This is seriously one of the coolest accapella groups I’ve ever seen (Listen to the whole thing, it’s not what you think based on the beginning):
HT: Musicguy
Category Archives: Music
This is for AG…
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Posted in Music
Keeping the Faith
The new Casting Crowns CD, The Altar and the Door, was released today. I pre-ordered it weeks ago because they’re my favorite band. They’re also a Christian band. And in spite of all of my conflicted feelings about Christianity, I was still really looking forward to this CD. I had mixed feelings about it, of course, because it seems like my reaction to all things Christian is cynical these days. But it was Casting Crowns! I’ve been in love with this band for years! In fact, the highlight of last year was attending a Casting Crowns concert.
So I went straight to Family Christian after work to pick it up. I had to wait in line, so I was looking around at everything and an unexpected emotion hit. Sorrow. Tears welled in my eyes as I looked around at the crosses on the wall and the books about grace and being confident and sure. I shook it off, picked up the CD and drove home. When I got home I took care of some business and immediately popped the CD into my laptop.
I started crying halfway through the first song.
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There’s a spoken part towards the end that says:
People aren’t confused by the gospel, they’re confused by us. Jesus is the only way to God, but we are not the only way to Jesus. This world does not need my tie, my hoodie, my denomination, or my translation of the Bible. They just need Jesus. We can be passionate about what we believe, but we can’t strap ourselves to the gospel because we’re slowing it down. Jesus is going to save the world, but maybe the best thing we can do is just get out of the way.
It made me realize what it was I was trying to leave behind. It isn’t Jesus–it’s the red-shirt haters (also known as “fundies”). That got lost among all of the voices that have been going on inside of my head since this whole thing started. In my quest to leave the baggage behind, I left everything behind, including the good stuff.
Posted in Christianity, Faith, Music, Personal
We All Know I’m a Dork
It’s true. Want to know how I know? I watched High School Musical 2 three times this weekend! I’m incredibly passionate about music, and I just love musicals. Music is often able to express emotions in ways that dialogue can’t. And there are a few songs where I just heard myself in them (is anybody really surprised?).
First is Troy’s song “Bet on It.” The circumstances surrounding he and I are obviously different, but the message in the song definitely fits:
Next is Gabriella’s song “Gotta Go My Own Way” (minus the romantic implications):
And can I just say that I would absolutely swoon if a guy sang this song to me:
Here’s Where I Stand
There’s a great cheesy/campy movie called Camp that I love. What can I say? I love pretty much anything that’s a musical. There’s a fantastic song at the end that really speaks to my heart…especially right now (the video quality on this sucks, because somebody filmed their TV, but it’s still a fantastic song).
Here in the dark
I stand before you
Knowing this is my chance to show you my heart
This is the start
This is the start
I have so much to say and I’m hopin’
That your arms are open
Don’t turn away, I want you near me
But you have to hear me
Here’s where I stand
Here’s who I am
Love me, but don’t tell me who I have to be
Here’s who I am, I’m what you see
You said I had to change and I was tryin’
But my heart was lyin’
I’m not that child any longer
I am stronger
Here’s where I stand
Here’s who I am
Help me to move on but please don’t tell me how
I’m on my way, I’m movin’ now
In this life we’ve come so far
But we’re only who we are
With the courage of love
To show us the way
We’ve got the power to stand up and say
Here’s where I stand
Here’s where I am
Stand up and be counted, I’m counting on you
If you’re with me
We’ll make it through
Here’s where I stand
Here’s who I am
Love me, love me, love me and we’ll make it through
Here’s where I stand
Baby, baby, baby I’m counting on you
Here’s where I stand
Love me, love me, love me and we’ll make it through
I’m counting
I’m counting
I’m counting, I’m counting on you
Why I Like Country Music
I don’t think it can be said any better than Jeff Foxworthy said it at the end of the 2007 CMT Music Awards:
“I started thinking about why I like country music and doing this show so much, and here’s what I came up with, y’all.
“I like country music because it’s about the things in life that really matter. It ain’t about braggin’ about how you’re gonna mess somebody up, or how somebody ain’t respectin’ ya. It’s about love, family, friends — with a few beers, a cheap woman and a two-timin’ man thrown in for spice. It doesn’t take political sides, even with things as ugly as war. Instead, it celebrates the brave men and women who go to fight ‘em, the price they pay to do it and the longin’ we have for them to return home to the ones that they love.
