Reinventing Music

I am proud and embarrassed at the same time with the music in my teenage years (1980's). One of those artists was Michael W Smith (aka Smitty).

Smitty has had to reinvent himself numerous times. Hairstyles, piano - then guitar - back to piano, Chicago-horn section, Titanic-like soundtracks, Christmas orchestral boy choir, and the list goes on.

While I don't follow Smitty today, I do admire his reinventions. I wonder if his new release in October 2008 will be a reinvention that's fresh? Hoping that a mainstay in CCM will breathe new life and be able to point people to God with His music while transcending generational gaps.

Reinvention is a difficult job.

clipped from www.tennessean.com New worship album due from Michael W. Smith Contemporary Christian mainstay Michael W. Smith has a new disc due out on Oct. 28, and it makes his third foray into the lucrative worship-release market. The album, A New Hallelujah, was recorded live this June at a Houston, Tex. performance in front of some 12,000-plus fans. At the two-hour event/recording, Smith was joined by a 250-voice choir, fellow Christian market star Israel Houghton, Houston-based worship leader Coalo Zamorano and The African Children’s Choir. Hallelujah marks a whopping 21 releases from Smith, and includes a mix of well-known worship songs and originals penned specifically for the project. “Since my last world tour a few years ago, I’ve been looking forward to recording a live worship project that reflected something more global than I’ve ever done before," Smith said in a statement. "I had hoped for an evening of worship that reflected the corners of our nation, and the world; I think we captured that."

Today Is the Day Chords by Lincoln Brewster

Recently, I've really been connecting with Lincoln's music. In fact, very soon we'll teach worshipers at TBC his new song "Today Is the Day." Music wasn't available for it at the time of this post. So used www.mymusicwriter.com to transcribe the music until it's ready for print. Here's a link to the PDF of the chords for Today Is the Day by Lincoln Brewster.

LOOP LIBRARY WITH CLICK TRACKS (including Today is the Day)

http://mymusicwriter.com/tracklibrary/looplibrary.html

SAMPLE LEADSHEET/CHORDS HERE
http://tinyurl.com/todayleadsheet

And you can get the single on iTunes here...

clipped from www.lincolnbrewster.com

Going Retro

I have to admit that I'm a fan of taking something old and giving it new life with a spin. Last weekend we inserted a clip from Baba O'Reily (The Who) into the New Doxology (Gateway Worship).

Here's the link to the audio if you'd like to listen...
http://tinyurl.com/doxologythewho

And here's a great article on the SWERVE blog about the OLD is the new NEW.

clipped from swerve.lifechurch.tv OLD is the new NEW I’ve been noticing that many ideas are sprouting from our American media culture that are not new. Many are fairly old, simply polished to look new. Consider the following list of “oldies” that have recently reappeared: Music: Copeland has redone “Another Day in Paradise” and “Take My Breath Away” Guitar Hero brought back so many rockin’ tunes… My two-year-old knows “Carry On My Wayward Son!” (ROCK ON!) Every one of these was spruced up with technology and a new look to be entertaining and attractive to today’s culture, without losing the idea behind the original concept. Sometimes when transitioning a church or a “churched” mindset, we as leaders may completely kill something that simply needs an update. Maybe we just need to bring back something old and make it new.

Most Useful Worship Web Application

I was recently asked "What is the most useful web application you use?" Since I'm half musician half techie, it's a great question to ask.

I've discovered a very useful website application that I used for the past 2 years. It's called "Planning Center." Which is funny, because it helps worship leaders - but doesn't have "worship" in the title. Go figure.

One of the blogs I follow (James Nahrgang - http://theworshipartist.com/) has written a review of the web app here.

clipped from www.gentweb.net James Nahrgang worshipper / husband / father / worship leader / artist clipped from www.gentweb.net

Calculated Risks

I'm all about calculated risks. I like to focus on the calculated...not the word risk. I give this guy credit. Third try was the success. I really appreciate the guys on the cutting edge...it's not fun to be the guy who figures it out first. Ever wonder who discovered which mushrooms were the good ones or the bad ones to eat?

clipped from www.guardian.co.uk Kent Couch taking off in his chair rigged with more than 150 balloons. Photograph: Jeff Barnard/AP To the glorious roll call of aerial pioneers, daring aviators and magnificent men in flying machines can be added a new name. Kent Couch, a 48-year-old owner of a petrol station, yesterday succeeded in his third attempt to conquer the skies of northwest America, flying more than 230 miles in a garden chair supported by more than 150 helium-filled party balloons. Other DIY balloonists have been less fortunate. This weekend, sailors off Brazil discovered a body,all that remained of an attempt to set a record using helium party balloons. Catholic priest Father Adelir de Carli, 42, soared into the sky in April - and met unexpected winds , and was last seen out over the Atlantic.

