Contemporary Christian supergroup Passion, of Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio fame, has released One Thing Remains as the second single off the new Passion album, White Flag.
The first single, the album’s title track, made the Top 10, and One Thing Remains seems headed in that direction as well. Written by Brian Johnson, Christa Black Gifford and Jeremy Riddle, One Thing Remains was originally done by Jesus Culture, apparently, but this version, featuring Kristian Stanfill, is equally satisfying and equally ministering. Gorgeous.
ONE THING REMAINS Lyrics
Passion featuring Kristian Stanfill
Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me
Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant in the trial and the change
One thing remains
On and on and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satifies my soul
And I never, ever, have to be afraid
One thing remains
Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me
In death, in life
I’m confident and covered by the power of Your great love
My debt is paid
There’s nothing that can separate my heart from Your great love
Contemporary Christian singer Mark Schultz earns a third week atop my personal Contemporary Christian music singles chart with All Things Possible. New debuts this week come from American Idol alumnus Jason Castro, whose Word Records release Only A Mountain enters at number four, while Britt Nicole benefits from my acquiring her new album, Gold, and the carrier single, All This Time, debuts at number nine.
Korean girl group Secret earns a full month at number one with their Japanese-language version of their Korean hit Love is Move . The only new entry is Super Junior’s Spy, blasting in at number five.
ALBUM TITLE: Gold ARTIST: Britt Nicole BEST TRACK/S: Gold, All This Time, Look Like Love, The Sun is Rising OVERALL RATING: 4/5
At a Glance: More irresistible songs of empowerment and faith from one of Contemporary Christian music’s most successful solo female vocalists.
Britt Nicole’s third album, Gold, while not particularly groundbreaking lyrically, delivers a powerful punch musically with a hypnotic blend of hiphop, pop, and electronica, ensuring that the teenage to young adult market to whom she’s appealed since her 2007 debut will provide her solid support well into her hopefully long and storied career.
Gold by Britt Nicole
The album opens with the title track, the album’s best uptempo track and easily one of the best of her young yet successful discography. Gold could very well be her Katy Perry-esque Firework, with electronic bleeps, a singalong chorus that won’t quit, and a message of encouragement that would cross over easily to AC markets. “Whatever you’ve been told,” she sings, “you’re worth more than gold.” A quick rap section and acoustic guitar hooks make Gold a no-brainer for radio single status.
All This Time by Britt Nicole
All This Time, the album’s first radio single, follows this. While not initially a fan of All This Time, after a couple of listens, I realized how this single showcased her remarkable growth as a lyricist. More than a testimony of faith, All This Time is a declaration of faith that gives God all the credit He deserves for getting her through difficult times – specifically, the divorce of her parents. All This Time is her most successful Christian AC single to date, so I guess, what do I know?
Look Like Love is an instantly likeable pop-rock anthem with a great singalong chorus that speaks of the Christian desire to shine God’s love on a world desperately in need of it. When Britt sings “I wanna look like love,” you can sense her sincerity and want to sing along. Driving guitars and that virtually copyrighted drum loop that comes stamped with most Britt Nicole sings ensure this is clearly a standout of the album.
Musically, Who You Say You Are reminds me a bit of Hanging On from The Lost Get Found. Once again, those acoustic guitars and the drum loops are standard Nicole, but the chorus’ melody sounds like something we’ve come to expect from Nicole. (I actually kinda feel I’ve heard this song before; it could have easily been a song written for Jamie Grace or Mandisa; the keyboards I hear in the background of Who You Say You Are around 1:30 are eerily similar to the keyboards of Mandisa’s Leave It in the Valley.)
Amazing Life (Capital Kings Remix) by Britt Nicole
Britt does explore different sounds, but these are far and between rather rare. Ready or Not, a great dub-steppy R&B/pop piece, features Christian rapper du jour Lecrae in a bitterly short cameo. The intro to the rather dark-sounding Breakthrough is certainly different from anything Britt’s ever made before, especially with that acoustic guitar for the verse, and when the chorus kicks in, it’s like wow. I feel similarly that the club feel of Amazing Life – and the bonus Capital King remix that accompanies special editions of Gold – is something that Britt needs to pursue more. She sounds great.
The Sun is Rising by Britt Nicole
The Sun is Rising is the best ballad on the album, in my opinion. Similar to Walk on the Water, The Sun is Rising is classic Britt, with her go-get-’em message coming to the fore in a powerful way. “You’re gonna make it,” she sings, “and the night can only last for so long.”
The other tracks are great, but not particularly memorable. Seeing For The First Time, in particular, surprised me; it’s probably the first Britt closer that didn’t hit me straight out of the gate.
Bottom-line, Gold is great pop music that will work in both Christian and secular situations. Anyone would appreciate the extra encouragement, and as far as empowerment goes, Britt’s has the Gold medal.
It’s a full month at number one for British worship leader Matt Redman on the Billboard Christian Songs chart, as 10000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) scores another bullet, with tobyMac’s comeback single, Me Without You ensconced at number two and Losing by Tenth Avenue North moving up four to three and earning Greatest Gainer honors. It’s a really competitive top three!
No new songs in the Top 10 for the third week in a row – Matthew West’s Forgiveness inches up ten to nine, yay! – and there is only one new debut, One Thing Remains by Passion featuring Kristian Stanfill, new at number 44.
Former American Idol contestant and now Contemporary Christian singer Jason Castro has released his new single, Only A Mountain off Word Records.
The minute I heard Only A Mountain, I liked it. Castro has always had this easy-going way about him, and with this charming guitar-driven song of encouragement, he has managed to channel the best of what he has to offer. The combination of easily accessible lyrics, a memorable melodic hook in the chorus, and his unique voice make Only a Mountain a rather unique acoustic toe-tapper in the center of landscape of excessively produced, glossy radio jams and weather-worn worship ballads. Already number three on the iTunes Christian chart, Castro’s most radio-friendly and Christian AC-worthy single to date is his best bet yet for success in the Contemporary Christian music marketplace.
Another day, another fight
It always feels like an uphill climb
Another step, another mile
The story of your life
It’s harder than you ever thought
And it costs you everything you’ve got
When you’re back against the wall
And you feel like giving up
This is only a mountain
You don’t have to find your way around it
Tell it to move, it’ll move
Tell it to fall, it’ll fall
This is only a moment
You don’t have to let your fear control it
Tell it to move, it’ll move
Tell it to fall, it’ll fall
You’ve gotta find a second wind
It’s not as high as you think it is
Don’t give up and don’t you quit
You gotta climb if you wanna win
And I know it looks big
And I know you feel small
But just a little bit of faith can change it all
Change it all
This is only a mountain
You don’t have to find your way around it
Tell it to move, it’ll move
Tell it to fall, it’ll fall
This is only a moment
You don’t have to let your fear control it
Tell it to move, it’ll move
Tell it to fall, it’ll fall
Ask like you believe it
Trust like you can see it
Take your fear and say
There’s nothing in your way, no oh
Even when it looks big
Even when you feel small
Just a little bit of faith can change it all
This is only a mountain
You don’t have to find your way around it
Tell it to move, it’ll move
Tell it to fall, it’ll fall
This is only a moment
You don’t have to let your fear control it
Tell it to move, it’ll move
Tell it to fall, it’ll fall
It’s only a mountain
Just a little bit of faith can change it all
Contemporary Christian supergroup Passion, of Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio fame, has released One Thing Remains as the second single off the new Passion album, White Flag.
