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CCLI Top Songs – Blessed Be Your Name
Posted on August 14th, 2008 in Faith, Music, Worship Leadership by Fred McKinnon
Hey Everyone,
Today’s post is a continuation of a new series based on my original post where I asked the question, “What Makes a Great Worship Song”?
Yesterday we discussed the #1 song reported by CCLI in the USA as of February 2008, which was “How Great is Our God”. Over the next week or two, I’d like for us to come together here on the blog and discuss more of the “Top Worship Songs” according to the most recent, February 2008 CCLI Survey.
CCLI Top 25 Songs
#2: “Blessed Be Your Name”
by Matt and Beth Redman
“Blessed Be Your Name” finds it’s home in the #2 spot of most-reported songs in the reporting period ending February 2008. I’ve been leading this song off and on for several years and have always found it to be a corporate gem. I can easily see why it’s in the Top 5.
Singable?
Overall, this song is quite singable. It has a broad range, and typically you’ll find the verses to be a bit low for most people. The Pre-Chorus pulls the melody up in the middle range for vocalists, the Chorus takes it up a notch higher, requiring some emphasis to sing out, and the Bridge skyrockets … still, within the acceptable range for corporate worship. It’s definitely more rhytmic than “How Great is Our God” in the verses and can be a little harder for some people to sing. I think this is evident in the fact that I’ve heard the rhythm of the melodic line sung a kazillion different ways.
Theology?
The theological message in this song is probably one of the biggest assets of the tune. This song explores something that every one of us deal with – learning to praise God in the midst of crisis. Granted, there is an entire segment in some camps who refuse to sing the Bridge because of the “You give and take away” lyric. This line comes from Scripture, though not necessarily a theological statement. It’s really a vent from Job in his crisis as he blames God. This camp would say that Satan is the one who took away from Job. The other side says “God allowed it”. That is a huge debate, and today’s blog is not meant to “go there”. Regardless, the overall theology in the song is voicing that in the good times and the bad, we’re called to bless the Name of the Lord.
Lyrics?
Most of the lyrical discussion can be associated with the theological discussion above. In addition, we can comment on the beauty of these lyrics. The lyrical phrases used to paint the pictures of when things are good and bad are just poetic and beautiful. Every one of us can relate to these descriptions and the lyrics (especially in the Pre-Chorus) are written in such a way where they “call us” to action. We go from blessing God’s Name in the verses to declaring our first person intent to give back to God in praise.
Accessibility?
I believe this is a huge part of why these songs become “great songs”. Just like “How Great is our God”, this song can be sung with an entire band or a simple guitar. You can slow down the chorus and sing it acapella with huge impact. You can start on the Pre-Chorus and go to the Chorus without ever singing the verses.
Personally, all of these reasons are valid in making this a “great worship song”. I believe that the best reason is simply the fact that this song reaches us “where we are”. Every single one of us finding us in that place where we are “on the road marked with suffering” or where there is “pain in the offering” and we can so identify with it. When we’re in the plentiful lands, we’re also reminded. The song basically hits us at every single area of life. As a result, it’s always … ALWAYS relevant. That makes a great worship song!
Singable? Theology? Lyrics? Simplicity? Accessibility?
What are YOUR thoughts?
Song #3 coming up tomorrow.
(ps: as I’ve been sharing, for some reason, the “subscribe to comments” checkbox is waaay down at the bottom of this page – if you’d like to stay informed when someone posts a comment on this post, leave your comment and scroll way down and check off that box before submitting. Any code monkeys out there that can figure out WHY the seesmic response and email subscribe are stuck at the bottom? I’ve removed the seesmic plugin completely and it had no effect)
Fred
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19 Responses to “CCLI Top Songs – Blessed Be Your Name”
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I led this song last night. Our people always dig into this one. The medium tempo makes this song a perfect transitional song for people to start looking inward. When I lead this one, I think about all the times God has carried me through those rough times. I don’t necessarily look at the dark moments, but at how God carried me though those seasons of lack or despair. I equate this song to the modern version of “It is Well”.
Singable? – The proof is always in the pudding. Our people belt this one out.
Deron Freemans last blog post..What are you looking for?
Deron,
Tempo is something I didn’t even mention – but you are right, it’s more medium, and is a great transitional song!
I feel almost as though I shouldn’t post any thoughts on this as it holds such personal importance to me….as it does with thousands of people. One of Matt Redman’s greatest gifts is writing songs about trusting God through adversity “The Father’s Love, You Never Let Go etc”. If you read his book Unquenchable Worshiper you learn a little bit about his personal story and can see why this is so.
One of the best songs for our congregation to sing with the medium tempo, easy melody and fantastic anthemic bridge. “You give and take away…”
Love it!
Bens last blog post..Hallucinate, Desegregate, Mediate, Communicate…
We usually end on this song… it’s a kicker! It really sums up what worship is all about… Again, not a song I’d listen to that often (though Tree63’s version is not bad)… it is definetly powerful in a community worship setting!
