Smooth, rich and bright in every way – and that’s just the dance moves of Leon Bridges, who shows you too can dance down the street and look cool, but only if you believe you can. Personally I cannot. But it doesn’t stop my feet tapping along to the upbeat summer-inducing song of If It Feels Good (Then It Must Be).
Debuting in 2015 with the album Coming Home, Leon Bridges has already had numerous Grammy nominations and a 2019 win for Best Traditional RnB Performance for the hit song Bet Ain’t Worth the Hand – a romance ballad, with its starting sounds of the harp creating the feels’ of Disney, but the ending might not be a happily ever after.
However, for If It Feels Good (Then It Must Be) the song is lustful and happy, talking of desire and of falling in love. It’s most definitely a song to roll down your windows and belt-out along to. The compulsive tune of If It Feels Good (Then It Must Be) – certainly achieving what it says. Hugo Jouxtel, the music video’s director, having created an insanely enticing video to watch; from choreography, locations, to wardrobe, not to mention it’s hard to resist a great big smile when Bridges dances with the others. The joy quickly being spread to one another.
For River this connection between people is different; it’s physical and spiritual, it’s home, and it shows both the light and dark of life. The sins being offered to the river and washed away. Its spiritual tones, soft voice and innermost strength call out to you – its intimate without asking details, and like all of Bridges’ songs you’ll soon be singing along to it. Mixing the emotions of sadness and longing, and as such it stays with you for a while.
Directed by Miles Jay, the music video merges River’s spirituality – the falling of baptism’s water like rain from the sky and with it bringing love, community and family together – to the Baltimore protests, which highlighted racism and poverty in America following the unlawful murder of African American detainee Freddie Gray by police. In the video Bridges starts singing River in a Baltimore hotel room where footage of the protests can be seen on the screen. As he sings of the hurt and pain, he also talks of the power to heal – his melodic words and tune later felt and repeated by others – Brittni Jessi – as they have the same questions, sadness and in the end, love.
Written in a time when Bridges was struggling with depression, it tells not only of his personal experiences, but also the resounding hope his faith has given him. Continuing this, Bridges wanted the video to reflect the strength he receives from his spirituality, but to also comment on black lives and the struggles experienced in America, as well as the media’s portrayal, whilst ending on a note of optimism for things to be better.
Versatile in tastes, Leon Bridges’ music is connected in the breadth and depth of soul, along with a drawing of the 50s/60s into the modern day music of a singer/songwriter.
Other songs by Leon Bridges we love:
- Don’t Worry (feat. Ink) (2022 – Gold Diggers Sound)
- Texas Sun (collaboration with Khruangbin) (2020 – Texas Sun [EP])
- July (2019 – single)
- Bet Ain’t Worth the Hand (2018 – Good Thing)
- Lions (2018 – Good Thing)
- (2018 – Good Thing)
- Coming Home (2015 – Coming Home)
Other artists you might like:
- Black Pumas
- Jordan Mackampa
- Maggie Rogers
- Son Little
- Paul & The Broken Bones
- The Dip
