Follow Your Heart

I should have known better. 

Anthem Lights wouldn't make a song about following my own heart. But guys (I'm talking to AL here), seriously, the title makes some people shy away. 

You shouldn't, though. LISTEN TO THIS SONG! And I'm giving you the opportunity right now, aren't you lucky? :)

This is not about following your own heart. No. It's actually about how the world tells us to do that very thing and it's folly. Instead, we need to follow GOD'S heart. (That's the "your" to which they are referring).  

I really like this song and wish I'd discovered it much earlier. 

Happy Listening!

 Behind the Song!

The List ~ Matthew West

I don't know about you, but it's so easy to get sucked into my own head, listening to the lies of the Enemy. He likes to get us to dwell on our past; our own mistakes and failures. 

Matthew West has written a beautiful song about Love (Jesus/God) based on 1 Corinthians 13 all about how if He doesn't keep a list, why should we? 

Pull this out when you're having one of those days where you just are stuck in the lies. Love keeps no record of wrongs, He tears the list in pieces. 

Happy Listening!

 

I Am A Christian ~ Newsong

I have been waiting ALL YEAR for this song to come out. They performed it at Winter Jam 2017, but it wasn't released until a week or so ago. I don't understand. But it's finally here! 

This song is like a Pilgrim's Progress summary in song form. (I've never read that book, but I know what it's about). In my season of life, the reminder that I just take one step at a time and He is leading is so helpful. I want to have more control, but all I can do is put one foot in front of the other. 

Favorite lyrics: 

Head high keep your eyes above
Don't think of giving up
He brought you this far He won't stop now

Don't ever run away no matter what you face
Don't be afraid 'cause He will not back down
Remind yourself that He is with you now

Happy Listening!

 

Whole Heart ~ Brandon Heath

As someone who struggles with opening up to people, this song is kind of convicting. Do I try to hide parts of myself from God? How silly that is, since he's GOD! 

I like the contrasts that Heath puts in his chorus. Read these lyrics: 

The less I trust you, the less I grow
The more you love me, the more I know
I don't have to be afraid to show all of me, all of me
 

Where there's hurting
You show me what healing can do
Where there's hatred
You show me how kindness can move
Where there's fear deep inside
I won't run, I won't hide

 The beat is catchy and helps the words stick in your head, but the words are pretty deep.

Happy Listening!

 

Come To The Altar ~ Elevation Worship

I don't generally like songs like this (musically, not lyrically), but this one speaks to me. They lyrics are restful and soothing and the music works well with them. 

Favorite lyrics:

Leave behind your regrets and mistakes
Come today, there's no reason to wait
Jesus is calling
Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy
From the ashes, a new life is born
Jesus is calling

Happy Listening!

  

In Jesus' Name ~ Kutless

This song just sings the Gospel. A wonderful new worship song from Kutless, "In Jesus Name" is one of my new favorite songs of praise. It also speaks truth into the lives of those singing it. Read these lyrics:

Hope for all the world, You came down,
Traded heaven's throne for a sinner's crown,
Grace poured out.
Son of righteousness crucified,
Hanging on the cross You paid the price,
To give us life...
In Jesus' name our sins are washed away,
In Jesus' name we are rescued, we are saved,
For love has come to make a way for us,
In Jesus' name there is freedom for the broken,
In Jesus' name there is healing for the hopeless,
For all our days, we rest in Jesus' name...
You alone are good forever true,
Never far away, we're holding on to You,
Only You...

Wonderful! Happy Listening!

 

My All In All ~ Phil Wickham

I think this is the first Phil Wickham song I enjoy and actually seek out. Others are fine, but mostly, I just don't really like his music. But I like this song!!!!

"My All In All" is a song of praise and worship. They lyrics proclaim who God is

In the desert You're the river, an everflowing stream of life
In the battle You're the victor, and we raise Your banner high
In the darkness You're the fire, a holy flame for all to see
And in my heart You reign forever, my all, my everything

and who is is to us

 You are my life, You are my love
You are my reason
You are my hope, You are my joy
You are my passion
My all in all, Jesus my all in all
My all in all, Jesus my all in all  

Happy Listening!

