Find a Way [Video] - Amy Grant

This half-hour collection of five music videos presents Amy Grant's initial forays into the world of promotional short films of her songs. In reverse chronological order, it includes "Find a Way" and "Wise Up," the first and second singles from her 1985 Unguarded album, "Angels" and "Don't Run Away" from 1984's Straight Ahead, and "It's Not a Song" from the breakthrough 1982 album Age to Age. By the time of "Find a Way," her first pop chart hit, Grant seemed to be enjoying the kind of budget for music videos that other pop acts were, and the clip, which puts her in multiple costumes and hairdos against various studio sets with some special effects, was typical of what was being seen on MTV and other video outlets in the mid-'80s. "Wise Up," her second chart single, is seen as a live performance take, making this video the least dated of the five. "Angels," set partially in a schoolroom, "Don't Run Away," which has a theater setting, and Grant's first-ever video, "It's Not a Song," have slightly less impressive production values and their artificial studio settings, along with the use of videotape, give them a gimmicky feel. Curiously, since Grant was much criticized for crossing over to the pop field in this period, it is only the earliest video, "It's Not a Song," that lacks an overtly religious message. (It's fair to say, however, that the uninitiated or uninformed could listen to "Find a Way" a few times before picking up on its religious theme.) The chief appeal in all five videos is Grant herself, an attractive, vivacious young woman whom the camera loves. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide