Kelly Willis -- Don't Be Afraid [REACTION/RATING]

[@jcat__]

Thanks JeffreyK for the morning request. The song was written by Kelly herself, as she wrote 7 of the 10 songs on her debut album. Don, you wanted to know the 'producer of the song/album. The producer is Tony Brown. He produced 'Tuskegee' (country duets album) for Lionel Richie. He also produced albums for Reba, George Strait, Brooks and Dunn and other "A Listers". This is an optimistic song about taking a chance on love. It starts off with Kelly urging someone to take her love and a chance on a new romantic relationship because their life will be changed forever. She highlights the fact that she can show her partner true romance and reassures them not to be afraid of love. In the second verse, She further encourages her partner to let go of their fears and follow their heart. She acknowledges that many people believe that romance leads to pain and heartbreak, but she reassures them that they won't get hurt with her. Throughout the song, she promises to treat her partner tenderly and affectionately. Overall, it is a song that encourages listeners to be fearless in love. It is thoughtful, tender and the perfect song to remind someone special to take a leap of faith and follow their hearts. Yes Don, this is the first song of Kelly's that you have done. Sorry that I remember remember everything that I hear, see or read, just a coping skill that I had to develop, since I couldn't grip a pen since college. Thanks for the reaction

[@terrywoodyyc]

Thanks for this request JefferyK, I just love Kelly's music to bits. I agree completely with your comments below, I never understood why she didn't get more promotion. To me her unique voice slices through the average sound that was on at the time, and she did it beautifully. Thanks Don for the great reaction, and yes yes please play more Kelly!!!

[@jeffreyk5734]

Hey there Terry, Happy Thanksgiving! Well, it's Thanksgiving in the States anyway. Not sure when it is in Canada. Not sure when it is here, I'm used to it being the 3rd Thursday in November and lately it's been the 4th Thursday in November when it was originally celebrated up until about 1941. I'm not aware of any switch that was publicly announced. I was thrilled to hear Don react to Kelly at last. "One More Time" is another of my favorites of hers with that distinctive sound. MCA gave her anthology collection that title a few years back. Say, do you remember the Ronna Reeves song "He's My Weakness"? Man I thought that was going to be her breakout single and hearing it again just recently I still can't figure out why it wasn't. She is so beautiful in the video too. I got to see Ronna in concert at a nearby County fair I think back in 1992 or 93. There was a good size crowd. She was so terribly underrated.

[@terrywoodyyc]

@@jeffreyk5734 Hi Jeffrey, Happy Thanksgiving and Black Friday! Canada has thanksgiving earlier than the U.S. - it's the second Monday of October. Our big sale day is called Boxing Day and it's December 26. It was originally created so retailers could reduce any inventory that didn't sell for Christmas. These days we do your Black Friday as well as Boxing Day. Canadians are in a quandary about buying Christmas stuff this year since the government is giving us a temporary tax holiday on some things starting on Dec 14. And yes I do fondly remember the Ronna Reeves song, I'll have to look it up again since I've not seen it in a long time. So many good artists from those days, where did they all go? Anyway, enjoy your turkey days!!

[@dennisking7872]

It's great to hear Kelly finally featured on the channel. She's a great artist who never received significant radio play, and this track is from her MCA debut album, "Well Travelled Love," in 1990. "Baby Take a Piece of My Heart" and "Whatever Way the Wind Blows" were two of her more popular radio songs back in the early 1990s. Happy Thanksgiving!

[@johndavidson5228]

Another good artist introduction.

[@giovannicerri3626]

It took Don long enough, but he finally got to one of my absolute favorites female voices ever in Country Music and he does so with a personal favorite song of hers. I really love the Texas/Spanish influence on the arrangement all throughout the song and Kelly does a great job on the vocals. She (especially on her earlier records) always tends to sound heartbroken like she can't help it, but I think she mangages wonderful restraint on this one and doesn't overstep into drama. There are so many songs of Kelly I love, so I will suggest to just pick a random one and don't worry about it, since you're most likely gonna end up with something good. I repeatedly stated I love "Long way home", but "Standing by the river" is also great and so are "Nobody wants to go to the moon anymore", "I don't wanna love you (but I do)", "Wrapped", "Not forgotten you", "My heart's in trouble tonight" and "That'll be me" among many others.

[@jeffreyk5734]

Lo, what a wonderful Thanksgiving gift this is Don! My first response got deleted somehow, so I'm having to start over here. Kelly Willis is truly one of the most underrated and underplayed female artists ever in Country Music. I'll never understand why she wasn't one of the biggest female Stars of the 90's. She had it all, immense talent, Stage Prescence and the stunning Beauty of a Classic Movie Star. A gifted song writer and one of the most distinctive and haunting of all voices in the industry. Unfortunately, she never got the same degree of push from MCA that Trisha Yearwood did during the same time frame. Kelly's first 3 albums were all phenomenal. The music critics loved her, though she wasn't considered "Radio Friendly" enough which was a frequent lame excuse for not playing an artist's songs. I kind of expected "I Don't Want to Love You" because it was her first video to be the song that reactors might get to first. The video is so adorable too. However, "Don't Be Afraid" is one of my favorite tracks on her debut CD. I mentioned this song specifically due to it's uniqueness. I knew you would agree. "The Heart That Love Forgot" off her second album has a confusing music video, but it has a similar unique arrangement. A little more up tempo. You will love that one. Wow, a 9.7! That is great! One of Kelly's best toe tappers is a little song from her loaded 3rd album called "Take It All Out On You". She had a brilliant duet with Kevin Welch from 1993 "That'll Be Me" where she gets to showcase her amazing vocal range. I'm so glad that I discovered your channel earlier this year. Your reviews are always outstanding, and I honestly look forward to hearing them. You have also introduced me to so many fine artists. Additionally, you frequently feature allot of my favorites who never got the recognition that they justly deserved. Again, thank you so very much for this. Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays to you and yours!

[@shawnpilgrim2355]

She has a song “I Don’t Want to Love You (But I Do)” which is really really good.

[@jeffreyk5734]

One of my favorites. Kelly deserves allot more attention and fresh reprisal's.