Chris Tomlin Makes Time Magazine: Hip Hymns are Him
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Thu, November 30, 2006
- Viewed 126
- (22) comments so far
This distinction does not make him the best musician anywhere, as he will be the first to admit. Tomlin’s How Great Is Our God (which he co-wrote with Jesse Reeves and Ed Cash), currently the second most popular modern chorus in U.S. churches (after Tim Hughes’ Here I Am to Worship), is not particularly profound--the title pretty much sums it up--but it’s heartfelt, short and set to a stirring soft-rock melody that sticks in the mind like white to rice. That’s Tomlin’s gift: immediacy. “I try to think, How do I craft this song in a way that the person who’s tone-deaf and can’t clap on two and four can sing it?” says the songwriter. “I hope that when someone hears a CD of mine, they pick up their guitar and say, ‘O.K., I can do that.’” Which is not the way people react to, say, Handel’s Messiah.
Tomlin’s third album, See the Morning, released this fall, is doing nice enough business--it has sold about 124,000 copies--but that’s not the point of it. Its creator thinks of himself less as a musician and more as a worship leader. Unassuming, single, shortish, Tomlin grew up in a sporty, churchgoing family in Grand Saline, Texas, where he and his two brothers used to play music in the annual Salt Festival. These days he lives in Austin, Texas, but spends much of his life on the road, as a sort of itinerant music minister. “So many songs by Chris have risen,” says CCLI marketing manager Paul Herman. “He has really captured the heart of the church.”
Tomlin is the chief American practitioner of the pop-sounding “praise and worship” music that has replaced traditional hymns in congregations looking for a younger crowd. (Recently some churches introduced the U2-charist, a Communion service set to the music of U2.) “We’ve been closing the gap between what you would hear in church and on a rock radio station,” says Matt Lundgren, worship leader at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill. “Artists like Chris Tomlin help bridge the gap more and more.”
After years of being the guy behind the songs, Tomlin is poised to achieve that more Prince-like status as well. He won a bunch of Dove Awards (the Christian Grammys) this year. He’s all over Christian radio. And he’s a huge draw at the big annual student gatherings known as Passion conferences. But Tomlin doesn’t want to be Prince. Music immortality is fine. It’s just not the sort he cares about.
SOURCE: Time Magazine
There are two paths to music immortality: the Prince route and the Patty and Mildred Hill route. In the Prince model, you write a piece of music that people love so much, they seek it out, download it and turn up the radio whenever it comes on. The Hill sisters model is trickier; they composed the melody for Happy Birthday to You. They achieved their fame by writing a tune that people don't listen to so much as sing. Chris Tomlin belongs in the second camp. People sing his songs a lot, often repeatedly. Specifically, they sing them in church. According to Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI), an organization that licenses music to churches, Tomlin, 34, is the most often sung contemporary artist in U.S. congregations every week. Since glee clubs have fallen out of popularity, that might make Tomlin the most often sung artist anywhere.
Comments
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Peter Hamm on Thu, November 30, 2006
Normally, on a great Praise and Worship record, there are like three to five songs I feel like I can use in our services. On the latest CT album, I’m having trouble finding three or four that I CAN’T!
Thanks, Chris! I gotta pick up this magazine.
Peter
Camey on Thu, November 30, 2006
God has really used Chris Tomlin in such a mighty way. His humble attitude is reflected so much in his songs.
Right now I’m listening to “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Broken)” ...... I grew up with Amazing Grace. It has always been one of my favorites. Yet, this version has quickly found its way into my heart as well. What’s even cooler is that when playing his CDs in the vehicle with our boys, they sing right along with him… and me… and their dad…. (Even their grandma has been known to join along.) They have already learned that one does not have to be inside the walls of the physical church to worship our Savior and Lord.
Chris didn’t do that. God thru Chris did that. We’re thankful. 3 generations worth of gratitude.
Phil DiLernia on Thu, November 30, 2006
Chris Tomlin (David Crowder, Casting Crowns) Don’t we feel blessed to be able to have such great giftedness available which speaks to such a large generation?
I’m also a fan of Steven Curtis Chapman and DC Talk (are they still making records together?)
Like Rap? T-Bone from Cali!
Camey on Thu, November 30, 2006
Hey Phil,
Definitely agree about David Crowder, Casting Crowns and Steven Curtist Chapman. Obviously I do about Chris.
Now I’ll have to check into DC Talk and T-Bone from Cali.
BTW: Really enjoying your voice being added to the mix here at MMI.
Blessings,
Camey
Phil DiLernia on Thu, November 30, 2006
Thanks Carney. I would say that of all the groups I’ve ever heard (Christian) that DC Talk has been my favorite. I don’t know why - I just like their sound and their tremendous diversity of sounds.
Casting Crowns is AWESOME ... but their sound is the same on each song. DC Talk had a multiplicity of styles. And the best is this ... it was made up of two guys ... one black and one white.
The white guy was the “rapper” and the black guy was the “rocker!” I love the Lord and His sense of humor. I’m just not sure if they haven’t split permanently (I know Toby Mac - the white guy - is making his own records now)
T-Bone is unreal. Check out the movie The Fighting Temptations. Cuba Gooding, Beyonce Knowles (a protestant version of Sister Act) and T-Bone is the prisoner who raps. You’ve NEVER heard so many words in such a short time! Gifted.
God’s peace.
Phil DiLernia on Thu, November 30, 2006
Oh Carney ... btw ... I’ve been blessed to add a couple of articles to this sight in the past two weeks. One more coming this week and another next week. Then we’ll see if Todd wants me to write more!
This sight has been a blessing for me. It’s allowed me to think outside the box of my local church and that thinking is impacting my local church! Praise God.
matt on Thu, November 30, 2006
See The Morning is actually Tomlin’s 4th album, after Arriving, Not to Us, and Noise We Make.
and Phil, there were actually 3 members of DC Talk. There were two white guys: Toby Mac and Michael Tait…along with Kevin Max.
I’m so nitpicky. sorry.
Phil DiLernia on Thu, November 30, 2006
Ooops ... my bad. Good call.
Pastor Al on Thu, November 30, 2006
I have been singing “How Great is our God” all morning!
Chris - Thanks for being such a great blessing to the church!
PA
Ken on Mon, December 04, 2006
As an “Adapter” stuck between the Great Generation and the Boomers, I have been trying to keep up with the current worship songs (NEVER call them choruses please!) and would like to buy one of CT’s “best”. Which would you recommend?
Camey on Mon, December 04, 2006
Ken,
I’d recommend Arriving - 2004 or See the Morning - 2006.
Hope that helps,
Camey
Phil DiLernia on Mon, December 04, 2006
Only my opinion but I think you’ll FALL IN LOVE with Live at Austin Theatre. There is one song that David Crowder (who I beleive is from Austin) plays on it and sings a duet with him.
Get it. http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif
Peter Hamm on Mon, December 04, 2006
See The Morning, the newest, is my absolute favorite.
Camey on Thu, December 07, 2006
His ministry has increased…. He just introduced “www.WORSHIPFREQUENCY.com”
Connecticut Festivals on Sat, November 29, 2008
Congrats! I love the post you’ve made.
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