  

All In ~ Matthew West

Matthew West is a fantastic songwriter and he has a talent for writing songs that hit at the very core of an issue. "All In" speaks to our tendency as Christians to get to a certain point and then stay there. We like our safety and our comfort zone and I'm as guilty of it as anyone. But West challenges us to go "all in". We want to live fully for God but we're afraid. As the song says, "this time the fear won't win/I'm going all in". This might become one of my songs for this stage of my life, where so much of what I'm doing scares me. It's out of my comfort zone, but I want to live and do what God has called me to do and the rest is up to Him.

Happy Listening!

 

Nichole Nordeman's newest album

There are so many good songs on Nichole's new album "Every Mile Mattered" that I'm going to do one post with all the songs. Happy Listening!

"Every Mile Mattered" is the title track of the album. It takes the analogy of life as a trip and a map and says that there are stories in our past and that everything that happened matters in our life; it shapes who we are. 

Favorite lyrics: 

And every road and every bend
Every bruise and bitter end
All you squandered, all you spent
It mattered, it mattered
Mercy always finds a way
To wrap your blisters up in grace
And every highway you'd erase
It mattered, it mattered

 "You're Here" shares the truth that God is everywhere and always with us. Simple as that.

Favorite lyrics:

 Anywhere You are is sanctuary
Everywhere You are is where I'm free

You will always be my home
I don't have to be alone
Don't have to be alone
You will always be my home

"Dear Me" was the first song I heard off this album, thanks to Spotify's Release Radar or Discover Weekly playlist (I can't remember). I listen to it at least once a week right now and it is so powerful! It's a letter to Nordeman's younger self and - ostensibly - to all of our younger selves about what really is important, though we make other things important.

Favorite lyrics:

And you cannot imagine all the places you'll see Jesus
But you'll find Him everywhere you thought He wasn't supposed to go
So, go!.. Go!..

And hold all the mothers, whose babies bleed from bullet holes
And feel all the hunger, the bellies and the bones
Shout for the prisoner, cry for justice, loud and long
And march with the victims, as Jesus marches on
And sit at all the tables, 'cause Jesus eats with everyone
And dance to the music, if you can't sing its native tongue
And cry for the wombs, the mothers and the empty arms
And hold high the warriors, fighting now for freedoms' song

And love, love, love, love
Like it's your own blood
And love, love, love, love
As you have been loved
Love, love, love, love
Like it's your own blood
Love, love, love, love
As you have been loved
Love, love, love, love, love
Like [you have been?]
Love, love, love, love, love
It's all about love!
Love, love, love, love, love
His name is love
Love, love, love, love, love

Okay, I know that's like half the song, but do you see how powerful this is?

If I had to pick a theme for the song "No Longer" it would be stepping out of the comfort zone. The song starts out listing a bunch of big miracles that God did with people He pulled from their comfort zones. It goes on to say how much Nordeman wants to live fully and "recklessly", if you will, for God.

Favorite lyrics:

This my red sea and my Jericho
This is my Philistine and my five stones
But talk is cheap, so is bargaining
So, here I go
I don't want to live, like I'm half alive
I don't want to walk, where the road is wide
All this fear that, I've been tryin' to hide
Is going to start to show

"Lean" is one of Nordeman's trademark ballads. It explores our tendency to feel like we need to perform for God; to wear the mask we put on for those around us with our Father. I also really like the harmony on the chorus. It is one of my favorite parts of the song. 

Favorite lyrics:

When will I let go
Be still and just know
When will I see, when will I just believe

I could stand, I could fall
You want all of me
I could run, I could crawl
You will always be
You're not impressed, with all of my best
Not disappointed, when I don't land on my feet
In everything, You are asking me
To lean 

"Listen To Your Life" only works for the Christian. If you're not a Christian, it's just another standard "listen to your heart" type message. But we can listen to our lives, to what's on the inside, because what's on the inside is the Holy Spirit and He can be trusted. 

Favorite lyrics:

Listen to your life-life-life-life
And what's on the inside-side-side-side
All the other sound, turn it down and
Listen to your life, life, life, life
Let the Spirit flow-ow-ow-ow
And let the Spirit show-ow-ow-ow you
All that He was meant to
Only when you learn to
Listen to your life-life-life-life

I can see "Sound of Surviving" becoming an anthem for the seasons when everything is going wrong. Or maybe when you get out of that season, this is your victory song. We all survive so much in our lives, and we do it with the power that comes from God.

