Daneslist

I apologize for the lack of blogging! In the process of a cross-country move and adjustment to a new city, I have neglected this blog. Instead of updating on Fridays with new music, I've decided to take the traditional music industry route and debut my pics on Tuesdays. Not this Tuesday, of course, but I'll start a week from tomorrow.

In the meantime, I have to say how much I love my friends who provide me with new music to absorb. In an age where it's very easy to exchange ideas and creativity, I appreciate those who bottle it up and say "hey- you might like this." I get it a lot, but I have one friend who makes a bi-monthly concerted effort to bring his friends a sampler. Friends, Dane has created Daneslist.

The beauty of this is two-fold. First, he and I usually have very similar tastes in music. I love everything he suggests Second, you get to benefit from all the music I hear! Hold on folks, it's gonna be fun!

Your Love is Strong

Jon Foreman's lyrics have always resonated deep in my heart. I remember the day I discovered Switchfoot, with their new types of riffs and chord progressions. I was standing in my room, right after placing the CD in the player, and just staring at it. It took 30 seconds... I was hooked.

So naturally, I was super excited when Jon announced he would do his own musical year-long journey though seasons. As if representing the seasons of life we all go through, Jon aptly named his projects "Fall," "Winter," "Spring," and "Summer." His songs were featured on the Grey's Anatomy finale, as well as a theme song for the popular non-profit group To Write Love On Her Arms. I liked all the songs from the Fall and Winter albums, but something just spoke to me about this song on the Spring album. It echoed the words of my heart through this crazy transition I'm in with life right now. It was as if he took the words out of my head and heart to sing back to me. This is personal. This is the passage I've been studying and praying over. I greatly appreciate the experience to worship God because of Jon's creativity.

And, I love him for his spontaneity


Your Love is Strong - Jon Foreman

Heavenly Father
You always amaze me
Let Your kingdom come in my world
And in my life

Give me the food I need
To live through today
Forgive me as I forgive
The people that wrong me

Lead me far from temptation
Deliver me from the evil one

I look out the window
The birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune
Or out of place

I walk to the meadow
And stare at the flowers
Better dressed than any girl
On her wedding day

So why should I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need!

Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong

The kingdom of the heavens
Is now advancing
Invade my heart
Invade this broken town

The kingdom of the heavens
Is buried treasure
Would you sell yourself
To buy the one you've found

Two things you told me
That you are strong
And you love me
Yes, you love me

Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong
Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong

Our God in Heaven
Hallowed be Thy name
Above all names
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
On earth as it is in Heaven
Give us, today, our daily bread
Forgive us weary sinners
Keep us far from our vices
And deliver us from these prisons

One Sweet Love

I always have a love for songwriters who compose mostly everything on piano. I'm sure it stems from years of piano training (not that I can still play well at all - I haven't played in AGES). There is something so simplistic and beautiful about a person who can sit down at a piano and engage an audience.

And, that is why Sara Bareilles caught my eye this summer. Her debut album "Little Voice" has skyrocketed past established artists and her single "Love Song" is spinning on top-40 radio stations nationwide. In fact, it remained on iTunes' top 10 list forever... I'm not sure how long, but at least since this summer. She's a VH1 "You Oughta Know" artist and is doing a hotel cafe tour... one of the most ingenious tour ideas I've seen in a long time. It fits her.

"Little Voice" was an album I picked up and immediately kept on heavy iPod rotation from the start. I'm getting a little tired of "Love Song" because I've heard it so much, but her other tracks like "Vegas" and "Gravity" are amazing. Her lyrics come from a place of experience, and she clearly communications emotions in a fresh new way. I picked up "One Sweet Love" the other day for the first time in a long time, and I'm glad I did. I love it when songs speak truth...


"One Sweet Love"

Just about the time the shadows call
I undress my mind and dare you to follow
Paint a portrait of my mystery
Only close my eyes and you are here with me
A nameless face to think I see
To sit and watch the waves with me till they're gone
A heart I'd swear I'd recognize is made out of
My own devices....
Could I be wrong?

[CHORUS]
The time that I've taken
I pray is not wasted
Have I already tasted my piece of one sweet love?

