Upbeat church songs that dont suck
Assuming my comment posting is working again now; what are your favorite church songs that are upbeat? Requirements are that
- its not one-way
- lyrics make sense and are meaningful and
- a least passable music.
Comments
Christina
In Christ Alone (cos it's a bit like a creed, and requires actual sincerity to sing, I think), and Blessed Be the Name (cos it's not a happy clappy song - it's about following and praising God even or especially when things aren't going well. It's honest). I don't know if those fit the third criteria, being as I R one what doesn't know nuffin' about music and all that :P but off the top of my head, that's my list so far :)
jim
In christ alone? a bit like creed? I'm guessing Kutless must have done it... cos the newsboys sound nothing like creed, and theirs is the version I am used to... tree 63s originals (other than blessed be your name, which they made popular by covering) have some cool words... I think we sang "look what you've done for me" once or twice at church after they played at parachute. otherwise you can always take words you like from old hymns and turn them into "upbeat songs" There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from immanuels veins and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains while taken literally, it may not suit Andrew's theology, it does sound cool as a poetic metaphor....
Ruth
I also like In Christ alone. And How Great is our God. And God of wonders. I like them cos they are actually about God and not about me or what I might like to do for him or what he can do for me (although they are good sometimes). yes and taking hymn words and putting them to newer music is all good like the 80's classic- "There is power (power) power (power), wonder working power in the blood of the lamb..."
Greg
Ruth, good to hear you like How Great Is Our God, its a great song! Also because we already play that one so no need to learn it... Where can I hear this 'In Christ Alone' song? Personally I like one of the newer Hillsongs (yes, HILLSONG)... but I forget the name... I think it might be the one that goes 'I've got a saviour and he's living in me... WOH OH... I wanna know... I wanna know you today' There's also some good Jars songs that are fairly upbeat... Like a Child etc
jim
So.... ummm yeah How great is our God? cos I'd really like to know, you know?
Nato
Coming from a conservative background, I don't appreciate the changing the music of some of the old hymms. Part of it is that I find it hard to divorce the lyrics and the tune, and so it's just weird (I guess I generally don't like remixes when it comes to any media). When sung well and properly, the music of the old hymms have their own type of beauty, which is different to the beauty of more modern up-beat songs. It just doesn't feel right to me when they're mixed. I recognize that it's hard to write meaningful lyrics, but I just wanted to point out that there is a downside in just grabbing some lyrics from elsewhere - there are people like me who just don't like it.
Greg
Nathan, do you think that there are many people in your position? Cos personally I think old lyrics put to new music is a great idea... I love Jars of Clay's Redemption Songs for example. Jim, I believe the question posed by Chris Tomlin and others was intended to be rhetorical, but your curiousity is to be commended. Remember though, which character trait led to the cat's untimely demise.
Christina
Lol Jim - In Christ Alone is a bit like a creed, i.e a formal statement or system of religious beliefs, confession of faith etc, not the band, who... yeah... are a band :D Greg - you can prolly find stuff (e.g lyrics etc) re: In Chist Alone online, not sure whether it's Hillsong or not, but I think it has been played at ABC a bit. Personally, I like old songs being revamped, or new hymn-like songs written, e.g Jars of Clay's Hymn. After 7 years of painfully drawling the school hymn at snail-speed, it's nice to hear something slightly less coma-inducing. It also means you take a second look at the lyrics, and think about them a bit more when they're in a different musical context.
stan
all the old Hillsongs songs were pretty special, the ones written by Geoff Bullock. apparently he rewrote some of them after the breakdown of his marriage, man i'd be so interested to see how the words changed. but my favourite is This Kingdom, because it just gives so much hope that there's a better place to be someday (if we're allowed to be a part of it, or the people that we love) and this Kingdom will know no end and it's glory shall know no bounds for the majesty and power of this Kingdom's King has come and this Kingdom's reign and this Kingdom's rule and this Kingdom's power and authority Jesus - God's righteousness revealed
Nato
I imagine I'm one of few people who have this. (At least in our circles) - Unlike christina, I kinda enjoyed singing the school hymm at slow speed. :) I'm trying to work out if it's that I don't like switching the music, or that I miss the old hymms, so when they are sung more upbeat I don't like it because it reminds me of stuff that I don't get to sing anymore. mmm It's kinda weird, and I don't understand it myself, but I thought I'd let everyone know, cos that's what you do on blogs :)
jim
well Nato it's worth remembering that often the lyricists and music writers of old hymns weren't the same people... For instance a book I borrowed off Adam claimed that Amazing Grace was sung to a whole bunch of different tunes for many decades before it was linked with the tune we know it as... I go to a sometimes more traditional church on Sunday mornings... and often old hymns are sung to te tunes of other old hymns etc... and not always the same tune for the same hymn... I think there are normally 3 or 4 accepted variants for most of them. Incidentally... Edielwiess is not an austrian folk song, but was an original song (lyrics and melody) written for the musical sound of music... and the benediction when you sing the words... May the lord, mighty God, blees and keep you forever... is apparently a breach of copyright. Christina wow... I totally missed tht (a)... oops... and kutless have done a worship album... it may be on there.. and they sound like creed... Greg the version of in Christ Alone that has been popular is the one the Newsboys did.. On their first worship abum I think... I think it was written a coupla years before that by someone else.
Ruth
Greg, I have a copy of In Christ Alone on cd which you can listen to if you want? It's sung by Geoff Moore (I think) and Adrienne someone (who was in the benjamin gate). I don't know who wrote it. Christina and Nathan, you had to sing a school hymn? That is nutty! We just had the 'KC for life' thing that got yelled at basketball games.
Greg
Ruth, that would be awesome. I love The Benjamin Gate... Adrienne Leisching has a very cool voice. I still haven't forgiven Jeremy Camp for marrying (and impregnating) her and thereby causing the demise of her band. Could I get it off you at church or something? Or could you make an mp3 and email it to me?
Ruth
I'm sensing some issues... Yup, I'll bring it to church. Making mp3s is a bit beyond me :s
KT
Heh, we had a school hymn, and we weren't even a Christian school. It was called 'Jerusalem' and it was about England. Even as one of the few Christians at the school, and with a metaphorical bent at that, I confess I found it rather difficult to scrape any relevance out of that one :) I like hymns. I like them old school and I like them new school. One of my favourites of the new school variety is Sonic Flood's version of 'Before the throne of God above'. Wow, that one really gets me. At least it did until I got confused about theology and couldn't sing things anymore. These days I mostly like songs with as few words as possible, so there's not so much for my mind to get in a twist over. Hence 'How Great is Our God' is a good one, as is 'Blessed be Your Name'. Apart from that, I really rate the new Satellite album from Easter Camp this year. Some really good lyrics that are actually about things. Yeah.
dan
Hey Nato - I'm with you. I really love some of those old hymns; very rich and excellent words, and - regardless of the fact that the composer may not have written the words - very suitable music.
Michael
That Hillsong title is "What the World Will Never Take" A good song has to have all three but also be easily playable by other musicans in worship teams. Therefore the song needs to scan and not dependent on hihg-production values. How Great is Our God is wonderful and in my church we mix it in with other songs as a closer and it has powerful energy. But as I heave heard said: "If It Ain't Hillsong, It Ain't Holy"
