Reba - "Somebody's Chelsea"

And that's not hyperbole. I really, really think that "Somebody's Chelsea" is one of the best Reba singles in quite some time. When I first heard it on the album, I thought it was a surefire hit. It's a beautiful, smoothly flowing ballad that splits the difference. Underneath a radio-friendly, slick exterior, the song reveals a powerful, moving story.

The song is tightly written and deceptively simple, not using too many words but using them well. Its setup is credible, not contrived: making idle chat with an elderly man on an airplane, the narrator learns of the man's deceased wife, Chelsea, and how much he loved her. Moved by the emotion in the old man, the narrator then declares that she wants to be "somebody's Chelsea." Reba, the old pro that she is, wrings every ounce of emotion out of the lyrics. You get the feeling that she's just about to burst into tears when she hugs him in the bridge of the song. This would be a hit in nearly any singer's hands, but Reba knocks it out of the park.

After a couple duds in a row, radio might be a little skeptical that a 56-year-old can have another hit. But a near-perfect song that manages to please both the muse and the marketplace? I'm not lying. Radio would be crazy to pass this one up. I have faith that Reba and Big Machine will push this song to become the hit it deserves to be. Even if it takes awhile. I really, really want this to be a hit, and so, if you'll allow me, I'll ask you to request the heck out of it. This one is not going to slip through the cracks.