Last Saturday night until 5:00am. The mandolin player is slowly departing, the guy on his right is gone, my grandson on his left has doubts and the guy in the hat is a nevermo from Ogden. Gorgeous blonde on right side is the woman I sleep with.
Posted on 09/04/2009 6:17:18 AM PDT by Colofornian
If you asked me who some of my favorite artists are right now, without hesitation I would say Natalie Grant, Nichole Nordeman and Britt Nicole. I know many of my friends haven't heard of them. I love to introduce people to these artists because they just might love their music too.
Grant, Nordeman and Nicole are widely known in the mainstream Christian contemporary music world. There is so much talent in and outside of the church. This week, I wanted to share some artists with you who are not LDS but are fellow Christians with a faith-promoting message.
In addition, I think LDS artists can be inspired by other Christian musicians. Their music has definitely inspired the way I write my songs. The Christian contemporary music genre has developed and grown in popularity over the last 50 years. I see that same development and increase in popularity happening in LDS music in the next 50 years. So we can look at the strengths of CCM music and integrate them into ours.
If you are looking for fresh, hip music with a positive message for yourself or your teenagers, here are three great suggestions. Or if you are a songwriter in need of a little musical inspiration, I hope that this will help.
Natalie Grant
Natalie Grant is my favorite singer/songwriter. I fell in love with her music a couple years ago when I heard "In Better Hands" on the radio. Grant's music recognizes human imperfections and adversity, but always has an overlying positive theme that Christ is our hope and our strength.
My favorite Grant songs: "Perfect People," "Our Hope Endures," "The Real Me" and "In Better Hands." Listen here: http://www.myspace.com/nataliegrant
Nichole Nordeman
Honest, hopeful lyrics that can turn a frustrated mood upside down and help you have a more positive outlook are the stamp of Nichole Nordeman's music. Her melodies are unforgettable, but her optimistic and poetic lyrics are what really stand out.
My favorite Nordeman songs: "Why," "Every Season," "Legacy" and "Finally Free." Listen here: http://www.myspace.com/nicholenordeman
Britt Nicole
Britt Nicole is my most recent favorite discovery. I bought a couple of her songs a year ago. But when I heard the single from her latest album released in August, it blew me out of the water. I pre-purchased her album on iTunes, and I have been listening to it ever since. You can hear her honesty and faith in every note.
My favorites from Nicole are: "Walk On Water," "The Lost Get Found," "Set the World on Fire" and "Have Your Way." Listen here: http://brittnicole.sparrowrecords.com/
Well, there you have it. These are three artists whose music I never get tired of. I turn it on when I need a pick-me-up. I turn it on when I need an extra reminder that I can completely trust God and things will be OK. And as a songwriter, I turn it on when I need some extra inspiration. It reminds me to be honest in my writing -- not afraid to acknowledge my imperfections because that is why I need my Savior.
I'd love to hear your responses to their music and who your favorite artists are. Feel free to e-mail me and let me know what you think of their music.
Nicole Sheahan is a singer/songwriter and is studying media music at Brigham Young University
Well, praise God that Ms. Sheahan -- and I assume many other young Mormons -- are listening to contemporary Christian music! And, I might say, it's rather bold for Ms. Sheahan to come right out & write about this. Prediction: Christian music can be a key vehicle to lead Mormons into a firsthand faith with the living God who doesn't share that title with mere mortals.
From the article: These are three artists whose music I never get tired of. I turn it on when I need a pick-me-up. I turn it on when I need an extra reminder that I can completely trust God and things will be OK. And as a songwriter, I turn it on when I need some extra inspiration. It reminds me to be honest in my writing -- not afraid to acknowledge my imperfections because that is why I need my Savior.
This last line is where Christian musicians can show a great impact upon the broader culture. The culture of Mormonism -- and too often within the Christian community as well -- breeds perfectionism. (It's just more concentrated among Mormons because of the self-help ladder they need to become "gods" ["Man can transform himself, but he has in him the seeds of Godhood that can grow. He can lift himself by his very bootstraps" -- Lds "prophet" Spencer W. Kimball (Tribune, Sept. 18, 1974)])
From the article: This week, I wanted to share some artists with you who are not LDS but are fellow Christians with a faith-promoting message. In addition, I think LDS artists can be inspired by other Christian musicians.
Well, what a switch. Hit the rewind button to the very first "vision" of the Mormon church. Besides later calling Christians "apostates," from the get-go Mormonism's founding leader referenced Christian professing believers as "corrupt" -- all of them; he found all their creeds as an "abomination" to their god -- all of them. A generation later, Lds leaders enshrined those words into Mormon "scripture."
And now? What do you think is the source for Christian recording artists' inspiration? Why, it's the same Bible that has informed the historic Christian creeds!
Besides. What would Mormons think if the flds wrote articles calling Mormons "fellow Mormons" and "other Mormons"...think they'd be satisfied about that?
Speaking of which there are other types of artists; 30 or them were here in Utah last week. We didn't ask them whether they were Christian or not as it makes no difference. Several are proudly post Mormon. Not one of them suggested that we do the work for Maynard Dixon
Certainly some misguided soul will most likely do that.
I think LDS may have a big hurdle to jump to try to clone CCM - Donnie and Marie.
Im waiting for i tunes to cary the following hits
"My peepstones done broke on the wagon trail"
"where dem plates, dem holy plates"
and "Daddys got 14 brides, aint he holy"
Lots of Maynard Dixons here, LOL....no matching birth date...yet!
Inman Ping
No. But if you can get a young adult Mormon to darken the door of a Christian church with such music, we'll see more & more Mormons leaving the stale Sundays @ Lds meetinghouses in favor of such lively churches.
Cultural music styles always impact religions -- and if the the religions won't budge, the people will.
LOL You know it will happen now. Any spies out there?
Last Saturday night until 5:00am. The mandolin player is slowly departing, the guy on his right is gone, my grandson on his left has doubts and the guy in the hat is a nevermo from Ogden. Gorgeous blonde on right side is the woman I sleep with.
Picture didn’t come through...try again.
Most contemporary Christian music is forgettable and derivative.
No thanks.
Sorry, I meant priesthood meeting Sunday morning at 5:00am
From what I can see, it looks like a pretty fun time!
Oh that looks so fun, and with so many who are leaving or have left.
Did you sing “Red River Valley,” or “Utah Trail,” or “Tell My Why?”
I long to sit by a fireside and sing those old songs. We always ended the night with “Show Me the Way to Go Home.” As a Mormon, I wondered about the lyrics....
...show me the way to go home,
I’m tired and I want to go to bed,
had a little drink about an hour ago,
and it went right to my head....
Oh My Love......”Unchained Melody” “My Favorite Spot is Utah”
Also "This Magic Moment"
Wow, look at the cliffs, unbelievable! They look like fire.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.