Matt Redman - 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
This is a beautiful song, both musically and lyrically. The first time I listened to it, I have to admit I was a bit scared of the death reference in the bridge, but when I listened more closely to the lyrics it was a beautiful message of hope of getting to Heaven. Lyrically, I think the best bit is the first verse. This reminds us to stay faithful and focused on God throughout the whole day, no matter what happens. It depicts an individual singing praise in the morning and asking God that "whatever may come and whatever lies before me, let me be singing when the evening comes". The song is soft and slow, and the lyrics fit perfectly with the music. Also, it is a live song (off of the album of which it is the title track) which means that you can hear the response of the crowd - and imagine yourself as one of them. The use of the crowd participation is particularly good in the bridge: Redman sings the line "Still my soul will sing Your praise unending ten thousand years and then forevermore", yet he leaves a gap between "unending" and "ten", during which the roar of the crowd kicks in and pushes the song into the chorus once more. This song is a perfect example of why live worship is worth listening to as well as studio-recorded tracks.
Matt Redman - We Could Change the World
In a stark contrast to 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) this song is fast and lively. On my way to college there's a really long road that it usually takes me two songs the length of We Could Change the World to walk down. But this song is so fast, and makes you just want to move, that I made it further down the road in one song than I ever have before. Another reason that this song is so engaging is that lyrically it is incredibly encouraging. It begins by asking if we can live like God is stronger, greater, more powerful than all our faults, failures, and any and all other powers. The verse ends with "Can we live like this?" And when the beat kicks in for the chorus you scream "Yes!" and it's a wonderful declaration of living for God's glory. By the end of the song you're not singing "Can we live like this", but "We gotta live like this" and "We can live like this". It makes it seem possible and fills you with a can-do attitude that chips away and all the 'ifs' and 'buts' that usually prevent us from living to the fullness of our potential for God's glory.
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