The Bottom Line
"It's Not Over," the debut single from American Idol Season 5's favorite rocker showcases Chris Daughtry's strong vocals as he and his newly formed band, Daughtry, do a great job of telling the story of a relationship gone wrong.
Listen to "It's Not Over."
Pros
- Chris Daughtry's powerful vocals
- Catchy rock chorus
- Well-written depiction of a break-up
Cons
- Somewhat bland rock production
Description
- Melancholy tone
- Chris' howls of remorse
- Hard-rocking hook
Guide Review - Daughtry - It's Not Over
A long-haired rocker named Bo Bice reached the finals of American Idol in season 4 accompanied by a crush of publicity. After head-banging his way to fame, he released a surprisingly subdued debut album that seemed more pop-oriented than anything else. The TV show’s fifth season gave America a new favorite rocker, Chris Daughtry. Much like Bice, Daughtry masterfully covered rock favorites throughout the show winning over audiences of all ages. With the release of Daughtry's first single “It’s Not Over,” it appears this Idol alum plans on staying true to his rock n’ roll roots.
At first listen, “It’s Not Over” sounds like a typical rock tune about a relationship gone awry. Repeated spins, however, remind us why Chris Daughtry is such a captivating performer and television fan favorite. While belting out lyrics like “I’ll try to do it right this time around” and “This love is killin’ me,” Daughtry brilliantly displays a sense of desperation to keep an already sunken relationship afloat. At times, it even sounds as if the singer is in denial that he and his lover will be going separate ways.
“It’s Not Over” fits easily with rock songs by the likes of Staind, Fuel, and Nickelback, and is a good prelude to Daughtry’s upcoming album release. The album’s songwriting collaborations will include Nickelback's Chad Kroeger and Rob Thomas. "It's Not Over" is certainly a well-written song. So far, Chris Daughtry is delivering exactly what his fan base demands.
