Tag: Worship Music

Bright Ones debut album from Bethel Music Kids Shines a bright star from talent so young

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

Bethel Music is a household name in worship music but they also have a group of nine kids that write and produce worship music relaunching as Bright Ones but still with the same magnified amount of talent.

Hard to believe the kids featured are only between the ages of 12 and 16.

download

Young or old, Bright Ones will remind you of the light within you, who you reflect, and cause to dance and sing in reverent worship.

 

Song by Song Review

Bright Ones:  EDM-musicality mixed with lyrics that remind the listener that God’s love shines from within us.

 

pablo (96).png

Get Your Hopes Up:  Based on Psalm 30:5, reminding all who believe that they are living in the goodness that he brings

 

pablo (97).png

You’re Gonna Be OK: A strong musical letter to all those going through various battles reminding those facing feelings of depression and anxiety who goes before them, and you’re gonna be ok.

No Longer Slaves: An EDM style to the popular acoustic Bethel Music worship song.

We Dance: My favorite song on the album because it’s got a dancy feel to it, and it creates an image of the worshipper dancing with the Lord instead of just dancing for our Great King.

Let My Life: A worship piano ballad that switches to an EDM dance jam that cries for the believer’s life always be a reflection of your love, Lord.

Never Gonna Stop: A worship song about God’s love chases after our hearts relentlessly, and even through the wild parts of our life story.

Spirit Move: A worship song making the listener aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the midst of their day to day life.

pablo (98).png

Magnetic: An in-depth musical moment that uses imagery of God’s love being a magnet pulling us closer to him the more we believe in it

He Loves Me All The Time: A song that revels in the fact of God’s unconditional Romans 8:38-39 love for each of his children, and nothing can change that fact for all time.

Who You Are: Based on Isaiah 9:6, we can thank God for all he is in our lives through Jesus.

For The One: A song that reminds the believer they are a beacon of light pointing others to God & His relentless love for them.

Tell The Nations: A great conclusion to a strong debut from young people who are wholeheartedly passionate about spreading the good news about how Jesus saves.

 

#MusicReview: Rend Collective new praise album boasts Good NEWS!

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

I’m not particularly crazy about worship music because usually it isn’t very dance-worthy, is heavy on piano or organ, and tracks for worship are sometimes ten minutes or more in length. So when I got approached to listen to Rend Collective’s Good News, I will admit that I hesitated because of my stereotyping worship music.

Then, the first track started and I was into it and as each track went on, I got more and more into it. This album not only strengthened my love for my Lord and Savior Jesus but it made me an instant fan of Rend Collective and I will never hesitate to listen to another album they release ever again.

About Rend Collective:
Hailing from a small town off the coast of Northern Ireland, Rend Collective (Gareth Gilkeson, Chris Llewellyn, Ali Gilkeson, Patrick Thompson and Stephen Mitchell) wants to be known as a celebration band, worshiping for God’s Glory and fame. Since the release of their first album, Organic Family Hymnal, the group’s authentic and energetic style of worship has attracted an international audience, with career sales of more than 300,000 albums. The group saw early success as their first ever single “Build Your Kingdom Here,” peaked at No. 12 on the National Christian Audience Chart. Their 2014 release The Art of Celebration, charted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums Chart within the first week of its release. Known for their electric lively worship, the band has been a part of several major tours with top artists such as Chris Tomlin, MercyMe, Kari Jobe, Lecrae and more. The group released critically acclaimed As Family We Go in 2015, followed by, Campfire Christmas Volume 1, their first Christmas record, and Campfire II, both in 2016, Rend Collective’s newest single, “Rescuer (Good News)” is available now.

Good News is set to release in January 19, 2018.

Song by Song Review

Life is Beautiful: Irish musicality trickles on every track of this album and this particular song speaks to our John 10;10 abundance Jesus died for each believer to live out.

I Will Be Undignified: A fiddle keeps this track fast-paced and promotes and unashamed dance in the presence of our King.

Rescuer (Good News): The title track of the album; praising God for rescuing us forevermore.

Counting Every Blessing: A worship song that brings to mind every blessing the Lord has provided and more importantly God’s goodness. I thoroughly enjoyed this track because it promoted me to beam with an unbreakable smile while listening to it.

Nailed To The Cross: We are taken back to Jesus’s victory on the Cross and all his death there redeemed for all mankind.

pablo (29).png

Hymn For The Ages: Almost like a modern day “Amazing Grace,” praising Jesus for who he is.

pablo (30).png

True North: This is another favorite off the album because not only is it a pure worship song but it has a musicality that makes me want to dance and feel fun and fancy free.

Resurrection Day: pablo (31)

This track completely had me overjoyed because it had Contemporary Christian musicality but praise-worthy worship feel.

