So I met this guy yesterday. I ended up at lunch with him and some work colleagues (long story).
What is interesting about him is what he has done. He is experimenting with a new way to promote and screen independent movies!
The name of the movie is The Cult of Sincerity.
The movie is posted, full length, on YouTube!
They have partnered to bring you free music through AmieStreet, and if you sign up for credit, you get the movie, and $2 goes to Fount of Mercy, a charity working in Africa.
Is this cool or what? And don't worry, there is an introduction at the beginning of the film that tells you how all this works.
Now, I haven't seen the movie yet, so I can't vouch for it being good or bad or anything... but then again... you can see it for free, and you don't have to watch it to get some free music... so it is a win win situation:)
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Church Music...
I found these questions to be very convicting and insightful...
- Do you get bored when someone reads a longish passage of Scripture in your church? Do you start wishing they’d get on with the music?
- Do you need music playing in the background for the reading of Scripture to affect your emotions?
- Does a prayer seem too “plain” or “stark” to you if it doesn’t have music playing behind it?
- Do you feel depressed a few weeks after a worship conference because you haven’t felt close to God in a long time?
- Do you desperately look forward to the next conference you’re going to attend because you know that, finally, you’ll be able to feel close to God again?
- If you’re in a big church with great music, are you able to worship when you visit your parents’ small rural church?
- Do you ever feel worshipful in the middle of the week, at work, at school, etc. just because of thinking about God and his grace? Or does that only happen when the music’s playing?
- Do you tend to feel closer to God when you’re alone with your iPOD than you do when you’re gathered with God’s people in your church?
- Do you feel like you just can’t connect with other believers who haven’t had the same “worship experiences” that you have? Can you only connect with other believers who “know what it feels like to really worship?”
- Is your sense of spiritual well-being based more on feeling close to God, or knowing that you are close to God because of Jesus Christ?
This was a part of a series of posts over on the 9Marks blog by Greg Gilbert. I would encourage you to read them (the first is here). There is some back and forth on the subject that is helpful in keeping a focus on God-centered worship, not on emotion or music centered worship.
- Do you get bored when someone reads a longish passage of Scripture in your church? Do you start wishing they’d get on with the music?
- Do you need music playing in the background for the reading of Scripture to affect your emotions?
- Does a prayer seem too “plain” or “stark” to you if it doesn’t have music playing behind it?
- Do you feel depressed a few weeks after a worship conference because you haven’t felt close to God in a long time?
- Do you desperately look forward to the next conference you’re going to attend because you know that, finally, you’ll be able to feel close to God again?
- If you’re in a big church with great music, are you able to worship when you visit your parents’ small rural church?
- Do you ever feel worshipful in the middle of the week, at work, at school, etc. just because of thinking about God and his grace? Or does that only happen when the music’s playing?
- Do you tend to feel closer to God when you’re alone with your iPOD than you do when you’re gathered with God’s people in your church?
- Do you feel like you just can’t connect with other believers who haven’t had the same “worship experiences” that you have? Can you only connect with other believers who “know what it feels like to really worship?”
- Is your sense of spiritual well-being based more on feeling close to God, or knowing that you are close to God because of Jesus Christ?
This was a part of a series of posts over on the 9Marks blog by Greg Gilbert. I would encourage you to read them (the first is here). There is some back and forth on the subject that is helpful in keeping a focus on God-centered worship, not on emotion or music centered worship.
The bottom line, I suppose, is that it would do every Christian well to do some honest heart-searching about what makes them feel “close to God.” Can you feel close to God just by reading or saying the words, “In Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”? Would you be able to function in a church that’s great in every way except the music? If not, you probably need to give some thought to whether your spiritual life is dependent on something it should not be dependent on.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Modulation and I hold a high note!
A goofy Swedish friend of mine introduced me to this song... The guys in the video aren't the one's singing...
The song is by acappella group DaVinci's Notebook. The song is the "template" for boy band love songs... enjoy:)
The song is by acappella group DaVinci's Notebook. The song is the "template" for boy band love songs... enjoy:)
Monday, July 30, 2007
Country is definitely for the country folk
So I was driving along in Wisconsin (long story), flipping through radio stations, and I came across something interesting.
I should first say that in CT there is exactly 1 country radio station. Those that listen are often transplants from another state, in CT because of work, school or whatever. Country is not mainstream. My friends and I used to have a saying... "There is country, and there is music. And never the twain shall meet."