Favorite lyrics:

These pieces
The ones that left me bleeding
Intended for my pain
Became the gift You gave me
I gathered those pieces into a mountain
My freedom is in view
I'm stronger than I knew 

 I know that was super long; I apologize. But I didn't want to do so many separate posts and there are so many good songs on this album. 

 

The Gospel (Radio Version) ~ Ryan Stevenson

Really great new single by Ryan Stevenson. Simple, but sometimes we make things too complicated. Everything goes back to the Gospel. Happy Listening!

Broken Things ~ Matthew West

Matthew West writes the most amazing songs. He just touches on the topics that so many people wrestle with and does it in a beautiful way. 

I really like his new single "Broken Things" and I get so excited every time it comes on the radio. In some ways, it's similar to "Mended", but I see it as addressing people from a place before "Mended". "Broken Things" is talking about people who think they aren't good enough, aren't worthy to enter in to God's kingdom, whereas "Mended" is to people who think they've done something that has removed them from God's kingdom; something unforgivable. 

Here is Matthew West's newest single, "Broken Things". Happy Listening!

 

Hat Trick ~ Jonathan Tulin feat. Derek Minor

I really like the song "Stained Glass Masquerade" by Casting Crowns for its message about Christians being fake with each other instead of sharing our struggles and faults. It's not an easy thing to do, but it's what we should strive for. 

Hat Trick is a similar message done in a VERY different way. 

I’m like a magician
I’ll alter your vision
You see what I want you to see

You don’t want to see who I really am
So I’ll be your perfect specimen
Say the right things that you want to hear
Make sure the real me disappears
Would you love me if you really knew it
Tell me what am I supposed to do

Super upbeat and fun, yet so relevant and almost convicting. I am hooked on this song! 

Happy Listening!

The Comeback ~ Danny Gokey

This song has grown on me the more I hear it. Gokey performed it at the K-Love Fan Awards and the choreography and everything was incredible! I wish it was on YouTube. Anyway, The Comeback is a song about not letting life beat you down. 

Favorite lyrics

Just when they think they've got you

game, set, match,

oh, oh, ohoh

Here comes the comeback

Happy Listening!

Death Was Arrested

One of my favorite worship songs right now. I don't know where I first encountered it, but my friend was listening to it on Spotify and I thought, "Huh. I haven't heard that in a while, but I think I know it." So I looked it up and YES! It was the same song. 

There is so much hope and grace in this song, yet at the same time, it is honest about our condition as human beings. It's a Gospel song - we are broken, alone, prisoners, etc. because of sin, and Jesus has freed us. It's all Him. 

Favorite lyrics:

Released from my chains I'm a prisoner no more
My shame was a ransom he faithfully bore
He cancelled my debt and he called me his friend
When death was arrested and my life began

Happy Listening!

Rebel Tide ~ The Jellyrox

I'm obsessed with the music in this song! It's so catchy and right now, I'm into music that is upbeat and makes me want to dance and move. This one definitely does that. Honestly, I'm not sure what the lyrics are talking about :) But it's got awesome music, so it's going on here. Happy Listening!

 

Oh My Soul ~ Casting Crowns

This is one of those songs that has grown on me the more I hear it. The music/lyric video made me love it even more! Dance with piano, you just about can't go wrong!

I'm one of those people who worries. I fight it and I know it is a lack of trust in God, but that is one of the things I struggle with. This song is very much me. My favorite lyric is: "There's a place where fear, has to face the God you know."

Upbeat songs are by far my favorite and help me get out of sadness, but sometimes you need to feel through pain and fear and sadness. This song is one of those songs. I am growing quite the collection ;) 

Happy Listening & may this song help heal your heart if you are going through a struggle.

*One of my friends is a dancer in Nashville and the girl in this video is a friend of hers! What?! So cool.

Fearless // Introducing Jasmine Murray

love, Love, LOVE this song!!! Can we all just appreciate that from the first notes of the song, you want to move and dance? Songs like that are the best!

