Say I am Strong (2009) 
Artist: Heidi Popp    
Label: Independent 
Length:10 tracks / 51:05 minutes

Heidi Popp is a first generation Australian who is beginning to make her mark as a Christian female vocalist in this country.  Vocally, she’s up there with the top female vocalists of this country.  I’m thinking here of artists such as Roma Waterman, Tania G., Aliki, and Darlene Zschech. 

The first time I heard Heidi singing ‘No One,’ which is the opening track of her current CD, I was immediately struck by what I was hearing and I thought to myself, ‘This singer has the vocal capability of Celine Dion.’  However, to limit Heidi’s vocals to being influenced by just one artist would be a huge understatement. Several of the artists Heidi has chosen to cover are personal favorites of hers and reveal who has influenced her vocally (ie. Martha Munizzi, Babbie Mason, Nicole C. Mullen).

Unlike her previous offering (‘fresh’), which is a project of original songs composed by Heidi and her husband Johannes (a CD well worth getting a personal copy of , by the way), all the songs on ‘Say I am Strong’ are well-chosen covers.  This is not in itself a weakness because Heidi has the ability to take a well-known song and make it her own vocally so that it stands up to the original version and even, at times, supersedes it.  A good example of this, and one of my personal favorites, is her brilliant rendition of the Casting Crowns song ‘I Will Praise You In The Storm’, which in my opinion supersedes the original. 

A standout track, and one that in my view has become a signature song of hers, is ‘Anyway.’  Nicole C. Mullen would be proud of Heidi’s take on her ‘Redeemer’ song.

My favorite styles of music are the alternative, rock and metal genres, but this CD, which is in the adult contemporary worship genre, has kept me interested due to Heidi’s outstanding vocal delivery and the great production by Heidi’s husband Johannes that is evident throughout.

This CD is a well-chosen collection of artists of the adult contemporary genre and is available from Koorong.com or Heidi Popp’s website.  It is highly recommended if you enjoy contemporary worship music with the vocal delivery of say a Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, or a Sandy Patty.

Frank Rasenberger     May 2010 
www.myspace.com/frankrasenberger 
www.myspace.com/liveatchapel