One of my favorite things in life is hearing an incredible song for the very first time. Such a special, soul-bursting moment, and there’s really nothing quite like it. Except maybe bubblegum snow cones on a sultry day.
One of my other favorite things in life is hearing an incredible album for the very first time, because, well, that’s like increasing the incredible song factor by ten-to-fifteen.
Enter one such album: Music Inspired by The Story.
The album originates from Randy Frazee’s and Max Lucado’s The Story, a book which creatively assembles 31 biblical stories. Christian artist Nichole Nordeman pens all the songs on the album.
“Some of these stories have just been relegated to Sunday School Land,” says Nordeman of the project. “We just forget how utterly relevant they still are.”
And here’s the freaking unique thing about the album: it brings together a staggering 24 artists personally singing from the first-person perspective of over a dozen biblical characters. Name any notable Christian artist and they’re basically on this album.
The collaboration here is reminiscent of one of those repetitive WOW! albums without, well, the repetitiveness of old songs, since this album features completely original tracks. Nordeman paired with producer Bernie Herms to write songs that could both be expressed by the biblical characters themselves and would also musically suit the varying voices collaborating on this album.
It’s truly one of the most creative, dynamic ideas I’ve seen in Christian music, and some of these biblical-musical pairings are chillingly spot-on. Many of the collaborating artists have proclaimed how much they wish they’d written the songs they sing themselves because of the resonating lyrics.
My favorite track on the album non-coincidentally comes from my favorite Christian musical artists, Casting Crowns, who sing as the skeptically waiting Abraham/Sarah in “Who But You.” My favorite lyric comes when Abraham/Sarah compare their perspective versus God’s: “I see a star; You see a galaxy.”
Another favorite is Chris Tomlin singing as David in “Your Heart” — above slaying giants and kingly reigns, David desires that others would see God’s heart in him. Tomlin’s youthful voice perfectly inhabits a young messed-up David, and indeed, I forget it’s Chris Tomlin singing out David’s heart’s cry.
Another great match: Third Day’s Mac Powell as the voice of Jesus in “When Love Sees You.” Singing from Christ’s perspective is nothing new for Powell — I mean, dude even rocks the Jesus-look with his sweet hair/beard combo. There’s just something about the deepness of his voice that earnestly resonates: “Tell Me your story; show Me your wounds…Hand Me the pieces broken and bruised, and I’ll show you what Love sees when Love sees you.”
Francesca Battistelli and Natalie Grant provide some awesome female vocals as the accepting voice of Mary in “Be Born in Me” and joyously stunned Mary Magdalene in “Alive,” respectively.
Some other notable matches: Steven Curtis Chapman as the repentant thief on the cross, MercyMe’s Bart Millard as bumbling incompetent Moses, and Brandon Heath as forgiving Joseph.
Been listening to these songs on repeat for several days now, and I’d highly recommend the album. It’s astounding and refreshing to hear songs written for biblical characters thousands of years ago and how these ancient stories can still bless us today.
I give this album approximately seventeen blue stars and twelve purple ribbons.
Anyone hear this album yet? Have a favorite song or biblical-musical pairing?
sample dissertation https://dissertations-writing.org/