Life Soundtrack 36

4:12, by Switchfoot

One of my favorite Switchfoot songs, and an oft-needed wake-up call for all those times I get caught up in the busyness of life.

Also, for the record, the original track runs exactly four minutes and twelve seconds.

Life Soundtrack 35

Safe and Sound, Capital Cities

I love the use of juxtaposition in this video.  Whether or not the artists intended a political statement (I'm not familiar enough with them to say), it works well as a commentary on American foreign policy.  But either way, I like both the song and the video.

Life Soundtrack 34

Stronger Than That, by Cliff Richard

Never officially released in the US (to my knowledge), this song found its way onto the playlist of my local Christian radio station back in the late 1980s.  Cliff Richard's Christian faith had been receiving publicity in the evangelical subculture at the time, which made him a celebrity of sorts in Christian music circles, even though his albums were difficult to obtain in the U.S. at the time.

The song itself could be placed in the "God or girlfriend" category that Christian music fans are well acquainted with - it works equally well as Cliff singing to a girlfriend or as God speaking to us.  Whether that was his intent or not, that's what landed the song on at least one Christian station.

Rediscovering the song now, it would also work well for a same-sex relationship facing disapproval from relatives and neighbors - an interpretation Cliff Richard himself would undoubtedly disapprove of, given his repeated denial of the rumors that have circulated regarding his sexual orientation.  But because of those rumors it's an intriguing notion.

Life Soundtrack 33

Pride (In the Name of Love), by U2

When U2 first became popular in the mid-80s, I avoided them.  Not because the music wasn't good, but because I couldn't get away from them (walk through my college dorm on any given day and *someone* was listening to one of their albums).  I don't always avoid things just because they're popular, but this was one of those instances.  In addition, their social justice themes seemed a bit 'liberal' to my fundamentalist-trained ears.

So it wasn't until after college that I allowed myself to appreciate their music - and their message.  Standing up for the oppressed can be a risky venture, as this song reminds us.

Life Soundtrack 32

Home, by Phillip Phillips

Today Highlands Church said goodbye to the building it's called home for the first three years of its life.  It wasn't unexpected; we always knew it was temporary until the developer who owned the building was ready to move ahead with his plans, and soon we'll have an even better building to call home.  And ultimately, a church is the people who attend it, not the location where it meets.

Even so, it can be difficult to say goodbye to a building that has served as a sacred space, a safe haven and the place associated with so many good memories.  A building may just be a building, but it still takes on the life and character that the people who call it home imbue it with.  And so knowing that it will soon no longer be there can be a cause for sadness, as we wait for God to make another place our home.

Life Soundtrack 31

You Get What You Give, by The New Radicals

A little encouragement for those going through difficult times...

Life Soundtrack 30

The Beginning, by Lifehouse

I've tried to avoid overusing any one artist, but Lifehouse just has a lot of songs that resonate with me. The Beginning is a track you could easily miss if it were playing in the background; you might think it was a pretty song and go on with what you were doing without another thought.

But when I pay attention to this song, it can evoke a wide range of emotions in me. At different times it can make me melancholy, hopeful, content, wistful or contemplative, sometimes all at once. And every now and then it strikes a deeper chord and gives me a hint of a glimpse of something transcendent - something that's never quite fully within reach, but that I know is there.

No wonder the longest book of the Bible is a songbook. Hello, from the world below...

Life Soundtrack 29

Uprising, by Muse

An apt theme song for the Arab Spring (with the hope that what comes next represents a step in the direction of freedom and human dignity). And no doubt a song that both the Occupy movement and the Tea Party would claim as their own...

(And here's a link to the official video, which was nicely produced...)

Life Soundtrack 28

Mysterious Ways, by Kim Hill

One of my favorite songs back in the mid-90s, and a reminder that even in my days as a card-carrying evangelical I allowed myself the luxury of admitting that I didn't have it all figured out. Only on certain topics, of course, and even then I ran the risk of getting funny looks from some of my peers - but intellectual honesty and conservative religion don't always have to be mutually exclusive...

