Song review: Hanging On For Love

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Overall Impression
New York singer/songwriter Roseann Sureda delivers a passionate declaration of affection, with her release of "Hanging on for Love." Produced by Pete Levin, this pop/rock ballad features a stirring arrangement that's highlighted by a fluid and dynamic rhythm section, along with soulful alto saxophone in support of Sureda's expressive vocal performance. Her lyrics explore themes of devotion and unconditional love, conveyed by an infectious titular hook and dutifully reinforced by mellifluous backing harmonies. Silky smooth vocals, top-notch musicianship, and affectionate songwriting make Roseann Sureda's "Hanging on for Love" an easy recommendation for any adult contemporary enthusiasts.

Strongest Points
Outstanding production, excellent mix. Nice arrangement and a solid song structure. Great dynamic build-up throughout the song. The bridge section at around 1:23 goes along way towards breaking things up and adding variety. Nice quiet intro, sets the melodic mood for the entire piece. Terrific instrumentation, lovely keyboard sounds and a great fuzz guitar towards the end. Drummer shows an incredibly versatile skillset and musical play style here, sounds amazing. Brilliant saxophone work, does a wonderful job of supporting the top line. Sensational vocal performance; very presentational and performative style, awesome power and command of your instrument, the showmanship really shines through. Backing vocal harmonies add a nice color and harmonic texture. The verses are amorous and articulate, while the chorus hook is simply unforgettable. Great little melodic ear worm that will stick with listeners for a long time. All in all, this is a tremendous ballad that has a timeless quality, and should appeal to a wide range of audiences, thanks to its inclusive sound and stellar performances. Magnificent work, by everyone involved!

Target Audience Appeal
Fans of Pop/Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Soft Rock, Adult Contemporary

Artist target suggestions
Celine Dion, Adele, Annie Lennox, Jennifer Warnes, Bette Midler, Cher, Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga, Norah Jones, Joni Mitchell, Anne Murray, Kim Carnes, Bonnie Tyler, Idina Menzel, Vanessa Williams

About The Reviewer   
Steven Azami is a multi-instrumentalist with over 25 years of experience in the music industry. Both as a touring/session player and as a producer, his career has spanned nearly every genre from bluegrass to jazz, from rock to reggae. In addition, his work as a music educator has allowed him to cultivate and foster talent among the next generation of musical explorers.