Sleepless nights you creep inside of me
Paint your shadows on the breath that we share
You take more than just my sanity
You take my reason not to care.
No ordinary wings I'll need
The sky itself will carry me back to you
The things I dream that I can do I'll open up
The moon for you
Just come down soon

[CHORUS]
The time that I've taken
I pray is not wasted
Have I already tasted my piece of one sweet love?
Ready and waiting for a heart worth the breaking
But I'd settle for an honest mistake in the name of
One sweet love.

Savor the sorrow to soften the pain sip on
The southern rain
As I do, I don't look don't touch don't do anything
But hope that there is a you.

The earth that is the space between,
I'd banish it from under me...to get to you.
Your unexpected love provides my solitary's
Suicide...oh I wish I knew

[CHORUS]
The time that I've taken
I pray is not wasted
Have I already tasted my piece of one sweet love?
Ready and waiting for a heart worth the breaking
But I'd settle for an honest mistake in the name of
One sweet love.

Wherever You lead, I'll sing harmony...

Thanks to BooMama, one of my favorite ladies in the "blawg" world, I rediscovered this song. What is amazing is that I picked Bethany Dillon's cd up this summer and it remained on my stereo. Notice I said on my stereo, not in my stereo.

I have that tendency to pick up cds, listen to them once, and put them away for months. I picked this one back up after the Shane and Shane concert when she performed it. Her transparency and acoustic grit make this song so authentic and touching.

But, the lyric that really catches my breath every time is
Jesus, wherever You lead, I'll sing harmony. Hold me God.

It's just a great picture of obedience, knowing that I don't have all the answers, but when I'm empty, He is more than enough.

This song is so speaking to my heart right now. I have a feeling that it will make the top 10 of my soundtrack very soon.

"Let Your Light Shine"

The Calmer of the sea
Here in this room with me
So gently welcoming
The weakest things in me
You are the blood over
The door of my heart
What pain You spared me from
How could I know it all?

Oh wonderful love, You died for me
The power of Your life is in me

Father, let Your light shine down on me
Father, let Your light shine down on me
No matter what the day or night may bring
Father, let Your light shine down on me

Oh Jesus, You became what was my deepest shame
That at Your very name
My calloused heart would change
How could You, oh perfect One
Love me, when I have done nothing that's worthy of
My freedom You have won

Oh wonderful love, You died for me
The power of Your life is in me

Father, let Your light shine down on me
Father, let Your light shine down on me
No matter what the day or night may bring
Father, let Your light shine down on me

Open up the heavens
Poor down Your Spirit
Home me God
Jesus, wherever You lead
I'll sing harmony
Hold me God

Father, let Your light shine down on me
Father, let Your light shine down on me
No matter what the day or night may bring
Father, let Your light shine down on me

Stop the World

I had the opportunity to meet Matthew West this summer during my internship. Actually, it wasn't a meeting, so much as it was a brief "hello." When you sit between the creative department and artist development department, artists pass by almost every week. I loved my little "officle," as the interns called it. Sitting in that seat every day gave me the opportunity to listen to many stories of how God redeemed, saved, and moved in people's lives to create music that would later allow God to work in others (I've always admired how God does that... ).

Speaking of stories... this guy has a good one. If you haven't ever heard of Matthew West, you should check out his website. Matthew had a hit single with "More" in early 2005. He had a lot of concerts booked, plans made, and studio time in the works to begin compiling more songs. In an instant, it all changed... doctors discovered a polyp on his vocal chords. His voice was gone, and the only way to correct it was silence and surgery.

What I think is amazing about his story is that it echoes the lives of so many of us. There are times that we are so busy, going all the time, that the only way that God can get ahold of us is to render us silent. Completely quiet before Him to see what He has to say. I know that sometimes I doubt that God would ever do that in my life. Like "C'mon... you would never have the audacity to do that!" But, He is God and He does what He pleases. In Matthew's case, it let him later have "Something to Say"

All surgery and recovery went well, and Matthew and his family grew a great deal in the process. His album released last fall, and I just picked it up last week. Automatically, this song hit my heart. "Stop the World" is exactly where I am right now, and it really challenges me to seek God first in all of the decisions that will happen in the next 3 months. Really, my heart is crying out to just stop all the craziness surrounding my life and make me silent before Him. In so many ways, He is doing that through all of the decisions over which I have no control.

Enjoy.. and be silent at some point today before Him.

