More Than Words by ThePianoGuys and J Rice

Hah. Another classic from my generation. This is what my "research" from Wikipedia led me to discover...

"More Than Words" is a ballad written and originally performed by the rock band Extreme. It is built around acoustic guitar work by Nuno Bettencourt and the vocals of Gary Cherone (with harmony vocals from Bettencourt). Released in 1990 on the album Extreme II: Pornograffiti, the song marked a departure from the funk metal that had permeated the band's style previous to its release.

The song was described by Bettencourt as a song warning that the phrase "I love you" was becoming meaningless: "People use it so easily and so lightly that they think you can say that and fix everything, or you can say that and everything's OK. Sometimes you have to do more and you have to show it – there's other ways to say 'I love you.'"
 

From my childhood days since it was released and popularized by many artist like Westlife, I find this version very amusing since it has adapted a classical background to the song. Hey you know what... this is a classic for me so join me in singing this song if you were born during the late 80's or 90's. :)

That "cellotar" was a great addition to the collboration of two great artists and to great genre of music.

Here are the lyrics:

Saying that I love you
Is not the words I want to hear from you
It's not that I want you
Not to say, but if you only knew
How easy it would be to show me how you feel
More than words is all you have to do to make it real
Then you wouldn't have to say that you love me
'Coz I'd already know

What would you do if my heart was torn in two
More than words to show you feel that your love for me is real
What would you say if I took those words away
Then you couldn't make things new just by saying I love you
More than words

Now I've tried to talk to you and make you understand
All you have to do is close your eyes
And reach out your hands and touch me
Hold me close don't ever let me go
More than words is all I ever needed you to show
Then you wouldn't have to say that you love me
'Coz I'd already know
More than words
More than words

Here is the mp3 version:



Here is the Youtube version:

 

Another amazing video featuring the song and some artistic drawing :)

 

Hope your "I luv u's" are more than just words coming out of your mouths, but words coming out of your hearts! Don't just say it! Do it!

Pour My Love On You by Phillips, Craig and Dean from Let My Words Be Few

Last Holy Week, I was rummaging my song books to find a song to sing at our family retreat. I didn't know there were so many good songs that I wasn't listening to. So what I did was to find the song in Youtube to hear the generally feel and melody (since I have the pieces anyway.) One of the songs that I heard was this song "Pour Out My Love On You." I immediately developed a love for this song since it talks about loving our God to the extent of our abilities.

I recall in the book of Matthew the story of the woman who had a precious and expensive perfume in her possession. And yet when she had an encounter with Jesus, she was willing to break the perfume bottle and pour out the contents on Him. Other people saw her action as very rash and not prudent. They thought why waste such a good and perfect bottle of perfume when it could buy food to feed the poor. But Jesus replied, "She has done a good thing for me... and wherever this gospel is preached, what this woman had done will be spoken in memory of her."

Here's the lyrics of the song:

Verse:
I don't know how to say exactly how I feel
And I can't begin to tell you what your love has meant
I'm lost for words
Is there a way to show the passion in my heart
Can I express how truly great I think you are
My dearest friend
Lord this is my desire
To pour my love on you
Chorus:
Like oil upon your feet
Like wine for you to drink
Like water from my heart
I pour my love on you
With praises like the perfume
I lavish mine on you
Till every drop is gone
I pour my love on you
Is there a way to show the passion in my heart
Can I express how truly great I think you are
My dearest friend Lord this is my desire
To pour my love on you
Repeat Chorus
Here's the mp3 version:

:

Here's the Youtube version:


Hope you can show your love for God in your own way!

就在這裡 by 泥土音樂 from album 就在這裡

I was pondering what song to do for prelude last Sunday when it hit me... right there and then Amy Sand's song played in my iPhone. The song's title is 就在這裡 (Right Here). I was really listening to the music... not only the tune and melody but also the lyrics and the realness of the singer.

