Friends:
Welcome to the First Pres Contemporary Music email/blog, dedicated to enhancing your Contemporary Christian music experience!
In Christ,
Mark
SONG OF THE WEEK This week’s feature is Switchfoot’s ON FIRE, from their breakthrough 2003 album, “THE BEAUTIFUL LETDOWN”. I got into a friendly debate with a friend who wanted to know what the 10 best albums of the first decade of the 22nd century were. This is one made my list. It went double platinum and features well known songs such as “Meant to Live”, “Dare You To Move”, “Gone”, as well as three other lesser known but wonderful songs – “More Than Fine”, “The Beautiful Letdown” and “On Fire”.
You might have heard someone use the term they are “on fire” for God, meaning they are pumped up and ready to evangelize. In this song, we see a different interpretation, one that has to do with your internal state as opposed to your external actions. ON FIRE is a love song. It won’t seem so much if you just read the words, but the words combined with the music convey the thought very well.
We need to love, and we need to be loved, but we aren’t very good at receiving or giving it. There isn’t a credible manual on the subject. You could argue we start in the wrong (but logical) place – with people. Learning to love and be loved by God first will help us love and be loved by people.
On Fire
They tell you where you need to go
They tell you when you’ll need to leave
They tell you what you need to know
They tell you who you need to be
But everything inside you knows
There’s more than what you’ve heard
There’s so much more than empty conversations
Filled with empty words
And you’re on fire
When He’s near you
You’re on fire
When He speaks
You’re on fire
Burning at these mysteries
Give me one more time around
Give me one more chance to see
Give me everything You are
Give me one more chance to be… (near You)
Cause everything inside me looks like
Everything I hate
You are the hope I have for change
You are the only chance I’ll take
When I’m on fire
When You’re near me
I’m on fire
When You speak
And I’m on fire
Burning at these mysteries
These mysteries…
I’m standing on the edge of me [x3]
I’m standing on the edge of everything I’ve never been before.
And I’ve been standing on the edge of me
Standing on the edge
And I’m on fire
When You’re near me
I’m on fire
When You speak
(Yea) I’m on fire
Burning at these mysteries… these mysteries… these mysteries
Ah you’re the mystery
You’re the mystery
You can hear ON FIRE here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhcJh-gF1-8 or for a live studio version sans piano, here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q81yI6M95TE
SONGS THIS WEEK: Partial list includes GOD WILL LIFT UP YOUR HEAD, HALLEUJAH, EVER BE, BRING THE RAIN, BLESSINGS (NEW)
VERSE(s) OF THE WEEK:
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” – 2 Timothy 1:6
FEATURED MUSIC Songs we are listening to – some for church, and some for just the fun of it. Let us know what you think of them!
MORE THAN FINE, Switchfoot http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxiYRx55g1c
DARE YOU TO MOVE (acoustic), Switchfoot http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEDkNZZU1X4
THE BEAUTIFUL LETDOWN (live), Switchfoot http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZXicxAX_W4
UPCOMING CONCERTS
AUDREY ASSAD – July 30th, Nativity Catholic Church, Brandon http://nativitycatholicchurch.org/main.php
HILLSONG UNITED – August 5th, St. Pete Times Forum http://www.thejoyfm.com/event/aftermath
