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Saturday, December 18, 2010

Top Songs of the Year

This list includes my top 15 songs of 2010. This is part 1 which features songs 15 through 8.

15. Impossible – Anberlin

This song is the first single released off their latest album Dark is the Way, Light is a Place. Like most of the album, this song is all about relationships. According to lead singer Stephen Christian, this song is about the hardships in love. “Love is a friction, a chemistry. We need to fight it out in a good way, not with threats of leaving, but to, in love, find an understanding," said Christian. This video is the actual music video for the song. I absolutely love this video, the slow motion effects are insane.




14. For Those Who Wait – Fireflight

This is the title track from Fireflight’s latest album. This powerful song is all about someone who is going through a difficult time and wondering where God is in this situation. But, this song reminds us that God’s time is not our own, and His timing is perfect. Lead singer Dawn Michele describes the song as, “We say to God that we’ve been praying and waiting for Him to show us what comes next and it is excruciating. Somewhere along the way rocks get thrown in our path and I think God is using those things to push us along and teach us to have faith. God wants to mold us into who He wants us to become before we reach that final destination.” The official video for this song is really powerful, it might even make you cry.




13. Catch Myself Catching Myself – Underoath

This next song is a really dark but powerful song by Underoath. Spencer Chamberlain sings about being chased by addiction and temptation. These dark thoughts are haunting him, and he believes the only way to escape them is by destroying them through fire. This song is speaking about freeing yourself from temptation and addiction. The best part of this song is the vocals. After Aaron Gillespie’s exit from the band, Chamberlain picked up the clean vocals as well as continued doing the screaming vocals. His vocals on this song are absolutely superb. The video features the song along with lyrics through a video slideshow.




12. God Save the Foolish Kings – House of Heroes

This is another great song released by House of Heroes. Like so many other songs by them, this track takes a unique experience and ties their faith back into it. God Save the Foolish Kings is about a gang fight between two rival gangs: lions and kings. In this song, one member of a gang finds God through the experience. The official music video is a superb visual adaptation of the song. Also featured in the video is Stephanie Smith, who provides back up vocals in God Save the Foolish Kings.




11. Something Holy – Stellar Kart

Coming in at number 11 is a worship song by Stellar Kart. The album, Everything is Different Now, was a loose worship concept album. Something Holy is definitely the stand out track on record. This song speaks about how we as humans were born to be a part of something huge. We were meant to be a part of something holy. The video is a really cool homemade video featuring the lyrics of the song.




10. This Awakening – Sent By Ravens

This hard hitting song speaks about crying out to Jesus Christ. The band sings about falling desolate in a hopeless situation and falling into Jesus Christ’s water. Throughout the song, water is really a metaphor for Jesus’ love. Sent By Ravens wants to fall deeper into God’s water (love and grace). This is a really cool song off Sent By Ravens’ debut album.



9. Hanging On By a Thread – The Letter Black

This is the title track off their debut album. This song is very similar to This Awakening by Sent By Ravens. This song is another desperate cry out to God. This song is about Hanging on to God by only a thread. Yet, through this hopeless situation, The Letter Black still finds redemption and resolution through their perseverance in hard times. This is the official music video for the song.




8. You Will Remain – Philmont

After they were dropped from their label earlier this year, many people, including myself, thought this band was through with their career. I was especially disappointed because I loved their debut album. But, nonetheless, this band proved that they could still make great albums without a major label. In the fall of this year, they released an independent EP that was funded primarily through the donations of fans. You Will Remain was the first single released off the album, and I think it is the best song on the EP. This powerful song speaks about how no matter what we go through or the struggles we face, Jesus will always be there right beside us.




To see the top 7 songs of the year, You can go to part 2 here.

Top Songs of the Year Part 2

This is Part 2 of my top 15 songs of the year. If you missed part 1, you can check it out here.

7. Cover Your Eyes – Children 18:3

This punk band is known for their hard hitting melodies, dual vocals, and fist pumping anthems; Cover Your Eyes is no exception. From the very first beat, this is an in your face punk rock song. Cover Your Eyes is all about standing your ground, and not running from fear or adversity. Children 18:3 know how to rock, and this song is no exception. Below is the official music video for the song.




6. Renegade – Manafest

This next song is from the Christian rapper Manafest. This song is off his latest album The Chase. As the title suggests, this song is all about feeling like a renegade to Jesus Christ. This song tackles the feeling of sinning, but still having the courage to say, “I’m not a renegade. I’m not the enemy. I’m still a good person at heart.” What puts this song over the top is the guest vocal work by Trevor McNevan, lead vocalist for Thousand Foot Krutch and FM Static. With the fusion of McNevan’s vocals and Manafest’s raps, this anthem packs a hard punch for its listeners. Below is the official music video for the song.




5. We Shot the Moon – Write this Down

Coming in at number 5 is the best track off Write this Down’s self titled debut album. Featuring insane hooks, polished vocals, and hardcore screams, We Shot the Moon is easily one of the top songs of the year. This song uses the metaphor shooting the moon in cards to real life. Shooting the moon is a risky strategy in many card games in which the player attempts to get the highest possible amount of points. Write this Down uses this idea in their song. They are laying their lives out on the line and attempting a risky move in the game of life, and hoping to come out on top. Plus, this song has one of the catchiest chorus’ of the year. It will get stuck in your head for days. Below is the album cover, plus the song.




4. Dear X, You Don’t Own Me – Disciple

This was the first single released by Disciple of their brand new album, Horseshoes and Handgrenades. According to lead singer, Kevin Young, this song is all about tackling our addictions, struggles, and pain, and releasing their power over us. “The Bible says sin has no more control over us when we are born again, we are a new creation. Sin can’t enslave us or manipulate us anymore. So this song is written to our past, dear pain, dear shame, dear hate and dear anger. We are saying to those things you used to have me, own me, and manipulate me but you don’t own me anymore,” said Young. Below is a really cool homemade video of the song.




3. Parallels – As I Lay Dying

This is the only metal song on my Top 15 list. As I Lay Dying is a band filled with phenomenal musicians. Each and every member is a true professional at their instrument. Lyrically, this song is about how we as humans, are comatose people. We are hungry and malnourished, while being in a comatose state. The only way to set us free from this, is the love of Jesus Christ. Below is the official music video for the song. The music video tackles a different subject matter than the song. The video takes a look at a fictional world where technology and machines control humans.




2. Believe – The Letter Black

This really powerful song by the Letter Black is off their debut album on Tooth and Nail records. Featuring dual vocals from married couple Sarah and Mark Anthony, this hard hitting rock song serves as an anthem for all Christians. Believe speaks about standing up for Jesus Christ, even in the toughest of situations. Below is the official music video for Believe.




1. Eternity – Disciple

This is Disciple’s second song in my top 5. This is easily the most powerful song of the year in my opinion. As the title suggests, this song is all about eternity. It is about spending eternity with our Savior Jesus Christ. The song speaks about how we, as Christians, will one day leave this world, and enter glory. For me, I don’t think words can accurately describe how powerful this song is. Take a listen below.




This list took me a long time to make because there were so many memorable songs in 2010. But, overall, I hope you have enjoyed this look at my top 15 songs of the year.