I was reading The Fiddler's Gun (by Pete Peterson) today at lunch when a friend from church came over for a brief chat. In my attempt to describe how I came to meet this book, I started with "have you heard of Andrew Peterson?" AP has become so ubiquitous in my own life (and this friend is an avid and long-time church-goer), I assumed a quick "sure" would be the answer and I would move on to the subject of The Rabbit Room and then the Hutchmoot, which is where I met Pete and bought his book.
However, I received a "no." I didn't hide my surprise very well and the unexpected answer derailed my response to his question about the book. I stumbled through explaining that the "A.S. Peterson" on the cover is not Andrew, but his brother Pete (prompting more quizzical faces) and mumbled a few incoherent thoughts about Rich Mullins and The Rabbit Room. I think I successfully conveyed my passion for AP's music though because toward the end of our brief conversation, my friend requested that I send him an email with a "top 10" list of AP's songs to whet his appetite.
I was giddy with excitement over a willing subject to my proselytizing AP's music. However now that I'm facing the task of compiling this list, I feel a weight of responsibility. I want to craft this list as carefully as AP crafts his songs, to win another pair of ears for my favorite Truth-teller.
My plan was to send him an email with 2 options. 1. The ADD Option: simply the list. If he just wants to get the list and judge for himself, have at it. 2. The More Involved Option: includes a description of why I included each song.
Then I thought, "I wish I had written something on my blog that I could show him. That way, he'd see that I've been a fan for a while and that it's something I really care about." In an attempt to avoid that thought in the future, here's the list (along with the enhanced attention span version).
As an aside, the order is intended not as a ranking, but as a playlist - how the songs would best flow.
1. Hosanna (Resurrection Letters, Vol 2)
2. The Chasing Song (Carried Along)
3. Queen of Iowa (The Far Country)
4. Song And Dance (Clear to Venus)
5. Canaan Bound (Love and Thunder)
6. Deliver Us (BTLOG)
7. After The Last Tear Falls (Love and Thunder)
8. Love Is A Good Thing (Resurrection Letters, Vol 2)
9. Isn't It Love (Appendix A)
10.The Ninety and Nine (Carried Along)
Honorable mention:
Fool With A Fancy Guitar (Counting Stars)
All Shall Be Well (The Far Country)
Romans 11:33 (Appendix A)
God Of My Fathers (Counting Stars)
Have Your Way (Resurrection Letters, Vol 2)
The plain list feels so hollow. I have gotten to know these creations fairly well over the past few years and they have helped to shape me into who I am. I feel like I'm introducing you to a person I love by simply telling you their name. No! If these were people, I would tell you what they do, how I met them, how they've affected my life, what we have in common and maybe a funny story or two about them. It's a little different for songs, but not much. With that in mind, here is the extended version of the list.
1. Hosanna
The album title begs some explanation: no, there isn't a RL, Vol 1 right now. He's pulling a George Lucas on us here. The prequel is yet to be written. For a more complete explanation, buy the album. The liner notes give a beautiful description.
"Hosanna" is a song that caught me up and tossed me around. It sounds like something I would hear on Christian Radio (safe for the family) with a Praise Band chorus of "Hosanna! See the long-awaited King, come to set His people free!" Yet the verses describe something heavier, far from safe. He describes himself as a liar, a hypocrite, an addict, a self-centered sinner. And this is what makes the chorus make sense. "Hosanna!" means "Save us now!"
2. The Chasing Song
This one is on his first CD (that I know of). It calls to stories from the Old Testament and the New to describe what different characters chased after and it questions what we chase after.
3. Queen of Iowa
I hope I get this story right. I believe AP wrote this about a woman from Iowa who was raped and developed AIDS. For some reason, this increased her faith. I don't get that, but praise God! Her fiance (not the perpetrator) stayed with her and they got married, but her life was obviously devastated. Apparently, AP is one of her favorite artists, so he and Ben Shive went to her house to play a few songs for her. It is a beautiful song about a beautiful woman.
4. Song and Dance
This song is a river flowing from King David through nature and history into today, declaring God's unchanging faithfulness.
5. Canaan Bound
This, the first track on Love and Thunder, also speaks to God's faithfulness. This time AP uses Abraham's story.
6. Deliver Us
The title of this CD is Behold the Lamb of God: The True Tall Tale of the Coming of Christ. This concept album should be the subject of an entire blog post. But the idea of the album is to tell the story of the coming of Christ from Genesis through Jesus's life.
This song comes at the point in the story when the children of Israel are crying out to be delivered from Egyptian oppression, but is sung from an American Christian's point of view. (At least, that's my interpretation.)
Just as an informational note, Derek Webb sings this song on the album.
7. After the Last Tear Falls
This one cycles in and out of the #1 slot on my "favorite songs" list. I'll let it speak for itself though.
8. Love is a Good Thing
AP describes Love so beautifully. This is another example of that.
9. Isn't It Love
This song appeared on "Clear to Venus," but on his "Appendix A" album, he has a live version where it's slowed down to reflect the gravity of the message.
10. The Ninety and Nine
"But a Shepherd-made answer: 'This of mine has wandered away from me.'"
Honorable Mention:
Have Your Way
This one is #11. I love it, but it's kinda short. It's a beautiful Celtic prayer.
Fool With A Fancy Guitar
I felt like I should have a "Counting Stars" track on the list. Honestly, I don't like his most recent release as much. First, I haven't spent as much time with it, so I don't trust it as much. But secondly, he talks a lot about marriage, kids and family life on there - which is something that just doesn't connect with me in my current season.
I do like this song though, just not top 10 worthy.
All Shall Be Well
I love the melody, rhythm and storytelling in this song. Other than that it sucks. Haha.
Romans 11:33
I hope this makes it on a future recording some day. This is a live version of this song, but I love scripture songs and this is a good one.
God Of My Fathers
Another good one from Counting Stars - very family-oriented. Written by Ben Shive before he was married or had kids, interestingly enough.
Most importantly, if you have any interest in hearing any of these songs, please visit The Rabbit Room.
If you buy the songs through the Rabbit Room, they cost just as much as they would through iTunes, but a higher percentage goes to the artist.
Also importantly, please send me your input on these and other Andrew Peterson songs. I love discussing them.
