Ben Barnes – Where the Light Gets In – Album Review
If I am being completely and totally honest, I hesitate to write this album review and concert experience because I selfishly don’t want to let the world in on my little secret. Ben Barnes, who most of the world knows as Prince Caspian from the Chronicles of Narnia films, General Kirigan from the Netflix series Shadow and Bone or HBO’s Westworld – just to name a few – is a prolific and talented song writer! And not only can he pen lyrics that are moving and relatable, he can put them to music in a way that will have you singing, dancing and in my case, moved to tears.
I saw it written recently, “music is what feelings sound like.” I liked that quote a lot, as it reminded me of Ben. I even designed a graphic and was going to put it on a shirt to give to him when we met at the Salt Lake City stop of his Where the Light Gets In tour on January 17, 2025. But I thought better of it – feeling a little silly. I am, after all not a twitter-pated 20-something anymore. So I nixed that idea and decided, probably against my better judgement that when we met, I would use my words. What is it that they say? To prove you’re really living, do what you’re most afraid of. Ok, that may be going a bit too far in this case but you get my drift. I was going to trust myself to say something half-coherent and TRY to not sound like a jackass in the process.
A Little Context (I have always been accused of telling long stories. Ends up, that’s TRUE.)
Three years ago Ben released an EP titled Songs for You. It featured 5 original songs including my personal favorite “11:11.” I originally blogged about this song on my personal website literally three years ago TODAY. You may read the original blog here.
In a nutshell, the song had me thinking of my late husband. Had I the chance to talk with him again, what would he say to me? I had hoped at the time, he would say something like the words in this song. “11:11” quickly became so special to me, that whenever I needed my spirits lifted, I turned on that song. My daughter and I had created a Spotify playlist that we named “If Vecna Tries to Kill Me”. If you’re a nerd like us or simply a fan of Stranger Things, then you understand the reference. The songs on this curated playlist would be the ones that would bring us back from the brink – the ones that clear our minds, make us happy, etc. “11:11” is at the top. I have literally hijacked my daughter’s end of year Spotify Wrapped for three years in a row with this song. If Spotify would quantify and reveal the daily listening, then everyone would be privy to knowing when “Wow. Kris must be really going through it” based on the number of repeat listens this song gets in a day. Since first hearing the song, it has taken on more of a personal daily affirmation. It’s become more of the pep talk that I give myself.
The Album….Where the Light Gets In
If my emotional wellbeing had a soundtrack it would be bathed in Ben Barnes music. I know! I know! Kris, get ahold of yourself. It’s embarrassing, in a way. But I am being sincere when I say that nearly every song on this album has the feels. In fact, one of the things I didn’t get to say to Ben when I met him was “What were you thinking putting so many good songs on this album? Don’t you know that you need to throw a couple of stinkers on there too? Don’t give it all away at once!”
No, I’m serious. It’s so well done. Ben masters the soul driven pop that is prevalent throughout. Yeah, like I know what I am talking about when it comes to music but being a life-long fan of music and of movies, when an actor seemingly steps into music from acting one can be skeptical. I must emphasize that I was NOT skeptical. Because those who know me, know how fiercely I defend Rick Springfield who was categorically and wrongly labeled as an actor turned singer. He was not and is not. I don’t believe Ben is either. His biography reads that he’s started in musical theatre and the album press release says he’s been writing music since his teens. He has famously credited his father for filling their home with good music while he was growing up. It would appear that although his acting credits may have given him name recognition, especially amongst fantasy genre nerds (and I say that with the utmost respect. Nerds rule.), it was music that birthed his talent as a wordsmith…poet? Lyrical genius? 😏
“BELOVED” is the first track on Ben’s first full length album Where the Light Gets In. Ben appears to be a lover of word play with this upbeat, hopeful and positive-message driven track that seeks to inspire those who feel alone or burdened by their low self-worth. The message is to know that they are “beloved.” Everyone has worth. Understand and know that you ARE loved and to allow yourself to “be loved.” On a (first of many to come) personal note, this was a tear jerker. I hear my parents in this song and I miss hearing this from them. One’s youth can take such messages for granted. I hope I convey this to my own daughter routinely and adequately.
“WHERE THE LIGHT GETS IN” is going on the If Vecna Tries to Kill Me playlist! I sometimes feel like a poster child for trauma. So much grief. It wears me down. Truly. Clearly, I am not unique in this regard. Life wouldn’t be life if it didn’t include the bad with the good. We carry our scars not as burdens but as proof of where we’ve been and what we’ve learned from it. The album cover art is inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi. This art method is the repairing of broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with urushi lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. It represents that through mending our scars, what was once broken can be made whole, worthy and beautiful again. I LOVE this song. ❤️
“RITUAL” started a small debate between my daughter and I. My daughter said this song is sexy. I was like “um…..ohhh kay? Explain.” She explained that it talks about what someone would like to do TO another person. I suggested that sexiness is not only in the words but in the music. “Ritual” is catchy and certainly about the lust part of a relationship, I wouldn’t categorize it as sexy, per se. The sexy song – my choice – appears later. 😬 Talking about sex usually shuts down a debate with your kid. My kid is stubborn, however and insists this one is the sexier song.