Yes, I've Done "Weird Instrument Sunday" Before

I have to admit, I've done this. And I'm proud of it.

clipped from stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com Ever wondered what an accordion and triangle version of the song, "I can only imagine" would sound like? Got a kid in youth group that is really good at beat box? Do you need more cowbell but are afraid most people would hate it? Well they're all on vacation. Get the accordion out, it's go time. Remix - #251 - The "Everyone is on vacation, anything goes" church service. (AKA tomorrow)

Worship Sport

What a great take on worship...kind of.

clipped from www.worshiptrench.com

Controversial Music

Great to know that even classics were once scrutinized...

clipped from www.dankimball.com I am no music scholar, but I feel I know appropriate church music when I hear it.  Last Sunday's new hymn - if you can call it that - sounded like a sentimental love ballad one would expect to hear crooned in a saloon.  If you insist on exposing us to rubbish like this - in God's house! - don't be surprised if many of the faithful look for a new place to worship.  The hymns we grew up with are all we need." This letter was written in 1863 and the song they were concerned about was the hymn "Just As I Am". Another letter said: What is wrong with the inspiring hymns with which we grew up? When I go to church, it is to worship God, not to be distracted with learning a new hymn.  Last Sunday's was particularly unnerving.  The tune was un-singable and the new harmonies were quite distorting. This letter was written in 1890 and about the hymn "What A Friend We Have In Jesus".

TBC Light Show in Jeopardy?

If this keeps up, no Christmas Light Show at TBC. Doesn't matter. People won't be able to afford the gas to drive to the show.

clipped from www.ktka.com Higher taxes light up Topeka Story by Kendall Jones (Contact) 8:53 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, 2008 It is one of the many ways City leaders have tried to save money over the past few months...turning off street lights in certain parts of Topeka.

How Short Can My Skirt Be?

Summer is here. So are summer clothes. When we lead worship, we are set up for disaster automatically. Why? As mere humans on-stage, we're attempting to draw complete, undistracted attention to God. (It's why chancel choirs in liturgical churches have sung in the back for years.) That's why here at TBC I've decided that I'll now lead worship from the balcony. OK, I'm kidding (although I might try it some Sunday).

My point is, unfortunately for us, just about anything done in public is bound to distract in some way. Different things distract different people. For some, bowties and cufflinks are a distraction. For others, tie-dyed T's and gummy shoes are a distraction. Yet others, wearing a full superman outfit (pic, video) makes you wonder. We can't win. And it's not our job to win to please man. But it IS our job to please God with our role as worship leaders. While God is concerned with our heart, way before what we look like (1 Sam 16:7), He is concerned about our reflection of Christ. A better way of saying it is "deflecting" to Christ - that is to deflect the attention off of us and onto the One and only One who deserves it. When we take the stage, we represent Christ. Even OFF stage, we represent Christ. So when it comes to dressing for worship - modesty is a no-brainer.

What's modest? If you aren't sure, ask your mother (if she dresses modestly). When in question, always err on the side of modesty. What you may think is appropriate, may not be appropriate for someone else attempting to worship.

While this hasn't been an big issue on stage at TBC — summer is here, and so are summer clothes. Let's allow our vertical relationship with God to supercede our desire to be attractive in our horizontal relationships with each other.

Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not going to tell you how short your skirt can be. That's not the right question. The right question is, are you deflecting the attention you typically get, to Christ? He's the One who deserves the attention of everyone.

PS - Sometime ask me in person about my "clothes log." It has nothing to do with modesty — but has everything to do with making sure I don't wear the same shirt two weekends in a row. Embarrassing, but true.