I Heart Worship
Praise and Worship Songs
Tenth Avenue North – The light meets The Dark album
Apr 18th
The Light Meets The Dark is Tenth Avenue North’s second major label studio album, It come on the heels of their resent Dove Award for Best Song, “By Your Side” from their recent album Over and Underneath (2008). With one listen to The light Meets The Dark, it is obvious Mike Donehey, (lead vocals/acoustic guitar), Jason Jamison (drummer) and Jeff Owen (electric guitar/background vocals), are taking a bold step forward on their musical journey. The album was released on May 11, 2010 by Reunion Records.
On its second week after being released the album became #1 at Billboard charts (Christian Albums). It has stayed on the chart for 31 weeks and is currently at #11, It is estimated that by January 2011 it will be at 10. The album delivered a first single, “Healing Begins” which garnered 43 first-week adds among AC and CHR stations nationwide. The song encourages the listeners to pull down the walls and barriers that shield them so that God may get through them and heal them. The song, “You are more ” encourages listeners and makes them to learn that one is more to the choices that he has made, one is more than their past mistakes and that one is more than the problems they have created and that they have been remade a new. “House of Mirrors” the most powerful song of the album revolves around images of Christians being caught up in their own lives. All in all of the songs in the band’s sophomore release are authentic, heartfelt and confessional, it is all about brokenness , the universality of that brokenness, and how Jesus helps us meets the brokenness.
The album has 11 awesome worship tracks:
- Healing Begins (3:57 )
- Strong Enough To Save (3:13)
- You are More (3:37)
- The Truth Is Who You Are (4:26)
- All The Pretty Things (4:20)
- Any Other Way (3:27)
- On And On (3:42)
- Hearts safe (A Better Way) (3:32)
- House Of Mirrors (4:30)
- Empty Hands (5:01)
- Oh My Dear (5:35)
Nigerian Christian songs
Apr 18th
The idea of singing songs of praise is a well-established idea in the country of Nigeria. Historically, songs of praise were song to whatever god(s) the natives believed in, and oftentimes were sung to revel in a rainstorm after a period of drought, or to honor a local ruler who had died.
With the introduction of Christianity to Nigeria, many of these praise songs were simply transformed to now worship God. Many praise and worship songs still use traditional instruments, such as drums or horns, and, no matter what language they were sung in originally, it is common to hear the worship songs sung in all the local languages. Nigerian custom allows for praise and worship songs to be sung in different places and at different times. The most common are family songs that can be heard being sung in the morning and evening. They are introduced at a young age and are very popular with children, to ask God for guidance and protection. Many Nigerian praise songs are sung at weddings to ask God for his blessing on a newlywed couple. There are also Nigerian Christian songs sung as worship at church. Some popular ones include “Joy, Joy, Joy” and “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.”
A very popular example of an album filled with Nigerian praise music is the CD “Fountain of Praise”, which features three of Nigeria’s best known worship leaders: Wale Adenuga, Bob Fitts, and Kunle Aja. The CD features a mixture of well-known worship songs and local language songs. It is very common in Nigerian Christian songs for the same songs to be remade by other groups, oftentimes just a short time after they were originally released. This has led to some minor controversy, as well as lyrics in contemporary Nigerian Christian songs that seem to glorify things outside of Nigeria.
That being said, there is no denying the power and popularity of Nigerian praise songs. There is a Facebook page devoted to Nigerian Christian music and many mp3s are available for download on the Internet. Nigerian people are uncomplicated and really love singing simple praise songs that worship God in adoration. For a gosepl music fan, listening to these Nigerian praise songs can provide a welcome change from the usual, and get back to the heart of worship: praising God.
Awake album Skillet
Apr 18th
This is the eighth full length studio album by the Christian Rock band Skillet. It was released on August 25 2009 and debuted at No.2 on the Billboard 200 album chart, making it one of the highest debuting Christian albums on that music chart. The album went Gold in the US on July 2nd selling close to 500000 units. The following year the album was certified gold by Atlantic Records.
The album tries to pass the message that Christians should never give up though the world seems to be getting crazier every day.
The album opens with the hit song “Hero,” from the opening chord this song grabs you and doesn’t let go. And with such a song as the first in an album you just get the feel of what the album is all about. From the beginning, the song remains unabashed as it speaks to all of us. The band says that the album was similar to their 2006 release Comatose. This is because the strings and guitars are almost the same only that Awake comes out more of a harder rock sound than Comatose. The album employs the use of Classic rock riffs, swirling drums, monstrous hooks and undeniably catchy choruses. The album contains 12 upbeat worship songs.
Songs from the album have been used for television commercials. “Awake and Alive” was used in the daytime drama “One Life to Live” on ABC in November of 2009 and during MLB playoff games. “Hero” was featured in Sunday Night Football commercials on NBC. Currently the song is featured in commercials for NBA on TNT.
