Album: WoW The 90s
30 Top Christian Songs
of the Decade
Released: 1999
Word Entertainment
Now, of course, there are a couple of things to remember. The first is that the people who make these things are close-minded morons. It's the same way that radio works: You must be the golden boy, you must be the favourite of the big label heads and then you'll be popular. What do the people want to hear? Well, whatever they're told they want to hear. Got it? Good. I mean, you would never in a million years hear MxPx on one of these. Until very recently, you would never even hear Switchfoot. But they prove how to get on. Sometimes a band or group can develop a huge following regardless of radio support and the radio support can actually follow. "Meant to Live" by Switchfoot began as a hit single on modern rock radio, made the jump to mainstream top 40 and then CHR finally got the clue and picked up this song that was by one of their own anyway. But I digress.
That being said, The 90s is still a pretty good record. It doesn't claim to do what WoW was originally going for: preview hot new, unreleased tracks. It just aims to chronicle. Chronicle the mainstream, of course: the CHR and the contemporary Christian big gainers. Therefore, you get what you expect: Steven Curtis Chapman, Amy Grant, Twila Paris, dc Talk, 4Him.
Plus some surprises. But let's look at the worthy tracks that truly do stand on in a decade: Rich Mullins' Awesome God is huge. It deserves its place without any shadow of a doubt. Also by Rich is Sometimes By Step. Both of these are a tribute to who Rich was and the legacy he left behind. In Christ Alone by Michael English is one of the best power ballads to come out of contemporary Christian radio. He belts it well. dc Talk's contributions include the obvious Jesus Freak, which revolutionized the face of CHR and influenced the Christian modern rock movement immensely, and My Will, from the Exodus project. A good song and a good single for the band, but does it belong here? Eh. Clay Crosse shows up with I Surrender All, Jaci Velasquez has her big hits God So Loved and Dove-winning On My Knees and Michael W. Smith's Place in This World is another no-brainer. Plus, Shine by the Newsboys. But no Big House by Audio A? They seem connected to me.
Some surprises. First, Chris Rice's Deep Enough to Dream. It's a great song and I love Chris Rice. . .I fully agree that this is one of the best songs to come out of Christian music during the 90s, but I wonder how it made the Miss Popularity contest that is carried out here. Also interesting is Liquid as the Jars of Clay track to make the cut. What? Have we not heard of Love Song For a Savior, or a little song called Flood? Confusing.
Notably absent: Geez. I dunno. We're almost five years away from these now. Or more. I mentioned the Audio Adrenaline snub. I'd also have thought that Third Day might get some play time. And who deserves to be here that isn't it? Deserves? Don't get me started. I'll never stop!
All in all, these are mostly the sort of "inspirational" songs that might be advertised on TV for merely 29.95 plus shipping and handling. They're popular, they're solid, they're accessible.
Final Grade: B This Is Your
Radio Legacy