I have moderated my stance on country music since meeting my wife, who is a native to Minnesota. I can stand some, but the twangy, down home, I'm a truck driver/farmer/"She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy"/coal miner stuff is not my cup of tea (refer to the above saying). Some songs, like "Life is a Highway" by Rascal Flatts are fun and catchy, and more pop with a country flavor than country.
So, while driving with my wife, the lovely and gracious Nora, I was flipping through stations, and came across a country station. And a song started. It is the latest and greatest in the country world. Yes, it is entitled "Inernational Harvester" and is sung by Craig Morgan.
The song is HYSTERICAL... it's is a story/gripe song about how he is the son of a farmer and drives a harvesting combine and how mad he is at people who drive behind him honking because he is so slow.
Now, I understand that driving a combine is a worthy profession. But a song about it? And is is a relatively big hit apparently (we heard it again later on another station). Talk about a country song... wow. I have NO idea how to relate to it. Driving a lawn tractor is about as close as I have gotten.
I couldn't listen to the whole thing, but you can hear a sample HERE.
As I said, there is country and there is music. And, with a few slight qualifications... never the twain shall meet. At least as far as I am concerned!
I should first say that in CT there is exactly 1 country radio station. Those that listen are often transplants from another state, in CT because of work, school or whatever. Country is not mainstream. My friends and I used to have a saying... "There is country, and there is music. And never the twain shall meet."
I have moderated my stance on country music since meeting my wife, who is a native to Minnesota. I can stand some, but the twangy, down home, I'm a truck driver/farmer/"She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy"/coal miner stuff is not my cup of tea (refer to the above saying). Some songs, like "Life is a Highway" by Rascal Flatts are fun and catchy, and more pop with a country flavor than country.
So, while driving with my wife, the lovely and gracious Nora, I was flipping through stations, and came across a country station. And a song started. It is the latest and greatest in the country world. Yes, it is entitled "Inernational Harvester" and is sung by Craig Morgan.
The song is HYSTERICAL... it's is a story/gripe song about how he is the son of a farmer and drives a harvesting combine and how mad he is at people who drive behind him honking because he is so slow.
Now, I understand that driving a combine is a worthy profession. But a song about it? And is is a relatively big hit apparently (we heard it again later on another station). Talk about a country song... wow. I have NO idea how to relate to it. Driving a lawn tractor is about as close as I have gotten.
I couldn't listen to the whole thing, but you can hear a sample HERE.
As I said, there is country and there is music. And, with a few slight qualifications... never the twain shall meet. At least as far as I am concerned!
Friday, June 08, 2007
Memory Almost Full
It's funny, the most interesting, fun, meaningful music I have found recently is by a guy who's biggest success was 40 years ago.
I picked up Paul McCartney's latest CD "Memory Almost Full". It has been released by Starbuck's music label Hear Music.
I wasn't sure what to expect. I listened online to some of the track samples they had, thought I would like it. I read a few reviews.
Let me tell you, this may not be Sir Paul's best music ever, but it is a great CD.
First of all, it is an album, meaning that it isn't just a random collection of songs. It has a theme, though a subtle one (suggested by the title) and each song seems to compliment the one's that come before and after it.
Second, the songs are musically similar, and yet very diverse. The first two songs are very fun pop. Then the songs range from fairly progressive rock to a jazz/funk sound, to almost a country sound to a more introspective, Beatles-esqe sound.
And they deal with interesting subjects, from divorce to the end of life, to not dwelling on the past, to remembering who you are, to just dancing. Surprisingly, it is a serious take on each one, but also fairly upbeat, not mopey or rage filled.
It is a great album.
I picked up Paul McCartney's latest CD "Memory Almost Full". It has been released by Starbuck's music label Hear Music.
I wasn't sure what to expect. I listened online to some of the track samples they had, thought I would like it. I read a few reviews.
Let me tell you, this may not be Sir Paul's best music ever, but it is a great CD.
First of all, it is an album, meaning that it isn't just a random collection of songs. It has a theme, though a subtle one (suggested by the title) and each song seems to compliment the one's that come before and after it.
Second, the songs are musically similar, and yet very diverse. The first two songs are very fun pop. Then the songs range from fairly progressive rock to a jazz/funk sound, to almost a country sound to a more introspective, Beatles-esqe sound.
