Lifesong is the second studio album by American Christian rock band Casting Crowns, released on August 30, 2005 by Beach Street Records and Reunion Records. Produced by Mark A. Miller, Lifesong was the follow-up to the band's self-titled debut album. Although the unexpected success of the first album led to tremendous demand for new music from Casting Crowns, lead vocalist Mark Hall was advised by Steven Curtis Chapman and Mac Powell not to worry about commercial expectations. Lifesong, which has a pop rock and adult contemporary sound, focuses on challenging believers and indicting piousness and hypocrisy in the Christian church. Worship themes are also prominent in the album.
"Lifesong" is a song recorded by Christian rock band Casting Crowns. Written by Mark Hall and produced by Mark A. Miller, it was released as the lead single from the band's 2005 album of the same name. According to Mark Hall, the lead vocalist of Casting Crowns, "Lifesong" came out of what he found himself saying to students in his church's youth ministry. Compared to the work of rock band U2, the song lyrically points believers towards honoring God in all they do.
"Made to Worship" is a song written by Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash and Stephan Sharp. It was featured on Tomlin's album See the Morning. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart. It also stayed at No. 1 on Christian Music Weekly's 20 The Countdown Magazine for sixteen consecutive weeks, and reached its top 20 worship songs of today chart at No. 20. The song was nominated for both Song of the Year and Worship Song of the Year at the 2007 GMA Dove Awards, losing in both categories, with another Tomlin song, "Holy Is the Lord", winning Worship Song of the Year. This song is on the Digital Praise PC game Guitar Praise. In this song will also the compilation album WOW Hits 2008.
"East to West" is a song recorded by contemporary Christian band Casting Crowns. Written by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms and produced by Mark A Miller, it was released as the lead single from the band's 2007 album The Altar and the Door. Lyrically, the song deals with the concept of forgiveness. The song met with a positive to mixed reception from music critics and won two awards at the 39th GMA Dove Awards: Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year. It was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance at the 51st Grammy Awards.
Coming Up to Breathe is the fourth studio album by Christian rock band MercyMe. Released on April 25, 2006, by INO Records, the album was intended by MercyMe to be edgier than their previous albums. Coming Up to Breathe sold 58,000 copies its first week, MercyMe's biggest sales week at the time. It debuted and peaked at number one on the Billboard Christian Albums chart, number five on the Rock Albums chart, and number thirteen on the Billboard 200. It also appeared on the Alternative Albums chart in 2007, peaking at number thirteen. Coming Up to Breathe was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2007, signifying shipments of over 500,000 copies.
"Praise You In This Storm" is a song recorded by contemporary Christian music band Casting Crowns, released by Beach Street and Reunion Records. Written by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms and produced by Mark A. Miller, it was released on January 28, 2006, as the second radio single from the band's 2005 album Lifesong. Inspired by the band's experience with a girl, Erin Browning, who died of cancer, the song has the lyrical theme of maintaining faith through difficult circumstances. A power ballad, "Praise You In This Storm" incorporates a wall of sound dynamic into its alternative CCM and adult alternative sound.
"Lose My Soul" is a song by TobyMac from his third studio album, Portable Sounds (2007). It features gospel artist Kirk Franklin and contemporary Christian singer Mandisa and was released in 2008 as the fifth single from the album. The song was written by McKeehan, Christopher Stevens, and Michael Ripoll. "Lose My Soul" didn't become a hit until a year after its release, peaking at No. 2 on both the US Hot Christian Songs chart and the US Hot Christian AC chart. It was ranked the thirteenth most-played song on R&R's Year-End Top Christian CHR Songs chart in 2008.
"Slow Fade" is a song by Christian rock band Casting Crowns. Written by Mark Hall, it was released as the third single from Casting Crowns' 2007 studio album The Altar and the Door. Written after the public falls from grace of several church leaders, "Slow Fade" is a cautionary tale against making the wrong choices. It was positively received by music critics, who praised the song's lyrical theme.
"I'm Not Who I Was" is a song by contemporary Christian musician Brandon Heath and was the lead single from his debut album Don't Get Comfortable (2006). It became a number 1 hit song on Christian radio in mid-2007 and was nominated for two GMA Dove Awards in 2008: "Song of the Year" and "Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year".
