Jerry Jean – Marathon (2021)
The stress of the pandemic is something that we all have felt at some point, but it has hit us all in very different ways. Jerry Jean is drawing on the experience of lockdown while raising a family for the celebration of resilience that is ‘Marathon’. Combining passionate and soulful vocals with retro vibes and uplifting melodics, he creates a rather timeless sound that works its way into your spirit and gets you grooving to its rhythm.
An award-winning songwriter, producer and musician, Jean pulls on the threads of experience for his dynamic sound. While he has worked with award-winning artists, his solo release feed something in your soul that you never quite knew was hungry. While the single itself is more than enough to help you feel steadier on your feet, the official music video drives the celebration home.
‘Marathon’ draws you in with the piano line that smoothly rides against the bluesy guitar. The music rises into a funky flow that has you wanting to dance around to the sound. Every instrument adds to the irresistible dance of the melody that combines funk, disco, pop and RnB. While there is a retro vibe to the sound, this only seems to enhance the timeless feeling of the track. Combined with the vocals, the single could be something from years past, current or a track pulled out of the future. Through all of this, you are going to feel the music gripping your muscles and making them want to move.
While the melody is all funky dancing vibes, Jean’s vocals are smooth soul and RnB. His performance is a cool drink as you dance to the melody while the lyrics bring an uplifting message. In the verses, he brings the struggles we have all faced to light with some really poetic turns. When the chorus hits, he fills you with empowerment and the understanding that the struggles only make us stronger. The lyrics are a real celebration of the resilience of people as they push through any adversity. While the single was inspired by the struggles of the pandemic, there is enough ambiguity to the lyrics that let you attribute the struggles to anything you could potentially face.
The need to dance that is infused into your muscles by the music really shines with the music video. Featuring contemporary dances Kenichi Kasamatsu and Julia Alaimo, the video brings a sense of working through tough times and releasing your emotions through the movement of your body. Their dancing is really enthralling and you can’t look away once the video starts. As you watch them dance to the music, that urge to move yourself only becomes stronger.
Jerry Jean has you vibrating with the need to move to his sound while celebrating resilience and lifting your spirits in ‘Marathon’. The retro-tinged melody has a timelessness to it that is wonderful as the rhythm sinks into your muscles and makes you want to groove to it. Jean’s vocals are smoothness personified offering a cool drink against the energy of the track while, at the same time, encouraging you to give in to the movement.
Find out more about Jerry Jean on his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
