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Nick Alexander here...
The Unity Awards for 2008 are nearly upon us. These are the equivalents of a Grammy or a Dove Award. They are administered by the United Catholic Music and Video Association, and they will be having their awards ceremony this coming weekend.
The following represents all the nominees that have songs listed in iTunes. To have the full lists, you may need to go to http://www.ucmva.com and read all the nominees.
UCMVA Song of the Year
UCMVA Devotional Song of the Year
UCMVA Gospel Song of the Year
UCMVA Liturgical/Sacramental Song of the Year
UCMVA Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year
UCMVA Praise & Worship Song of the Year
UCMVA Rock/Modern Song of the Year
UCMVA Country Song of the Year
Results will be listed as soon as they are available.
Nick Alexander here...
This is the Year of St. Paul, and to honor this special time, we are focusing on songs that use the texts of his writings as a basis for songs. This month, we are focusing on St. Paul's second letter to the Corinthians.
As you can see, we have a pretty exhaustive list. This list encompasses all genres, from contemporary Christian, to praise and worship, to liturgical favorites. All of these songs use 2 Corinthians as a basis of its text.
Enjoy, and be edified.
Nick Alexander here...
On the weekend of September 14 the Church celebrates the Feast Day of the Triumph of the Holy Cross. In celebration, we have hand picked ten songs best suited for the occasion. These songs range from modern hymn classics to contemporary praise songs. Artists as varied as Matt Redman, Sean Clive, Hillsongs, Gerard Faucheux, Jeremy Riddle, Apostolica, and The Good Shepherd Singers are all represented.
Happy Feast Day!
Nick Alexander here... A couple of days ago, a reader of this blog asked if we could come up with some recommendations for a youth-oriented baptism service. He was looking for the great song that would tie everything together. After putting our heads together, we came up with the following list. I hope it helps others looking for something similar.
Finally, if you are looking for suggestions for retreat themes, or religious services, or prayer nights, or whatever, we would like to be of help. It's free. Just contact us, and we will do our best. It would give us no greater joy than to introduce others to those great songs that can minister to you and your community. Read Full Story >>>
by Nick Alexander
It has been my intention to follow up my last Nick's Notes article, about finding exceptional worship songs, with another article about how to discern which untested songs may work well for a congregational setting. However, over the last three months I have been thrust into a trial that I wish to recount here. I suspect that I would be able to continue my series in future installments.
My father-in-law, Richard, is a good man, a devout Catholic, and had been afflicted with epilepsy for nearly his whole life. A recent series of events (which included a minor traffic violation that caused the removal of his license), made him decide to do something about it: enlist for brain surgery.
This particular surgery, mind you, was among the most basic of surgeries … and he had it performed at one of the top hospitals in the state, by a doctor who has performed this surgery for well over twenty-five years.
This surgery came and went. Other than his complaints of a terrible headache, he was well on his way to recovery. He had one last surgery remaining, the replacement of that skull portion with a metallic plate—the portion removed that made the surgery possible.
Then early on Sunday morning, everything changed for the worse.... (Click here to read the rest of the story)
Nick Alexander here...
This is the Year of St. Paul, and to honor this special time, we are focusing on songs that use the texts of his writings as a basis for songs. This month, we are focusing on St. Paul's first letter to the Corinthians.
As you can see, we have a pretty exhaustive list. This list encompasses all genres, from classical, to folk, to contemporary Christian, to praise and worship, to alternative rock. All of these songs use 1 Corinthians as a basis of its text.
Enjoy, and be edified.
Nick Alexander here...
This is a lovely hymn in honor of today's solemnity:
Who is She Ascends So High 75.75
Who is she ascends so high
Next the heavenly King
Round about whom angels fly
And her praises sing?
Who is she adorned with light
Makes the sun her robe
At whose feet the queen of night
Lays her changing globe?
This is she in whose pure wombe
Heaven's Prince remained;
Therefore in no earthly tomb
Can she be contained
Heaven she was, which held that fire
Whence the world took light
And to heaven doth now aspire
Flames with flames t'unite.
