Come May 18, Ronan Keating will be releasing his moving new single “This Is Your Song“, as a download available only on iTunes. The song, which was given a new breath of life specially for his latest album, Songs For My Mother, has been a fan favourite since it first appeared in his 1999 single When You Say Nothing At All.

But before you download it off iTunes, you can check out the music video right here:

Now, Songs For My Mother was recorded by Ronan Keating as a tribute to his late mother. It topped the charts in Australia on Mother’s Day, as well as the Irish Albums Chart after its second week of release.

The album is a compilation of songs that the Irish pop singer remembers hearing his mother listen to during his childhood years, and for most of the part, the songs are earnest in their heartfelt lyrics like that of those in the song, ‘Mama’s Arms‘, a poignant ballad one can imagine as coming closest to Ronan Keating’s memories on how life was like growing up motherless.

Excerpt from ‘Mama’s Arms‘:

“And there you are in your Sunday best,

The way your Mama would have had you dressed
And you realize it doesn’t matter anymore
’cause all you want is Mama’s arms.”

The song is really touching, and points to silent self-reflection and appreciation for one’s parents, definitely one of the more affecting songs in the album.

That said, I can’t help but feel that this album could have done without tracks like  ’Suspicious Minds‘ , ‘Vincent‘ and ‘I Believe I Can Fly‘; which, if left out, could have made for a tighter and more heartfelt album of love and loss.

Out of the list of timeless singles, my favourite song in the album is perhaps ‘Time After Time‘, a version of Cyndi Lauper’s hit single from the 1980s. The ballad has probably the most uplifting beat in the entire album, and is perhaps the most comforting with its reminders on how a loved one can never be truly lost in the hearts of those who remember.

“if you’re lost you can look, and you will find me

time after time ”

Ultimately, while Ronan Keating’s latest offering makes for a touching (if slightly belated) gift to one’s mother, it can never rise beyond previous albums and singles like ‘When You Say Nothing At All‘, ‘Life Is A Roller Coaster‘ and ‘Father And Son‘. Indeed, while it is a touching tribute, from a critical perspective, it comes off as only an above-average act.

I’d say 3.2/5

Tracklist:

1. Time After Time
2. Make You Feel My Love
3. Both Sides Now
4. Vincent
5. Carrickfergus
6. I Believe I Can Fly
7. Mama’s Arms
8. The Wild Mountain Thyme
9. Suspicious Minds
10. This Is Your Song