The first verse it totally relatable to me:

I wake up, I feel it

Those fears are back again

Can't shake them

Can't make them

Ever fade, ever end

Am I good enough

Do I measure up

Feels like a 

War I can't win

Then comes the pre-chorus, which is what all believers have to remember in times of doubt and fear:

But I wasn't given a spirit of fear

I was given the power of love

Everything I've been fighting against

I'm gonna lift it up

The chorus is hard for me to sing and really mean it, but I want to mean it. At the end is my prayer:

Come set me free

God I want to be

Fearless

Happy Listening!

Worship You by Beckah Shae // Ed Sheerhan parody

My family and I were driving home from baseball and scrolling through the radio stations. I heard Ed Sheerhan's "Shape of You" and I loved the music, but my mom and brother said that the words weren't that great. 

This is the huge bummer of a lot of pop music - GREAT music, BAD lyrics.

So when my brother said there was a Christian version, I was interested. The best part? It's exactly the same music!!!!! I am completely hooked by the music in this song and it's my binge song right now. Seriously, it's constantly in my head and I cannot stop listening to it :) 

THANK YOU BECKAH SHAE!!!!

Happy Listening!

Some of the words are a little hard to understand, so here is the lyric video as well.
 

 

Class of 2017 Mashup

I'll be honest, I'm a little disappointed/jealous that Anthem Lights didn't do a song for the Class of 2016, but this one is AWESOME!!!

Great song selection, perfectly stitched together, as usual. Seriously, these guys are geniuses at putting together songs that originally had nothing to do with one another. 

This is one of the best mashups they've done in a while. Happy Listening!

I'm going to go listen to this again for the second time in 10 minutes. Don't judge :)

Hills & Valleys ~ Tauren Wells

The chorus of this song is what I need to live out in my life.

On the mountains I will bow my life to the One who set me there

In the valley I will lift my eyes to the One who sees me there

When I'm standing on the mountain I didn't get there on my own

When I'm walking through the valley I know I am not alone

You're God of the hills & valleys

I don't know about you, but it's so much easier to be on the mountains than in the valleys. The valleys are not where I want to be, but God goes with me through them.

Happy Listening!

Glorious Day ~ Kristian Stanfill

You have no idea how long it took me to find this song, because I thought it was called "I Ran Out of That Grave." But now I've found it! 

This is a wonderful Easter song and that line, "I ran out of that grave" is so powerful. Definitely my favorite line in a song full of great lyrics. 

Happy Listening!

A Billion Stars ~ One Sonic Society

The new song from One Sonic Society explores the question like what the Psalmist asked, "in comparison to creation, all God has done, what is man?" (I'm paraphrasing, obviously :)

It's really awe-inspiring to think about the God who is above all things, caring for us. Sometimes it's a hard thing to trust in. That's what this song talks about. 

You light up the night

With a billion stars

Surely you'll light my way

When the road gets dark

I will walk by faith

And not by sight

This I know

God is faithful

Happy Listening!

Your Glory ~ All Sons & Daughters

Capital Lights

I cannot recall now how I found this band, but I really, really, like them!!! I'm not always entirely sure what they're talking about, but hey, Owl City and Relient K don't make sense half the time either. The music is incredible though.

This is a band made up of Christians, but isn't a "Christian" band. Their song "Honey, Don't Jump The Gun" is pretty overtly Christian and deals with God being the one to decide how long we're here on earth. 

But my favorite songs are "Rhythm 'n Moves" & "Say Hey", two of the strangest ones that I have no clue what is being sung about. I just like the music. At the beginning of "Say Hey", it sounds like a pop can opening! Super sweet! (If you're not from the Midwest, that would be soda can.)
 
I'm going to put the videos to my favorite songs here, and then put the Spotify playlist that has the other songs I like. Because Spotify won't let you just listen to one album (they must interject other songs), it's a pureNRG/Capital Lights playlist. 

Okay, Happy Listening!

 

About A Mile's Sophomore Album

I can not get enough of AAM's sophomore album "Trust You All The Way". Every single song is wonderfully written and performed.   

