Korean girl group SECRET has returned with “YooHoo,” a summery tune that is the K-Pop version of soda: delicious, full of empty calories, and ridiculously addictive. Hyosung, Jieun, Sunhwa and Hana – that’s right, Zinger dumped her old name and is now going by her real name, Jung Jana – return to their aegyo roots with a vengeance. Considering that their bestselling tracks were the Triple Crown-winning Shy Boy and the chart-topping Starlight Moonlight, it seems natural to release another cutesy anthem, and YooHoo! fits the bill perfectly.
SECRET’s YooHoo! MV is also, in itself, an aegyo showcase of unparalleled proportions. Unlike T-ARA N4′s Countryside Life, whose MV is an unusual Gangnam Style-styled display of bumpkin nonsense that doesn’t seem to fit with the song’s pointed response to the scandal-prone girl group’s detractors, YooHoo! is clearly designed to showcase the girls’ cute expressions in a picturesque setting that is quite literally paradise. (The MV was shot in Saipan.)
So how does YooHoo! fare? The song isn’t a tip of the hat to any previous musical genre, something on which Shy Boy and Starlight Moonlight clearly capitalized. In this sense, it’s probably the most original aegyo release we’ll hear from SECRET. The dance itself is also cute, with a lot of clear-cut moves that people will definitely be able to copy – there’s a Hawaiian-type hula during the chorus, another part where they flap their arms like wings, and another baby gorilla type movement at the bridge, that are the cutest moves of the set – and use to their advantage.
Will it be a hit? If I had my way, naturally, yes. SECRET is long overdue for a music show win, especially since promotions for the underrated Talk That, their best shot at a win in a long time, ended prematurely because of the girls’ traffic accident at the end of 2012. Their primary girl group competition consists of T-ARA N4 and 4minute, both of whom I think they could take on and win. However, they are also up against Psy, who released Gentleman, the follow-up to the massive Gangnam Style, and idol group 2PM, staging its first Korean release in two years. Also, G-DRAGON of Hallyu superstar group Big Bang, may promote Michigo. So I’m not too optimistic, but if any song – and MV – could help bring SECRET back to the top, YooHoo! has as good a chance as any.
Contemporary Christian duo Shane and Shane have released That’s How You Forgive as the carrier single of their new release, Bring Your Nothing, available across the USA and internationally in digital and CD formats via Fair Trade Services.
That’s How You Forgive was one of seven songs recorded by the duo in 22-acre property in Texas that they purchased and converted into a studio. They holed themselves up in the 22-acre property and basically spent a week creating music there, alongside other artists from other bands, including Jason Hoard (Third Day), Tyler Chester (Fiction Family), Josh Moore (Caedmon’s Call) and Shane & Shane’s drummer, Joey Parish. They recorded their songs live in one room.
The creative process shows itself in the naked truth in That’s How You Forgive. There’s a certain intensity to the song, a clear and bold passion that is unlike most studio recordings from Shane and Shane I’ve ever heard. Listening to the drums, in particular, there’s an urgency that I couldn’t put my finger on, but clearly, there’s something special in the instrumentation given this song’s gospel message of forgiveness, gratitude, and praise. Some fans criticize the production, saying this new recording lacks the acoustic rawness of previous releases, and yeah, maybe it does – I listened to the review and agree it’s not as raw as previous recordings – but that’s growth. I think it’s brilliant.
That’s How You Forgive is now rising up the Christian Soft AC/Inspo charts, and could very well be the duo’s next Top 10 hit.
Contemporary Christian singer/songwriter Shawn McDonald has released What Are You Waiting For?, the carrier single of his new release, The Analog Sessions. McDonald’s previous release, 2011′s Closer, was an introspective compilation of tracks that birthed the hit title track. What Are You Waiting For? is a decidedly more radio-friendly release, with a choral hook that found my six-year-old singing along with after just one listen. lol I daresay What Are You Waiting For? will finish easily within the Top 20, although I’m on the fence as regards whether it will be a bigger hit than Closer.
Chris Tomlin’s Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies) makes it three months now atop Billboard’s Christian Songs chart. That’s twelve weeks, friends, and with no likely challengers in sight, Chris definitely has the monster hit on his hands that I was predicting when he first released the carrier single of Burning Lights. In terms of most weeks at number one on the Billboard Christian Songs chart, Whom Shall I Fear is already the 13th-most successful of all time, although it still has quite a while to go before it overtakes MercyMe’s Word of God Speak, the all-time leader, with 23 weeks.
Tomlin is extends his lead among solo male singers with the most weeks at number one, with 41. Next to him is Jeremy Camp with 35.
