Music Blog — First Pres Tampa 10-20-11 « Mark Beccue Consulting, Inc.

Friends:

Welcome to the First Pres Contemporary Music email/blog, dedicated to enhancing your Contemporary Christian music experience!

In Christ,

Mark

First, I have to apologize – I’ve let work and other things get in the way over the past few months of this somewhat regular posting. As I mentioned last time there hasn’t been much musically that’s caught my ear. That has changed now!

SONG OF THE WEEK This week’s feature is Needtobreathe’s A PLACE ONLY YOU CAN GO/STAND BY ME. “A PLACE” is my favorite song from their beautiful September release, THE RECKONING. NTB channels a lot of influences such as Southern Rock, Stax/Memphis soul, U2, but here, I think they were inspired by the new bluegrass/roots music being created so well by the Avett Brothers, Mumford & Sons and others.

Most of the videos posted for the song are of the band in very small venues, playing completely acoustic and unmiked. What you will hear in this rendition are two acoustic guitars, accordion, mandolin, hand drums and stand up bass. You will also hear a song sung and played with great passion, with what Michael calls dynamics. Parts of the song are sung and played softly, others are not. I heard it done this way in every one of the 5 or 6 different venue recordings I watched. I think that is a reflection of the band’s love and passion for what they are doing and saying. When a band truly feels what they are delivering, the passion is felt by the audience. Music played passionately will touch your soul. Doesn’t matter if it is a live performance or a recording. Magical Christian music will touch you even deeper.

I find those passionate messages all the time in music. I am constantly amazed at the thousands of songs over centuries that have that ability to touch my emotions in a variety of ways.

Which brings me to my great wish for you – let music get to you. Don’t deny yourself from feeling the messages in the music and lyrics of songs – Christian or no.

I think “A PLACE” is about grace, a virtue sorely misunderstood and difficult to work in with our natural tendencies. I see the song as a love song from us broken humans to God. They do a beautiful job tying STAND BY ME, using the melody line of A PLACE, in.

A PLACE ONLY YOU CAN GO

Pain is alive in a broken heart
The past never does go away
We were born to love
And we’re born to pay
The price for our mistakes

Grace, she comes with a heavy load
Memories, they can’t be erased
Like a pill I swallow, he makes me well
And leaves an awful taste

Oh I know this song won’t do
Enough to prove my love to you
In my heart you’ll always know
There is a place only love can go
There is a place only you can go

Take my notions and words to heart
This is the cry of a man
I can’t bring you fortune or noble life
But I’ll love you all I can

Oh I know this song won’t do
Enough to prove my love to you
In my heart you’ll always know
There is a place only you can go

Oh I know this song won’t do
Enough to prove my love to you
In my heart you’ll always know
There is a place only love can go
There is a place only you can go

You can hear A PLACE here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOeJJIXvEIo

SONGS THIS WEEK: Partial list includes STARRY NIGHT, IN THE HANDS OF GOD, LIGHT OF THE WORLD, BLESSINGS

VERSE(s) OF THE WEEK:

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

Mark 8:36

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!