Rediscovered Church Of Rhythm!

I was browsing on eMusic last night and stumbled across a band that I loved back in the mid-90's, Church of Rhythm (COR). I really liked them back then and bought their 2 albums on cassete tape. I used to listen to them quite often, but as CDs and then digital music became more popular, I packed away my records and cassetes, and haven't heard some of that music in a long time. I still have them all, but they are in a box under the stairs.

Both of their albums are good, however the 2nd one, Not Perfect, is really the best. It has a lot of songs dealing with trouble in this life and trusting God and having faith. The music is very upbeat hip-hop-electro-rock with singing and some rap mixed together in a very professional way. These guys were extremely talented and I was bummed when they broke up after the second album. However....

I just found out that founding member Max Hsu later created the band Superchick. I'm sure I've heard some of their music, but I never really paid much attention to them. I think I'll be checking them out very soon and I'll let you know what I think.

While many of their songs are noteworthy, I think that I Believe In God is especially good. I think maybe because I've been both people in the song.

I Believe In God - Church Of Rhythm

A man walked up to me the other day
He was very educated and he had a lot of things to say
He was oh, so forward thinking and so very up to date
And he wanted to teach me about faith

He said how can you believe in a thing you've never seen?
He said how can you believe with all the evil that we have seen?
He said don't you know that no one believes in your simple old fashioned faith?

I said I believe in God
I said I believe in the impossible
I said I believe in God
Though none go with me I will follow

He said man I've been to a church
I was lied to, judged and hurt
All I saw was guilt and hypocrisy, why believe?

I said friend, you didn't meet my God that day
I said friend, sit down let me tell you about grace
Well, I've been where you are some yesterday,
but today, I believe

I said I believe in God
I said I believe in the impossible
I said I believe in God
Though none go with me I will follow

I said I've been saved by faith
I said Jesus loves me this I know
I said I believe in grace
And where He leads me I will follow

So don't turn away,
Please don't close your eyes
If I did not believe with all that I am
I would not waste your time

I said I believe in God
I said I believe in the impossible
I said I believe in God
Though none go with me I will follow

I said I've been saved by faith
I said Jesus loves me this I know
I said I believe in grace
And where He leads me I will follow

Sugarland Concert

As you may have noticed from past posts, I'm not a real big country fan. My wife 'forced' me to go to this show with her, and I don't regret it. It was amazing. (Pics from my crappy camera phone).

The show started off with Billy Currington, whom I don't really know much about. The only song of his that he sang that I recognized was "Good Directions". He played a cover of Tracy Chapman's "Give Me One Reason" (thanks @MusicGeekChic) and another one that I haven't figured out what it is yet. He was good, but not being real familiar with his work, I'm not going to comment further.

Then Sugarland came on. I'm more familiar with their work because my wife likes them and they apparently get more radio airplay than Billy does.

Before this concert, I would have said that I liked a couple of their songs. Last night, though, I became a fan. There is only one word to describe their show. WOW!

They started the set with "Love" and DANG, DID THEY ROCK IT!! It was incredible! The rest of their set was fabulous, but that song was definitely the signature moment. The song is really catchy and the lyrics are thought provoking.


The video and special effects were absolutely top-notch. This easily ranked as the #3 best concert that I've ever seen (and I've seen a LOT of concerts). Number 1 being 1992 U2 Zoo TV/Outside Broadcast, and Number 2 being Michael W. Smith's I'll Lead You Home tour in 1995ish.


This was by far one of the best technical productions I've yet seen. They had this cool screen behind them that they had both live or pre-shot video and graphics. It was extremely well implemented and fit the songs very well.

Another cool thing they did is they have some special stuff custom for each venue, like a poster with the location, date and time on it that they signed, and they had some video of some sights around town that they showed during some songs.

They also did a medly of 80's songs that included a nice tribute to Michael Jackson, who passed away earlier in the day, with a little bit of "I wanna rock with you" in it.

It was an excellent concert and I encourage you to see it if the tour comes to your town!

Love - Sugarland

Is it the face of a child

Is it the thrill of danger

Is it the kindness we see in the eyes of a stranger

Is it more than faith

Is it more than hope

Is it waiting for us at the end of our rope

I say, it's love

I say, it's love

Is it the one you call home

Is it the Holy Land

Is is standing right here holding your hand

Is it just like the movies

Is it rice and white lace

Is it the feeling I get when I wake to your face

I say, it's love
I say, it's love

Is it the first summer storm

Is it the colors of fall

Is it having so little

And yet having it all

Is it one in a million

Is it a chance to belong

Is it standing right here singing this song

I say, it's love
I say, it's love

Is it a veil or a cross

Is it the poet's gift

Is it the face that has launched over thousands of ships

Is it making you laugh

Is it letting you cry

Is it where we believe that we go when we die

Is it how you were made

Is it your mother's ghost

Is it the wish that I'm wishing for your life, for your life, for your life the most

The King Of Pop....

I've just heard the sad news that Michael Jackson has died.

Despite his legal and financial troubles and alleged inappropriate activities with children, there is no denying that he truly was the King Of Pop.

I can't deny that I loved some of his music. C'mon, who didn't love Thriller, Beat it, Get On The Floor, Billie Jean, Bad, Smooth Criminal, and ABC?? Who hasn't tried to moonwalk? I sucked at it. Michael was truly a musical legend.

'Do You Remember The Time', when you first saw the Thriller video? Ok, it's cheesy now, but back in 1984 it was cool. Very cool.

Thriller won 8 Grammys and remains the top selling album of all time. I can't begin to name the artists that were influenced by Michael. Pretty much everyone that has done anything musically since 1975 would probably mention him.

