Introduction
There is something so beautiful about the coming together of voices in a song. When we sing together, we are unified in such a way that we may come to an understanding of rhythm and melody and emotions. Music is often referred to as a universal language, because most every kind of person speaking every kind of language in every country around the world can understand what music is.
Worship music is a perfect example of united voices. Contemporary worship is often performed like a concert at larger churches, but it is designed to lead a congregation in praise. Mike Bickle, in his article "Worship and the End Times," refers to worship music as "true warfare." In a world where good is constantly fighting against evil, it is important for us to keep our hearts and minds in the right place. Worship music has allowed many people, including Christians and yet-to-be-Christians, a chance to release their burdens through song and find peace with God.
The Blessing
"The Blessing," written by Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, Chris Brown, and Steven Furtick, was released in 2020 right before the pandemic hit. It debuted at number 3 on the Hot Christian Songs chart, and peaked at number 15 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100. The song refers directly to Numbers 6:24-26 from the Bible: "The Lord bless you and keep you, make His face shine upon you..." Below is the live music video that was first released on March 6, 2020 and performed at the Elevation Church in North Carolina.
Voices come together at about 9 minutes and 20 seconds into the song, singing the word "amen" many times through. The members of both the crowd and the stage are all lost in the sound of the music, visibly praying and lifting their hands up in praise. Everyone in the room has a story, a thought that has always been in the back of my mind whenever I walk through a crowd of strangers.
Dynamics are so important in this song, as the volume fluctuates between loud and soft, emphasizing different parts as according to the emotions they are meant to convey. This is common in contemporary worship music, to go from loud and exciting to quiet to loud again. A second element that contributes greatly to the song is its smooth articulation of notes, especially in the "amen" chorus. It is a rather simple tune, but still so effective and beautiful and fit for the song. The third and final element is this song's large range, as it gives individual attention to both female and male voices, peaking with Kari Jobe's incredible voice in the middle of the song.
Oceans
"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" is a very famous worship song, and in my experience, it has reached many people beyond just the "Christian" realm. It was written and originally performed by an Australian group called Hillsong United, and released back in August 2013. It has reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart many times, and was certified quadruple platinum in the U.S. The song was inspired by the story of Peter walking on water in the book of Matthew, giving reference to the idea of embracing the unknown and trusting God for guidance.
In this song, the united voices seem to be strongest at minute 3:35, where the music dies down and spotlights the bridge, sung by Taya Smith. The audience sings with her, quietly, and still profoundly because there are hundreds of voices brought together. The bridge slowly builds back up into the chorus, and Taya stops singing a couple of times to listen to the crowd. We once again witness the dramatic changes in dynamics throughout this song, as there are multiple moments of both quiet and gloriously loud. The melody in "Oceans" is hauntingly beautiful, especially during the bridge where it alters between Taya's falsetto and a few of her lower notes. There is a wide range of notes sang throughout this song as well, peaking near the end of the bridge. Its timbre is echoey and ethereal, as outside concerts often tend to be.
Once again, the audience is filled with people who have suffered countless burdens, or perhaps witnessed the greatest of joys. It is lovely to see such a large crowd of people, each one lost in the music and likely thinking about their stories, however that may look for each individual. Humanity is sometimes a strange concept to think about, but I love that so many of us are able to gather together in moments like these.
Conclusion
Truthfully, I was a bit nervous to write about this topic, because I know that any mention of religion can be sensitive, but I certainly loved listening to these songs again and receiving a reminder of how beautiful they are. Since I only briefly mentioned how worship music affects society, I would like to say again that it is part of a bigger picture. We are all living in a broken society, filled with hatred and constant discrimination from one person to the next. Worship is a way, or should be a way, out of the darkness and into a place where no person is better than the other. We have all done wrong, and we have all been wronged against, and perhaps what truly matters is that we are all permitted to stand together and worship.
Personal Journey
I have grown too accustomed to the music that I listen to, and though I know how much I appreciate it, I don't often take the time to dissect it and understand why I have so much love for each particular song or artist. This course has allowed me to rediscover my adoration for certain musical elements and styles. I greatly appreciate that we had so much freedom in what we could choose to write about, which is why I was able to dive so deep into my own interests. It has even helped me to shift my songwriting style, now that I know more about musical elements in general and how I would like to arrange lyrics and melodies and other sounds. I wrote a few songs this semester that I have fallen completely in love with, thanks to this class and the freedom I had in writing and discussing music with other classmates.
Sources
Bickle, Mike. “Worship and the End Times - Resources.” Resources, 23 Sept. 2021, www.ihopkc.org/resources/blog/worship-end-times/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=2009810_Worship%20and%20the%20End%20Times%20by%20Mike%20Bickle&dm_i=2Y4D,172S2,5UQLXB,4MNI2,1&gclid=CjwKCAjwjMiiBhA4EiwAZe6jQzV-XPz_IZj-umSgxpuv7St4wEjJ3-tVtsCGM-2Onm1EKX_QI-V5gxoCjdQQAvD_BwE.
The Power of Music | Rich Coffey Music. www.richcoffeymusic.com/thoughts/thoughts-on-music/power-of-music.htm#:~:text=As%20a%20universal%20language%2C%20music,times%20of%20need%20and%20sadness.
Wikipedia. “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail).” Wikipedia, July 2022, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceans_(Where_Feet_May_Fail).
Wikipedia. “The Blessing (Song).” Wikipedia, Apr. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blessing_(song)#:~:text=%22The%20Blessing%22%20is%20a%20song,%2C%20on%20March%2020%2C%202020.
