Crazy that it’s a new month already! Today is May Day – when I was a kid, we used to make conical vases with construction paper and ribbon, then fill them with fresh flowers from our flower beds (I’m pretty sure my mom gave us permission) then go hang them on our neighbors front door, ring the bell and run away – but hide nearby so we could watch their happy faces with the surprise May Day flowers.
Something like this:
Seems May Day has changed over the years, though – now it’s International Worker’s Day instead, though I think some European countries still do the May Day celebrations (dancing around the maypole and whatnot). I’m pretty sure the flowers to the neighbors fun was passed down from my Swedish great-grandmother, she loved all the old Scandinavian traditions I still love to reminisce about as well as practice with my kids.
Meanwhile, it’s Monday, and Monday means music! For this new year, the 4M crew is operating a bit differently. If you have a theme idea, submit your request by email. Each person’s suggestion(s) will be credited accordingly – unless someone wants to volunteer for the monthly co-host spot, then we won’t be looking for anyone to fill it in 2023. It’s tough to commit for 4-weeks. The object is to keep things fun!
For this week, our theme was borrowed from Tom at SPMM: “Music is Medicine for the soul. Build a playlist with songs that is emotional soothing or pick song titles or bands relating to medicine.” Let’s get this emotionally medicinal party started!
Let’s start with an emotional song that finds this artist capturing the power of faith as she sings about being accepted by God.
You say I am helped when I am falling short / And when I don’t belong, Lord you say I am yours / And I believe, yes I believe what you say of me
The artist explained how it became a song of identity for her, during a difficult time:
“‘[This song]’ was written at a time when I felt like things were getting away from me and, honestly, I was feeling overwhelmed. This song became my anchor and my rock and it gave me truth. I hope it does the same for anyone that hears it.”
The ballad is one of the rare ones to become a hit on both Christian and adult pop radio. It was only the second song to hit the top 10 on both Christian Airplay, and Adult Pop Songs.
This won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.
Without further ado, here’s Lauren Daigle with “You Say”:
Next up, this Grammy Award-winning duo teamed up with Lecrae and The WRLDFMS Tony Williams to remix their hit single “Amen,” and the song, now named “Amen (Reborn),” has been dubbed by the duo brothers as “a prayer” of healing in divided times.
The song is being pegged as a renaissance and renewal anthem. It was inspired after the brothers were joined by Lecrae and Williams at the 2020 Dove Awards to perform the new version of the hit song. One of the brothers was quoted as saying:
“‘Amen’ is a song of deep personal significance to us. It represents a sort of death and new life, a rebirth if you will.
When we performed it last autumn at an award show with Lecrae, Tony Williams, and a gospel choir, it launched the song into another stratosphere of meaning. So with 2020 now in the rearview mirror, we look to move past these global hardships together and start fresh with a new perspective, which is the core essence of the song. And thanks to Lecrae’s galvanizing prayer of humility along with Tony’s characteristic and purposeful voice.”
Without further ado, here’s for KING & COUNTRY featuring Lecrae & The WRLDFMS Tony Williams with “Amen (Reborn)”:
Next up, I realize I shared this song just last week, but it’s been stuck in my head all week long, and it fits perfectly in this week’s theme, so share again I must! This is this amazing Scottish singer-songwriter’s new song, where his description of the song is the best:
“‘[This song]’ came from the idea of a person you used to be with, telling you all this amazing stuff about their life, without you in it. It’s a song about what we don’t say to those people. I was fascinated by the things left unsaid, whether that be in a relationship or a friendship.”
The music video’s storyline is based on Greyfriars Bobby, a terrier dog in 19th-century Scotland that visited the grave of his owner for 14 years after the owner’s death. The dog was played by Winnie, a Cairn Terrier, and the owner was played by veteran actor David Bradley. A scene involving Winnie carrying an envelope in her mouth took 10 days of training to get right. Fair warning – you might need some tissues handy while watching this video.
