“Peace Will Come” is the new single from music veteran Teddy Wender. The founder of famed New Wave band, 3-D, and songwriter behind hits like “What The Funk” (The Memphis Horns) and “Get Up And Dance” (The Doobie Brothers), gives an outpouring of positivity in this pop gem. “Peace Will Come” is an inspiring song for any music fan. Such a simple, but poignant message, Wender makes a lasting impression for this generation of listeners and the next.

We can come together and we have to do it for our children, are just some of the messaging. Wender, who is based in Long Island, New York, has a knack for grabbing the listener’s attention with his voice. He has a scraggly voice, sounding like he has years of cigarettes and playing for audiences bundled together. Shoved tightly into that voice package is a caring man, an artist who has reached a point in his career where the pandemic has so touched his heart that he can’t stay silent. It’s no secret audiences will be hearing many songs written during 2020/2021 that touch on moving on, pressing forward, but “Peace Will Come” focuses much more on the urgency (or maybe friendly reminder) of doing what’s right. Set aside differences. Wender never sounds patronizing or corny. He’s real and he’s incredibly genuine. Wender worked with longtime friend Neil Rosengarden on the song, and co-produced it with Chris “The Fourz” Brown. Wender notes in his press materials that “Peace Will Come” is the result of decades of friendship and brotherhood that can only be sustained by empathy, acceptance and ultimately love. I think that love showers the listener and it’s tangible.

The piano work is superb. Across the song is a sheen of retro, almost Hammond B organ sounds. I felt like the shapes and imagery Wender exudes are warm and colorful. They are realistic though and not folly. I didn’t want to go skipping, but I wanted to linger in the sonic bliss for quite some time. The keys are dreamy, but centered very closely to Wender’s highly hypnotic voice. I was thrilled, too, when on the second half of the song, Wender enlisted additional voices. It sounded like it might be a mix of children and women, singing the chorus. To everyone, to everyone they sang. “Peace Will Come” delivers a wonderful, hopeful message.

Accompanying the song is a wonderful music video. It’s just what I imagined New York to be during the pandemic. People that you can tell are smiling behind the masks. The montage of New Yorkers, street scenes and every-day-folks holding up posters with the lyrics is a great idea to visualize “Peace Will Come”. Between those images, Wender is seen singing and playing the piano. One New Yorker in the music video that caught my eye was the skateboarder. He jumped over an obstacle. He doesn’t say anything to the camera, never acknowledging its presence. Maybe that’s the whole point of it all – overcoming obstacles and letting nothing stand in our way.

John McCall