“America’s Got Talent” winner Grace VanderWaal, a self-taught singer/songwriter, recently released her first extended play album on Dec. 2. “Perfectly Imperfect”, which debuted at No. 3 on the U.S. iTunes, consists of five songs, all of which are simply perfect. Photo by Columbia Records.
By ANDREW CALDWELL – Junior Copy Editor
2016 America’s Got Talent winner Grace VanderWaal’s first album offers much more than just insanely catchy tunes.
To call singer/songwriter Grace VanderWaal a star on the rise would be a gross understatement
At the start of the 2016 “America’s Got Talent” season, when asked if she believed she could win, VanderWaal sheepishly answered to the crowd, “I mean miracles can happen, so possibly.”
Deemed as “the next Taylor Swift” by AGT judge Simon Cowell, VanderWaal has become a household name in a matter of weeks.
Not only has VanderWaal performed at the Macy’s 2016 Thanksgiving Day Parade and accomplished becoming the youngest AGT winner at just 12 years old, but her original songs, beautifully cracked voice and lovable personality has scored her an extended play album that debuted at No. 3 on the U.S. iTunes charts the day of it’s release on Dec. 2.
VanderWaal’s short album, simply called “Perfectly Imperfect”, consists of five tracks, all of which are originally written. The album is available on Spotify and iTunes. Listeners who watched VanderWaal on AGT will be familiar with four of the five songs as she previously performed them on AGT. Fans may find this disappointing if they were looking for new tunes from the young artist, but nonetheless the music still makes for an original experience.
“I Don’t Know My Name” is a VanderWaal classic, but other songs on the album include “Clay”, “Light the Sky”, “Beautiful Thing” and “Gossip Girl” all are uniquely touching and heartwarming.
As a self-taught singer-songwriter, VanderWaal’s ukulele strumming and surprisingly personable lyrics showcase topics almost anyone could relate to.
Lyrics like “’Cause you don’t hurt me/I won’t mold to/Your silly words/I won’t live inside your world/’Cause your punches and your names/All your jokes and stupid games/They don’t work/No, they don’t hurt/Watch them just go right through me/Because they mean nothing to me/I’m not clay” prove this young girl is truly a beautiful thing who is wise beyond her years.
VanderWaal’s mesmerizing voice reminds one somewhat of a cross between Sia and Elle King. Her live performances and studio recordings are almost identical, making for an joyous and stunning collection.
With just her ukulele tunes, piano chords and raw voice, VanderWaal is well on her way to becoming an ‘Amazing Grace’ that truly lights the sky.