Get ready for those emotional goosebumps, here’s Lewis Capaldi with “Wish You The Best”:
Last, but certainly not least, this emotional song is a total tear-jerker, so make sure you have those tissues handy. Describing this new song by this artist as ‘powerful’ would be an understatement. This song is the next installment of the artist’s new music as part of a growing catalog of true stories that reveal his most authentic self.
In this song, he pays tribute to the longtime friend that inspired the story of one man’s battle with mental health, and the dog that ultimately saved him. When his friend pitched him the idea to write about “a guy and his dog driving around together,” his first reaction was to brush it off, thinking it was too cliché. However, upon second glance, he uncovered something much deeper than what he initially saw on the surface. He said:
“My buddy was in a really dark place – to the point where he was ready to end his own life. It took a lot for him to take me back to that moment, but when he told me what stopped him it stopped me in my tracks: his dog came and laid his head on his lap, and that connection saved him. I wrote this song by myself with the point of view from the dog’s perspective – which might not be obvious right away – and what that moment might have meant for the two of them if not for that intervention.”
Realizing that the song was written from the dog’s point of view will stop you in your tracks, as the story suddenly takes on a whole new meaning. The artist’s message is further conveyed in the official music video, because of the sensitivity around the subject line, he opted to create a short film, that both highlights the ongoing struggle with mental health and encourages those who have been affected to seek help when needed.
“For the first time in my career, I could envision the whole video as I was writing the song. I wanted to shine a light on the topic of mental health because this is something that makes way too many people feel alone and especially when addiction becomes part of the picture, one bad moment can have horrible consequences. I personally know how hard it can be to ask for help when you need it, but I hope this helps start a few more conversations and lets people know they really aren’t alone.”
Warning: This video contains images and language that may be graphic to some viewers and is intended for mature audiences only. Viewer discretion is advised. TW: language, self-harm, addiction, substances, death.
Have those tissues handy, here’s Chase Rice with “Bench Seat”:
That’s a wrap for this week – see you on the dance floor!
Now on to the particulars of Monday’s Music Move’s Me:
I have the supreme honor and privilege of being a co-host with the inimitable Xmas Dolly and our musical cohort, the awesome Cathy from Curious as a CAThy, and Alana of Ramblin’ with AM!
Want to join in the fun? It’s easy – just find a tune that rocks your boat, post it and link up – don’t forget to grab Xmas Dolly…er, um, I mean her button…over at her place here. Check out Xmas Dolly’s sidebar for the random themes we sport each week – and you can always ask for a specific theme of music you like, too. Check out the other music lovahs and let’s jam!
Excellent playlist, even with the encore song. This is the first time I have heard the King and Country arrangement of Amen. Seems the first recording was “A”men and their remake perfers “Ah”men. An anthem indeed.
I am not gor rap so the Amen song was good until then:) The first had a good voice and reminds me of Adele. I love tge one with the dog…it made me cry. The ladt song make me think of my hubby’s nephew who is full on addicted to drugs. I see the pattern and the parents just soentb$35k for s months stay in rehab. It just seems that he is back home and everyone has fallen back into the same pattern. I think it’s only a matter of time where he will use again. The parents think they are supporting him when they are enabling him. Its just so sad
Such a great playlist here. Very nice.
Stacy,
The May flower tradition sounds familiar. I must have learned about that in school but had forgotten about it. I remember in school they’d have May Day traditions with a small group of kids skipping/dancing around the May pole. 🙂 Lauren Daigle’s “Say Something” is hugely popular. I think it was just last night while catching up with AI one of the contestants covered her song. Between The Voice and Idol, it actually gets used quite a bit. Great song selections, my friend. Have a boogietastic week!
Yours is the second blog I’ve read this week that mentioned May Day traditions. (The other one was making bags with goodies and giving them to friends, family, and neighbors). There weren’t any in my family, so it is interesting. You hit this week out of the park between “Say Something” and “Bench Seat”. The fact that so many veterans become homeless and/or people struggling with addiction or mental health is the shame of our country. Yes, I cried. Thank you for the tissue warning.