Tag Archives: Songs

Music News: It’s All About The Digits

Do you remember Tommy Tutone’s 1982 hit single that made the phone number 867-5309 famous? The song used the digits over and over in its catchy refrain and skyrocketed to the top of the pop music charts. Well, now the song is the subject of a bitter battle between two businesses. According to news reports, a Rhode Island company and a national firm are battling over the right to use the number. The fight reportedly began two years ago, when Gem Plumbing & Heating of Lincoln, Rhode Island trademarked the popular phone number after Tutone’s song reached No. 4 on … Continue reading →

Starbucks Songs?

For all of you Starbucks fans who enjoy listening to tunes while you sip your super duper triple skim lattes-—good news. The company known for its coffee is expanding its’ empire to include a record label and it has already signed a major name. Paul McCartney was just introduced as the first artist signed to Starbucks Corporation’s new record label. Earlier this month the company announced it was partnering with Concord Music Group to launch the Los Angeles-based Hear Music label. Insiders say the McCartney announcement is another major step for Starbucks to spin part of its consumer popularity into … Continue reading →

Bible Stories: Wise Man and Foolish Man

The previous entry in my Bible Stories series considered a portion of Matthew chapter five. Today, I want to focus on a portion on scripture at the end of Matthew chapter seven. I am passing over the middle portion of the Sermon on the Mount. While there are some nuggets of teaching that are easy for children to understand, most of the teachings are more complex than what would be taught to children, especially young children. The story of the wise and foolish builders is one of my favorite stories to teach to children. Although it is called a story, … Continue reading →

Songs Every Christian Should Know

In my previous blog I wrote about Bible school songs that I think every child (as well as adult) should know. But what are some “adult” (for lack of a better word) songs which everyone should know? When discussing this topic I think it is important to note the purpose of singing given in the New Testament. In Colossians 3:16 the Bible states: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” The songs which we sing to … Continue reading →

Special Songs For Special Kids

Imagine you are nine years old and suffering from leukemia… life is dismal to say the least. Then out of the blue you receive a surprise from your favorite singer–a heart-rending tune written especially for you. Talk about a dream come true. For Ashley Abernathy the dream was made reality by rock star David Lee Roth. The former Van Halen frontman wrote and recorded the song for Abernathy nearly six years ago. “It was just amazing, really cool, to think that a rock star would’ve recorded a song for me,” said Abernathy who is now 15 and beginning her sophomore … Continue reading →

Irony And/Or Coincidence?

On the very day that her new album hit stores, pop singer Jessica Simpson was a no show at numerous critical personal appearances. Simpson’s publicist tells media outlets that the former “Newlywed” is suffering from a case of laryngitis. A “bruised vocal chord” to be exact. The injury forced Simpson to cancel her “Today” show appearance (PEOPLE Magazine reports that she is now re-scheduled to appear on the show’s “Summer Concert Series” on Friday and is also booked to “speak, but not perform” on Wednesday’s “Today” show) as well as a Wednesday appearance with David Letterman. “It is true that … Continue reading →

Anti-War Songs

I realized the other day, when I read a headline that death metal band Six Feet Under had released a new protest song titled “Amerika the Brutal” (about lead singer Chris Barnes’ cousin who fought in Iraq) that I have always loved protest songs. That is not to say that I myself am a protester. I almost always support the government in its actions and I most definitely support the troops. I did not realize it that many of the folk songs I grew up with during the Sixties and early Seventies were actually protest songs. My parents had Kingston … Continue reading →

Five Lessons from Children’s Songs

I thought today I would take a break from my series over the evidence we have for the existence of God to write on a little lighter subject. This past week my congregation has been conducting a Family Bible School. While we all sang the children’s songs before class was held, I started thinking about how simply these children’s songs teach important lessons not only for children, but for us as well. I am honestly not 100% on the titles of these songs – the titles I have listed here are the names I have known these songs by all … Continue reading →

A Review of “Scripture Scouts

We recently got “Scripture Scouts: Musical Adventures in the Book of Mormon” for our children. I first heard about “Scripture Scouts’ when I asked a mother how her Sunbeam age boy knew all of the scripture stories that we talked about in Primary. I wanted to know her secret. She told me that he learned them from listening to the tapes. Since “Scripture Scouts” has recently been released to CD, we decided to buy them and give them a try. I was initially a little nervous about how the entire package would be put together. I didn’t want anything, which … Continue reading →

Billy Preston – Keyboard Genius

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I was saddened to hear that keyboardist Billy Preston died on June 6, 2006 from kidney failure. I knew he had been in poor health for years, but I have always loved his music and it is a staple of my iPod. You may remember Billy Preston for his funky hits of the 70s such as “Nothing from Nothing, “Will It Go ‘Round in Circles” and “Outta Space.” But, he made many behind the scenes contributions to the music industry including working with the Beatles and Rolling Stones. Preston became close with Beatle George Harrison after playing on the “Let … Continue reading →