Quick Look: A Beautiful Exchange
Sunday, July 25th, 2010
So I gave a first look at our church’s newest album some time ago. With Hillsong’s newest album out, thought I’d give personal opinion on the album.
A Beautiful Exchange sounds very similar to Faith + Hope + Love, Hillsong’s previous album (2009 album). I don’t know how to describe it, that there’s that roundness about the music?
The vocal’s style also sound similar to the album, where the worship leader’s vocal does not cut through clear. The inclusion of the congregation’s vocal made the worship leader’s not so distinctive. I was looking through some interviews by Hillsong and someone was saying that they were trying to capture the congregation singing, rather than only the worship leader.
When I first listened to the album, Believe and Thank You quickly became my favourite songs.
Believe’s lyrics are full of Jesus, that He is my light, my strength, my Rock, He is strong enough. I keep listening to it over and over again. Just the verses and the chorus were already awesome, but when I fired up YouTube and watched the DVD of the song, not only was the video anointed, but the bridge of the song totally blew my mind away. “Oh Your love, Your love will never fail, Your love it knows no end, Your love will never fail. Oh Your love, stronger than my shame, greater than my pain, Your love will never fail.” What a declaration of His love. What can I say except “Amen”? His love never fails, His love knows no end, His love is stronger than my shame, greater than my pain.
Thank You is a simple song, with simple lyrics, but y’know what? At times we write songs with that are so cheem, so superfluous with words we sing them and they sound nice, but we forget about Jesus, His love, His grace, the cross. If Jesus’ grace and love are simple, then simplicity is best. I know the lyrics don’t sound very new, but who needs a new lyrics? Some songs are classic. They still get sung years after it was released, they get sung even though Hillsong only released it once… the church simply picked it up and it’s everywhere. Worship is a response, a response to what Jesus has done for us, and you don’t have to be elaborate. Response is as simple as saying, “thank You, Jesus.” It’s the best thing you can do when you receive a gift, no?
So those were the two that struck me when I started listening to the album. Over time, however, The Greatness Of Our God grew on me and joined the rank. I was a little skeptical initially, because the song name sounded too similar to How Great Is Our God (by Chris Tomlin) so I thought they were out of creativity. How mistaken I was. “No sky contains, no doubt restrains all You are, the greatness of our God.” Blows my mind away, that our doubt or lack of faith cannot prevent His greatness, His power, His goodness from manifesting in our lives. That’s good already, but then comes the bridge: There is nothing that could ever separate us from Your love, no life, no death, of this I am convinced that You my God are greater still. It’s one of those bridges I’ll never get sick of singing, never get sick of declaring, because it is utterly true and utterly liberating. And then comes the third verse, “no words can say, or songs convey all You are, the greatness of our God.” What a conclusion, after meditating on His love, His greatness, we come to the conclusion in humility that y’know what? No words can say, no songs (plural!) can convey all His greatness. We give up trying. Lol.
Those are the top songs in my opinion.
Open My Eyes is good. I am touched particularly by the uniqueness of the song. It must be hard for Hillsong people to keep writing songs that are creative after all these years (with over 40 albums, it’s hard to keep songs unique) but Reuben Morgan did it with this song. One thing about this song is that it doesn’t sound so, um, how do I put it, it sounds like a song that can be sung in normal church services, as opposed to being too rock that you only hear them sung in youth services. And the song sounds unique and creative and fresh! Praise Jesus for unending creativity.
Beautiful Exchange is not bad. I love the song name, I love it that it’s the album’s title, (please understand that my not bad doesn’t mean I hate the song… it simply means that in my opinion I don’t take a liking to it due to personal preference) I love the chorus and the bridge. (Doesn’t mean I hate the rest of the song! It simply means that the chorus and the bridge jump out on me.) You can sing them over and over.
Forever Reign is not bad, I love the chorus and the bridge.
I realize that the chorus of many songs in the album are excellent. I love the chorus of The One Who Saves and Our God Is Love, too.
Is it that when songs are written, they are built from the chorus out to the verses? Is that why for some songs the chorus is so awesome, and the verses are okay? Is it a phenomenon in this album, or songs in general, or is it just me (lol)?
The rest didn’t stand out. Doesn’t mean they are terrible okay… personal preference thing. And my standards are pretty strict. =P I haven’t listened to the Hillsong London songs much. For All You Are / You Are Good’s intro piano riff sounds very similar to NewCre’s Your Saving Grace. (Try singing the verse to the riff.) In the flow? Lol.
Surprisingly quite many good songs in this album. =) And as I said earlier, love the album title.
When only love could make a way, You gave Your life in a beautiful exchange.
When only love could break these chains, You gave Your life in a beautiful exchange.
Sums up the Gospel really.
The Gospel is not about trying to do good more and sin less.
The Gospel is about Someone taking my place, so that I can take His place, His place of blessing, His place of favour.
A beautiful exchange.
