Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts

I am admittedly eclectic, if not eccentric, in my taste in music. Consequently, when I build my Pandora Radio I add a little bit of everything--hymns to easy-listening, classic rock to classic Jesus, country to western, and lots of stuff in between. In the mornings, as we prepare for the day, I tune in to Pandora and hit shuffle. I must say that sometimes the shuffle gets stuck in a loop and I hear several songs or similar songs in a row, but there are other days when an old forgotten favorite from the glory years will hit the ears and start me singing. And from time to time, with my hands plunged deep with the soapy breakfast dishes, I'll be struck by the movement from song to song on my Pandora Playlist shuffle.

This morning as I went about my post-breakfast business (the kids and Blushing Bride preparing for school, I hit the sink and from the morning's feast) a back-to-back coupling struck me. The first song includes these lines: "Never been a sinner I never sinned/I got a friend in Jesus" was followed on its heels with this rebuttal, "All my life I had been searching for that crazy missing part."

I really like Norman Greenbaum's hit from yesteryear. It has a groovy beat, and you can sing along. It hits hard though when you begin to realize that the philosophy of "Spirit in the Sky" is being bought by millions of Americans. We like to think that "in the morning when I die, I'm going up to the Spirit in the Sky." Even church people jump on this bandwagon. We especially like it when we get to throw the name of Jesus into a song. That kind of makes it holy doesn't it?

But I think that Keith Green's classic holds more truth. It admits to the sinful nature of who we are as human beings, and revels in the understanding that Jesus (the You in "Your Love Broke Through") provides the only means to life--here or hereafter.

Sadly, our culture lends itself to a feel good mentality that refuses to admit sinfulness. And until we can reach that admission, we're doomed in our spirit to an eternity opposite the "Spirit in the Sky." Why don't you take a moment to consider your condition? Do you know Jesus personally as the provider of your life? Or is he just a "friend" who makes you feel good about yourself? It's a tough question. And it requires resolution if you really do have a friend in him or if you're just singing along with a catchy tune.

Will I stop shuffling some of the oldies through with my hymns and praise songs? Probably not, but I will latch onto the message of the meaningful songs instead of the ones that just make me feel good.

This one's for you:

I will admit it. I love me some music. I like all kinds. I don't really care for rap or hip-hop, but I must admit that every once in awhile I even listen to that. If you checked my Pandora listings and noted that I usually hit the "shuffle" option, you'd notice everything from swing to rock, from country to Christian. It's all there. I even have a "Sousa" choice that plays round the clock marches on cue.

My Blushing Bride would tell you that I've got a song for everything. I really don't mind it when a song gets stuck in my head--I just share it with everyone so that they can enjoy it all day right along with me. Once my sister even accused me of singing "all the parts." Shall I confess again? Guilty. Sometimes the other parts are better than the one I was assigned to sing.

I guess the reason I have to say all of this is "I got the music in me."

So, I have to say, I'm thankful for music.

I wrote this one as a theme song for a youth camp when I was still doing youth work, enjoy

Time keeps on tickin' tockin' away
I got to tell someone about Jesus Christ today
It just can't be denied (that)
For my sins He died (and)
Time keeps on tickin' tockin' away.

Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost.
He came to be the bearer of the cross.
We are given only just a few short hours
To testify of God's great love and  power.

Time keeps on tickin' tockin' away
I got to tell someone about Jesus Christ today
It just can't be denied (that)
For my sins He died (and)
Time keeps on tickin' tockin' away.

Some folks, they deny it; and others just don't care
Others trust in a god who isn't there.
But I still believe. I'll wear my witness proud
Gonna shout, "Hallelujah!" and sing His praise out loud.

Time keeps on tickin' tockin' away
I got to tell someone about Jesus Christ today
It just can't be denied (that)
For my sins He died (and)
Time keeps on tickin' tockin' away.



(5/1993 for Salt River Baptist Association Youth Camp 1993)

As you already know, we lost '60s heartthrob and Monkees staple Davy Jones to an apparent heart attack at age 66. He's the Monkee that drove the girls crazy and made playing the tambourine cool for all the guys who couldn't play keyboards, guitars, or drums. Here's a clip from his appearance on The Brady Bunch from which the line "Wow, How 'bout the flipside" always comes to mind.



Oh, Marsha, Marsha, Marsha.

But the Blushing Bride wanted to catch a few minutes of the Grammies last night, so we turned it on. Caught Tony Bennet's duet - It was pretty good, he should have done a solo. Also, saw the "tribute" to Glen Campbell. Blake Shelton did a superb job with "Southern Nights." It might have been better, though, if Glen had let others tribute him - his "Rhinestone Cowboy" was anything but sparkling. Then the producers kept teasing us that Sir Paul McCartney would be performing a "medley of Beatles songs." We decided to wait it out. Big mistake! Between the tribute to Whitney (which really was excellent, even if a last-minute edit was necessary), and McCartney's show finale, we had to endure two seemingly never-ending assaults on the music business. The techno display with the mock Mickey Mouses was nauseating, and then that other thing--what was that? And they only gave Tony ninety seconds?!? And then when Sir Paul took the stage, the performance was less than advertised (multi-talent guitar montage notwithstanding). Yeah, I'm not a fan of Awards Shows.