"TAKING BACK" is all about how the Devil and sin have taken so much from us, but in Christ, we can take it all back. We can take back the truth about ourselves and our past when confronted with lies. We can take back relationships. We can take back what sin has messed up because Christ can redeem it.

Favorite lyrics: 

I'm taking back what the Enemy,

has torn from my life

You can knock me down, I'm gonna get back up,

every single time

I'm taking back 

"TRADED" is one of my favorites. It's all about redemption, what Jesus did for us on the cross. The emphasis focuses all on what He did and contrasts our junk with His grace. Such a great reminder.

Favorite lyrics:

I traded a life of sin, for a life with Him,

I came alive when we switched places,

I traded my brokenness, for holiness,

He took my cross and gave me grace when,

We traded 

 "CALLING YOUR NAME" deals with doubt. When it seems so hard to have faith, AAM wants to you to know that God is still right there. He is standing by your side calling your name.

Favorite lyrics:

Called you out of darkness

Called you into light

Called you by your name

'Cause you are mine

"TRUST YOU ALL THE WAY" is another one of my favorites, although this whole album is just so fantastic! I love the catchy music. The message is easy to say and to sing, but putting it into practice is a day-by-day (sometimes minute-by-minute) struggle.

Favorite lyrics: 

I know what to do

I know what to pray

But sometimes it takes

every ounce of my faith to say

I trust in you, trust in you

when it's hard to say

I trust in you, trust in you

Trust you all the way

I have seen the proof

you always come through

Your promises are true 

"REACH" is also a favorite :) The imagery they start with - sinking like Peter in a raging sea - is something I think a lot of people can get their minds around and even relate to.  It's the image of hitting rock bottom and having nowhere to go but up. And Who is up? Jesus. 

Favorite lyrics: 

I was sinking like Peter in a raging sea

Head under water in way too deep

That's when I heard a voice inside me say

"Look up, help is on the way"

"BORN TO LIVE" asks the question, "What is our purpose? What do our lives mean and why are we here?" My favorite lyrics do a pretty good job of explaining what AAM's answer is. I just finished reading Ecclesiastes and this song I feel like reflects the theme of that book well: live life in the moment because that's all the really has any meaning. It's not the secular YOLO, but the idea is that our achievements don't really mean anything. In the song, they say "make every moment a memory to last".  Enjoy your life. Don't be stupid, but live fully alive. It's hard to explain, but hopefully you understand.

Favorite lyrics:

I'm so sick of wasting time

Living life like I'm half alive

I'm done believing these evil lies

That tell me hopes and dreams have died

I can feel it in the air tonight

Way up above these city lights

 There's a higher calling on all our lives

Let's live to love and not just survive

 "OUTRUN" continues what seems to be a major theme on this album - God is always with us no matter what. That theme is explored in "Calling Your Name" & "Reach" and now again here in "Outrun". I love how intimate this song is. AAM wrote it like God is a friend writing you a note! God is saying, "Hey! We used to be close and I miss you!" I can relate to that feeling. 

Favorite lyrics:

I remember better days

You could hear me saying "I love you"

Before the world got in the way

and stopped my voice from cutting through

 Let's hang out tonight

You're so busy

We can go outside

Stars spinning

I am by your side

"HALLELUJAH" has more themes of redemption. I think we can say that the two major themes are redemption and God's presence always being with us. Anyway, this song is a bit slower and more contemplative than "Traded" but it explores a similar thought - that we were once trapped in our sins, but we have now been redeemed. Hallelujah!

Favorite lyrics:

And I fall down on my knees

and I lift my hands up to ya'

Your grace washes over me

I know I have been made new

And I fall down on my knees

and I lift my hands up to ya'

Every fiber of my being

Singin' hallelujah

"UNDENIABLE" is one of the more rock songs on the album. Another favorite :) In Romans it says, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that man is without excuse." (Romans 1:20) I'm not sure if this song is based off that verse, but it could be!

*The chameleon analogy is songwriting genius! Love it!*

Favorite lyrics: 

No one can tell me it's not real

'Cause I have the proof a heart can heal

I've been changed from the inside out

and nothing in the world's gonna stop me now

The truth has been revealed

Love unchangable

Not some kind of chameleon

I won't blend with my surroundings

Won't hide this hope that found me

Undeniable

"ALL I NEED" talks about searching. A nice ballad to end the album, this song discuss the fact many of us have known - nothing satisfies the emptiness except God.