9. No Outsiders: God is love and we can come as we are thanks to Jesus

10. Weep With Me: 

“Lord I believe you weep with me”

A worship track with an almost r&b feel to it that speaks to the depths of the listener’s brokenness.

Weep With Me (Reprise): A sweet finish featuring a strong use of violin and lead vocals

Marching On (Feat. Hillsong Young & Free): The EDM musicality and the lead vocalists motivated the listener to keep fighting the good fight.

Yahweh: A soft acoustic guitar strikes a soft chord to illustrate the gentleness of our God who is there in the midst of it all, and holds it all.

Counting Every Blessing: A ukelele version of the fourth track brings a new sense to resting in his presence.

Christ Lives In Me: I have a future and a hope because Christ lives in me is what this track emphasizes.

Get Connected with Rend Collective:
Website // https://rendcollective.com
Facebook // https://www.facebook.com/rendcollective/
Twitter // @rendcollective
Instagram // @rendcollective

“From the opening track to the last one, Good News will give you joy unspeakable and provide hope because Christ lives in each believer, life is forever beautiful.”

To see the The Smart Cookie quoted in the Good News press release click here

 

#MusicMonday: ‘Starlight’ is an appropriate light in a dark world

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

Worship focuses on Who God is. His character, His goodness, faithfulness, grace, love, and many other wonderful things. Worship creates an atmosphere in which God can work. Worship transforms us. By starting to worship God for the changes He is already working in us, we find that those changes start manifesting more and more, and we experience new levels of God’s presence, power, and goodness in our lives. As we worship, we remain in position to receive these things and everything else God has for us.

About Bethel Music
Bethel Music is a worship ministry that formed as an organic extension of Bethel Church in Redding, CA. Over the last seven years, Bethel Music has grown from being a local church music ministry to becoming a global outreach featuring a cadre of songwriters and worship leaders, with both online and on-campus worship schools. The Bethel Music Artist Collective includes Brian and Jenn Johnson, Jeremy Riddle, Steffany Gretzinger, Amanda Cook, Jonathan David and Melissa Helser, Leeland, Hunter Thompson, Paul and Hannah McClure, Kalley Heiligenthal, Josh Baldwin, Cory Asbury and Kristene DiMarco. Together these artists have six acclaimed albums that all went to the top of Billboard’s Top Christian Albums chart, in addition to four GMA Dove Awards and a GMA Covenant Award. Bethel Music’s multi-artist double-disc live recording Have It All (2016) hit No. 1 on the overall iTunes Albums chart and No. 6 on Billboard’s Top Albums chart, becoming Bethel Music’s highest retail debut on the charts ever. Starlight, Bethel Music’s first full-length album recorded live on tour, is available April 7.

The heart of Bethel Music is to be a steward of the worship being created and released at Bethel Church, making it a resource available to the world. In addition to thousands of people that attend Bethel’s weekly worship services, another 350,000 plus people subscribe to the online stream of the services at www.ibethel.tv. WorshipU, Bethel Church’s online school of worship, features ongoing training programs underneath seasoned instructors, with tracks including worship leader, songwriter, sound engineer, team essentials, producing a song and worship fundamentals, available at www.worshipu.com. More about Bethel Music can be found at www.bethelmusic.com.

Get Connected With Bethel Music
Website // www.bethelmusic.com
Facebook // www.facebook.com/bethelmusic
Twitter // www.twitter.com/bethelmusic
Instagram // www.instagram.com/bethelmusic
YouTube // www.youtube.com/ibethelmusic

Starlight is the first full-length album recorded live on tour by Bethel Music. Featuring songs led by an all-female worship leader team, including Bethel Music artists Jenn Johnson, Steffany Gretzinger, Amanda Cook, Kristene DiMarco, Kalley Heiligenthal, Melissa Helser, Hannah McClure, and Grammy-award winning guest worship leader and songwriter, Francesca Battistelli.

Starlight is anchored in the message that our lives, our world, and all eternity are held together in Jesus. Like His stars placed in the universe, no distance separates us from our Creator and we are handcrafted and deeply known as children of God.

Notable Tracks

Most tracks on this record have a wonderful musicality that boasts a soft acoustic feel.

“Starlight”: Vocalist Amanda Cook begins, “You’re like starlight in the dark.” “You’re like summer in the night, even when the sun goes down, I still feel you.”

“Breathe”: Vocalist Amanda Cook sings, “You are here right now/ I can see your smiling face/pride in your eyes.”

You Came (Lazarus): A piano medley breaks up the soft, acoustic feel while vocalist Amanda Cook breaks it down: “You are a God of miracles.”