Track Listing
1. Hero
2. Monster
3. Don’t Wake Me
4. Awake And Alive
5. One Day Too Late
6. It’s Not Me It’s You
7. Should’ve When You Could’ve
8. Believe
9. Forgiven
10. Sometimes
11. Never Surrender
12. Lucy
Singles
1. Hero was released as the album’s lead single on May 19 2009
2. Monster was released to Mainstream on July 14 2009
3. Awake and Alive was released to Christian CHR and Rock radio February 15 2010
4. Forgiven was released to Christian CHR /Rock on August 2 2010.
Casting Crowns Discography
Mar 24th
With 19 Dove Awards and 1 American Music Award, Casting Crowns has been the most played artist on all Christian radio formats. Their music touches and teaches and is popular all over the world. They have 5 studio albums, 4 of live albums and two independent 
albums.
Studio Albums
1. Casting Crown
it was released in September 30, 2003 by Beach Street as CD format. All the lyrics in the song were written by Mark Hall, except “Your love is Extravagant” that was written by Darrell Evans. The Album was certified Platinum by the RIAA in February 2005. The album contains 10 tracks.
2. Lifesong
It was released in August 2005 by Beach Street/Reunion as CD format. It is the second full-length album by Casting Crowns rock band. It won the 2005 Grammy Award for the Best Pop/Cotemporary Gospel Album. It is also certified Platinum. It contains 11 tracks.
3. The Altar and the Door
it was released in August 2007 by Beach Street/Reunion as CD format. The third Studio album and includes two cover songs. It debuted at number two on the us Billboard 200. It is also Certified Platinum. The album contains 10 tracks.
4. Peace on Earth
Released as a Christmas Album on October 2008. The Album is certified gold by the RIAA with over 500000 copies sold. It contains 10 tracks.
5. Until the Whole World Hears
A fourth studio album (fifth overall) released on November 2009via Reunion/Beach Street in the U.S and in the Philippines on January 2010 via Sony Music Entertainment. it had sold over 600000 copies by mid 2010. It contains 12 tracks.
- Live albums
- Live from Atlanta
- Lifesong Live
- The altar and the door live
- Until the Whole world hears live
- Singles
Greatest hits by TobyMac
Mar 2nd
1. The Slam
It was recorded in the year 2004 in the second Album Welcome to Diverse City. It got a Nomination for the Best Rock Recorded Song at the GMA Dove Awards in 2006.
This song deals with racial tolerance in the society and the desire to know God better. It was featured in the film “Never Back Down”, advertisements for the films “Transporter 2” “Aeon Flux”, and “The fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift”, as well as advertisements for the television show “Prison Break”.
2. Made to love
This single is in his third album Portable Sounds which was released as the lead single of the album on December 26, 2006. The song quickly began to climb on R&R’s contemporary hit radio (CHR) chart at the start of 2007, and reached number 1 during the first week of January 2007. It had a nomination for the Best gospel song at the Grammy Awards in 2008. This song took a different genre altogether compared with his previous songs on his other albums where they were more of hip hop.
3. I’m For You
It is also from his third Album Portable Sound and was released as a radio single for the album in 2007. It reached number 2 on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart. It also was number 1 for 8 consecutive weeks on R&R’s Christian Hit Radio Chart and was the third most played song on Christian CHR radio stations in 2007. It reached number10 on R&R’s Christian AC Chart.
4. City on our Knees
It is from his fourth album, Tonight. It was released as a radio single in August 2009 and reached number 1 on Billboard’s hot Christian’s songs chart in October 2009. The song was nominated for the Best Gospel song in the Grammy awards in 2010 also it was nominated for the best Pop/Contemporary song of the year at the GMA Dove Awards. He quotes “City on our Knees’ is really about a moment. A moment that we all come together. Where our differences fall by the wayside. And it’s really a reminder that that moment could be right now, tonight.”
Greatest Hits by Casting Crowns
Mar 2nd
1. East to West
East to West is a song by the Christian Rock band Casting Crowns. It is from their 2007 single album The Altar and the Door. It won the song of the Year award at GMA Dove Awards and was also nominated as the Best Gospel Performance at the 51st Grammy Awards. It has been on billboard for the top 200 songs for 32 weeks at peak position of 25.
2. Until the Whole world hears
this is a song from the group’s Album “Until the Whole world hears”. It centers on spreading the God’s Word throughout all nations, “Until the whole world hears”. The name comes from Roger Glidewell’s e-mail’s signature who is Mark Hall’s mentor student.
3. If we’ve never needed you
this song is still from their album until the whole world Hears. It has stayed active on the charts for a period of 33 weeks. It is peaked at No.5 on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart. It has also held the No.1 spot SoftAC/Inspirational chart for 8 weeks.
4. Praise you in this Storm
they say they watched and prayed for a precious little girl struggle with deadly diseases for several years. It is the girl’s mother who inspired the song. The song is from their 2005 album lifesong and it has been on the Charts for 29 weeks.
5. Life song
this song was written by Mark Hall. He says worship began when he woke up that morning. Also he says that his life’s purpose is to give God his glory through everything that he does. If his life does not worship him his song won’t either. This song has been on the chart for 24 weeks its peak position being number 2
6. Slow fade
it was released as the third single of their 2007 album The altar and the Door. It was featured in the 2008 fireproof. It was included in the album vow hits of 2010. It has stayed in the Chart for 22 weeks. It is about protecting and informing the world about the moral cancer.