Favorite lyrics:

I searched the world to see if I

could find some kind of cure for

The loneliness that lived inside

This heart of mine

But everything seemed to leave me

more empty than before

Now I know the reason why

Thanks for sticking it out! I know this was a long post, but I love this album and wanted to share with you what the songs mean to me. I hope the songs touch you as they have me and draw you closer to God. Happy Listening!

God With Us ~ All Sons & Daughters

Doxology ~ Stars Go Dim

I really like it when contemporary artists do versions of the Doxology. Mark Schultz has a great version too. When I heard this song on the radio, I knew I had to figure out who was singing.



The Doxology is a very simple song, yet it has so much power. You don't need a lot of words to praise God. 

Happy Listening!

Unspoken's newest "The Cure"

I can't make up my mind how I feel about Unspoken. I love this new song and Good Fight, but I really don't like most of their other singles. 

The Cure is really great. Every single person is searching for a cure for something. Even Christians sometimes are searching for something. We feel a void but we know where to go to be filled. Non-believers don't have that. No matter who you are though, the cure you're looking for is only found in Jesus. 

Happy Listening!

Even If ~ MercyMe

To have faith like this, that is my prayer. That is what I strive toward.

Tenth Avenue North's new album "Followers"

I am so excited for TAN's new album Followers! It seems like they have "found" themselves again. I'm glad I can enjoy their music again :)

The whole album is wonderful, but my favorites are "Overflow", "I Have This Hope", & "Control". "One Thing" is also fantastic, but I'm not going to discuss it here.

Overflow brings to mind the imagery from Psalm 23, "my cup overflows". It's a very upbeat, positive song that reminds you to focus on and be grateful for all your gifts and blessings. Our cups, or hands as in the song, overflow with good things if we have eyes to see.

I follow TAN on Spotify and they recently did an exclusive live-stream for Spotify followers. During the mini-concert, they explained the inspiration for this song. The Bible verse Isaiah 43:2 was part of the inspiration. As I said, this is one of my favorite songs on the album and Isaiah 43: 1-2 is my confirmation verse. That was a very neat correlation. 

The verse for Control (also told during the Spotify event) is Acts 17:25. This was another cool correlation as Acts 17:24-25 was one of my quotes when I did Bible quizzing. It was very neat that two of my favorite songs were based on verses that mean something personally to me. 

I highly recommend the album Followers. If you like TAN, especially their first two albums, I truly think you'll enjoy their latest release. Happy Listening!  

In case you want to listen to the whole thing....

 

A Different Kind of Music

I like a broad range of music. Most of what gets posted here is from what I hear on the radio, meaning you get very little rap, rock, stuff of that nature. I made a playlist called "Rock/Hip-Hop/Rap/Alternative". I'm always adding to certain playlists, so follow me for new music. My "Current" playlist and "Songs from DW" are always being added to. 

Happy Listening!

All That Matters ~ Colton Dixon

A new single from Colton Dixon. It is really funny to me that I did not like his first two singles AT ALL, but I've really liked most of the rest of what I've heard from him. 

This new song proclaims who God is. That's what a praise song is, right? It states who God is and what He does. 

He did this song at Winter Jam and it was fantastic to hear live!

Happy Listening!

He Is With You ~ Mandisa

I always think of Ecclesiastes when I hear this song, with good reason. The beginning of the song are comparisons from Ecclesiastes chapter 3 and it seems reasonable to believe that Mandisa based this song off the idea that "there is a time for everything". God is in the everything. 

Happy Listening!

Count Them All ~ JJ Weeks

A big focus in my life lately has been on being more aware of all my blessings and gifts. Opening my eyes to the little things that would normally be missed. That is what this new song by JJ Weeks Band is about. Happy Listening!

Thank You ~ 33 Miles

I am on my second read-through of Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts devotional. Her whole premise is about seeing God in the little things that we'd normally miss or just dismiss. She challenges us to thank God for even the tiniest gift He gives. 33 Miles offers a similar challenge in their song Thank You. I hope it makes you think and that you start to thank God for more and more in your life. Happy Listening!