“It’s about kids and how there ain’t nothin’ like ‘em. I get tired of hearin’ about how bad kids are today, because there are a lot of great kids out there that just need somebody to love ‘em and believe in ‘em. Country folks love their kids and they will jack you up if you try to mess with ‘em!
“People in country music don’t forget the people that allow them to do what they do for a livin’. They sign autographs and they take pictures with the fans because they know without ‘em most of us entertainers would be gettin’ a lot dirtier in the course of our workday. We are thankful that people want to hear the songs and the jokes that we write. Country music doesn’t have to be politically correct. We sing about God because we believe in Him. We are not trying to offend anybody, but the evidence that we have seen of Him in our small little lives trumps your opinion about whether or not He exists.
“We love country music because it touches us where we live. It’s about mommas, and when they were hot, and when they are unappreciated, and when they were dyin’. It’s about daddies and the difficulties they have sometimes at tellin’ the people that they work so hard to protect and provide for how they feel about ‘em.
“Country music is about new love and it’s about old love. It’s about gettin’ drunk and gettin’ sober. It’s about leavin’ and it’s about comin’ home. It’s real music sung by real people for real people, the people that make up the backbone of this country. You can call us rednecks if you want. We’re not offended, ’cause we know what we’re all about. We get up and go to work, we get up and go to church, and we get up and go to war when necessary.
“All we ask for is a few songs to carry us along the way, and that’s why I love this show, because it ain’t some self-important Hollywood hype with the winners determined by somebody else. On this show, you decide who goes home with a trophy and you get to dance and sing along with the people that bring you the songs of your life.”
I love the whole thing, and the sentiment behind it. But I definitely like the part I highlighted in bold above. Watch it here:
Posted in Music
Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)
I have a new favorite song.
I doubt there’s a single person in the United States who has never heard the song “Amazing Grace.” Everyone at least knows the first verse.
Chris Tomlin has taken that song and added a new refrain/chorus to it.
Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind, but now I see
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, Amazing grace
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine
Chris Tomlin said, “I was doing some research on John Newton and the writing of the hymn, “Amazing Grace.” John Newton wrote these lyrics as a poem for a sermon describing what God had done for him; that God had not only saved his soul, but also saved him from slave trading. That inspired me to write the simple refrain, “my chains are gone…” I also found it interesting that the familiar last verse, “when we’ve been there ten thousand years…” was not in the original, but added years later by another author. I have included in this version Newton’s original last verse.”
Today is the world premiere of the video. Watch it here.
Watch the trailer for the movie Amazing Grace.
Gratitude
This song is on my heart for some reason. It’s one of the most beautiful songs I’ve heard in the CCM genre. Just close your eyes and listen to the words. Hopefully it will touch you too.
Posted in Music
Not Ready to Make Nice
Alright folks. I’m going to have to recant what I previously posted about the Dixie Chicks here. I think I was too willing to accept them back into MSCM (mainstream country music) because I like their music. But this time, it’s just gone too far.
The Chicks can’t hide their disgust at the lack of support they received from other country performers. “A lot of artists cashed in on being against what we said or what we stood for because that was promoting their career, which was a horrible thing to do,” says Robison.
“A lot of pandering started going on, and you’d see soldiers and the American flag in every video. It became a sickening display of ultra-patriotism.”
“The entire country may disagree with me, but I don’t understand the necessity for patriotism,” Maines resumes, through gritted teeth. “Why do you have to be a patriot? About what? This land is our land? Why? You can like where you live and like your life, but as for loving the whole country… I don’t see why people care about patriotism.”
Not only is she bashing President Bush and the war, but now she’s bashing her fellow artists and her fans!
Recently Dixie Chick Marti Maguire said “I’d rather have a small following of really cool people who get it, who will grow with us as we grow and are fans for life, than people that have us in their five-disc changer with Reba McEntire and Toby Keith,” Maguire said. “We don’t want those kinds of fans. They limit what you can do.”
I’d say that the Dixie Chicks have severely limited what they can do. CD sales are way down. Ticket sales are down so much they may have to cancel shows. That seems pretty limited to me.
Read the entire article here. (HT: Mary Katherine Ham)
Tags: Dixie Chicks, Patriotism, Music
Posted in Music
