Tobymac, #1 on Billboard

Tobymac' Eye On It hit #1 on the Billboard 200 last week. The first Christian album to do so in 15 years. It also debuted at #1 Digital Albums, #1Christian Albums, and #15 Canadian Albums.

#15 on Canadian Albums?? It only leaves one asking, "What's wrong with those Canadians??"

(Here's a good Foxnews.com article on it.)




I've been a Tobymac fan since the early days of DC Talk. I still have DC Talk, their first release, on cassette.

Toby's music has always been excellent. Listening back to the DC Talk album now, you'd probably wonder why he's even still around. But, you have to remember that back in 1989, there really wasn't many options for "Christian" Hip-hop/Rap music. There were a few other artists around at the time, like D-Boy Rodriguez, but if you google "Christian Rap Artists 1989" most results will say something like "Christian rap artist so-and-so was born on such-and-such date, 1989".

DC Talk was groundbreaking. Each subsequent release from Tobymac, Michael Tait and K-Max (Kevin Max) got even better. When they released Jesus Freak, it was not only groundbreaking, but mind-blowing and redefining for Christian music.



"Steal My Show" - Tobymac

Another cold night
Another late flight
It's almost show time, and Diverse City's waitin' on me
We got a packed house, the crowd is callin' out
They want the beat to drop, but what we really need is You

If You wanna steal my show, I'll sit back and watch You go
If You got somethin' to say, go on and take it away
Need You to steal my show, can't wait to watch You go-oh-oh-oh
So take it away

So now the crowd is hype, that you showed up tonight
Anticipatin', cravin' somethin' more than smoke and lights
So I'll step out the way, I'll give You center stage
Alight
Spotlight
Give 'em what they came for ...

If You wanna steal my show, I'll sit back and watch You go
If You got somethin' to say, go on and take it away
Need You to steal my show, can't wait to watch You go-oh-oh-oh
So take it away

When You arrive, we come to life
Our hearts collide, they're beating in the same time
You're comin' through, all eyes on You
Our hearts collide, they're beating in the same time, beating in the same time

No matter who we are, no matter what we do
Every day we can choose to say...

If You wanna steal my show, I'll sit back and watch You go
If You got somethin' to say, go on and take it away
Need You to steal my show, can't wait to watch You go-oh-oh-oh
So take it away

My life
My plans
My heart
It's all Yours, God
Take it away
My dreams
My fears
My family
My career
Take it away
Take it away
It's all Yours, God
So, take it away
Take it away
It's You I wanna live for

Twitter Experiment

Original Post:
It's my birthday today and I'm conducting a Twitter experiment. I sent the following 2 tweets, followed by @celebritynames or @companynames accordingly. I'll post here the responses I get. It should be interesting. I sent the tweet with over 100 celebrity names and I'm not sure how many companies.

"Lets see if I can get any celebrities to wish me happy birthday..."

"Hmm....Wonder if I can get any companies to send me a b-day gift?"

Do I expect any replies from celebrities? Yeah. Especially the few that I 'converse' with on Twitter regularly. Do I expect replies from companies? Hmmm. Maybe a couple. Maybe I'll be surprised.

---

So far:
Celebrities:
@Bryan_Duncan - "happy B day!! am I late..?" Bryan is the soul-man of Christian music.  In the '70s he was with Sweet Comfort Band and then had a successful solo career. He's still making great music today. I knew he'd be one to respond. He's a really nice guy and very active in social media. I've met Bryan in person - great guy! (Kinda short though) Check him out http://www.bryanduncan.com/

@derekwebb - "yeah, let me know if any celebrities respond. oh, and happy birthday." http://derekwebb.com/ Derek is well known as a member of Caedmon's call and also has had great success as a solo artist.  http://www.derekwebb.com/

@jarretlemaster - "Happy B day man. Have a good one! I don't really count as a celeb but I hope you have a great one:)" Jarret is an old friend of mine. He's done some great music and recently starred in the forthcoming film Turnaround Jake.   (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1185500/ and http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1008542997/turnaround-jake-a-family-friendly-feature-film)

@yoda - "Send you a message that is direct on the Twitter I prefer to do. Wishing you a birthday that is happy I am. Yessss." Do I really need to tell you who Yoda is?  https://www.facebook.com/thatyoda

@adlerdude - "Happy birthday michael! Hope it's a great 1 dude! Sorry for the direct message and not full tweet but I try not to clutter my twit/FB. Pce" Adler is a local (Birmingham, AL) radio phenom. He can be heard on The Rick & Bubba Show and also has his own show on WZZK.

