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St. James' 'best of' album is collection of diverse hits

April 15, 2003

By Stephanie Franks

Whether the music is worship, pop, rock or techno, Rebecca St. James has made her message firm and clear to her listeners of all ages.

St. James' new album, Wait For Me: The Best From Rebecca St. James, is a collection of her diverse hits that show how she has evolved in her music since she released her first album in 1994 at the age of 16.

Listeners hear a wide spectrum of gospel music from her hard rock hit, 'God,' to her worshipful song of solitude, 'Speak to Me, Lord.'

St. James' songs are marked by their upfront and strong stance on Christian beliefs and their unique acoustics, ranging from symphony sounds to computer generated sounds mixed.

Her song, 'Yes, I Believe in God,' released in 1999, is also on her new album. The song rocked the gospel music industry after the Columbine High School tragedy.

Her lyrics proudly proclaim God as the real God and challenge her listeners to do the same.

The symphony accompaniment and choir provide a declarative and unique contemporary hit anyone from a teenager to an adult would find uplifting.

'Wait for Me,' the album's title song, covers one of her most popular platforms -- abstinence before marriage.

'Darling, did you know I dream about life together, knowing it will be forever. I'll be yours and you'll be mine,' St. James sings.

Released on her 2000 album, Transform, the love song provides a more romantic and spiritual sense on why one should abstain with a melodic and contemporary sound.

St. James' book on abstinence, Wait For Me, reached No. 1 on the Christian Booksellers Association Young Adult Best Sellers' List in March.

Two new songs add to her collection on this new album.

One, 'Expressions of Your Love,' is a duet with Chris Tomlin.

The other is 'I Thank You.'

In 1999, St. James received a Grammy award for Best Rock Gospel Album for Pray.

In 2003, she received three Dove Award nominations for Female Vocalist of the Year, Praise and Worship Album for her CD Worship God and Short Form Music Video for her song, 'Wait for Me.'

'Her music is hip and innovative, but it's her underlying commitment to Christ and her unabashed proclamation of God's love that primarily attract the listener,' Mark Moring of Campus Life magazine said on Forefront Records' Web site.

Although the messages presented in her lyrics are concepts college students have heard since they were in church youth groups, her musical presentation should appeal to her fans who have watched her grow into a more adult, sophisticated sound.

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