Single Review: Forever Loved

Somewhere, over the rainbow, Samuel Philip Cooper’s Nana is still sitting in her favourite chair, a grey-haired old lady with a hint of a smile enjoying the late afternoon sun dappling into her garden.

In reality Samuel’s Nana passed away during lockdown and he never got to say goodbye.

Samuel’s Nana gave him her piano, the one he wrote this song on, when she moved out of her home with its favourite chair and beautiful garden. She also gave him much more. She gave him his love of music. She was on the side-line for schoolboy sport. She gave him her wisdom.

As in all piano recitals, you pick your own journey. For me it’s the softness, the setting and the high octave dapple which resonates. Then as the song ends, it strengthens and resolves, and this gives a sense of closure. But also, of continuity (play it again) and continuous presence.

Forever Loved is not a goodbye tune. It’s not a sad tune. It’s an open invitation to the possibility that Nana is still here every time he tells her that she’s Forever Loved.

Forever Loved is out today, Friday 13th, as part of a monthly release of several compositions which will make up an album for release next year.