Meanwhile, for the rest of the Top 10, big surges for tobyMac’s Steal My Show (6-4) and Hawk Nelson’s Words (8-6). Colton Dixon’s You Are unfortunately slips 10 to 11 this week after just a week in the Top 10, giving way for a sudden surge by Matthew West’s Hello My Name Is. West earns another Top 10 hit and his album Into the Light is 2 for 2 for Top 10 singles. Go Matthwesta!
Contemporary Christian pop/rock female trio ACTS, composed of Sahagun sisters Kathrine Ann, Christian, and Teemy, has released its album, Speak Love, and I’m reviewing and recommending You Are Loved to Christian AC. Listening to this Filipino trio for the first time, I’m struck by the sweetness of their harmonies, and I’m excited for the quality of their vocals when they sing together. It reminds me of all the summery harmonies I used to listen to back in the day – Wilson Phillips, Mulberry Lane, Dixie Chicks… it’s that kind of airtight harmony that I love to sing along with, and it’s that kind of sound that I wish were more prevalent in the cookie-cutter, auto-tuned blandness of Christian AC and Christian Soft AC/Inspo today. Asians are also woefully underrepresented in the Nashville-centric world of Christian AC and Christian Soft AC/Inspo, so it would be wonderful if radio programmers opened themselves – and the airwaves – up to You Are Loved.
You Are Loved is well-produced and well-executed. The tinkling piano lines and dependable guitar lines make for a solid foundation for the sisters’ breezy three-part vocals. Individually, their voices are lovely, but their strength lies in those lovely harmonies. ACTS has been singing together for quite some time, and even made it into the top 20 finalists for X Factor‘s Las Vegas edition, so it’s not just I who think there’s a lot of potential in this Filipina girl group. That they sing such delicious harmonies is really just the cherry on the sundae; they want to share with their world the redemptive power of Christ, so I’m excited for the possibilities.
Contemporary Christian singer/songwriter Brandon Heath has followed up the Top 10 hit Jesus in Disguise with another midtempo track, Love Does. When I first heard Jesus in Disguise, I thought it was all right, but it didn’t really grab my attention. And well, Love Does. Heath’s sophomore single from Blue Mountain is a catchier single with a great chorus and a soaring bridge, and its message of hope for people who are serving as salt and light will certainly speak to an audience often ignored by Christian songwriters in favor of the wider audience. I, for one, was very encouraged, and for that, I’m grateful for Heath and Love Does.
Praise and worship outfit Passion has followed up the number one hit, One Thing Remains, from their White Flag release, with The Lord Our God, featuring Kristian Stanfill, whose passionate vocals helped take One Thing Remains to number one on the Christian AC charts. You can also hear the strong, clear-as-a-bell vocals of other worship leaders – I spot Chris Tomlin and Kari Jobe – coming through loud and clear on this hair-rising declaration of faith in a God Who will lead us on. Clearly headed for Top 10 status. If you don’t have a copy of Passion: Let The Future Begin, you, friends, are missing out.
More than seven months after the release of its official video, Rend Collective’s Build Your Kingdom Here has entered the Radio and Records’ Christian AC chart the week of April 19 at an impressive number 27. Written by Rend Collective Experiment, the song itself is an invitation to worship as a spiritual community, and its folksy instrumentation and instantly singable melody makes it a very likeable song. I like its scriptural reference to Colossians 3:14-16, and I predict a Top 20 finish, hopefully higher if Christian AC radio programmers are more open-minded.
Click here to access Rend Collective Experiment’s Build Your Kingdom Here guitar chords and lyrics.
Chris Tomlin’s Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies) earns an eleventh week at number one on Billboard’s Christian Songs chart. Meanwhile, another new song breaches the Top 10 for the first time: with You Are inching up 11-10 this week, Colton Dixon becomes the first former American Idol finalist to score a Top 10 hit on the Christian AC chart since Mandisa’s Waiting for Tomorrow peaked at number three in 2011.
Mac Powell and the rest of Contemporary Christian pop-rock band Third Day have released some out-of-the-ballpark releases in their enviable career as one of Contemporary Christian music’s greatest bands, and Your Love is a River looks set to join their rich and blessed discography. Mac has never sounded so good, and to be honest, I’m liking this sound. It’s not too Southern gospel as some of their previous releases, and its pop leanings make it even more accessible to Christian AC. Your Love is a River‘s lyrics of grace and reliance on God are particularly poignant in light of the recent Boston Marathon bombings.