And they deal with interesting subjects, from divorce to the end of life, to not dwelling on the past, to remembering who you are, to just dancing. Surprisingly, it is a serious take on each one, but also fairly upbeat, not mopey or rage filled.
It is a great album.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Our God Reigns
I was listening to the song "Our God Reigns" by Delirious? this morning.
I look around the world and I see everything seeming to go completely wrong. I see reasonable people being outraged over a restriction on "a womans right to choose", nevermind that the "choice" means killing an innocent life. The deaths at VTech, the deaths in Turkey, the deaths and carnage in Iraq, and I could go on and on.
Yet the song focused me again. This isn't the upbeat pop "The Lord Reigns" that seems to foget that there is still suffereing in this world. This is a quiet, sober, thoughtful song.
It was an encouragment. God is in control. No matter what is going on, He reigns, He has His purposes in our lives and our world, and in the end, we will see His plan.
40 million babies lost to Gods great orphanage,
It’s a modern day genocide and a modern day disgrace
If this is a human right then why aren’t we free?
The only freedom we have is in a man nailed to a tree.
100 million faces, staring at the sky,
Wondering if this HIV will ever pass us by.
The devil stole the rain and hope trickles down the plug,
But still my Chinese take away could pay for someone’s drugs.
Our God reigns, Our God reigns,
Forever your kingdom reigns.
The west has found a gun and it’s loaded with ‘unsure’
Nip and tuck if you have the bucks in a race to find a cure.
Psalm one hundred and thirty nine is the conscience to our selfish crime,
God didn’t screw up when he made you,
He’s a father who loves to parade you.
Yes he reigns, yes you reign, yes you reign,
For there is only one true God,
But we’ve lost the reins on this world,
Forgive us all, forgive us please,
As we fight for this broken world on our knees.
I look around the world and I see everything seeming to go completely wrong. I see reasonable people being outraged over a restriction on "a womans right to choose", nevermind that the "choice" means killing an innocent life. The deaths at VTech, the deaths in Turkey, the deaths and carnage in Iraq, and I could go on and on.
Yet the song focused me again. This isn't the upbeat pop "The Lord Reigns" that seems to foget that there is still suffereing in this world. This is a quiet, sober, thoughtful song.
It was an encouragment. God is in control. No matter what is going on, He reigns, He has His purposes in our lives and our world, and in the end, we will see His plan.
40 million babies lost to Gods great orphanage,
It’s a modern day genocide and a modern day disgrace
If this is a human right then why aren’t we free?
The only freedom we have is in a man nailed to a tree.
100 million faces, staring at the sky,
Wondering if this HIV will ever pass us by.
The devil stole the rain and hope trickles down the plug,
But still my Chinese take away could pay for someone’s drugs.
Our God reigns, Our God reigns,
Forever your kingdom reigns.
The west has found a gun and it’s loaded with ‘unsure’
Nip and tuck if you have the bucks in a race to find a cure.
Psalm one hundred and thirty nine is the conscience to our selfish crime,
God didn’t screw up when he made you,
He’s a father who loves to parade you.
Yes he reigns, yes you reign, yes you reign,
For there is only one true God,
But we’ve lost the reins on this world,
Forgive us all, forgive us please,
As we fight for this broken world on our knees.
Monday, April 02, 2007
DRM Free Music Downloads Are Coming!
Well, EMI has just taken a step forward into the unknown! I think it is a good choice too.
EMI has decided to offer their music catalog (not sure if it is all of it or not) on iTunes DRM free. This means that you can download the music and use it on any player and on multiple players without having to crack codes or anything.
I think this is a good choice, and we'll see what happens. The recording industry has been seeing CD sales plummet with no end in sight. Studios know that they have to get into the online market, but the DRM issues have kept them from wanting to (right now, if I download off of iTunes, I can't play the song on a Creative player, and if you download off of most other sights you can't play the song on an iPod). DRM free allows anyone to download anything onto any player.
So... it begins:)
EMI has decided to offer their music catalog (not sure if it is all of it or not) on iTunes DRM free. This means that you can download the music and use it on any player and on multiple players without having to crack codes or anything.
I think this is a good choice, and we'll see what happens. The recording industry has been seeing CD sales plummet with no end in sight. Studios know that they have to get into the online market, but the DRM issues have kept them from wanting to (right now, if I download off of iTunes, I can't play the song on a Creative player, and if you download off of most other sights you can't play the song on an iPod). DRM free allows anyone to download anything onto any player.
So... it begins:)
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