@DuncanPhillips - "Happy Birthday!" Duncan is a long-time member of one of the greatest bands ever - The Newsboys!

@scribblepotemus - "RT @Michaeldx: Lets see if I can get any celebrities to wish me happy birthday/. Happy Birthday!" Dan is the lead vocalist for Jars Of Clay. He's also in The Hawk In Paris.

@michaelhsweet - "@Michaeldx - Happy Birthday Michael:-)" Michael is the lead singer for the legendary band Stryper and he also was the front man for the other legendary band, Boston for a few years. His solo career has been amazing as well. Michael and I have exchanged conversation on twitter several times, he's very active and a pleasure to follow.

@jonwaldenshow - "@Michaeldx Celebrity? Really? Not quite good sir. But I do wish you a Happy Birthday!!!" Jon's a local (Birmingham, AL) radio personality. I've enjoyed meeting him several times and working with him on the Foolish Things concert we did a few years ago.  http://www.myrevradio.com/

@itsDeMarco - "@Michaeldx Hey bro... who u callin' a celebrity?!?! LOL. Enjoy the rest of ur b'day... I'm sure it's been awesome so far! #partytime" Don Juan Demarco Williams was a radio personality on the Rick & Bubba Show here in Birmingham for many years. He left to pursue other interests, but he's still a celebrity in my book. Have you ever heard him laugh??

@triciagoyer - "@Michaeldx happy birthday it's my birthday too" Tricia Goyer is a Christian author. She shares my birthday! Too cool. http://www.triciagoyer.com/

@charliepeacock - "@Michaeldx @michaelhsweet @Bryan_Duncan @BarackObama @360FromTheEdge Any luck? I really though the Edge would comply?" I was first exposed to Charlie's music when he released Lie Down In The Grass in 1984 (I'm listening to this record as I type this) Charlie is nothing short of brilliant. He's done a TON of stuff, way too much to list here, so check out his website!   http://www.charliepeacock.com/

@Donald_Woods - "@Michaeldx Happy Birthday!" I learned about Donald because he is the brother of @ayieshawoods and, well, just click this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIrki-McYyM&feature=youtu.be No. really. Click it.

@winterjamtour - "@Michaeldx @timtebow @turbine @tyburkum @usairforce @whitehouse happy birthday!" Winter Jam Tour is a way too cool tour of multiple Christian artists. They come around the country every year and rock. My friend also works for them :) http://www.jamtour.com/

@tonynolanlive - "@Michaeldx happy B-day" Tony is a minister, author and speaker. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend going to see him. http://tonynolan.org/

@BennyHesterNow -  "@Michaeldx I wish you a Happy Birthday too!" Benny Hester is perhaps best known for his song When God Ran. He's a great musician. http://bennyhester.com/

@SamLuminate - "@Michaeldx happy late birthday!!! :)" Sam's the lead vocalist for the band Luminate

@RichMullinsfilm: @Michaeldx happy late birthday

Companies:
@lotro - "Happy Birthday! Check your DMs." and yes, they sent me something. :)

@UltimateEars "#HappyBirthday @Michaeldx we'll send you UE350vi earphones! DM us UR address"

@DynInc - "@Michaeldx Are you a user of Dyn? If so whats the username?"
@DynInc - "@Michaeldx http://twitvid.com/U8BFC From a Portsmouth NH Dyntini with love."
@DynInc - "@Michaeldx we're just getting started. Can you email me your mailing address?"
@DynInc - "@michaeldx Happy birthday from @Ryohara on the mean streets of Boston http://twitvid.com/42XIY"

@goteerecords - "@Michaeldx possibly. DM us your address."

Other interesting responses:

@rgreenlaw - "Doh, why didn't I tell them about my birthday last month....anyway, hope you have a good one. "

@jalingion - "@lotro @Michaeldx i should had thought of that 3 weeks ago lol ;p"

@lotrojol - "@lotro @Michaeldx Oh ! It's my unbirthday today !"