Hillsong Live has released Man of Sorrows, a digital single just in time for Easter – and relevant beyond that. It’s interesting to mention relevance, because Man of Sorrows features the kind of lyrics that we’ve been seeing make a return with Chris Tomlin’s Majesty (Crown Him) and My Chains Are Gone (Amazing Grace), Avalon’s In Christ Alone, and Hillsong’s own Cornerstone (referencing one of my own personal favorite hymns, My Hope is Built. That return to the classic hymnal sound and verse-chorus-verse-chorus song flow is welcomed by not a few people, who believe this rather reverent display of worship may be one of the balms to a Contemporary Christian praise and worship world where praise is anthemic-chorus-and-rock-guitar-driven, and worship is largely an uninspired set of tired and used “I love You, I worship You” platitudes.
Which brings us to the Brooke Ligertwood-Matt Crocker-penned Man of Sorrows. Thoughtfully written and expertly sung – Jad Gillies may be one of the best things to happen to Hillsong since Tulele Faletolu, and he’s brilliantly assisted by Annie Garrett – it is still, at the end of the day, a worship song, and it masterfully takes the lyrical depth and emotion of Isaiah 53 and spins it into something power-packed with emotion and strength. From the straightforward delivery of the lyrics to the percussive nature of the drums almost echoing Jesus’ death march, Man of Sorrows is so beautifully executed that it accomplishes three things: 1) it brings the worshiper to a clearer and more heartfelt understanding of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross; 2) it sets itself up to become a classic not just for Hillsong but for countless churches across the world that rely on the rich musical tradition of this Australian praise and worship outfit; and 3) it only underscores the ever-growing relevance and importance of Hillsong in the years to come. If Darlene Zschech and her forbears set the stage for Brian Houston’s church to carve out a name for itself in the growing-ever-crowded live worship marketplace, Matt Crocker, Joel Houston, and the new blood at Hillsong are bringing it in the direction of groundbreaking and glass ceiling shattering. Incredible.
Legendary Contemporary Christian vocalist Amy Grant has released Don’t Try So Hard as the lead single of her new album, How Mercy Looks From Here, her first album of completely original material in ten years. Don’t Try So Hard is supposed to feature James Taylor, but frankly, he’s virtually nonexistent on this record, which is a shame. Don’t Try So Hard sings about grace, and how we needn’t work so hard to please God. It’s gentle, it’s quiet, it’s Taylor-made (see what I did there?) for Soft AC/Inspo.
ALBUM TITLE: A Messenger ARTIST: Colton Dixon BEST TRACK/S: OVERALL RATING: 3.5/5
American Idol finalist Colton Dixon may not have gone home with the coveted title, but he didn’t go home empty-handed. The blond mohawked “rocker” with the remarkable voice has become the latest American Idol to venture into Contemporary Christian music, joining the ranks of Mandisa, Chris Sligh, Phil Stacey, George Huff, and a slew of other somewhat less successful entries. With a record deal from Sparrow Records, a management deal from 19 Entertainment, and a Top 11 hit under his belt (You Are peaked at number 11, ouch), the future of this young man appears to be bright and rosy.
With the release of A Messenger, Dixon releases a slickly produced and thoughtfully written debut that is one of the most diverse first albums from any American Idol alumnus of the past five years. Sparrow Records hooked him up with several key producers to help him bring his vision to life, including Red Decibel (Kelly Clarkson, Jesse McCartney, Jeremy Camp, Switchfoot), busbee (Daughtry, P!nk, Switchfoot, Smash Mouth, Keith Urban), Zac Maloy (Daughtry, Plain White T’s, Carrie Underwood), and CCM stalwarts David Garcia & Ben Glover (Mandisa, Britt Nicole, Avalon). The end result is a diverse set of songs that should speak to a wide set of listeners.
Never Gone, the first song made available to the listening public, was performed by Dixon during the American Idol tour, making the rocker the first artist to perform an original song on the tour. Personally, this is my favorite track on the album. Instantly radio-friendly, very singable, and with a highly encouraging message, Never Gone is that Christian pop-rock radio crossover track waiting to happen.
You Are is the official radio single released to Christian AC, and it exploded at Christian radio, eventually peaking at number 11 on the Christian AC chart as well as finishing in the Top 10 of the Christian rock chart. A straightforward song of praise, You Are clearly deserved to finish in the Top 10. (It can still reverse track, IMHO.)
Several other tracks on A Messenger also hold a lot of promise and contribute to Dixon’s overall vision for his debut. In my opinion, however, Dixon’s strength lies in the quality of his piano-driven tracks. Rise, for instance, is a powerful track with a chorus that just won’t quit. Love Has Come is another stand-out track, showcasing Dixon’s range and the message that God’s love is pretty much the answer to whatever questions we may have as a result of what life throws at us. I’ll Be the Light is another terrific track, excellently produced and brilliantly sung; you truly believe that he wants to be the harbinger of the Good News that Christ offers. Scars is another emotional and musical highlight, in which Dixon sings of God’s redemptive nature and how we can find the strength to move upon from the painful day-to-day’s, so to speak, by relying on God’s strength. The album closer, Let Them See You, is breathtaking in its production and how it reflects Dixon’s heart.
