Sing! The Songs of the Bible (Live from the Getty Music Worship Conference) – Keith & Kristyn Getty
****
A live album is released after each of the Sing! Getty Music Worship Conferences held in Nashville. The album from the 2024 conference, which had a theme of “The Songs of the Bible”, was produced by Nathan Nockels. It features performances from Keith & Kristyn Getty, Matt Boswell, The Choir Room, Cochren & Co, Bryan Fowler, Jordan Kauflin, Sandra McCracken, Matt Papa, Skye Peterson, Shane and Shane, Ben Shive, Michael W. Smith, Sovereign Grace Music, and Laura Story. Nine songs were released in advance of the full album.
Click on ‘Continue reading’ for:
- More of this review and In Bloom by Jon Foremen
- Music News
- Song of the Week Lyrics – “Heaven on My Mind” by TobyMac
I’m always amazed at the wonderful new hymns written each year by the Getty Music writing team. Also included on the album are a few classic hymns such as “How Great Thou Art” and “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross”, and the more recent “Before The Throne Above”, “Agnus Dei” and “Total Praise”. There is also a poem for Isaac Watts from Malcolm Guite.
I thoroughly enjoyed this album. My favorite songs were:
- Victory In Jesus (Christ Won The Victory)
- Christus Victor (Amen)
- How Great Is The Greatness Of God
- Here Is Love Vast As The Ocean (Everlasting Praise)
- He Is Making All Things Right
- But For The Cross Of Christ
- All Sufficient Merit
In Bloom – Jon Foreman
** ½
Jon Foreman, the lead singer and songwriter of Switchfoot (long one of my favorite bands) follows 2021’s Departures with this twelve-song solo album co-produced with James McAlister. Foreman says about the album “To stay present in the moment along the way. Like a wildflower, may these songs bring you beauty and joy as you travel along your journey.”
Themes on the album include looking back, relationships in transition, transformation, belief and doubt, and being set free. Of note, Foreman sings with Joy Oladokun, who identifies as a queer Black person on the title song.
There were a few songs that I liked on the album, but I found that many of the songs ended up sounding similar. Here are a few comments about each song:
I Propose A Toast – This upbeat song was written by Jon Foreman. The song features acoustic guitar and has Foreman looking back at all the roads that brought them there. The song is a celebration of life’s journey.
Key lyric:
Here’s to every failure tried
Here’s to friends that cash can’t buy
And bonds that won’t be severed
Here’s to love and here’s to life
Here’s to fighting side by side
Here’s to us together
Where The Sidewalk Ends – This song about a relationship in transition was written by Jon Foreman. It features guitar, keys, bass and percussion.
Key lyric:
We’ve lived our whole life leading up to this moment
Ain’t no maps where we’re going
We only know where we’ve been
Eulogy – This song was written by Jon Foreman. The song features acoustic guitar and Foreman’s daughter Daisy singing harmony. The song builds with the chorus. The song has him looking in his rearview mirror dreams. He is the mosaic of a shattered man.
Key lyric:
Every day I write the eulogy
For everything I used to be
I’m still aiming for a better me
In Bloom – This upbeat song about transformation was written by Jon Foreman and Tim Foreman and features Joy Oladokun, who identifies as a queer Black person. The song features acoustic guitar, drums and backing vocals.
Key lyric:
I see the chrysalis going through changes
But every transformation comes in phases
Antidote – This song, about feelings that won’t let him go, was written by Jon Foreman. The song features acoustic guitar, backing vocals, and synth.
Key lyric:
Is there an antidote
For the feelings that won’t let me go?
Open arms and open roads
Won’t you come and take me home?
Stay Wild, Wildflower – This song was written by Jon Foreman. It features acoustic guitar and backing vocals. The song is about a small-town girl with big dreams.
Key lyric:
Don’t let them change who you are
Heaven Is Yours – This song, based on the beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount, was written by Jon Foreman. The song features acoustic guitar, synth, and backing vocals.
Key lyric:
Where your treasure is where your heart goes
What does your heart want?
Lovers Are Believers – This song was written by Jon Foreman. The song is about belief and doubts features acoustic guitar, finger snaps, synth, and percussion.
