Checking In so Turn the Lights Back On there are No Strings just Perfectly Broken

Hello Monday! I’m finally starting to return to the land of the living after having been sick. Soon I’ll address the issues on having broken my blog – at least it’s limping along and accessible (and secure) so there’s that! Since it is Monday, you know that Monday means music! This week is a freebie week, so grab your favorite tune(s) and come dance with us, won’t you? 

Let’s start with this Multi-Platinum and four-time Grammy Award-winning duo who recently dropped their sophomore track from their forthcoming “Unsung Hero” movie inspired by the soundtrack. It’s a fitting tribute to vivid memories, bittersweet regret, and the love between a parent and a child, as portrayed in the upcoming theatrical biopic that will be released in theaters nationwide on April 26th.

The song unites the duo with an ACM/CMA award winner country star for a bonafide country song that soundtracks scenes from the movie, which find patriarch David Smallbone wrestling with guilt and remorse after his father’s unexpected death. Putting language around real life, the song helps define the feelings that inevitably arise when we lose a loved one. The duo said:

“Here’s the backstory: our label-mate Lee Brice had found himself struck by the powerful lyrics of [this song], and placed the song on hold. The creative spark ignited when we also stumbled across the song and were captivated by the sentiment behind it. We were working on the ‘Inspired By’ record for our film ‘Unsung Hero’ at the time, which circles around family, and thought, ‘What if we worked on this together? Yes, it’s country song, but we do live in Nashville, and have the word ‘country’ in our band name…’ And just like that, ‘[this song]’ was born, a testament to heartfelt songwriting, and magic that happens when diverse musical worlds collide.”

This song serves as a powerful reminder that God hears our prayers, and just because we haven’t seen the answer yet, doesn’t mean He’s not listening.

Give a listen to Lee Brice and for KING + COUNTRY with “Checking In”:

Next up is a favorite artist who hasn’t released a new song in 17 years! The track is both a love ballad and a message to the hitmaker’s loyal fans, who have long waited for another new tune in his catalogue of hits.

I’m late, but I’m here right now and I’m trying to find the magic that we lost somehow / Maybe I was blind, but I see you now as we’re laying here in the darkness / Did I wait too long to turn the lights back on?

The artist previously said he retired from songwriting altogether not long after the release of his 1993 album River of Dreams, saying that he had higher expectations for the LP and was disappointed when it failed to spawn more than one hit song. He said:

“The thing was, I put a lot of work into River of Dreams and it was as if the business had left me behind because there are substantial songs on that album that never went anywhere. So I said, ‘What’s the point of putting myself through writing and recording if it doesn’t mean what it’s supposed to mean out there in the world?’

It was time. I couldn’t be as good as I wanted and that was driving me crazy. I was driving my loved ones crazy. I thought, this is ridiculous. So I stopped.”

He also revealed that drinking was “one of the reasons I stopped writing songs.”

“I would drink to try and ease the pain of not being as good as I wanted to be, it was a vicious cycle, so I stopped.”

This may be one of many new songs to come from this artist.

“I’m never going to say never. I may come up with an idea that could become a song. I may write a movie soundtrack. I may write a symphony. I don’t know. Anything’s possible.”

He also said that he has “a lot of music that no one’s ever heard — and no one may ever hear if I don’t decide to do something with it.”

“It’s really about the creative process that’s important to me, not about having records on the charts or selling a lot of recordings. I’m learning all the time, and you never stop learning. That’s what’s good about the writing process. You always learn something new whenever you create.”

Without further ado, here’s Billy Joel with “Turn the Lights Back On”:

Next up,  this brother duo just released a new song from their anticipated new album that’s set to drop on April 5th. Self-produced by the band this marks a compelling new chapter for for the duo as they return to their upstate New York roots. Their new album crafts an intricate portrait of their hometown’s most mundane aspects and the community that shaped them. Filmed in Ithaca, NY, the video was made by their childhood friend Danny Pfeffer with the help of his students at Cornell University. 

Get ready to dance, here’s X Ambassadors with “No Strings”:

Last, but certainly not least, this award-winning pop singer, songwriter released his mesmerizing single that offers a refreshing take on the effects of self-image and societal expectations in media, the track encourages listeners to embrace their imperfections, recognizing that’s what makes us unique. He teams up in a duet with another pop artist, whose enchanting vocals takes the song to a new dimension, creating a harmonious blend of voices. He said:

“I love Lily’s vocals on ‘[this song]’. It’s a song about two halves coming together to create one beautiful thing and that’s what she’s done. I didn’t know the song needed it until I heard her voice but now I think ‘[this song]’ would feel a little lost without her. She’s brought a beautiful, raw emotion that adds a whole new layer of meaning. I love the new dimension she’s brought to it. I was already really proud of ‘[this song]’ and now I love it even more.”

The female pop star added:

“BANNERS is such a wonderful artist, so getting to sing on one of his songs was very exciting for me. This one in particular feels like it belongs in a movie. It’s so cinematic and his voice is just the crème de la crème.”

Without further ado, here’s BANNΞRS and Lily Meola with “Perfectly Broken”:

That’s a wrap for this week – have a great Monday! See you on the dance floor!

Now onto 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!