She that did so clearly shine
When our day begun,
See how bright her beams decline:
Now she sits with the Son.
-Sir John Beaumont, 1583-1627
Also, be sure to check out the Top Mary Songs List.
Nick Alexander here...
It's fun to look back at all the competitions we have had throughout the last year. In doing so, we want to profile some artists that you may have noticed throughout these lists.
Be sure to check out more of these lists at our Top Tens page.
Nick Alexander here... We have here a new, wonderful list. These are all great songs that highlight the Sacrament of Matrimony. These work either as songs for the marriage ceremony, or songs in preparation thereof. Load up your playlist with these songs, as you drive from the church to the reception hall...
Recently, the TopCatholicSongs community voted on the top Catholic artists who are rising in the ranks of note, lately. I have created a playlist that has two songs from each of their albums.
But perhaps you would like to check out the full countdown here...
Nick Alexander here...
Were you there? Did you catch any of it? Have you read the texts of Pope Benedict XVI's messages?
Here's some incredible footage I've discovered on YouTube. Enjoy.
Stations of the Cross
Refiner's Fire / I Love You Lord
Your Grace is Enough
Prayer
Street Warriors (Hip Hop)
Nick Alexander here...
A great place to see a ton of Catholic music is at Catholic Audio Blogspot.com.. There are many, many links to Catholic videos from MyCatholicVoice.
Check it out!
Nick Alexander here...
Do you have a favorite passage in Romans?
This was the question we raised within the TopCatholicSongs Artist community. We wanted to celebrate the Year of St. Paul by highlighting verses that spoke to us as artists, and as Catholic Christians.
Mel Kennedy shared that her favorite verse in Romans is Romans 5:1-5:
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have gained access by faith to this
grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the
glory of God. Not only that, but we even boast of our
afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance,
and endurance, proven character, and prove character,
hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of
God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy
Spirit that has been given to us.
She follows up with this encouragement: We not only have God's favor and blessing during good times but also during our trials. That's an amazing grace!
Lawrence and DianeMarie Leach of In God's Image share two favorite verses:
Romans 10:14-15
How, then, can they call on the one they have not
believed in? And how can they believe in the one of
whom they have not heard? And how can they hear
without someone preaching to them? And how can they
preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How
beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Romans 15:9-11
Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing hymns to your name." Again, it says,
"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people." And again,
"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and sing praises to him, all you peoples.
The members of Last Day share their collective favorite Romans passage is Romans 8:28:
We know that God makes all things work together
for the good of those who love God and are called
according to his decree.
They write: Famous line of scripture, often quoted and for good reason. Encouragement for any of us going through hard times to know that 'all things work together for the GOOD of those who love God'.
Finally, my own favorite verse in Romans is Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's
mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,
holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual
act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the
pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test
and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing
and perfect will.
I love this passage, because it encourages me to live out my best for the Lord.
Do you have a favorite passage in Romans? Please share in the comments boxes.
Nick Alexander here...
Being the Year of St. Paul, we thought it would be great to include songlists that are based on specific passages from the Pauline Epistles. This month, we examine the book of Romans.
There are four songs on this list that are well worth listening to.
First, Faith, Hope and Love by Donna Lee. While the chorus is based on 1 Cor 13:13, the verses are nearly taken verbatim from Romans 5.
Come Holy Spirit, from Margo B. Smith, has its bridge lifted from Romans 8:26:the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know
how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.” She says, "This is a song/prayer to the Holy Spirit asking Him to help me to pray."
I Will Carry You by Sean Clive, incorporates Romans 8:38:For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. He writes:"This song... is really at the heart of what I need to share with the world - God's overwhelming love for each one of us. A love that overcomes all and bears all so that one day we can fully experience in His arms, the love of God."
Lastly, Simonetta has the song Why, which is a paraphrase of Romans 7.
What are your favorite Romans-inspired texts? Please comment... I want to know!