And you shall know the truth. And the truth will set you free

Hello, Central3!

I've been asking around lately: have any of you listened to Hillsong Live's newest album, titled Savior King? I know this is going to be a pretty generic term for which I will be scolded by my Lit teachers, but the album's excellent. Excellent because for once, the growing need to commercialise their sound has been taken into consideration... for being thrown into the bin.

That's right! Sometimes you do have to wonder why Christian (or 'gospel') music these days have to sound increasingly radio-friendly. Whatever happened to not conforming to the ways of the world? Remember: birds have nests and foxes have holes, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.

Though, of course, I'm not saying that they should totally break all of their guitars, melt their keyboards and drumsets and sing hymns like nuns. It's just really comforting to know that some bands like Hillsong have decided to ignore the need for art and flourish in their latest offering, delivering us fourteen songs of pure, undiliuted emotion. Even their high numbers contain less yeah-man-time-to-jam-and-run-out-of-sweat and more we're-happy-so-let's-just-shout-to-the-Lord.

The tempos are slow and the melodies are sweet. In a particular song, 'In Your Freedom', the male lead singer croons so tenderly it's as though he's singing to the love of his life — oh wait, he is. And then there's 'God of Ages', which sounds so unbelievably happy you just want to stand up and praise God like you would in a worship session, whose atmosphere is perforated and thick with the same kind of happiness. (Man, I love italics.)

But the track that touched me most of all was the fifth: 'Lord of Lords'. A single female lead singer, with an acoustic guitar. Other instruments and vocalists join in with her later but it doesn't matter. Simply because the second half has her build up a crescendo from a sweet voice to a mighty resounding of praise! That's how nice the track was: you could imagine all of the singing happening at the peak of a mountain (not exaggerating okay... -.-"). Here are the lyrics:

Lord of Lords
Beholding your beauty, is all I long for,
To worship you Jesus with my soul's desire;
For this very heart you have shaped for your pleasure,
For the purpose to lift your name high.

Here and surrender, in pure adoration,
I enter your courts with an offering of praise.
I am your servant come to bring you glory
As is fit for the work of your hands.

CHORUS 1:
Now onto the Lamb, who sits on the throne,
Be glory and honour and praise.
All of creation resounds with the song;
Worship and praise Him, the Lord of Lords

The Spirit now living and dwelling within me,
Keep my eyes fixed ever upon Jesus' face.
Let not the things of this world ever sway me;
I'll run 'till I finish the race.

CHORUS 2:
Singing unto the Lamb, who sits on the throne,
Be glory and honour and praise.
All of creation resounds with the song;
Worship and praise the Lord.
Now unto the Lamb, who sits on the throne,
Be glory and honour and praise.
All of eternity echoes the song;
Worship and praise Him, the Lord of Lords.

Holy Lord,
You are holy.
Jesus Christ
Is the Lord.

CHORUS 3:
Now unto the Lamb, who sits on the throne,
Be glory and honour and praise.
Call all the saints to join in the song;
Worship and praise Him, the Lord of Lords.
He's Lord of Lords, Lord of Lords...

Hope you had a nice week mugging, and see you tomorrow... (:

yam.

P.S. Oh btw, I have the whole album now. Call-me-reach-me-if-you-wanna-beep-me for the album or some of its songs.