FredMcKinnon.Com

(note:  today’s post is a part of the “Watercooler Wednesday” collaboration on Arts & Culture at Randy Elrod’s place)

Hey Everyone,

On Monday, August 12 I created a blog entry called “What Makes A Great Worship Song”.  Thanks for your ongoing comments on what you think makes a worship song “great” and for giving your list of songs that will forever be in your “treasure chest” of songs that are meaningful to you.

Over the next week or two, I’d like for us to come together here on the blog and discuss some of the “Top Worship Songs” according to the most recent, February 2008 CCLI Survey.

CCLI Top 25 Songs

#1:  “How Great is our God”
by Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, and Ed Cash

This is the top song, the most reported song in the United States.  I have to admit, I agree.  This is one of those amazing songs.  Let’s talk about why.

Singable?

Yes – not necessarily in Chris Tomlin’s key, but definitely singable.  I dropped it down to the Key of (A) in my recording of this song (checkout my version of “How Great is our God” from the Worship Under the Stars CD on iTunes)

Theology?

Not a doctrinal thesis by any means, which may be why it’s so beloved.  It’s a simple declaration of God’s greatness.  And it’s written in such a way where we (the people) are singing it … both unto God, and to one another.  (speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, right?)

Lyrics?

Poetic, descriptive, beautiful.  Contrasts and imagery that really captivate our thoughts as we sing.

Simplicity?

I believe simplicity is important for a song to be “great”.  The melodic line is easy to sing, easy to remember.  It’s not full of syncopations … “The Godhead, Three in One” in Verse 2 is, in my opinion, perhaps the trickiest rhythm to grasp in the entire song.

Accessibility?

Another critical component of a great song.  How accessible is this to be used by people?  I don’t mean “can you buy it in a store”?.  I mean … can most people play this?  Can it be done with a huge praise band?  Can it be done with just an acoustic guitar in a small group?  Can it be done easily on a piano during personal worship?

The answer is YES, YES, YES.

Let’s face it, there are some songs that NEED a full band, horns, or other instruments to “make it”.  “How Great is our God” is not one of those songs.

Singable?  Theology?  Lyrics?  Simplicity?  Accessibility?
What are YOUR thoughts?

Song #2 coming up tomorrow.

Fred

Hey Everyone,

So I’ve been thinking about a series on worship songs.

Every generation has a treasure chest of songs that are dear to them.  Maybe those songs came from a time period when you really devoted yourself to follow Christ.  Maybe those songs represent a period of great renewal and passion in your faith.

Some songs come, some songs go.  Other songs seem to have that “greatness” that makes them stay around.  They park on CCLI’s Top 20 for decades.  They stay in your treasure chest of songs that you’ll come back to when you are 80 years old.

• What makes a worship song a “great worship song”?
• What are a few of the songs that will be in your treasure chest?

Do tell!

(ps:  for some reason, my “subscribe to comments” option seems to be waaay down at the bottom of the page – so if you’d like to follow the dialog, scroll way down under your comment and check that box before submitting your comment).

Hey Everyone -

Just discovered that the live concert video from another one of my songs from the “Worship Under the Stars” DVD is featured at CCLI.Com’s new Video site, CCLITV.

I have already received an email today from someone out there who was really blessed by the song and wants to use it in their corporate worship services. Man, that’s so inspiring and humbling at the same time.

If you have a sec, jump over to CCLITV and watch “Restore My Heart” and leave a comment. “Fix My Eyes” is still over there, too – you may have to refresh the page a few times to see it.

Thanks for all the support, CCLI!

PS:  can’t post this video without giving kudos to Kim Dixon who sang the duet w/ me … wow, she’s awesome.