What was your favourite song growing up? The track you couldn’t live without? The one that you would play and listen to 20 times in a row just because you could? The song that still has a place and has meaning in your heart now as much, or maybe even more so, than you had then? Even if you think you didn’t have a favourite song, I’m sure you did. The one you’d catch yourself singing to because you just can’t get it out of your head. The one that has had so much impact on you when you were younger that once it starts to play now, it brings back many fond memories about your youth.
“Above All”, co-written with popular worship leader Paul Baloche, was one of those songs, that is right now still one of my favourite hands down worship songs I’ve ever heard, in this decade and the last. Released in the late 1990s, it was the cover version sung and recorded by CCM artist Michael W. Smith that released in 2001 that made the song become a radio hit. Now the song is attributed more to Michael than to Paul. And while it’s just about 20 years old, the song itself speaks about truths so timeless that it is a fitting discussion for this week’s Throwback Tuesdays and Worship Wednesdays.
A song that declares God to be above everything we can ever hope or even strive for, both versions by Michael and Paul are sung with fervent passion. A reminder that some songs, be it worship or any other genre, are just made to last throughout the ages. And others sadly don’t. Now I’m not sure why a song like “Above All” still has an impact now many years later, while a song as recent as Audio Adrenaline’s “Rejoice”, sung with just as much emotion and passion, may not necessarily be as remembered even a year later. Nevertheless, “Above All” is still a song needed to be heard now as much as it did years prior. As the chorus states, ‘…You took the fall and thought of me above all…’. Christ sacrificed Himself thinking of us, which is reason enough to worship and praise Him.
What has been your favourite worship song throughout the years? What do you think are the qualities of a timeless song? Which song that released in 2015 do you believe will be timeless as the years go by? Let us know in the comments.
Til next time.
I don’t know if this counts as a worship song, but Testify to Love is one that seems to be in my head all the time. 😉 And honestly, I think Cast My Cares by Finding Favour will be a big worship hit in years to come. ☺
Testify to Love by Avalon. Whoops, forgot that one tiny detail.