@pinoymmo - "@lotro @Michaeldx it's my fake birthday, can i have a fake gift? lol"

@musicgeekchic - "@Michaeldx I'm not a celebrity, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

@lilyluelotro -"RT (lotro): @michaeldx Happy Birthday! Check your DMs. http://bit.ly/LoQixn #lotro"

@s_leeann - "@lotro @Michaeldx Happy Birthday! I should have tried this on Sunday :)"

@RebeccaLongwell - "@Michaeldx Happy Birthday! :)"

@BrokenPisces - "@Michaeldx I don't know you but happy birthday! And neat use of twitter on your bday! Hope you get lots of responses."

@anadanirepo - "@Michaeldx I'm not @michaelhsweet but I also wish you a happy and blessed birthday!"

@DavidMartinTX - "@michaelhsweet @Michaeldx //wow no pressure. :)"

@Letters4TheLord - "RT Michaeldx: @charliepeacock @Bryan_Duncan & @michaelhsweet replied.Expected them to,though.I 'converse' with them on twitter occasionally. Cool tweeps!"

---

UPDATE:
Wow this turned out to be a really cool experiment! Got way more responses than I was expecting, and actually got some gifts from some companies. Several celebrities wished me a happy birthday too!

Some responses were really surprising. Dyn, Inc. employees made a couple of videos wishing me happy birthday (http://twitvid.com/U8BFC and http://twitvid.com/42XIY). Apparently they are sending me something in the mail too! I don't know what, but whatever it is, it's cool that they'd go to the trouble and it's much appreciated!

Another big surprise was from Ultimate Ears. They're sending me a really cool pair of earphones!

Turbine, the makers of Lord Of The Rings Online gifted me 500 Turbine points.

Why would any company send me anything based on a simple Twitter post? After all if they do it for one person, shouldn't they be afraid that everyone will expect the same treatment? I can think of a few reasons:

• They have really cool employees
• They care about their customers (or potential customers) I've been a customer of Turbine since LOTRO beta and am a lifetime/founder subscriber. 
• A smart company realizes that word-of-mouth is HUGE (and free!) advertising. A person that shares their opinion of a company's products or services goes a long way toward convincing others to use them. The companies above got multiple tweets from me today, and they know I'll be talking to others about this for a long time. I'll definitely be a loyal re-tweeter of these companies. My tweets generated retweets or responses from other people (see posts below). Plus, you're reading this, right?
• Treating customers (or potential customers) well ensures repeat or new business. I'm a customer using Dyn's free services, yet they're treating me like I've spent a ton of money with them. They can rest assured that when I need any of the other services that they provide, they have my patronage. They can also rest assured that I'll be recommending them to others when I hear of needs that Dyn can provide. The same goes for Ultimate Ears.
• They probably found my request to be unique and maybe a little bold.

And why would any celebrity take the time to say happy birthday? Surely hundreds of adoring fans ask them for tweets and retweets every day. It must be tiring for them to be inundated with all these requests. Yet, I got responses from several. My criteria for considering someone a celebrity was that they had to have been an actor on TV or movies, a radio personality, a 'published' musician or author, or other famous person/character such as a politician. As you can see from their responses, several of them don't consider themselves 'celebrities', but as I told @jarretlemaster, celebrity is in the eye of the beholder. :) So why would any celebrity respond to me anyway?

• They're really nice people
• They care about their fans. After all, without fans they wouldn't be celebrities anyway!
• They get a little extra exposure

I got a ton of retweets and replies. I got at least 8 new followers. I got 1 Favorited tweet. It's been really fun to watch what happened with this. I may do it again next year!

---

UPDATE 8/8/12:
Absolute coolness came to my house today in the form of Ultimate Ears headphones. I've only had time to listen to 3 songs on them, but I can already tell these are easily the best earphones I've ever listened to. Wow. They're super comfortable too. The bass is sublime.

I was beginning to wonder if they'd show up or not. Maybe they forgot. Maybe their shipping department was sleeping. But I tweeted to them a couple days ago and suddenly the box appeared, overnight UPS. Thanks UE. You rock! (Literally)
Check these babies out:

UPDATE 7/26/12:

Dyn's birthday package arrived today. Check this out! They sent me a ton of stuff, and a birthday card. I don't know why Brent told me to "Get well soon" but I got great after opening this package! Lara wished me a 'Happy Burpday" - somehow she knows me too well. :) These people are too cool. What a great company!

• 2 t-shirts, one of which is sexy (see pic).
• 3 drink cozies
• 3 bottle can openers
• a bunch of stickers
• 2 sunglasses
• headphones
• a glowy necklace thingy
• 3 Free Music Sampler cards
• a personalized birthday card (aka burpday card)

UPDATE 7/23/12:
@goteerecords  is the first company that actually delivered something (other than the game code that @lotro sent via DM). Check out what they sent me! Gotee Records Rocks!