All Along ~ Remedy Drive

Sometimes we spend time going round and round, searching. "All Along" talks about when we get to the end of all that, when we "find" God, we see that He is what we were searching for. All the stuff that we tried to fill up our lives didn't work, but He does.

Happy Listening!

Every Moment ~ Joy Williams

Happy Listening!

What Makes A Song?

I thought it would be interesting to explore what makes a song so good. I'm going to be stating what makes a good song in my opinion, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment!

For me, there are two elements that make or break a song: the music itself and the singer. I don't have a hard and fast rule for music, it really is random. Generally speaking, I prefer faster songs or songs that are more upbeat, but there are plenty of songs that are slow that I really, really like. The singer's voice is super important. Singers that have a very distinct voice I generally either really like, or really don't. Again though, there are no hard and fast rules. Even singers who I basically don't like to listen to have a song or two that I like. 

Lyrics are second for me. If I like the music and singer, then I look at lyrics. I'm talking in a Christian context here, so there are no bad songs. Lyrics uplift me and they can really speak to me. But if the music or singer don't work, it does not matter how great your lyrics are, I will not listen to it. Plus, Owl City and Relient K are two of my favorite bands and so many of their songs make no sense, but the music is SO COOL!

Case in point (please don't hate me!) - the song Oceans by Hillsong. I may be the only person in the world, or at least the States, who does not like this song. I don't like the music or the singer's voice. AT ALL! If a different person had originally sung it and/or the music was different, I might have liked it because I'm sure the lyrics are great! But alas, I cannot listen to that song at all because I can't get the original out of my head.

All that said, if we are talking about secular music, the reverse is true. Lyrics absolutely come first. I may really like your music and voice, but if your lyrics are bad, sorry. I'm out of there. It's been hard because there are songs that I really, REALLY like the music of, but the lyrics are either bad, or just not the best I could listen to, so I basically don't. Two examples are "Shut Up & Dance" and "Honey I'm Good". The music is so fun but the lyrics, while maybe not bad, I could fill my mind with better. 

Those are my thoughts. I really am fickle. There is no rhyme or reason sometimes as to why I like one song and not another, but you have a general idea now. How about you? Are you a lyrics person, a music person, a mix? Comment and let me know!

Halfway ~ 3FOR3

I don't know really anything about this band. I heard about them once, and then forgot about them until this song showed up in my Discover Weekly playlist. Even now, I haven't listened to any of their other stuff :) I just really like this song.

What stands out to me is how they used various styles in this song, yet it works all together. The first time I heard it, I thought it was kind of weird, but I very quickly came to like it and now I find it fun and unique!

Happy Listening!

The Dawn ~ Julianna Zobrist

I've know about Ben Zobrist because he's a baseball player :) I cannot remember where I found out his wife was Christians recording artist, but I knew that for a while. One day, this song showed up in my Discover Weekly playlist on Spotify. 

I really like songs that speak to going through something difficult but there is hope on the other side. I can get discouraged and fearful, so songs like "The Dawn" are just what I need to listen to when I forget that I'm not in control. 

Happy Listening!

 

What Are You Afraid of ~ Kerrie Roberts

That is the question isn't it? Why are we afraid? What is making us fearful? Are they stupid fears like being terrified to go to a college and take a class *this wouldn't be me talking to myself, no :)* or are they more founded fears like dealing with sever illness or joblessness? 

Ultimately, fear reveals a lack of trust in God. Ouch! I'm totally still working - and usually failing miserably - at this one. But I'm learning to do things and to push myself to do things, even if I'm doing it scared. I know it's good for me and will help me further my plans and dreams, so I push myself to do it. I talk myself into it. (No, seriously, I talk myself into things). 

I hope this song encourages you too, as you face and challenge your fears, big or small, rational or irrational. Happy Listening! 

You Redeem ~ Aaron Shust

Love, love, love this new song from Aaron Shust. Satan tries to get us to believe that our pasts are irredeemable, or divisions are final and unable to be bridged. Aaron's song speaks truth into our lives by reminding us that God can and does redeem, rebuild, and restore all things. He is greater than all the Devil can do. Happy Listening!