Would now be a good time to tell her that the bed she sleeps in is also the bed she was conceived in? 🤔
“NEVERMIND” can be interpreted a couple different ways – lost love, unrequited love, perhaps – but as Ben has explained, it’s about being stuck in your head. The song is an anthem for those who get caught up in the scenarios that they make up in their mind that keep them from in some cases, living to their full potential. There is more clever word play with the lyrics in this one “you were never mine, so never mind.” Not gonna lie, I feel attacked, Ben. Relatable. So relatable.
“TAKE ME TO THE MOON” is about sex. No seriously – straight from the horse’s mouth. Ben says it’s about sex. No, it’s not an ode to Buzz Aldrin but I dunno, maybe it could be? I think this one gets stuck in my head the most. What does that say about me? 🤔 The song is so dang good, though.
“SLOW IT DOWN” is THE sexy one on this album. For my part of the debate mentioned earlier, it’s not just the words, it’s how it’s sung. It’s not what you do to the person but what you want to do WITH the person. I remember hearing Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” for the first time. I was a kid and it came on the radio. When it was over, my mom let out this combo grunt/moan sound. I don’t know how else to describe it but I distinctly remember her exclaiming, “Mmmm! That song is SEXY!” I now understand my Mother better (in more ways than one) because that is exactly the reaction I had when I heard this one for the first time. Ben had only previewed the snippets of the song on social media so it was the first song I went to the day of the album release. 5:00 am…alarm goes off to get ready for work…laying in bed…open up Spotify.. start to listen… “Mmmm! This is Sexy!” Then he sings “Stare at crashing waves with me. Share your baby names with me. Stand at family graves with me.” 😭 From feeling sexy to tears…Dead husband…lost dreams…no more babies… lots of graves to visit..remember? Sigh.. I’m a mess. Get out of my head, Ben!
“ONE MINUTE MORE” is a duet with Monica Martin – the break up song. Ben’s falsetto? *Chef’s kiss* Combine Ben’s smooth vocals with Monica’s deep smoky and at times haunting vocals makes for magic when the harmonizing kicks in.
“THREE NEW HEARTS” kicks a little ass. The track represents how after a heartbreak another heart has to grow to fill the empty space. The rhythm and guitar give this kind of a spooky vibe that reminds me of an old western movie. Every time I hear it, I visualize horses, the red rocks of Southern Utah and the cowboy arriving home to find his girl has a baby that doesn’t look like him. Maybe I should storyboard the next video. 🤔
“THE IN BETWEEN” -the feels! ALL THE FEELS! I know that I attach my life experience to songs like this. It’s inevitable – the memories, the pain, the sadness but then perspective hits and one needs to remember all the good stuff that happened between all those moments. So, is it sad? Yeah. Is it also positive? Also yeah, but mostly sad. So beautifully and tragically sad.
“STOLEN TIME” would be the honorary theme song to this website. This website is all about the moments that become memories. When my husband died, I craved human connection. I longed for things that made the endorphins overflow from anything that made me feel joy. It’s been a mantra of mine pretty much since the funeral and it was inspired by my daughter. The day of the funeral, she came to me (mind you, she was FIVE years old at the time) and she said, “you can cry today. But when the funeral is over, you need to stop crying.” I asked her what she had in mind and she suggested a party. So when we finished at the cemetery and the luncheon, we went to the dollar store. Yep. The day of my husband’s funeral, we were at the dollar store buying supplies to have a party that night. As horrible as the day had been, it ended with loud music, an intense game of musical chairs and laughter. And that became our thing. Go and do what makes us happy. Countless trips to Disneyland. Concerts! Photographing concerts! 😬 Sharing memes. Meet our favorite celebrities. Be nerds. Throw a Bridgerton watch party. Search for those moments. Steal time if we have to but I’ll be damned if my girl will look back on her life with her Mom and say “Mom wasn’t ever there.” Stolen Time isn’t about us but it may as well be. Are you spying on us, Ben? So soulful. So beautiful. SO GOOD.
“SOMEDAY” comes at ya just in time after those two emotional bangers to lift spirts, give hope, make you smile and if you’re blessed with the ability (which, I am not) dance, dance, DANCE!
“FAR TOO SOON” … and then he hits back with this bittersweet track about a couple who fall in love and get married under their special tree, live their life and one day leave this life – buried under their tree. Augh! Whyyyy are you doing this to me, Ben? Why? This one cuts. Don’t mind me… I’m just gonna go listen to 11:11 again to recover.
MORE INFO – From the Album Press Release
Ben’s newest offering Where The Light Gets In was recorded at Apogee Studios in Santa Monica with the band all in a room together, including Maroon 5’s James Valentine and Sam Farrar who also produced the record along with drummer/manager, Paul Hamilton. Inspired by the soul and pop music he loves so much, the album is about the different stages of a relationship; beginnings, tension, sorrow, sex, love, endings, and nostalgia. It’s about how our history and scars are configured to make us who we are in the moment. If a part of us has ever felt broken, we can mend it…transforming ourselves into something more precious than we were before ….‘the cracks are where the light gets in’.
So listen to this album. Don’t say I never share anything with you because I truly feel like I need to keep this to myself. But that would hurt Ben and I don’t want to do that. So listen to it. Go see him in concert. But save a space for us down in front. Cool? Cool.
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