Word Label Group
Release Date: August 28th 2020
Reviewed by: Joshua Andre
for KING & COUNTRY, Cory Asbury & Rebecca St. James– Together (Acoustic Version) – Single (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- Together (Acoustic Version)
2020 is probably one of the years you would want to skip over. The seemingly endless pandemic of COVID-19, the death of George Floyd and other black Americans, as well as deaths of celebrities close a near to our hearts (Kobe Bryant Naya Rivera, Chadwick Boseman), and delays in film and TV production… and let’s not forget the bushfires at the start of the year! Wow, boy this year has had it all, and if life was a movie, I’m sure if we had the remote, we’d press skip to the start of 2021 or the start of 2022. However one good thing that has come out of this year is that we’ve all begun to notice each other a bit more. We’re forced to quarantine and isolate with others whom we might not have talked with for a while- and I guess on some weird level, this pandemic and the whole year in general is doing some good, as it has forced us all to reconnect with old friends and family, and forced us to take stock of our life and our relationships, as we make a plan to move forwards when life returns to ‘semi-normal’… whenever that is.
One thing that has been helping each one of us, well at least me, during this time is music. whenever I feel stressed and overwhelmed, I’d click on a song on my Spotify, and 9 times out of 10, without fail, I’d be inspired and encouraged by a lyric in a song from maybe some of the most unexpected places. Artists who are in the mainstream and aren’t Christian have inspired me of late, and while that can seem like heresy or blasphemous to some, I’m now of the firm belief that God can use ANYTHING to draw us all closer to Himself and to comfort and heal us during this uncertain and turbulent time. Enter in CCM duo and crossover sibling group for KING & COUNTRY.
While you all can read about Joel and Luke in Jon’s blog about the band, as well as Jon’s review about the smash hit “TOGETHER”; this past week these guys have dropped an acoustic version of the same song, this time featuring Cory Asbury and Rebecca St. James instead of Kirk Franklin and Tori Kelly. While there’s nothing really much I could say about the song (seriously read Jon’s review, and that’s my own viewpoint- I share the same sentiments!), let me say that this acoustic version is just as impressive and just as powerful and compelling as the studio recording. Cory and Rebecca both add a uniqueness and a freshness and vitality to the recording, that you all need to hear and experience to believe.
As “Together” continues to rise up and up the charts, spending multiple weeks at number 1 on the Billboard Christian charts; for KING & COUNTRY continue to do their bit in encouraging us and providing hope when we as humans need it the most. They’ve performed at the Ryman Auditorium in an exclusive livestream event, as well as at a Compassion, World Vision and Food For the Hungry Livestream event last week; and are next due for a Harvest Livestream Event called A Rush Of Hope in a few days’ time. So what is next in the near or far future for for KING & COUNTRY? I guess waiting like the rest of us for a vaccine. And trusting God that He’s got the best plan for us. So while we all are stuck at home and wondering when life will be back to ‘normal’, and while we’re all waiting…why don’t you put on this song? Either version – it doesn’t matter! – and marvel at how God is working! Well done Joel and Luke, I can’t wait for what God has in store for you next!
Score: 5/5
RIYL: Coldplay, OneRepublic, Delirious?, TobyMac, Tenth Avenue North