“Strong As Glass” won’t be viewed as overtly political in the manner of the anti-war anthem “Red, White & Blues.” However, the tune speaks to a situation in many homes throughout our community of caregivers, (primarily but not exclusively) women being pushed to the breaking point. “I know I’m strong/I’ll brave the storm/I know can take a few hits/You ain’t got to worry ‘bout this/Stay my zone, take care of my home/Always got my own/But be gentle with me/cuz I’m human baby and I’ll break/I might not make it.” The lessons can apply equally to lovers, children and the legion of others who constantly chip away at our wives, sisters, mothers and auntees. The lyrics drive home the strong-weak duality that tells the story of the modern women. The song serves as a reminder that the things people depend on to provide protection and comfort have a breaking point, and Goapele – who has a singing style that conveys vulnerability in a way that few others can match – is in her element on this track. “Strong As Glass” is an excellent anthem for the for women who do it all and often get taken for granted in the process. That becomes clear on title track that opens the album. The one thing that becomes clear to anyone who has followed Goapele’s career is how she has advanced as a songwriter. Still, Goapele is at her absolute best on Strong As Glass when she stands alone. Goapele and Benet infuse “My Love” with a “turn it up with my baby because I am with the most beautiful person in the room” (they’d probably both be right on that count) vibe. That track has a reverential, standing before the preacher and pledging to forsake all others feel. Benet’s wedding song ballad with Tamia, “Spend My Life,” still holds up well 16 years later. Goapele scores on “My Love,” another duet with a distinctive male vocalist – in this case Eric Benet. Snoop’s rap begins with an awkward effort to establish a rhyme pattern with Goapele, but Snoop does recover when he shifts tempo by singing at the end of his contribution. She adds a come hither joy to her contribution to the song’s hook.
However, Goapele brings and maintains the seductive playfulness and energy on this track. The pairing of these two distinctive voices sounds intriguing, and one can understand why singers want Snoop’s conversational So-Cal drawl on their records. “Hey Boy” finds Goapele tapping Snoop Dogg - who must have some kind of app on his mobile phone that issues an alert whenever a singer is looking to collaborate with a rapper - as a duet partner. The up-tempo track is Goapele’s strong pitch for radio airplay, and will definitely find a warm reception among the steppers set. So, it’s slightly surprising to hear her switch things up on “Hey Boy,” the first single from Strong As Glass. Her vocal’s ideally fit the sparse love ballads and political anthems that have been Goapele’s calling card. Goapele possesses a vocal instrument that is haunting, ephemeral, smooth yet passionate.
I thought that Goapele’s voice stood as her most distinctive quality from the moment I first heard the title track on Even Closer more than a decade ago, and the things that make her voice unique can still be heard on her long-awaited new disc, Strong As Glass. Music fans can still hear politically charged content in rap and although Goapele is a singer who has no intention of rapping, she’s a big hip-hop fan, so infusing her lyrics with politically charged content comes quite naturally to the Oakland native. That background explains why Goapele is the rare R&B singer in the post classic soul era who continues to make albums that have significant political content.