In 2012, composer J. Ralph teamed up with an unlikely pair of artists from completely different worlds— Hollywood superstar Scarlett Johansson and critically acclaimed classical concert violinist Joshua Bell—to collaborate on an emotional and enthralling piece for the documentary Chasing Ice. The work, entitled “Before My Time,” is Classical/Pops at its minimalist best. It went on to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song, although it lost to Adele’s “Skyfall.” In a haunting and spare style, Johansson, as an unexpected world-class singer, evokes vulnerability and fragility while delivering the poetic lyrics. Bell’s violin adds a tender, heartwarming contrast to Ralph’s piano composition, which lulls the listener into hypnotic introspection while the songstress declares with deep clarity, “I don’t want to die alone … way before my time.”
While “Before My Time” seems utterly mournful, for us, it has become an inspiring metaphor. In many ways, the song evokes the self-reflection we all experience as we contemplate our life decisions and the self-realization that, for real fulfillment, life experiences are everything.
Travel and music are the cures for a restless mind or the monotony of everyday humdrum. Together, they achieve power by adapting to the demands of the moment, unlocking the beauty and enchantment of our world. Within this backdrop, the Classical/Pops Festival Barbados unravels a kaleidoscope of adventure, a host of possibilities, and life’s most important memories. Good friends, good food, good stories, good laughs—as you get older, these are the experiences you treasure. We’re telling you now, go.