Foreverland

Foreverland Album Artwork Concept 

Foreverland, the title track, inspired the concept for the album cover design.  Foreverland is a place we all dream of going, where magic happens.  It’s the journey to full-self-awareness.  Foreverland is inside of us all.  We just need to go in search for it. 

The album design concept could easily be made into a romantic fantasy, science-fiction movie:  Foreverland is a magical, mystical place from another dimension that has punched a hole in our physical universe.  The cosmic portal to Foreverland is now open, where anyone can enter.  You don’t need faith, or to be forgiven to enter Foreverland, only your earnest desire to go there.  Though similar to earth, the laws that govern Foreverland are more metaphysical in nature.  Foreverland is where the full human potential is realized.  Technology is relied upon less, and as you spend more and more time in Foreverland, your soul emerges and slowly is empowered with gifts and abilities.  These abilities include telepathy, externalizing your soul from your physical body and being able to travel through time and space.  You sail through the clouds, your heart flies and slides on a moonbeam, and it’s where each kiss in born on a star.

Song: Foreverland 

Foreverland, the title track, is the theme song for the album.  This song is about the ups and downs of life and learning that everything you need to be happy is inside you.  We need to renew this journey as we evolve through our lifetime.  This song captures the struggle and search for truth, love, happiness, and reaching for one’s dreams.  Although feeling lost and shipwrecked, at times, with perseverance and the “angels watching over me”, she rises above and finds her way to Foreverland.  Foreverland is a magical, mystical place where we sail through the clouds, our hearts fly and slide on a moonbeam, and where each kiss is born on a star.  Roberta’s vocals are exciting and enticing, inviting you join her in this journey.

Song: Foreverland
Words and Music by
© 2014 Roberta Brinkman & John Whitworth
Originally Written in July-2009
Musical Arrangement by John Whitworth

Song: Show Me Your Love 

Show Me Your Love is about that initial spark, attraction and intoxicating chemistry between two, new lovers.  The song ruminates upon the feelings of “love at first site”.  Both lovers are swept away and rise up to the sky just by looking into each other’s eyes.  Feelings of vulnerability creep in and she starts wondering if this is real or imaginary.  Thus, the song implores, “Show me your love, show me your love, show me what you’re made of!”  Roberta gained some of her inspiration and imagery for this song while visiting Yosemite National Park.  Roberta sings this song with such conviction that you are compelled to show her what you’re made of.

Song: Show Me Your Love
Words and Music by
© 2013 Roberta Brinkman & John Whitworth
Originally Written in August-2009
Musical Arrangement by John Whitworth

Song: A Boy Like You 

A Boy Like You is a song about a high school girl that is terribly infatuated and in love with a boy at her school.  He is indeed handsome, smart, and athletic.  He’s got it all and all the girls at school want him.  Unfortunately, despite the many dates they have gone on, he is not reciprocal in his feelings toward her and is somewhat narcissistic.  He flirts with her on and off and finally all is revealed at the high school dance.  The girl is completely in love with him, and even after she realizes he doesn’t really care for her in the same way, she still can’t walk away.  She can’t fathom why he does the inconsiderate things he does, when she is so sure of her feelings that tell her they should be together.  As she states in the refrain, “I’m just a girl that’s dealing with the feelings for a boy like you!”  Roberta is very believable in her deliverance of the song; it may cause you to recall a similar experience.

Song: A Boy Like You
Words and Music by
© 2013 John Whitworth
Originally Written in November-2010
Musical Arrangement by John Whitworth
Written for Roberta Brinkman

Song: Winter Rose 

Winter Rose is a song about finally reaching musical success later in life and feeling the magic of being on stage and feeling loved and accepted.  With time comes wisdom and the song encourages everyone to not get lost in the maze of everyday distractions, and to follow your own dreams.  In fact, now is the time to follow your dreams!  Roberta’s range and breath control yields soaring vocals that are both impressive and captivating.

Song: Winter Rose
Words and Music by
© 2013 Roberta Brinkman & John Whitworth
Originally Written in December-2008
Musical Arrangement by John Whitworth

Song: My Everything 

My Everything is the most romantic song on the album.  It is a song about finding and celebrating your soulmate.  Words become inadequate and can’t come close to conveying the depth and feelings of true love.  Love holds the promise and desire to give the best of oneself to each other.  Love for your soulmate expands to seeing this love in everything, the colors of the sunset, the shooting star, the eternal flame that lights every fiber or your being.  However, all these words ultimately fail.  Only when they finally stand before God and God attests that you loved her the most, does she truly know with ultimate certainty. 

Roberta’s dynamic and expressive vocal brings home the romantic nature of these lyrics.  As a producer, I enjoyed stepping outside the box and employing some East Indian instruments, percussion and a violin section.  However, much of the song retains its rock feel.

Song: My Everything
Words and Music by
© 2007 John Whitworth
Originally Written in May-2004
Musical Arrangement by John Whitworth
 

Song: Remember 

Remember is a song about wanting to be remembered by those you love, or loved.  This could be being remembered by a past lover, who you felt was truly the right one for you.  However, for some reason, it didn’t work out.  Perhaps, you feel that the relationship was never properly resolved.  Although, the relationship ended, you want the memories of being together not to be forgotten, hoping they will be cherished.  

Another scenario could be about an elderly couple that has been married for most their entire adult life.  Perhaps, we see a wife is sitting with her husband, who is on his deathbed.  Wanting him to hang on for a few moments longer, she starts to recount the history of their youth and love, in the hopes that these will be the last, happy thoughts before passing.  This simple, but poetic song is eloquently sung by Roberta, which may bring a tear to your eye.

