For the past few years now, I have poured my heart out writing Christian music that spans an eclectic range of tastes. This was by design. Coming from an advertising/marketing background, I was curious to see what form of music would bring the best viewership on YouTube - Mainstream, Alternative or Progressive. I've even dabbled in mixing it up by offering what I call AlternaProg; Alternative music with elements of Prog Rock. What I found was something that had not occurred to me. That is, in this sound byte world of ours, how important a song's title can be! I should have known this from the beginning when I saw videos with such titles as "Mascara Tips for a Sexier You!" were getting half a million views. The same thing apparently goes for song titles. People scan video titles for key words that resonate with them - usually something simple and base or controversial.
Take for example my composition "New Age World". It has by far surpassed all the other videos in views I have ever put on YouTube. I can't say I can explain this phenomenon., but there are two main possibilities. The first is that there are a lot of Christians (or they wouldn't be looking at my "Christian " music lineup to begin with) who are into New Age thinking. The other possibility is that it strikes people as controversial that a supposed Christian songwriter would write about New Age philosophy. The fact that I have labeled the composition AlternaProg doesn't seem to have any bearing on the video's viewership, because there is nothing special about the graphics (simple slideshow of the lyrics) and I have other AlternaProg songs listed that have much lower viewings.
Interestingly, my second highest rated video is also only a slideshow of the lyrics, but is perhaps the most Progressive song I've written to date (excluding my upcoming CD). The title is fairly generic, but it clocks in at over nine minutes, and that may be (in Progger's minds), a mark of a true Progressive song. Its title "The Battle of the Natures" may have some sort of larger -than-life, epic quality to it.
The point I'm getting at is, no matter how great the music you write, you need a hook, even in Progressive circles, to cue your prospective listeners as to what they can expect to hear before they hear it. The new CD I'm working on is a case in point. It is simply titled "God Is" (lyrics available on its page on this web site). The songs are a pretty deep meditation on the character of God - His different divine aspects. The song titles are carefully chosen to compel deeper thinkers to listen. Yes, I am boldly taking the road less traveled with the lyrics and the fact that the music is Christian Progressive - not quite a moneymaking proposition. But I have to be true to my heart. I believe the lyrics were Holy Spirit inspired (you would not believe how the devil has tried everything in the world to block me from doing this project!). In this case, my "hook" is geared to catch the attention of Christians who enjoy and revel in God's wonderful and mysterious ways in which He works in our lives from day to day. Here's to all of you dedicated composers in the shadows of the Big Christian music money-making machine: Be true to God and yourselves! Do all things to the glory of the Father and the Son, and may He provide you with all your needs and protect you from the evil one and his schemes.
Praise the Lord! I had some people at my church pray about the attacks from the enemy every time I try to do something for God. Before I knew it, my Yamaha SY85 Workstation I relied heavily upon that went "dead" last month only needed a battery replacement! It was a tedious, laborious task to be sure, but it is now back in perfect working condition. PRAYER WORKS!
As always, love others as God has loved you. Amen
Here are some more of my photographs:
Take for example my composition "New Age World". It has by far surpassed all the other videos in views I have ever put on YouTube. I can't say I can explain this phenomenon., but there are two main possibilities. The first is that there are a lot of Christians (or they wouldn't be looking at my "Christian " music lineup to begin with) who are into New Age thinking. The other possibility is that it strikes people as controversial that a supposed Christian songwriter would write about New Age philosophy. The fact that I have labeled the composition AlternaProg doesn't seem to have any bearing on the video's viewership, because there is nothing special about the graphics (simple slideshow of the lyrics) and I have other AlternaProg songs listed that have much lower viewings.
Interestingly, my second highest rated video is also only a slideshow of the lyrics, but is perhaps the most Progressive song I've written to date (excluding my upcoming CD). The title is fairly generic, but it clocks in at over nine minutes, and that may be (in Progger's minds), a mark of a true Progressive song. Its title "The Battle of the Natures" may have some sort of larger -than-life, epic quality to it.
The point I'm getting at is, no matter how great the music you write, you need a hook, even in Progressive circles, to cue your prospective listeners as to what they can expect to hear before they hear it. The new CD I'm working on is a case in point. It is simply titled "God Is" (lyrics available on its page on this web site). The songs are a pretty deep meditation on the character of God - His different divine aspects. The song titles are carefully chosen to compel deeper thinkers to listen. Yes, I am boldly taking the road less traveled with the lyrics and the fact that the music is Christian Progressive - not quite a moneymaking proposition. But I have to be true to my heart. I believe the lyrics were Holy Spirit inspired (you would not believe how the devil has tried everything in the world to block me from doing this project!). In this case, my "hook" is geared to catch the attention of Christians who enjoy and revel in God's wonderful and mysterious ways in which He works in our lives from day to day. Here's to all of you dedicated composers in the shadows of the Big Christian music money-making machine: Be true to God and yourselves! Do all things to the glory of the Father and the Son, and may He provide you with all your needs and protect you from the evil one and his schemes.
Praise the Lord! I had some people at my church pray about the attacks from the enemy every time I try to do something for God. Before I knew it, my Yamaha SY85 Workstation I relied heavily upon that went "dead" last month only needed a battery replacement! It was a tedious, laborious task to be sure, but it is now back in perfect working condition. PRAYER WORKS!
As always, love others as God has loved you. Amen
Here are some more of my photographs:
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