• A Gotee Records bracelet
• A House Of Heroes bracelet
• A House Of Heroes CD
• A House Of Heroes pin
• An Abandon Kansas CD

YAY MAT!!!

Ships In The Night - Mat Kearney

Like ships in the night
You keep passing me by
We're just wasting time
Trying to prove who's right
And if it all goes crashing into the sea
If it's just you and me
Trying to find the light

Like ships in the night letting cannon balls fly
Say what you mean and it turns to a fight
Fist fly from my mouth as it turns south
You're down the driveway... I'm on the couch

Chasing your dreams since the violent 5th grade
Trying to believe in your silent own way
Cause we'll be ok... I'm not going away
Like you watched at fourteen as it went down the drain

And pops stayed the same and your moms moved away
How many of our parents seem to make it anyway
We're just fumbling through the grey
Trying find a heart that's not walking away

Turn the lights down low
Walk these halls alone
We can feel so far from so close

Like ships in the night
You keep passing me by
We're just wasting time
Trying to prove who's right
And if it all goes crashing into the sea
If it's just you and me trying to find the light
Like ships in the night
You're passing me by
You're passing me by
Like ships in the night

And I'm at the airport waiting on a second plane
Had to pack and you had cramps and I was late
Headed to a red carpet they won't know my name
Riding in silence all that we wanna say

About to board when you call on the phone
You say "I'm sorry. I'll be waiting at home"
Feels like we're learning this out on our own
Trying to find a way down the road we don't know

Turn the lights down low
Walk these halls alone
We can feel so far from so close

Like ships in the night
You keep passing me by
We're just wasting time
Trying to prove who's right
And if it all goes crashing into the sea
If it's just you and me
Trying to find the light
Like ships in the night
You're passing me by
You're passing me by
Like ships in the night

And I'm gonna find my way
Back to your side
And I'm gonna find my way
Back to your side
Like ships in the night
You keep passing me by
We're just wasting time
Trying to prove who's right
And if it all goes crashing into the sea
If it's just you and me
Trying to find the light
Like ships in the night
You're passing me by
You're passing me by
Like ships in the night

I guess I'll be singin' this song....

I can see it comin'.... He's Mine - Rodney Atkins
Old man knocked on my front door
With my teenage boy and a couple more
From up the road
He had him by the collar
Said he caught him shootin' beer bottles
Down in the holler

and smokin'

I said is that right
He said, they won't speak when spoken to
So which one here belongs to you
And I know one does
'Cause they all started runnin'
To your back forty
When they saw me comin'
on my gator

I looked in them in the eyes
And I said,
he's mine
That one
Got a wild-haired side and then some
It's no surprise what he's done
He's ever last bit of my old man's son
If you knew me then
There'd be no question in your mind
You know he's mine
Yeah he is

On Friday night football games
I was livin' for the speakers
To call the name
On the back of number fifty-seven
Just one-forty-five
And five foot eleven
Maybe

The limelight barely shined on him
But everyone still remembers when
He whooped up on that boy way bigger
For taking that cheap shot on our little kicker
And they threw him out
Oh man, you shoulda, you shoulda heard me shout
I yelled he's mine
That one
Got a wild-haired side and then some
It's no surprise what he's done
He's ever last last bit of my old man's son
And I'll take the blame
And claim him every time
Yeah man, he's mine
and he'll always be
One of three best things that ever happened to me
You can't turn it off like electricity
I love him unconditionally
I'll take the blame
And claim him every time
Yeah, y'all, he's mine
I thank God, he's mine

(Bless his heart)

Jeremy

The song Jeremy by Pearl Jam just came on my iPod. I've heard it a thousand times. It's a somewhat disturbing song and I always wondered what it was really talking about. It's fairly obvious from the lyrics and video that it's about a young boy who's in a dysfunctional family (who isn't??) and has trouble at school as well, and ultimately commits suicide. Sadly it's based on a true story.

Today I decided to look it up and found this article: Jeremy. This helped me really understand the song, but the following paragraph gave me some insight into the motivation and message behind it:

“It came from a small paragraph in a paper,” Eddie Vedder stated, on the topic of the successful video. He added some perspective, too, “which means you kill yourself and you make a big old sacrifice and try to get your revenge. That all you’re gonna end up with is a paragraph in a newspaper. Sixty-three degrees and cloudy in a suburban neighborhood. That’s the beginning of the video and [it's] the same thing in the end, it does nothing… nothing changes. The world goes on and you’re gone. The best revenge is to live on and prove yourself. Be stronger than those people. And then you can come back.” 