In the late 1970s and early '80s there were a host of songs from another host of different sources (in both the "Christian" and the not-so-Christian arenas) that made getting married all the rage. Why were so many people rushing to the altar? Because they had to have their favorite romantic song performed by their closest friend who thought they could sing it just like the artist while they wore a white wedding dress or a wide-lapeled, ruffle-shirted, butterfly-bowtied, velvet trimmed, baby blue tux with white shoes. Some of the songs were pretty good anyway. And for today's Valentine installment for my Blushing Bride I dedicate Lionel's offering to the milieu of honey-dripped songs that made their way to many altars with hopeful Brides and Bridegrooms. Truly --

Girl, tell me only this
That I'll have your heart for always
And you want me by your side
Whispering the words I'll always love you

Bridge:
And forever I will be your lover
And I know if you really care
I will always be there

Now I need to tell you this
There's no other love like your love
And I,as long as I live,
I'll give you all the joy
My heart and soul can give

Bridge:
Let me hold you
I need to have you near me
And I feel with you in my arms
This love will last forever

Chorus:
Because I'm truly
Truly in love with you girl
I'm truly head over heels with your love
I need you, and with your love I'm free
And truly,you know you're alright with me

I think the word we were looking for was "melancholy" but we settled on "mellow". We were young, and young people have emotional bouts with their feelings and the biology of growing up coursing through them. Inspired by the words of Olivia Newton-John, we would go around our melancholic funk, whining and looking for sympathy.



Well, fellows - I'm mellow.

Working on singing a special song in church this coming Sunday and I ran across the background cd for this song (not doing it this week, maybe another time). Anyway, I thought I'd do a quick go-over, and found myself unable to make it all the way through--not even once(t) without bawling like a baby. It speaks to me, maybe it will speak to you today, too:

Coming to Christmas Day, I wanted to share with you a special rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus. We need to understand that this part of Handel's great oratorio was actually part of the Easter portion of the story. However, it has become one of the traditional parts of many communities' Christmas celebrations. You may click on the links to hear the Silent version of the chorus, or the Mall version. As for the video today, I'm sharing the Young Messiah version featuring Twila Paris (and beginning with the "Worthy Is the Lamb" introduction to the Chorus itself):

I've posted some of 4Him's Christmas music already. Even so, they were able to join in the presentation of Handel's Messiah. Their tight vocal harmony works really well on "The Trumpet Shall Sound"

In the midst of the 1994 tour of the Young Messiah CCM got a taste of their own version of "The Three Tenors". Here are Steve Green, Larnelle Harris, and Michael English sharing "Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs"

Let's pause now for an instrumental in the middle of our Handel-fest, and enjoy "Pastorale" (and no, it's not Kenny G)

I have always been a fan of Larnelle Harris. You might call it "vocal range envy." His version of this portion of Handel's Messiah spotlights that massive vocal range, as well as his incomparable style. Here's Larnelle with "Every Valley":

In drawing close to Christmas Day, I thought my musical gift to you would include portions of G.F. Handel's Messiah.Moving from the classic, I will be posting portions of the "Young Messiah" which was re-packaged and then re-re-packaged and started touring in the Contemporary Christian Music circles in the early nineties.The songs as they appear here will be somewhat out of Handel's original order, but they will get us thinking about the prophecy concerning Messiah all the way to His miraculous birth and purposeful Resurrection. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. We will begin our sampling of the Young Messiah with Matthew Ward singing "Comfort Ye":

You knew that I couldn't get through the Christmas season without a Steven Curtis Chapman song, didn't you? I like so many of his Yuletide offerings like "Christmas Is All in the Heart," his version of some of the old Christmas hymns like "Angels We Have Heard on High," "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!" or "O Come All Ye Faithful." He penned today's song in the mid-1990s telling about how natural a baby the Savior was and how great a Savior this baby is. Here's SC(squared) with "This Baby"

Phillips, Craig, and Dean hit the music scene a number of years ago. Their blend of voices, strong songs about faith, and infectious sense of humor endeared them to audiences everywhere. Today's song is a story. Often people will sing one or two verses, but they miss the whole story when they leave out a verse or two. Listen as the story moves from the sky to the lamb to the boy to the king to the world while PC&D sing "Do You Hear What I Hear"

We continue our Bing-ish salute to Christmas with another collaboration with the Andrews Sisters. Have a good time with "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"

While we listen to more of Bing's best Christmas, I debated on whether to post the Carol Richards version or the Rosemary Clooney version. Check out who won the debate as you enjoy "Silver Bells"

As with many of the old stand-bys this song has a little-known intro (that's even missing from today's video). For those of you who are interested here it is:

Christmas makes you feel emotional,
It may bring parties or thoughts devotional,
Whatever happens or what may be
This is what Christmastime means to me . . .

Yes, you heard me right a couple of days ago. I did say that Bing Crosby is Mr. Christmas. Since he bolstered his career on Christmas music and movies, I thought we'd have a little fun over the next few days and hear a few of my favorites. Why don't we start with "Jingle Bells"? When he sings it with the Andrews Sisters it just swings!