Stop the World

The tv is talking, the telephone's ringing
The lights are all on and the radio's screaming
A million distractions are stealing my heart from You

I'm tired and empty, this life is relentless
It weakens my knees and it breaks my defenses
It's wearing me down and I'm desperate to hear from You

Stop the world, I wanna get out
I need an escape away from this crowd
Just to hear You speak to me

I need to be still before I need to move
And I need to be humble with nothing to prove
And I need Your Word to show me the truth
I need time.... precious time..

Stop the world, I'm ready to listen
Show me a sign, just give me a vision of Heaven
That I can hold onto
Stop the world, I need some time with You

Before I can find my voice
I need to hear Your voice
Above all the senseless noise

So just stop the world, I wanna get out
I need an escape away from this crowd
Just to hear You, I need to hear You Lord

Stop the world, I'm ready to listen
Show me a sign, just give me a vision of Heaven
That I can hold onto
Stop the world, I need some time with You

Breakable

I'm not sure if you've heard her name before, but you've definitely heard her songs. In fact, if you watch any Old Navy commercials, you know "the Sweater Song" (even thought that isn't it's official title). I am addicted to Ingrid Michaelson because of a generous gift from one of my fave friends Sarah for Valentine's Day. What is amazing to me is how much music stills and quiets my heart more than anything else, especially on a day when it seems to turn my heart upside down.

But, enough about me.... let's talk about Ingrid.

She sang on Joshua Radin's latest release (who also has a great hit "Amy's Song"- wonder why I love that one). She's circled the talk show circuit, spending lots of time on Good Morning America and Jimmy Kimmel this week. One of her more popular songs "Keep Breathing" was a key feature on the end of Season 3 of Grey's Anatomy... (Yeah, you remember the part - Christina, after Burke left her, trying to tear her wedding dress off so that she could breathe. That was powerful!)

What I love about her is her genuine transparency. She has an ability to convey so much feeling and emotion in so little words. Her melodies flow back and forth, allowing you to enter in the music and let it wash over you. There is a keen truth and honesty in her lyrics and a strength in her voice that resonates. She talks about good and bad, strength and weakness. All in all, I haven't been able to get her album off of my iPod. And the awesome thing: She did it all by herself. No label, just Ingrid. Selling her love on iTunes.

So, here's the track that has been in my head this week. I think it speaks to a lot of people I know... myself included at times.

Breakable

Have you ever thought about what protects our hearts?
Just a cage of rib bones and other various parts.
So it's fairly simple to cut right through the mess,
And to stop the muscle that makes us confess.

And we are so fragile,
And our cracking bones make noise,
And we are just,
Breakable, breakable, breakable girls and boys.

You fasten my seatbelt because it is the law.
In your two ton death trap I finally saw.
A piece of love in your face that bathed me in regret.
Then you drove me to places I'll never forget.

And we are so fragile,
And our cracking bones make noise,
And we are just,
Breakable, breakable, breakable girls and boys.

And we are so fragile,
And our cracking bones make noise,
And we are just,
Breakable, breakable, breakable girls-
Breakable, breakable, breakable girls-
Breakable, breakable, breakable girls and boys.

Welcome!

People have always told me that I have a few quirks. Probably the strongest quirk is to pick up music lyrics after hearing the song once. Yes, I said once. I'm not guaranteeing that I'll remember the lyrics all of the time, but about 95%. This trick generally allows people to tell me I'm like "iTunes on crack."

Another quirk is that I seem to have a soundtrack for my life. There are certain songs on my playlist that completely express who I am. Five songs constantly remain in my playlist, and there are many others that rotate in and out. I just have a deep love for creative, honest, genuine music. I think that sometimes songs can explain my heart better than I can. There are also many times when a song transports me back to a past era in my life, and evokes feelings that make me remember all of the things that have molded me to be who I am now. You know you remember those songs. If a certain song comes on in the car, the music triggers past emotions of where you were when that song was popular.

A third quirk is that I love spreading my passion for new music to people who may never hear specific artists. It is a huge goal in life to expand other's musical horizons. I'm generally good at offering many options, which is what I hope to do here.

Some songs give peace, some make you think, some make you laugh, and some make you cry. I hope that the music you hear in the soundtrack of my life resonates something much deeper than anything I could provide.

So take and enjoy! I'll always link to iTunes or appropriate websites to make sure that you can get the music you like. Please give me feedback to let me know what you latch onto!