkot, and right at the beginning I heard the first note, and there was something inside me making me move. Her song was a hymn I have heard all my life, My Hope Is Built; and as she opened her song I felt my heart beat rise to her voice.

It was as though a friend is coming to tell you something nice. I sat forward with the hope that I would know what to expect. I was unable to take my eyes off her as there was a suspense in the softness of her voice--I was not sure what it was going to be next.

However, as she went on playing, I understood that her playing was not aimed at demonstrating her vocal force or at being impressed. Rather it was a matter of truth and faith. There was an eloquence of silence in her voice, and in every word I could have sworn I bore the weight of her conviction.

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Almost as roots grow deep in the soul, when she comes to the place where it says On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand. It made me remember that simpler performance can be more effective than complicated performance. The roughness and modesty of her voice, gave me the impression of listening to a prayer, not a song.

As I listened, I had to reflect on my life as well. The lines on storms and anchors took me back to those days when I cried to God and thought that life was devouring me. Sometimes I could not be sure that I would ever be peaceful again. However, this song and more particularly her performance left me feeling soothed.

I pictured her singing this song to herself, after a prayer, and putting all her heart into this song, and somehow, this honesty crossed the screen and went directly to my soul. I felt that she was singing to me, and telling me, that I am not alone, even during my worst moments.

At the end of every verse I anticipated the next. The pauses were a source of suspense, as though the silence that followed the lines had a meaning of its own. In the song, when she says When darkness covers His fair lovely face, I sleep upon His changeless grace, I could not hold the tears.

I recalled times in my own life when I experienced being in the shadow. I wondered when I heard her voice: Will I also find that same grace again? The next note, her next line, continued drawing me to the song.

I was fully engaged by the time she came to the last verse, When He shall come with trumpet sound. She did not dramatize, but only spoke eagerly and assuring. Another thing she reminded me about hope is that it is not about everything being perfect, it is about being able to hold on even when everything else has already begun to sink. Nothing was being attempted to be proved by her voice--it was merely bearing witness to faith. Such sincerity was more powerful than any other thing could be.

And as the final stanza died away I sat still a few moments, letting the words dig their grave within me. I understood that there is no need to be hopeless, even when life gets so heavy. This song helped me to remember that there is a solid Rock I can lean on. It told me that faith did not always have to be strident and tremulous and shaking--that it might be silent, and yet carry with it enough power to lift the heart. What I thought was suspense earlier turned out to be peace and confidence.

To hear annahnkot reciting entry was to hear a sister pouring out her heart in worship. I felt such a connection even though she is very far away and I am here in Nigeria. We were all bound together by the song with faith and hope. And not only was it a performance piece, but a message, the message I will take with me. The message is not very complicated, but very potent: the world is so unstable but there is a place to be safe. And there Christ is the sure Rock.

That is why this entry impressed me so much. This was not the most fancy performance, yet it was authentic, emotional, and full of sincerity. It reminded me about things that are true and I often forget during times when life is difficult. By the time I completed my viewing, I had uttered a silent prayer, which was that I was extremely grateful that God reminded me that no one is alone. It was really not music--but a heart-touching message that rejuvenated and renewed my hope.

Link To Her Entry 👇