Key lyric:
To say you don’t believe in anything
Is to say that you trust your doubts
Cheap Wine (And Expensive Conversation) – This song about being set free was written by Jon Foreman, and features Abby Holliday. The song features acoustic guitar and background vocals.
Key lyric:
As long as it’s your love that’s binding me
Darling, I don’t wanna be set free
Lover – This song about love was written by Jon Foreman. The song features acoustic guitar, guitar, and keys.
Key lyric:
Without love, I’m the soil without seed
Without love, I’m the ship without seas
Without love, I’m the ghost of the man that I wanna be
Lover, be patient with me
As. Simple. As. Us. – This love song was written by Jon Foreman. The song features synth, backing vocals, electrical guitar and acoustic guitar.
Key lyric:
Faith and doubt are different names
For these mysteries that I can’t control
Sojourn (epilogue) – This short song was written by Jon Foreman. The song features Foreman singing over acoustic guitar and the laughter of children.
Key lyric:
I develop like a photograph
My negative finds a second draft
Favorite songs:
-I Propose a Toast
-Where the Sidewalk Ends
-In Bloom
- I’ve Got A Story. Enjoy the music video for “I’ve Got a Story” by NEEDTOBREATHE, featuring Tori Kelly.
- Praise the Giver. Here is Matt Maher performing “Praise the Give” Song Session.
- Swimming in the Ocean (HAFFWAY Version). Wilder Woods teams up with Haffway for “Swimming In The Ocean (Haffway Version)”
- Christus Victor (Amen). Bryan Fowler, Keith Getty, and Matt Papa perform an acoustic version of “Christus Victor (Amen”, my favorite song of 2024. Christus Victor (Amen). Here is the same song performed by Keith & Kristyn Getty with thousands of voices at the recent Shepherd’s Conference.
- The Garden. Here is “The Garden” featuring Sandra McCracken and Sarah Kroger by Anchor Hymns.
- Lord It Feels Good. Enjoy “Lord It Feels Good” from TobyMac, from his new album Heaven on My Mind.
“Heaven on My Mind” by TobyMac
This week’s song of the week is “Heaven on My Mind” the title song from TobyMac’s ninth studio album. The song was written by TobyMac, Jordan Mohilowski and Jess Cates and produced by TobyMac and Mohilowski.
Watch the video for the song here.
I can hear the birds singing
Their song is in my head
It goes, “Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo”
And the scene’s already set
I can see the skies open
Them windows coming down
My heart’s on things above
While keeping two feet on the ground
And all I know
Ain’t no way this place is my home
I got Heaven on my mind
I got people waiting by
Close my eyes, and I can see
Dancing on them golden streets
Got me dreaming of the day
Never leave, we get to stay
Till I see that welcome sign
I ain’t even gonna lie
I got Heaven on my mind, on my mind
I got Heaven
Life ain’t bad down here, but I got Heaven on my mind, on my mind
I got Heaven on my mind
Well, I find myself daydreaming
Like never before
There’s joy and pain, like sun and rain
Through every open door
This life is like a vapor
But we got every day to live and love
Eyes always up
‘Cause all I know
Ain’t no way this place is my home
I got Heaven on my mind
I got people waiting by
Close my eyes, and I can see
Dancing on them golden streets
Got me dreaming of the day
Never leave, we get to stay
Till I see that welcome sign
I ain’t even gonna lie
I got Heaven on my mind, on my mind
I got Heaven
Life ain’t bad down here, but I got Heaven on my mind, on my mind
I got Heaven on my mind
When this world’s behind me
And my days are all through
You try and find me
I’ll try and find You
When this world’s behind me
And we see it’s all true
You’ll know where to find me
I know that I’ll find You in Heaven
I’ll come and find You in Heaven
Yeah, I got Heaven on my mind
I got people waiting by
Close my eyes, and I can see
Dancing on them golden streets
Got me dreaming of the day
Never leave, we get to stay
Till I see that welcome sign
I ain’t even gonna lie
I got Heaven on my mind
I got Heaven on my mind, on my mind
I got Heaven
I got Heaven
Life ain’t bad down here, but I got Heaven on my mind, on my mind
I got Heaven
I got Heaven on my mind