"By Your Side" is a song by contemporary Christian band Tenth Avenue North from their debut album Over and Underneath. It was released as the album's lead single in August 2008, and reached number 1 on R&R's Christian contemporary hit radio chart in January 2009. In 2010, "By Your Side" won the 41st Annual GMA Dove Award for Song of the Year. In addition, the song also appeared on compilation albums WOW Hits 2010 and WOW #1s.
"Revelation Song" is a song written by Jennie Lee Riddle with lyrics adapted from Revelation 4 of the New Testament. The song first gained exposure on U.S. Christian radio through a Christ for the Nations Institute recording, "Glorious" in 2004, as well as on Gateway Worship's debut album, Living for You in 2006, and subsequently included on Kari Jobe's self-titled album. It was later released by Phillips, Craig and Dean as the first single off Fearless.
"Bring the Rain" is a song by American Christian rock band MercyMe from their 2006 album Coming Up to Breathe. It was released on March 24, 2007, as the third radio single. The song became the band's sixth Hot Christian Songs No. 1, staying there for one week. It lasted 32 weeks on the overall chart. The song is played in an A major key at 158 beats per minute.
"Word of God Speak" is a song by Christian rock band MercyMe. Written by Bart Millard and Pete Kipley, "Word of God Speak" uses sparse instrumentation, featuring only piano and strings to accompany Millard's vocals. The lyrics to "Word of God Speak" reflect on the idea that it is impossible to speak of an infinite God with a limited vocabulary.
"Move" is a song by Christian rock band MercyMe. Written by MercyMe and Dan Muckala, "Move" is a dance-rock song with a sound similar to that of pop rock band Maroon 5. The theme of the song's lyrics is perseverance through adversity. Released on May 23, 2011, as the third single from MercyMe's 2010 album The Generous Mr. Lovewell, "Move" was received with positive critical reviews, especially for the arrangement of the song. "Move" attained success as a single, peaking atop Billboard magazine's Christian Songs, Hot Christian AC, and Christian AC Indicator charts, as well as at No. 6 on the Billboard Christian CHR chart and No. 20 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.
"All of Creation" is a song by Christian rock band MercyMe. The song, written by MercyMe, Brown Bannister, and Dan Muckala, lyrically revolves around the themes of love, life, and belief, as well as the foundation of Christian faith. The song was intended to refer to the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus in each verse and has been described as 'pop' and 'worship'.
"Finally Home" is a song by contemporary Christian music band MercyMe. Co-written by Bart Millard, Barry Graul, and Mike Scheuchzer, the song has lyrical themes revolving around heaven, with the music written around an acoustic guitar riff. It also contains musical influences from country and pop music, and features harmony vocals from Millard.
"You Reign" is a song written and performed by Christian rock band MercyMe. The song was co-written by Bart Millard, Barry Graul, and Steven Curtis Chapman, and was released as the second single from their fifth studio album, All That Is Within Me.
"Lift Up Your Face" is a song recorded by the Christian rock band Third Day and featuring vocals from The Blind Boys of Alabama. Written by Mac Powell and composed by Third Day, Bo Rinehart, and Bear Rinehart, it was released to Christian AC and CHR radio on July 11, 2010 as the lead single from Third Day's 2010 studio album Move. "Lift Up Your Face" is a southern rock song with influences from blues and gospel, possessing a shadowy and edgy sound accompanied by distorted guitars. Dark and soulful vocals are also present, while the lyrics convey a message of encouragement and hope.
"Losing" is a song by Christian contemporary Christian music band Tenth Avenue North from their third studio album, The Struggle. It released on May 18, 2012, as the first single from the album. The song peaked at No. 1 on the Christian Songs chart.
"Strong Enough To Save" is a song by Christian band Tenth Avenue North from their 2010 album, The Light Meets the Dark. It was released on April 20, 2010, as the second single. The song became the band's second Hot Christian Songs No. 1, staying there for three weeks. It lasted 42 weeks on the overall chart. The song is played in an E major key, at 130 beats per minute.