I haven't told many people this story, but I guess I have to now. Back in 1984 the Jackson's did their Victory Tour. It just so happens that the same night they were at Mile High Stadium in Denver, I was at a Sandi Patty concert at McNichol's Arena, which used to be across the street from Mile High. (No, I don't really care for Sandi's music, but a group of friends asked me to go, and since it was free, I did.) Anyway, after the concert my friends and I were in the parking lot listening to the Jackson's across the street. Well, at the time, Michael was 'famous' for wearing that single white glove. (I can't believe I'm actually admitting this on the internet) I found a single black glove laying in the parking lot, so I put it on and was dancing and moonwalking to the music. (*thoroughly embarrassed now*) It was a fune time.

RIP, Michael, you will be missed. I hope you found the Lord.

Charlie

Well, I got into a Charlie Peacock mood yesterday, so I've been listening to his stuff on-my-ipod since. The third song that came on today was Personal Revolution. I think this song really speaks to where I've been for a long time. I'm workin' on it. But it's hard.

Personal Revolution - Charlie Peacock
Freedom from the past didn't last through time,
Things don't change, because I pretend they're fine,
Do I flip a switch to give myself a happy life; to be a happy man, in a happy home with a happy wife?

Jesus, if you came to give life abundantly, then how do you respond to all the pretense that you see?
Do I break your heart by all the faking that I do?
There are so many places I haven't let you into.

I'm so tired of all these easy solutions,
I can't stand it; they're nothing but denial,
I think I need a personal revolution,
How can I expect the heart to sing when I don't let the soul ever feel anything?

Some have known the cruel touch from a trusted man,
It's like pain and pleasure walking hand in hand, like a clown in makeup laughing,
You might never read their face, but buried in their soul is a dark and painful place.

The mind must know what the soul can endure, so it locks up tight in the face of what's impure,
The wounded heart must be gently understood if it's ever to reveal the incidents of childhood.

I'm so tired of all these easy solutions,
I can't stand it; they're nothing but denial,
I think I need a personal revolution,
How can I expect the heart to sing when I don't let the soul ever feel anything?

Whatever the pain, today it's just as real,
We don't talk about it, we don't trust, and we don't feel,
Are we so afraid, if our soul was ever known, nobody would love us, we'd be rejected and all alone?

If we continue to pretend, the pain will never end,
To pretend that we are fine is a trick of the mind,
Do I turn my back on God when I speak honestly?
Though I'm quick admit the problem is me - that's right.

I'm so tired of all these easy solutions,
I can't stand it; they're nothing but denial,
I think I need a personal revolution,
How can I expect the heart to sing when I don't let the soul ever feel anything?
When I push the pain down and I hide it away, I'm storing up trouble for another day.

Personal...personal revolution,
I don't want to...do we want to?...don't want to live this way anymore.
Personal...personal revolution,
There's a change... there's a change a-coming... a-coming down the road,
Personal...personal revolution

Coldplay LIVE!

Thanks to a good friend, I was able to go to the Coldplay concert tonight for free. :) Many thanks to that person, you know who you are!!
Can't get much better than this:

• Free admission
• Parking spot right at the gate
• Moved up to 4th row seats in the second tier
• Coldplay did an intimate set right in front of me-4 rows away (about 20 feet or so)
• Left just a bit early and had NO traffic getting out of Verizon Ampitheatre.

Made for a great evening!! Pics from my lame camera phone at http://twitgoo.com/u/Michaeldx Got some videos too. If any are worth posting, I'll put them on YouTube or something.

Why can't I just get up?

Will you count me in?
We're gonna play you a song, a little bit of rock-n-roll
I went to the doctor, all nervous and crazy
Lookin' for to save my, save my soul

It's a brand new day and the sun is shining bright
Calling, calling the sun is burning black
They came from miles and miles around just to hear you
City lights are flashing, they call you to the streets

Sometimes we make it harder than it is
You talk about your circumstances
Innocent, and in a sense I am
Like the flowers love the sun that shines

Theres a tenderness that I feel
In time, when I see your face
I saw the holy city
I know a girl

I waited for the Lord on high
I used to rule the world
Getting tired from all this circling
We have a chance to turn the pages over

Instructions:
Put your iPod on shuffle, and then write down the first line of each of the first twenty songs. Post the "poem" that results. The first line of the twenty-first song is the title.

Cool New Tune

Mat Kearney has a great new song out called Closer To Love. Check out the video(sorry for the add):

Closer To Love - Mat Kearney
She got the call today
One out of the gray
And when the smoke cleared
It took her breath away
She said she didn't believe
It could happen to me
I guess we're all one phone call
from our knees
We're gonna get there soon

If every building falls
And all the stars fade
We'll still be singing this song
The one they can't take away
I'm gonna get there soon
She's gonna be there too
Cryin' in her room
Prayin' Lord come through
We're gonna get there soon

Oh it's your light
Oh it's your way
Pull me out of the dark
Just to show me the way
Cryin out now
From so far away
You pull me closer to love
Closer to love

Meet me once again
Down off Lake Michigan
Where we could feel the storm blowin
Down with the wind
And don't apologize
For all the tears you've cried
You've been way too strong now for all your life

I'm gonna get there soon
You're gonna be there too
Cryin' in your room
Prayin' Lord come through
We're gonna get there soon

Oh it's your light
Oh it's your way
Pull me out of the dark
Just to show me the way
Cryin out now
From so far away
You pull me closer to love
Closer to love

Cause you are all that I've waited for
All of my life
(We're gonna get there)
You are all that I've waited for
All of my life

You pull me closer to love
Closer to love
Pull me closer to love
You pull me closer to love
Closer to love oh no
Closer to love
Closer to love

Pull me closer to love