It’s time for another edition of “What’s playing on Matt’s i-Pod”.  I don’t know that anybody really cares what I listen to or not, but I enjoy sharing anyway.I haven’t downloaded a lot of music lately, but I have been playing a few recent downloads an awful lot, and I thought I would pass them along.  Here they are, in no particular order:

1. “Hosanna” by Hillsong United- I love almost everything Hill Song United puts out, but this may be my favorite.  Powerful song.   

2. “God of this City” by Chris Tomlin- This is the latest amazing song from one of the great songwriters of our time.  I think about Warner Robins every time I listen to it.

3. “How He Loves” by John Mark McMillan- I’d never heard of this guy or this song until a couple of days ago when I was reading someone else’s blog and he commented on it.  I love the story behind the song maybe more than I even love the song itself. 

4. “Opposite Way” by Leeland-  I really love Leeland’s music.  And this particular song is from their new album, and I especially love the lyrics!   

5. “That’s How You Know” by Amy Adams- I’m not saying that this is my favorite song in the world, but I am saying that I can’t get it out of my head.  It’s from the movie, Enchanted, and is one of a few classic Disney songs that will be playing in the mini-van for months to come.  I promise you that once you listen to this one, you’ll find yourself singing it throughout your day. 

Instead of doing my usual once a month blog on what I’m currently listening to, I thought I would just share my favorite love songs of all time.  Tonight and tomorrow night at “Married Life Live” (there are a few tickets still available at the church office if you want to come!), you’ll hear some of these songs, but not all of them.  Anyway, the following five songs are my favorite love songs of all time.

1.       “Everything I Do (I Do It For You)” by Bryan Adams- I’m sorry if you hate this song, but this is without a doubt my favorite love song of all time.  Nothing comes close to this one.  I know there’s the line, “I’d lie for you”, but I don’t really care.  It’s still my favorite love song of all time.   

2.       “My Girl” by The Temptations- Who doesn’t like to sing this song at the top of their lungs?  It’s a classic love song, and it’s probably number one on your list if you’re over the age of 50. 

3.       “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King- Just like, “My Girl”, I love to belt this song out!   

4.       “You’re the Inspiration” by Chicago- Great love song!  Enough said! 

5.       “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers-  If this song were easier to sing, it would probably be higher up on my list, but nonetheless it is still a classic love song and one of the all time greats.   

Honorable Mention:  “Unforgettable” by Nat “King” Cole, “I’ll Stand By You” by Carrie Underwood, “You Send Me” by Sam Cooke, “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol

So, just curious.  What is your favorite love song of all time?

It’s that time again when I let you know what’s playing on my i-Pod these days. 

I don’t know how it is for you, but it’s always strange for me in transitioning back to normal music after listening almost non-stop to Christmas music for a month and a half.  And it doesn’t help when my three year old son, Brody, is still walking around the house singing Jingle Bells at the top of his lungs. 

Anyway, the following five songs have helped me get back on track, so, without further adieu, here is what I’m currently enjoying:

1. “Witch Doctor” by Alvin and the Chipmunks-  I’m sure that I shouldn’t be recommending music with the title “witch” in it, but after we went and saw the movie over Christmas break, I couldn’t get this song out of my head:  “Ooh eee, ooh ah ah, ting tang, walla walla, bing bang.  Ooh eee, ooh ah ah, ting tang walla walla, bing bang”

2. “Up to the Mountain” by Kelly Clarkson- A very moving song based on a speech given by Martin Luther King Jr., entitled “I’ve been to the Mountaintop.”  The speech was actually given the day before he was assassinated.   It is one powerful song. 

3. “Pray” by M.C. Hammer- I’m talking about prayer on Wednesday nights, and I’ve been enjoying listening to this fun song…“You’ve got to pray just to make it today!”

4. “We Shine” by Steve Fee-  I love this worship leader and I love this song!

5. “HUMUHUMUNUKUNUKUAPUA’A” from High School Musical 2-  This is just a fun song to listen to if you have little ones riding in the car with you.  If you haven’t seen the movie, I won’t even begin to try and explain the song. 

For anyone who cares, these are the five songs that are currently getting a lot of play time on my i-Pod.  Since it’s December, you’ll notice that all of these are Christmas songs.  Anyway, here they are in no particular order.

1. “We are the Reason” by Avalon- It’s an older song that you’ve probably heard of, but I promise you that you’ve never heard it like this…absolutely powerful! 

2.  “Twelve Days of Christmas” by John Denver and the Muppets- There’s not a Christmas song that my family loves to sing than this one.  And this version is the best of all.  We especially love when they get to the eighth day of Christmas and Beaker does his thing…classic!

3.  “Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow” by Michael Bublè- I love this guy’s voice.  I think you will too.   All of his Christmas songs are great!

4.  “The First Noel” by Josh Groban and Faith Hill- two great voices…one great song…nuff said.

5.  “Up on the House Top” by The Jackson Five-  This may be the coolest Christmas song ever.  Trust me.   

Additionally, I’m loving the new Relient K Christmas album, “Let it Snow, Baby…Let it Reindeer”.  It may be a little bit much for those who are 40 and over, but I can’t stop listening to it!

This is my first attempt at sharing what music I’m currently listening to in my car or on my i-Pod.  It was hard to narrow my list down to just five songs for the whole month, but here they are in no particular order.

1.  “Cinderella” by Steven Curtis Chapman- I haven’t listened to this song yet without crying. 

2.  “You Are Everything” by Matthew West- I love to sing this song at the top of my lungs.

3.  “Mighty to Save” by Hillsong- Josh Ray sings this song in the office every day and when he does, it’s pretty much in my head the rest of the day…it’s a great song to have in your head though

4.  “Yes You Have” by Leeland- I downloaded this song right after I heard it for the first time…unbelievable song…definitely one of my all time favorites

5.  “We Got the Party”- Because I have children, I have to listen to Hannah Montana almost every day…with that said, I think I enjoy this one the most