Wow. Who woulda thought such a powerful message would be put out by Pearl Jam. I just wish they had been more vocal about the message of the song at the time (it came out in 1992). Maybe they did and I just missed it since I wasn't really into that kind of music at the time.

Below are the video and lyrics. Disclaimer: This song and video, as mentioned above, are somewhat disturbing and it contains some profanity.


Jeremy - Pearl Jam
At home
Drawing pictures
Of mountain tops
With him on top
Lemon yellow sun
Arms raised in a V
The dead lay in pools of maroon below
Daddy didn't give attention
To the fact that mommy didn't care
King Jeremy the wicked
Ruled his world

Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today

Clearly I remember
Pickin' on the boy
Seemed a harmless little fuck
Oh, but we unleashed a lion
Gnashed his teeth
And bit the recess lady's breast
How could I forget
He hit me with a surprise left
My jaw left hurtin
Oh, dropped wide open
Just like the day
Like the day I heard

Daddy didn't give affection
And the boy was something mommy wouldn't wear
King Jeremy the wicked
Ruled his world

Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today

Try to forget this... (try to forget this)
Try to erase this... (try to erase this)
From the blackboard

Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today

Tim Tebow's Fire

Lovin' all the positive attention for Tim Tebow. GB²! Tim Tebow's Fire - Original Lyrics by John Parr Growin' up Gotta keep your eye on the ball Make it fly, Give it everything, give your all But maybe sometimes if you feel the pain You'll find you're all alone Everything has changed Play the game You know you can't quit until it's won Soldier on Only you can do what must be done You know I’m out there Down on one knee a prisoner And I’m tryin' to break free CHORUS: I can see a new horizon Underneath the blazin' sky I'll be where the eagle's Flyin' higher and higher Gonna be a man in motion All I needs my Broncos team Take me where my future's lyin' Tim Tebows Fire Oooh... Burnin' up Don't know just how far that I can go (Just how far I go) Soon be home Only just 4 downs to go I can make it I know I can You broke the boy in me But you won't break the man (CHORUS) I can see a new horizon blazin on the Mile High I'll be where the eagle's Flyin' higher and higher Gonna be your man in motion All I needs my Broncos team Take me where my future's lyin' Tim Tebows Fire I can climb the highest mountain These Broncos cant be beat I can feel St Elmo’s Fire burnin' in me Burnin' in me Just once in his life A man has his time And my time is now And I'm comin' alive I can hear the music playin' I can see the banners fly Feel like a man again I’ll hold my head high Gonna be a man in motion These broncos can’t be beat Take me where my future's lyin' Tim Tebow’s fire (CHORUS) I can climb the highest mountain Cross the wildest sea I can feel St. Elmo's Fire burnin' in me Burnin' Burnin' in me I can feel it burnin' Oooh, burnin' inside of me

Conversation between God and Jesus....

Find Your Way Back - Foolish Things
http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/foolish-things/id48788238

It's going to crush you
inside and out,
It's going to break you, my Son,
But Jesus the choice is yours
because I know
the sin is theirs to pay,
the debt is theirs to owe,

But we can make a way,
close the gap their sin has made,
your blood can right their wrongs,
and we can sing our song to call them...

Find your way back to me,
I know your faults, but I, I was pierced so you'd be healed,
Turn your heart back to me,
I paid the cost 'cause I, I couldn't change the way I feel

Can this cup be taken?
Dad I see,
If I take their sins upon myself
you'll turn your back on me,
I know they're guilty,
but I love them too,
If my death can build a bridge for them
I'll bring them back to you,
and we'll sing it...

Find your way back to me,
I know your faults, but I, I was pierced so you'd be healed,
Turn your heart back to me,
I paid the cost 'cause I couldn't change the way I feel

So I made a way,
Closed the gap your sin had made,
The blood can right your wrongs,
Would you listen to the song we're singing...

Find your way back to me,
I know your faults, but I, I was pierced so you'd be healed,
Turn your heart back to me,
I paid the cost 'cause I couldn't change the way I feel, yeah

Turn your heart back to me,
I paid the cost 'cause I couldn't change the way I feel, yeah.