Dixon, a recent Manila visitor for a Valentine’s concert with fellow American idol alum Jessica Sanchez, delivers impressively with A Messenger. There is enough texture and musical balance on this debut release to establish for himself a sound that will ultimately please his fans and hopefully earn him some new ones. On the basis of this release, I hesitate to call him a rocker, though; I still feel that his strengths ultimately lie in the quality of his ballads and his piano skill, and I feel that he would do well to head in that direction.
Vocally, Dixon is virtually flawless.
On another note, lyrically, Dixon comes across as genuine, but perhaps with the exception of Scars, there isn’t much range thematically, and while the lyrics do match the music, I feel that there isn’t quite anything I’ve heard on this record, lyrically speaking, that I haven’t heard on other Christian rock releases in the past. I wasn’t expecting to be blown away, lyrically, but it would have been very interesting to see the lyrical result of a collaboration between Dixon and his pre-believer collaborators.
(I do not mean to compare, and this is really apples and oranges, but when we listen to new releases from some of Contemporary Christian music’s most thoughtful songwriters – Jimmy Needham, Andrew Peterson, and Shawn McDonald, perhaps even the somewhat commercial yet still remarkable work of writers like Matthew West, Ben Glover, and Mark Hall – you never quite know what to expect lyrically, and you look forward to the new spin on old faith that these masters of the word can put together. Dixon is young, and I think he has the lyrical chops to create some amazing work in what will hopefully be a long and lasting career.)
Ultimately, A Messenger tells us exactly that: Dixon is a new star on the horizon, with a bright future and a bold message to declare. Having been given a rare opportunity on a global stage to take a stand and make a statement, he stepped out and made a passionate declaration of faith in a God Who is now giving him his own soapbox. And what a timely, lovely message it is.
Contemporary Christian pop-rock group Mikeschair has released All I Can Do (Thank You) as its latest and newest digital single. In the course of its six-year major-label career, Mikeschair has released some of the most well-written, well-produced tracks in Contemporary Christian music, including 2009′s Let the Waters Rise and Can’t Take Away, as well as 2010′s Keep Changing the World and 2012′s You Loved Me First. With the release of All I Can Do (Thank You), Mikeschair returns to its classic melodic hooks and heartfelt songwriting.
All I Can Do (Thank You) is an encouraging song that delves deep into the heart of a grateful worshiper. Anyone who’s ever experienced God’s mercy in a deep, personal, intimate way, will definitely find this song a fitting musical declaration of all we want to say to our Savior. Given that All I Can Do (Thank You) is now rocketing up the charts, I imagine there must be a lot of grateful believers out there.
ALL I CAN DO (THANK YOU) Lyrics
Mikeschair
I could write a love song
Tell You what I think you want to hear
But it wouldn’t be good enough, no
Yeah, I could try so hard
To give it everything I’ve got
But I’m not ever gonna measure up
All I can do is thank You for this life I never deserved
Wanna thank You for the grace I know I don’t have to earn
You love me, You love me, Your mercy is proof
All I can do is say thank You
All I can do is say thank You
It would have been easy
But I’m glad You never walked away
Cause Your love runs deep for me
And I see this beautiful world and it brings tears to my eyes
And I think it’s beautiful to be free
All I can do is thank You for this life I never deserved
Wanna thank You for the grace I know I don’t have to earn
You love me, You love me, Your mercy is proof
All I can do is say thank You
All I can do is say thank You
For love, for hope, for all the ways
Yeah, for everything You do
What else can I say but thank You
Thank You
I could write a love song
Tell You what I think you wanna hear
But it wouldn’t be good enough
All I can do is thank You for this life I never deserved
Wanna thank You for the grace I know I don’t have to earn
You love me, You love me, Your mercy is proof
All I can do is say thank You
All I can do is say thank You
All I can do, all I can do, all I can do is say thank You
All I can do, all I can do, all I can do is say thank You
Audio Adrenaline recovers from its hiccup last week at pushes back into the Top 10, 12-7, with Kings and Queens. The casualty of this, unfortunately, is Newsboys’ Your Love Never Fails.
Korean girl group SECRET has returned with “YooHoo,” a summery tune that is the K-Pop version of soda: delicious, full of empty calories, and ridiculously addictive. Hyosung, Jieun, Sunhwa and Hana – that’s right, Zinger dumped her old name and is now going by her real name, Jung Jana – return to their aegyo roots with a vengeance. Considering that their bestselling tracks were the Triple Crown-winning Shy Boy and the chart-topping Starlight Moonlight, it seems natural to release another cutesy anthem, and YooHoo! fits the bill perfectly.