Life Soundtrack 27

You Belong With Me, originally by Taylor Swift

I personally think this song works perfectly as the story of a gay teenager pining after his best friend. At the very least, it's a common enough scenario...

Life Soundtrack 26

Nothing Left to Lose, by Mat Kearney

For me, this song evokes feelings of a fresh start, of embarking on a new journey. Leaving behind the familiar and facing the uncertainty of a universe of previously unseen possibilities can be both daunting and exhilarating. I don't know when I'll next be forced out of my comfort zone to begin a new leg of my own journey, but part of me secretly yearns for it.

Life Soundtrack 25

Don't Dream It's Over, version by Sixpence None the Richer

A little encouragement for those days when the world seems to be going to hell in a handbasket...

Life Soundtrack 24

This Is Your Life, by Switchfoot

Although dwelling too much on all we haven't accomplished can lead to depression, we do sometimes need a nudge like this before we can get out of our chairs and make the most of the time that we still have. This song came along when I was first struggling to escape the mindset of avoidance and suppression that had been drilled into me from years of fear-driven legalism and ex-gay teachings.

I don't know that I've entirely succeeded yet, but life is too short to spend hiding from the ever-present possibility that something bad could happen when we dare to experience what lies beyond our front door.

Life Soundtrack 23

No Such Thing, by John Mayer

An anthem for anyone who's transitioned from Stage Three to Stage Four in their lives. If only it were this simple to awaken those around us to what we've seen beyond the box we once inhabited...

Life Soundtrack 22

Haven't Met You Yet, by Michael Bublé

For the most part I'm pretty content being single these days. I've always had a strong independent streak, and I enjoy being able to come and go as I please. After all these years it would be hard to imagine having to worry about somebody else when I'm making decisions.

But for all that I still have a stubborn romantic streak, and I catch myself daydreaming from time to time about finding that one special guy, together with whom we could each become more than the sum of our parts. When I do slip into that mode, my inner dialogue sounds quite a bit like the lines of this song...

And I know that we can be so amazing
And baby your love is gonna change me
And now I can see every possibility

Somehow I know that it’ll all turn out
You'll make me work so we can work to work it out
And promise you kid I'll give so much more than I get
I just haven't met you yet

Whether it's wishful thinking or healthy optimism, it does motivate me to try to avoid getting stuck in too deep of a rut...

Life Soundtrack 21

Life in Technicolor II, by Coldplay

There's considerable speculation about the meaning of the lyrics, but the song itself has an upbeat feel that always energizes me. And the idea of living life in technicolor (or in three dimensions rather than two - or, if you prefer, by taking flight) has been one of the major themes of my blog for the majority of its existence.

Life Soundtrack 20

Shinedown, Second Chance

An autobiographical piece about the songwriter's decision to leave his hometown to pursue his dreams, against the wishes of his parents. It's a story anyone who's walked away from a fundamentalistic background will relate to, at least to some extent. I consider myself fortunate that I was able to do so without damaging any family relationships, but it's still felt at times like leaving home in other ways...

Life Soundtrack 19

Because of You, by Kelly Clarkson

Much of what Kelly Clarkson expresses about growing up in a broken home also resonates with the experience of growing up in a heavily legalistic church. The net result of a childhood steeped in fear of hell, obsession over sin and a need to always paste on a happy face is a considerable amount of emotional and relational dysfunction, which is frequently passed down to the next generation as well...

Life Soundtrack 18

Liquid, by Jars of Clay

Christianity at its core. What would the world look like if we could only let go of all of our buts and our oughts, our 'biblical' agendas and our efforts to control others, and truly focus our attention on Jesus' invitation to follow him...

Life Soundtrack 17

Baby I Can't Please You, by Sam Phillips

As much as I prefer to find embeddable videos for the songs in this series, sometimes there just isn't one on YouTube. The video is worth linking to anyway; it even suggests that I wasn't far off in using this song as my Ode to Fundamentalism...