What Are We Waiting For? for KING & COUNTRY
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The Australian duo for KING & COUNTRY, comprised of brothers Joel Smallbone and Luke Smallbone, follow up their 2018 album Burn the Ships and their 2020 Christmas album A Drummer Boy Christmas with What Are We Waiting For? Their fifth studio album features their distinctive sound of bass, drums and strong vocals. Themes on the album include being the same in different ways, letting go of mistakes we’ve made, God loving us as we are, racial unity, holding on till the pain ends, parents, commitment in marriage, differences, and worship.
Below are a few brief comments about each song:
Relate – This song was the first single from the album and was written by Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone, Josh Kerr and Tayla Parx, and produced by Kerr, Tedd T and for KING & COUNTRY. The song, which reached number one on Christian radio, features keys, bass, drums, and backing vocals, and tells us that we don’t know what it’s like to be one another but by the grace of God we’ll see each other’s heart.
Key lyric:
I don’t know what it’s like to be you
You don’t know what it’s like to be me
What if we’re all the same in different kinds of ways
Can you, can you relate?
Click on ‘Continue reading’ for:
- More of this review and a brief review of Milk & Honey Tour: Austin City Limits Live – Crowder
- Music News
- Song of the Week Lyrics ~ Christ Our Hope in Life and Death – Keith and Kristyn Getty & Michael W. Smith
Broken Halos – This song was written by Josh Kerr, Mick Coogan, Joel Smallbone and Luke Smallbone, produced by Kerr, Tedd T and for KING & COUNTRY. The song features synth, keys, drums, bass, and backing vocals. We can take our mistakes and let them go because we all wear broken halos.
Key lyric:
Don’t you dare, don’t you dare
Don’t you hang your head
Love Me Like I Am – This song was written Michael Pollack, Josh Kerr, Luke Smallbone and Joel Smallbone, and produced by Jeff Sojka, Kerr and for KING & COUNTRY. The song features keys, bass, drums and backing vocals. The song could be addressing horizontal or vertical love.
Key lyric:
It’s amazing that You can
Love me like I am
And even when I can’t
You still love me as I am
Unity – This song was written Tony Williams, Federico Vindver, Josh Kerr, Luke Smallbone and Joel Smallbone, and produce by Vindver, Kerr and for KING & COUNTRY. The song about racial unity features Dante Bowe on vocals, keys, bass, drums, and a choir.
Key lyric:
Save us from this madness
Heal us from this sadness
Lead us to what matters
Closer to You
For God Is With Us – This song was written by Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone, Jordan Reynolds and Josh Kerr, and produced by Aqualung, Kerr, Tedd T, Benjamin Backus and for KING & COUNTRY. The song features guitar, keys, bass, drums and backing vocals. The song about Jesus addresses his birth, crucifixion and present reign.
Key lyric:
Can you feel the hope that’s rushin’ in?
Can you hear the song that’s echoin’?
Join with the choir as we sing
This is where love truly begins
Hold On Pain Ends – This song was written by Luke Smallbone, Joel Smallbone, Jordan Reynolds and Josh Kerr, and produced by Kerr, Benjamin Backus, Tedd T and for KING & COUNTRY. The song about holding on until pain ends features bass, drums, bass and backing vocals.
Key lyric:
When it’s hard to say amen
And it doesn’t go as planned
When it’s more than you can stand
You can hold onto me then
Unsung Hero – This song was written by Seth Mosley, Luke Smallbone, Joel Smallbone, and Federico Vindver, and produced by Vindver, Mosley and for KING & COUNTRY. The tender song about mothers and fathers, features strings, backing vocals, and guitar.
Key lyric:
You’re an unsung hero, so I’ll sing this song for you
Harmony – This short song was written by Federico Vindver, Aqualung, Seth Mosley, Luke Smallbone and Joel Smallbone, and produced by Mosely, Vindver and for KING & COUNTRY. The song features Sleeping at Last, keys, strings and backing vocals.
Key lyric:
Just the way that you taught us
Sing our songs, our melodies
In harmony
Shy – This song was written by Josh Kerr, Luke Smallbone, Joel Smallbone and Taylor Hill, and produced by Tedd T, Kerr and for KING & COUNTRY. The song features bass, drums, and backing vocals. The song addresses not being shy about our faith, despite the fear.
