Des’ree-”It’s okay

Des’ree’s album Dream Soldier is about to hit shops any minute and It’s Okay is the first single. The song’s taken a while to see the light of day for fans after first appearing on an album called Lip Gloss Junkies, sent by Sony Music to reviewers last year. Apparently Sony had second thoughts about releasing that package, despite its track listing being virtually identical to that of Dream Soldier. Whatever, let’s just be grateful, for it’s probably the British pop singer’s strongest outing since Feel So High (1995), maybe not as hit-worthy as her biggest, You Gotta Be (1994), but up there with personal favourite Mind Adventures (1992). The single contains a second, slicker version (Stargate radio edit), plus two more songs that don’t appear on the album, so it’s good value. Des’ree co-wrote them all and the lyrics have a refreshing down-to-earth quality that matches her appealing contralto voice. On It’s Okay, she sings about the hassles we’ve all experienced getting up late to go to work -“ the shower’s cold, there’s no clean shirt, the milk’s gone off and you think you’re getting the flu. But hey, it’s okay. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face.