Music Mondays - Best Covers Ever

Can you get nostalgic when you're 20?

I feel like that's what happened to me when I heard this song for the first time. I vaguely remembered the original from my youth as a "sports jam" type song that went well with highlights of dunks and big hits.

Along came a Christian rock band from Canada who altered the lyrics to "Christian-ize" it a bit and I was hooked. 

This was a musical era that probably doesn't hold up for a lot of people these days. Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park were all the rage. And "rage" is an apt description in some ways given the vocal bent of many of these groups. Tfk's lead singer Trevor McNevan could venture into that territory but the group's larger body of work has still remained a favorite of mine. And this song is right up there as the one that put them on the map for me.

Music Mondays - Best Covers Ever

For no real reason other than it was an idea that popped into my head, I'll be featuring my favorite cover songs. I can't really define exact criteria but if an artist takes a song and makes it their own, it qualifies.

One of the first that jumps out to me is Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's version of "Over the Rainbow". You've probably heard it featured in a TV show or movie. I can't remember exactly the first time I heard it (Scrubs maybe?). But it's such a beautiful rendition of the classic Wizard of Oz track. 
The video wasn't what I expected but clearly celebrates the life of the late artist.

Music Mondays

"We wore the colors of our favorite little let down"

Those lyrics from this week's selection have always grabbed me. 

They seem especially relevant as we enter the opening weeks of football season. Now, I'm pretty sure "Tyrant Kings" is more about what's really important in life than football fandom. Based on one video, they explain that it's how we strive for our dreams at the expense of family and friendships (see the 5:00-7:00 min interlude of this video). 

But that lyric perfectly captures sports fandom, doesn't it?

Only one team will win the championship. Every season we wear the jerseys and hats and face-paint with the colors of teams that mostly let us down (Alabama football being the exception). 

Maybe the connection between this song and football season only makes sense to me. But it's a good enough excuse to post a video of the song this week. I have a feeling it will be a song that grows and grows on you because it sure did with me.

Music Mondays

Someone from my church showed me this week's video. I think I'd heard the song once or twice - but it was only at the stage in my head where I liked the song but hadn't really paid too close attention to it.

Turns out, the video grabs your attention and doesn't give it back. Ms. Daigle has an uniquely powerful voice and delivers this beautiful song with conviction. And "conviction" is the word that I'm left with from this single. 

So many of us need to remember what God says about us. So many need to forget the lies we believe about ourselves.

Music Mondays - Paul and The Lego Movie

I'm pretty sure I scared some of our congregation members yesterday when I sang this week's Music Monday selection in a high falsetto voice. If I didn't scare them, I certainly make them laugh at me. If you want to hear for yourself, you can listen here (the illustration comes about the 10 minute mark). 

Here's the real version in case you're not familiar and would like nothing more than to get a song stuck in your head:

An explanation may be warranted if you haven't listened to my sermon. Romans 8:28 often gets used sugarcoat bad things and mask real pain. It gets pasted on many different versions of sympathy cards.  And often, when we aren't sure what to say or do when tragedies strike, we quote it to cover for the questions and confusion. 

Paul was not advocating some sort of "Pollyanna" theology. That approach buys into the false idea that "everything is awesome." The song in The Lego Movie proves to be pure satire and a harbinger of the coming conflict. Romans 8:28 is not telling us to blindly consider only the positives in life. Sometimes everything is not awesome. 

The "good" Paul has in mind is something more significant. 8:29 defines it as "to be conformed to the image of his Son". All things aren't good and won't necessarily work out nicely. But for the believer, they will work out to make us more like Jesus. And that is something worth singing about.

Music Monday - "Who the Son Sets Free..."

Can you remember hearing a song on the radio and thinking, "I need to look that up later" - only to totally forget it when you get home?

That happened to me with this song, only of course I remembered it thankfully. Yesterday it played on Christian radio on the way home from church. I think I've heard it before, but it really struck a chord in my heart for whatever reason. 

Only, when I tried in my head to come back to it today, nothing. Couldn't even remember the chorus. 
Eventually I figured it was Hillsong and I started scouring YouTube and whatdoyouknow, it turned up. 

If you are still interested in reading more and will indulge my idiosyncrasies, this song does provoke some stereotypical criticisms in my mind. 
It reminds one of U2, it seems to end the same as many other Hillsong singles, and it is very individual-centric. 
But it's musical composition and lyrical faithfulness to God's Word keeps pulling me back in. John 8, 14, 1 Peter 2. 

Yes modern worship can be too much about "me". But the impact on the Gospel upon our identity is a clear emphasis of the New Testament. Let's praise God for what he's done for us!

Music Mondays

This week's selection is a gem from my youth that I'd totally forgotten about. Thanks to the Good Christian Fun podcast, who reviewed the entire album, my lost love for this prophetic rock song was rekindled.

"Lost the Plot" is a nuanced and confrontational song that builds up to a rich, convicting crescendo. I'm posting the lyrical video so it's easier to follow the flow of the song's message.

And if you'll allow me to a moment of self-promotion, it also fits the sermon series we're working through this summer. "Missing the Point" highlights popular verses many church-goers have misunderstood and misquoted. And especially with yesterday's verse, Jeremiah 29:11, I fear we've lost the plot.