By the way Fred, great blog… really enjoying the interaction… thanks mate.
Rob Petrinis last blog post..The Best Songs of all Time… Part 1
This is far an away the favorite of our children’s group. They just love to sing it! I once did a whole teaching on the theology behind this song for them.
I also once used this song as the anchor of an hour in an all night prayer session we were doing. Being as the song was written as a response to 9/11, and being at the church praying at two in the morning was very reminicient of what we were doing there on that day, the connection was palpable. I’ve played this song slow acoustic, full on rock, and everything between, and it always hits home.
Mike
Mikes last blog post..Another Year
This is one of those songs that I think will stay in the church for years to come. Matt always writes amazing songs that are so full of who God is.
Fred-on a different note, one of my primary professors has been studying the ccli list for years (since the payouts were reported in 1989) and has done extensive research on the content. He is just starting to publish it in bits and pieces. I am trying to find the book where his first article on the topic is and I will email it to you.
Chads last blog post..Answering the tough questions:Part 1
Probably one of the biggest reasons this song has resonated with the church? Lament. This was the first song in a long time that expressed lament in a way that people COULD and WOULD sing congregationally.
Now this is a good song. Like you mention in the theology section – the ‘give and take’ line is difficult to sing for some people. I like to think of it of acknowledging God (and only God) is in total control.
Alastairs last blog post..Mind Mapping
Redman has for quite sometime, until his recent church-plant, then move to the states, was part of a ‘charismatic calvinist’ church in London, “Christ the King” of New Frontiers (sorta relationally the ’sister churches’ of Sovereign Grace MInistries in Europe), hence the ’strong sovereignty’ pictured in the song, most likely. I think that either way, most christians (except for ‘open theists’ who don’t believe that God knows or controls the future) can affirm these lyrics. Personally, this is one of my favorite songs of all time: the lyrics level me. It calls me to both genuinely mourn my troubles, & at the same time fully trust God in their midst.
What I think is so very strong about this song, is that though the lyrics are very theologically deep, they are at the same time both personal (nearly everyone can relate to most of the lines in one way or another), and follow a pattern (joyful event – ‘blessed be Your name’; hardship – ‘blessed be Your name’), then a lifting pre-chorus, which is probably the hardest part of the song to catch onto if it didn’t have such a hook, then a simple, repeating chorus, which, along with the simple bridge, can be easily sung to God with your eyes closed after a single listen.
I think this song is a grand-slam, and it’s what I aspire to (and haven’t yet even come close) every time I write. In face, Redman is probably one of my ‘living heros’. Wonder if he’d be interested in a co-write? Probably not.
Shannon Lewiss last blog post..Worship God ‘08 Blog-love, & a review of my electives…
p.s., Fred – a ‘home-run’ on this series, as well. I’m loving it!
Very good song. We used it this Sunday in our set.
To me, I actually think the song isn’t necessarily theologically deep, as much as it is straight forward.
The whole song is based around one thing singing praise regardless of the circumstance.
I like the “opposites” approach of the verses, pre-chorus, and bridge.
God’s is worthy of praise in good times and bad, when He gives and when He takes.
Pretty straightforward.
[...] August 14, 2008 Bring It On Back Posted by thejonmorris under Worship Hey everyone, I got a couple questions that I would love some feedback on. After reading the CCLI’s top 25 list, I would love to know what songs are your favorite, what songs you’re about to teach, and what songs will always be. If you want to see the top 25 go to Fred McKinnon’s blog. [...]
If my vote counted, this song would be #1. I didn’t become a fan of it until I heard Newsboys do it live in 2005, and I was hooked after that.
We are doing this one on Sunday. I’m a fan.
Billy Chias last blog post..Play it in Layers
I am really enjoying these posts and comments. Keep them coming!
dorothy (vicar of vibe)s last blog post..bread machines…
O, how I wish we could lead this song in church! It’s quite a big deal for our congregation to worship in our own language. And translating this song wouldn’t do any good to both the message and ’singability’.
Anyway, I love Redman’s ability to craft songs that are honest, biblical and allow for us to respond to God even through hard times of ’suffering’.
I’m with Paul J — the expression of lament is part of the appeal and part of what we NEED to sing and hear. I love that it’s a song of faith and stubborn joy. Life isn’t sunshine and roses. Yet we still acknowledge that our hope and dependence is in God, and we cry “Blessed be Your name.”
A great biblical song, catchy music — one of the best songs of one of the best worship songwriters.
Bobby Gilless last blog post..Links Around The Web, And Then Back To Our Own Studio
Another feature of this song — and I admit that ultimately this is very superficial — is that somehow this song became one of the first (okay THE first) to enter into our Sunday morning experience while still “topping the charts” so to speak on Christian radio. It was like the church had finally caught up chronologically; we weren’t singing yesterdays hits anymore. Whatever that counts for, it certainly deserved its success, though personally, I’m always sobered when I get to “You give and take away…”