There’s No Other Name: Vocalist Francesca Batistelli sets the scene for a worship song centered around the Name of Jesus.

God, I Look To You: Batistelli wows once again with a song about looking to God for wisdom: “You know just what to do.”

Old For New: A break from the acoustic musicality with a more pop rock sound, this song builds much the same as our excitement in Christ and becoming a new creation in Him.

For The One: “Help Me to love with open arms the way you do,” sings Vocalist Jen Johnson.

The War is Over: “He made a way for us/Born from glory out of dust.”

I See The Light: “I’m your delight; you chose me.”

Take Courage: “Take courage, my heart. He’s in the waiting.”

Catch The Wind: My favorite because the musicality reminds me of Colors of The Wind from Pocahontas, and is an incredibly beautiful worship song on this album.

Starlight debuts everywhere April 7.

#MusicLove: Passion’s Newest will have all eyes and ears on Jesus

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

To be honest, I’m not a big fan of straight worship music. Yet, with Hillsong United and Hillsong Young and Free going mainstream on Christian radio stations worldwide, worship music has really stepped up it’s game and nowadays, it’s basically a more focal version of contemporary Christian pop, rock, and even rap.

The songs were recorded LIVE at Passion Conference earlier this year as more than 55,000 students gathered in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome. Students in attendance united in sponsoring more than 7,000 children (the most to ever be sponsored at one event) through Compassion International fulfilling all sponsorships in El Salvador, Rwanda, Tanzaniaand Indonesia as well as hundreds in Bolivia.

Passion’s previous release Salvation’s Tide Is Rising debuted at No. 3 on Billboard’s Digital Albums Chart and No. 6 on Billboard’s Top Albums Chart.

A dome filled with hands lifted in praise. Thousands of poverty-stricken children receiving life-altering sponsorships. A mission to see the world changed for the better. This is Passion.

The newest live album Worthy Of Your Name, will deliver songs from top-selling artists Chris Tomlin, Crowder, Matt Redman, Kristian Stanfill and more, featuring songs recorded at the 2017 Passion Conference in Atlanta. Join Passion in this heart cry as they proclaim God’s love and declare that He is indeed worthy of His name.

Song By Song Review

Glorious Day: A melodic guitar strumming keeps the rhythm with male vocals as this song starts in until the singer shouts, “You called my name and I ran out of that grave; out of the darkness into your glorious day.” Lyrically, this praise song causes those that listen and sing along to put their faith in the resurrection power that lives in every believer.

Worthy of Your Name: The title track features soft vocals alongside an acoustic guitar causing the listener to put their faith in the name of Jesus.

How Great Is Your Love: Musically what stands out to me about this track is the piano accompaniment throughout while the focus is on God’s love in this praise song according (1 John 4:19).

Build My Life: This is such a pure heart seeking after God type worship song. The chorus really speaks to the daily life mission of any believer in Christ:

Holy, there is no one like You
There is none beside You
Open up my eyes in wonder
Show me who You are
And fill me with Your heart
And lead me in Your love to those around me

Holy Ground: This song reminds me of a contemporary worship song with the intro instrumental sounding like a Steven Curtis Chapman song. The lead singer sounds vocally like Kari Jobe while singing:

Show us Your glory
Show us Your glory
In wonder and surrender we fall down
Show us Your glory
Show us Your glory
Let every burning heart be holy ground

Heart Abandoned: soft vocals make this song come off like a David Psalm.

Forgiven: Featuring Christian rock band Crowder has the listener putting their faith in Isaiah 43:25 which states,

“I, even I, am he who blots out
your transgressions, for my own sake,
and remembers your sins no more.”

Your Cross Changes Everything: Featuring Matt Redman, this track has a focal point on the redemption found at the foot of the cross.

A cross that changes everything
And a love that sets the captives free
A hope that ressurected me
And the power of God
For all who believe

This We Know: Christian Rock musicality accompany lyrics with themes of verses James 4:7 and 1 John 5:4.

This we know
We will see the enemy run
This we know
We will see the victory come
We hold on to every promise You ever made
Jesus, You are unfailing

Rule: Featuring both Crowder and Hillsong United, this is my favorite song on the entire album because it’s both catchy and lyrically will have you running around the sanctuary in praise to our King.

God of Calvary: Featuring Chris Tomlin, this concludes the live songs off the album by calling out our victory in Christ while praising Jesus for his ultimate sacrifice.

By His wounds I am set free
By His blood I’ve been redeemed
The great divide He crossed for me
Oh, praise the God of Calvary.

Interested of getting a copy to worship Jesus anytime, anywhere?

Digital copies are available beginning February 17 while physical copies will be in stores March 24.

61npczznzfl-_ss500

Buy Passion’s first album on Amazon now for 9.49 digitally