"Change" - Merlon Devine

You know, I've heard it said that instrumental music can't be called "Christian."  Why?  "Because it doesn't have words, so how can you know it's Christian?"

Well, aside from the obvious glory that the early classical composers attributed to The Almighty, there is no reason to say that instrumental music isn't Christian.

My example?  Soprano sax artist Merlon Devine. 

Now, one thing I feel that all Christian instrumental music must do is communicate the message in an effective way.  The inflection, emphasis, and nuance must work together to make whatever point of inspiration the artist wishes to bring home.  Let me just say that Merlon's music does all of that and more, as is demonstrated on the track "Change," from the album "Breathe."

We all understand that life is going to involve change, and that change, often times, is not easy.  As "Change" begins, Merlon uses his saxophone to communicate that yes, things will change, and they may be changing right now, but that part of our process of growth in Christ involves leaving some old things behind, and letting the past become the past (yes, I got all of that from the opening sax line.)

As he takes us into the chorus, Merlon tells us that things are gonna be alright, and that, as we follow God, things are only going to get better, which is the point of the change.  Seasons come and seasons go, but in the end, God remains faithful, and will not stop being God.

As we come to the bridge, there's a moment of pause, a moment of reflection.  It serves as an opportunity for the listener to reflect on the message and say, "You know what?  You're right!"  The music then takes the listener along a natural progression, where we now look forward to the future with excitement, which is well underscored by a timely modulation.

I will say that I've had the pleasure of seeing Merlon minister this song live, and you can honestly see the power of God working through him as he plays his saxophone.  It is quite the thing to be a part of, especially once you know his story.  As we feature him in the future, we'll share more and more of that story.

All of that to say this:  "Change"  is quite the masterpiece of Christian communication, even though it has no words; that's what makes it so powerful.  I hope you enjoy it.

 You can listen to "Change" on the YouTube video below:




As always, we hope you enjoy all of the music that you find here at Christian Music Discovery, the place for good Christian music.

"Free" - Strange Celebrity

The music industry can be a funny thing sometimes.  Let's take the band Strange Celebrity as an example: They only had one major album release, "Remedy," back in 2003, which was not very successful. And the one single that got play time on Air1, a national Christian alternative station, was "Rise," which, in my opinion, was not the strongest of all debut singles, although the plan may have been to release a better song as the next single (though that never happened.)

Listening through "Remedy" shortly after it came out, I wasn't really impressed with any of the songs, except the first one, a song entitled "Free."  I heard this song and thought, "Whoa, these guys may really be onto something," only to be disappointed by the rest of the album.

That brings me back to my point: it's funny how the best song on an album can potentially never reach the ears of an audience who would jump at the chance to purchase it, if they only heard it.  Such is the case with "Free."

As soon as "Free" kicks in, you start bobbing your head to the unique rhythm that is laid down by the guitars and bass.  The slight dissonance that the lead guitar gives in it's opening riff is something that you're not quite sure that you've ever heard before, and serves to set the mood for the rest of the song which is, in a word, "refreshing."

As the vocals come in, they are underscored nicely by a playful back-and-forth between the bass and the guitar, which helps maintain the established rhythm.  Luke Brown then takes us on into a conversation with God about leaving behind the things that weigh down and being lifted up into freedom.

As we proceed into the chorus, it builds in such a way that the listener feels carried up and over, just as Luke is asking.  The weight is lifted, and the freedom has set in.

As we proceed to the bridge, the guitar lays down what is really a liberating guitar solo against a definite change in progression.  Then, it's back to the chorus, bringing the point home, and leaving the listener satisfied.

Really, "Free" is the complete package as far as songs go.  It's themed well, it moves well, it stays fresh, and it really communicates the point well through both the lyrics and the music.  I may not have been impressed with the rest of Strange Celebrity's music, but I absolutely love this song, and it is definitely a song worth purchasing.


You can listen to "Free" on the YouTube video below:




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