Ringo Starr - 'What's My Name?'

Ringo Starr's twentieth studio album was released this past Friday, October 25th, and it is perhaps my favourite yet. There isn't a single song on there that I don't like, and can't dance and sing along to!

The first song on the album is Gotta Get Up To Get Down, and is quite simple, with very little music to the back of it - however, this works in its favour, as it is easy to learn the lyrics and sing along to them.

The second song, It's Not Love That You Want has a thirty-two second introduction, which some might find quite tedious to get through, but I think that the long introduction works well against the rest of the songs on the album, all of which have reasonably short introductions. I really enjoy this one.

Grow Old With Me is a song with a lullaby-sounding beginning, and because of that, I didn't immediately like it... but upon further listening, it's a beautiful song, one that goes straight to the heart - Ringo Starr is tugging at my heart strings again - big surprise. But this song was apparently left for him by John Lennon, his late friend. That makes it all the more beautiful to hear, and to know that Ringo is still making music, and is still on the trail that his friend can no longer follow... well, that's truly heartbreaking. Well done to Ringo Starr on releasing this song - the world needed it.

The next song, Magic, is uplifting with a strong piano and guitar riff in the back of it. This song sounds different, however - as if it should be in a musical. Slightly out of place for a Ringo Starr album, perhaps, but enjoyable nonetheless. Definitely one of my favourites on the album.

Song number five: Money. It sounds so different to any and all of the songs on the album, and so it really stands out. Once again, the lyrics sound as if they are spoken, but then again, they are easier to learn; whoever is singing the backing vocals are talented.

Better Days, my second favourite song on the album, for sure. Speaking about the 'better days' which are going to come, and will make the listener feel happier about what they are going through at the moment. I particularly enjoy how Ringo sings, 'tomorrow's just behind the setting sun' - it sends shivers down my spine.

Life Is Good is a song, for me, anyway, about explaining how good everybody has it without even realising it... and it seems like Ringo is trying to express this about himself the most - through the song, I gather that he is at a very happy point in his life, and he wants to shout about it from the rooftops.

The eighth song on the album, Thank God For Music, is catchy. The backing vocals add an extra boost to Ringo's voice, and it sounds as fresh as his music just post-Beatles did. I wonder if the line 'get ready Freddie / Let's start the show' is a tribute to the late Freddie Mercury?

The penultimate song, Send Love Spread Peace is odd; the first time I heard it, I almost mistook it for 'Just Like Starting Over' by John Lennon, a solo project. Maybe this was what Ringo Starr was going for - it's entirely possible, given that the third song on the album was a previous project of his late friend's, and was left for the drummer of The Beatles. I would love to ask about the intentions of Ringo Starr for this song; but it is spreading his message, 'peace and love'.

The last song on the album was the first single released from it, and an absolute bop. I can't help but jiggle and jive to this one. I especially love shouting along with the backing singers in reply to Ringo's question, "what's my name?!"... "Ringo!" Even my friends, who don't like Ringo Starr at all (mainly because I talk about him all of the time) like this song - it's impossible not to, and that is a promise.

Mr Ringo Starr is talented vocalist, over fifty years in the music business have proven that. It is clear that this album holds a lot of meaning and emotions for him - for John Lennon, his late friend, and for himself and where he is at in his life at the moment. It seems he is doing well, and his music is not losing its touch... good job. The world relies on artists like Ringo Starr to keep it turning on its axis.