Song: Remember
Words and Music by
© 2007 Roberta Brinkman
Originally Written in November-2004
Musical Arrangement by John Whitworth

Song: It's All Right 

It’s All Right is a song about the passing of my beloved mother, Jewel Whitworth.  I originally wrote the lyrics from a male perspective (When I was just a boy, etc.).  However, when I played the song for Roberta, she liked it and wanted to record it, so naturally, I created a version for her to sing.  I wrote the lyrics to the first half of the song while my mother was alive, albeit very ill.  My mother passed away on Friday night, April 25, 1997 at 11:00 PM.  I feel blessed that I was allowed to be alone with her as she took her last breath.  Soon after, I wrote the lyrics to the second half of the song.  This song carries quite a high degree of sentimentality for me.  Roberta does a beautiful job singing this song, and I thank her for bringing this song to life.  When I hear Roberta singing this song so beautifully, it does bring a tear to my eye.

Song: It’s All Right
Words and Music by
© 2007 John Whitworth
Originally Written in April-1997
Musical Arrangement by John Whitworth
Roberta's version 

Song: For Always 

For Always is a song about one of Roberta’s sisters, Susan Kolowski, who passed away in 2011.  This is a simple, but extremely beautiful song, and was written as if Roberta’s sister, Susan.  Susan’s soul is floating above the congregation, telling family and friends not to be sad; that she’ll be watching over them, until they meet, again.  Roberta’s lyrics are poetic and pure, and as she sings this beautiful song, you can feel the love she has for her sisters and family. 

In terms of song composition and arrangement, this is the only song on the album that does not have a bridge, as we felt it did not need one.  I didn’t know how to play the mandolin; however, I rented one for 3 days in order to play the simple melodic line that is heard in the song.  The sound effects in the beginning of the song represent heaven momentarily opening its pearly gates for Susan to emerge and be seen and heard by the congregation.  After Susan delivers her loving message, the sound effects at the end of the song represent Susan retreating through the closing pearly gates that gently fade from sight.

Song: For Always
Words and Music by
© 2013 Roberta Brinkman & John Whitworth
Originally Written in March-2011
Musical Arrangement by John Whitworth
In memory of Susan Kolowski 

Song: Hero 

Hero is a song about wanting to be saved or rescued, just like in the movies.  This song is about a beautiful woman who feels trapped in a marriage with a husband she no longer loves.  She knows the right thing to do is to leave him, but stays with him for years and years because she’s too scared to leave.  She is constantly dealing with the guilt, despair and pain in her soul.  Ideally, someday she will eventually find the strength to leave him, but amidst her fears and feeling paralyzed, she fantasizes about a hero that will come and rescue her.  Roberta’s beautifully sung vocals soar in the 2nd bridge that takes the song to new level, and captures the urgency of the emergency to be rescued.

Song: Hero
Words and Music by
© 2013 Roberta Brinkman & John Whitworth
Originally Written in September-2009
Musical Arrangement by John Whitworth 

Song: In the Mood 

In the Mood is a song about longing, desire, and wanting to be cherished and loved.  To the point, it’s about being in the mood to make love.  Perhaps, the mate or husband is feeling stressed about life or work.  He shuts down, sits and quietly reads the newspaper sports section, almost, as if to intentionally ignore her.  Realizing his distraction and being out of sorts, she takes matters into her own hands and tries to seduce him, appealing to his interests, and employing flirtation with the utmost sincerity.  After all, all she wants is some good old fashioned lovin’.  I have a feeling she is successful.  Roberta’s vocals are very convincing.

Song: In the Mood
Words and Music by
© 2013 Roberta Brinkman
Originally Written in February-2000
Musical Arrangement by John Whitworth

Song: Paradise 

Paradise is a song about a fairy-tale, or fantasy.  In the beginning, she takes her lover for granted and eventually breaks up with him.  She had a previous relationship that had scarred her heart and she felt too far gone to love, again.  The sensation felt like falling into an abyss.  Years later, she realizes that he truly was her knight in shining armor.  The modern-day knight arrives back on the scene, handsome and rich, of course.  She takes him by the hand; he sweeps her off her feet and they fly off to Paradise.  You see them there with their feet in the sand, champagne on ice.  And they lived happily ever after.  The End.  Roberta’s vocals ascend to beautiful heights in the chorus and will make you want to start packing your bags, now!

Song: Paradise
Words and Music by
© 2009 John Whitworth & Roberta Brinkman 
Originally Written in September-2006
Musical Arrangement by John Whitworth 

Song: Say You Love Me 

Say You Love Me is about a beautiful woman who realizes she is truly in love with a former lover, of which she had broken up with some time ago.  True a good TV soap opera, while being on a music tour in Rome, she gets word that her former lover is getting married in June.  With the marriage ceremony so imminent, she leaves the tour, and hops on a plane for home.  She is hoping to arrive just in time to crash the wedding and convince him that it’s her that he truly loves, and that they should be together.  She pleads with him not to get married to someone else, and promises to make up for lost time.  On the flight she rehearses all these conversations they will have.  The plane finally lands and she hears the captain’s announcement over the intercom, “You are now free to move about the country.”  She realizes in that moment that it’s now or never, and it’s time to take action!  (We now pause for a message from our sponsor.)  Roberta’s vocals convey the emotion and sincerity of this appeal to the former lover.  If it were me, I’d probably call off the wedding.  Just sayin’.

Song: Say You Love Me 
Words and Music by  
© 2013 Roberta Brinkman and John Whitworth  
Originally Written in November-2011  
Musical Arrangement by John Whitworth