Key lyric:
When the world is trying to cut me up
And the fear is running through my mind
You won’t see me backing down
I’m not gonna be shy
Together – This song was written by Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone, Josh Kerr, Kirk Franklin, Ran Jackson and Ricky Jackson, and produced by Kerr, Federico Vindver and Benjamin Backus. Kirk Franklin and Tori Kelly are featured on vocals. This song was released in May, 2020 and was a number one song on Christian radio. It was previously released on the Burn the Ships Deluxe Edition: Remixes and Collaborations album. The song is about how together with our differences, we are bolder, braver and stronger.
Key lyric:
If you’re lookin’ for hope tonight, raise your hand
If you feelin’ alone and don’t understand
If you’re fightin’ in the fight of your life, then stand
We’re gonna make it through this hand-in-hand
Seasons – This love song was written by Michelle Buzz, Josh Kerr, Luke Smallbone and Joel Smallbone, and produced by Tedd T, Kerr and for KING & COUNTRY. The song features keys, backing vocals, bass and drums.
Key lyric:
On the day that I met you
You knew that I knew
When I said that I choose you
You know I still do
Cheering You On – This song was written by Josh Kerr, Jordan Reynolds, Luke Smallbone, and Joel Smallbone, and produced by Kerr and for KING & COUNTRY. The song features synth, drums, keys, bass, and backing vocals. The song is about cheering on a friend who is going through a difficult time.
Key lyric:
I’ll be cheering you on when no one else will
I’ll be cheering you on as you run your race
Benediction – This beautiful worship song was written by Nicolas Balachandran, Ricky Jackson, Ran Jackson, Josh Kerr, Luke Smallbone and Joel Smallbone and produced by Kerr. The song features organ,
Key lyric:
With all my mind
With all my strength
I want to be just like You
In all my days
In all my ways
I want to be just like You
Favorite songs:
Relate
Together
Benediction
Milk & Honey Tour: Austin City Limits Live – Crowder
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Crowder released his excellent Milk & Honey album in June, 2021. It was one of my favorite albums last year. A deluxe edition was released in March, 2022, containing a few new songs and mixes. Now, a live album Milk & Honey Tour: Austin City Limits has been released. Crowder is an excellent live performer, and the songs featured here – all but “How Great Thou Art: by Chidima and “Child of God”, are from the Milk & Honey album – are high energy and worshipful.
interrobang deluxe edition. Switchfoot recently released a deluxe edition of their 2021 album interrobang. The new edition includes the album’s 11 original songs, along with three b-sides – “youth of the young,” “interrobang,” and “the sound of holding breath.” The deluxe also features two recently released album track remixes, “i need you (to be wrong),” remixed by the indie-pop group lovelytheband and “wolves,” remixed by indie-rock band, Sir Sly.
Christ Our Hope in Life and Death – Keith and Kristyn Getty & Michael W. Smith
This week’s song of the week is “Christ Our Hope in Life and Death” by Keith & Kristyn Getty and Michael W. Smith. The song was written by Keith Getty, Matt Boswell, Jordan Kauflin, Matt Merker and Matt Papa. Listen to the song here.
What is our hope in life and death?
Christ alone, Christ alone
What is our only confidence?
That our souls to Him belong
Who holds our days within His hand?
What comes, apart from His command?
And what will keep us ‘til the end?
The love of Christ, in which we stand
O sing hallelujah!
Our hope springs eternal
O sing hallelujah!
Now and ever we confess
Christ our hope in life and death
What truth can calm the troubled soul?
God is good, our God is good
Where is His grace and goodness known?
In our great Redeemer’s blood
Who holds our faith when fears arise?
Who stands above the stormy trial?
Who sends the waves that bring us nigh
Unto the shore, the rock of Christ?
O sing hallelujah!
Our hope springs eternal
O sing hallelujah!
Now and ever we confess
Christ our hope in life and death
Unto the grave, what shall we sing?
“Christ, He lives; Christ, He lives!”
And what reward will heaven bring?
Everlasting life with Him
There we will rise to meet the Lord
Then sin and death will be destroyed
And we will feast in endless joy
When Christ is ours forevermore
O sing hallelujah!
Our hope springs eternal
O sing hallelujah!
Now and ever we confess
Christ our hope in life and death
Now and ever we confess
Christ our hope in life and death
