The Lead Singer

You know I’m a fan of the band Third Day.  They downsized in 2008 when guitarist Brad Avery left the group.  With the loss of Brad they lost an edge.  He was only one of their guitarists; not their lead singer.

Hawk Nelson did it.  REO Speedwagon, Journey and The Newsboys all did it with great success.  The Christian band Sanctus Real will probably let us know today.  Each of them has changed lead singers. 

In so many ways the frontman is the band.  Quick think Maroon 5!  You thought Adam Levine, right?  Queen?  Freddie Mercury.  The Stones?  You get it.  Each of these lead singers imbued the band with their unique sound.  Beyond the sound their worldview and personality saturates each melody the band plays.

The gestalt is the musical group.  How that comes together is driven by the lead singer whom is usually also the lead songwriter.  Listening to Jars of Clay; beauty and angst have their fulfillment in the voice of Dan Haseltine; but it’s the individual pieces that create the whole.

Finally it’s the sound.  When I hear Peter Furler I know it’s The Newsboys (okay, okay he’s done solo stuff—but you know what I mean).  When you hear U2, the guitar rhythm and Bono are unmistakable.  It’s a whole package.  Until you change it.

I’m glad Sanctus Real will keep performing and writing music.  It just won’t be the same without Matt Hammitt.  Perhaps they could call themselves Sanctus Real Part B (Sanctus Real the flip side?)

Current Christian Music

Why does some current Christian song go mainstream while others die? Everybody can sing along with “I Can Only Imagine.” Townend and Keith Getty’s “In Christ Alone” just celebrated it’s 10th anniversary and has gone on to being recorded by such greats as Ricky Skaggs and Allison Krauss. Obviously there is a difference in the musical quality. Is there a difference beyond that?


The songs that ring eternal speak to our deep cry as broken human beings. “This Cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm,” meets me amidst a life of darkness and focuses my eyes heavenward. Listen to a line from Sanctus Real’s I’m Not Allright: ‘Burn away the pride, bring me to my weakness til everything I hide behind is gone.’ They catch the plight of humanity since Adam---hiding behind whatever we can until hiding doesn’t work any longer. When we give up running away where do we run to?

Songs that seep into culture have a root in scripture and magnify Christ as God, “Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall, Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all I can only imagine.” Or from Matt Redman’s ‘You Never Let Go

”And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on A glorious light beyond all compare And there will be an end to these troubles But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth…” Our hearts find solace in a future hope found in the pages of scripture and secured by Christ in Heaven."

The airwaves are filled with many good Christian songs. There are some that are set apart by great music. The best rise above them because they echo the longing of broken hurting humans for redemption and escape from this ‘veil of tears.’ That hope has been sealed for us through the blood of Christ. The songs that will be sung through eternity celebrate these truths.