Anyway as a priase leader, we were required to show an example on how to quiet down before the worship service starts... so the congregation can go back to their seats and quiet down in preparation for worship. As I prepare to go up the stage and sing the prelude, I felt nervousness in my stomach. I remember how my good friend Rev. Harg Ang would say "Here you go God" before going up the pulpit everytime he gave his sermon. So I did the same.

I can't really explain what I felt when I sang this song... it was as if the peace of God came upon me! I started to close my eyes and sing very quietly the verse and chorus. I now understood what my friend meant by that statement. When we shift our focus from ourselves to God, all things work together for them. In this case, I felt calm and more confident to come boldly before the throne of grace.

Afterwhich, the piano played an interlude and visions of imagery filled my mind. I imagined God smiling on this little church and very well pleased that we came there to seek him and praise him.

After the interlude, I sang again the verse and the chorus to which I sang differently because I know that it is not about me, it is about God. People did not come here to see me or hear me sing, they came here to worship God and be blessed by the sermon.

Right here, right now, we want to worship God!

Here's a link to a free piano sheet from claymusic.org: 就在這裡.pdf

Here are the lyrics to the song:

最好的時刻, 最美的地方, (The best moment, the best place...)
就是現在, 就在這裡. (Is now... Is right here...)
因這裡有祢, 有祢的同在, (Because your presence is here)
吸引我, 不願離開. (It draws me to never leave)

就在這裡, 我要尋求祢, (Right here, I will seek you)
懇求聖靈, 翩然地降臨, (O Holy Spirit, lightly come down)
如波浪洪濤漫過我身, (Like big waves flowing over my body)
無比榮耀, 充滿全地. (Your incomparable glory fills the earth)
在這裡, 我要敬拜祢, (Right here, I will worship you)
全心全意, 歸榮耀給祢. (With all my heart and will, all glory to you)
這一刻, 在地如在天. (In this moment, it's like heaven on earth)
這裡有祢, 勝過萬有, (You are here, surpassing all things)
別無所求. (I ask for nothing else)

Here's the mp3 version:



Here's the Youtube version:

Here's the live version:

無論你在那裡, 此時此刻, 就可以來敬拜祂!

May I Live by Byron Lim

This song is very personal as it seeks to evaluate a person's life. At the start of the song, the person is acknowledging that He can only live because God allows it and that he'll try to live for Him. At the end, he's saying that hopefully, all his actions, thoughts, words - life - brought God the glory and pleased Him.

Verse 1:

Another day is here, another day brand new.
So I praise You for the work that I’ll do.
Another day is dawning, another day to live.
Whatever You choose to give me I’ll gladly receive.

Chorus:

And may I live my life according to Your will.
And may my thoughts be pleasing Lord to You.
And may my words reflect the beauty of Your presence.
May my actions bring glory to You.

Verse 2:

Another day is through, another day is gone.
And I thank You Lord for what You have done.
Another day is over, another day has passed.
Only what is done for Christ will truly last.

Ending:

O have I lived my life according to Your will?
And are my thoughts all pleasing Lord to You?
And do my words reflect the beauty of Your presence?
Did my actions bring glory to You?
Do my words bring glory to You?
Are my thoughts all pleasing to You, O Lord?
Is my life bringing glory to You?

How am I living daily as a Christian?

Eyes on Me by Faye Wong from Final Fantasy VIII

Definitely one of the most loved games of all time... the Final Fantasy Series. And out of all the Final Fantasy series, I would still say that FFVIII definitely was the most memorable... not only due to the characters and the plot and the summons (or what they call GFs) at that time, but also because of the music that accompanied the FFVIII story line.

One such song is the theme song of the game... it is called "Eyes On Me" sung by Faye Wong. This song is very nostalgic to me since I remember the scenes playing in my mind as if I was there in the game with the characters. Laguna Loire was a soldier who had trouble approaching the ladies. He had a crush on one particular lounge singer named Julia Heartilly. This was the song sang by Julia on that fateful night when they first met and talked with each other.

You could say that this truly was love at first sight. But who saw who first? Did Julia ever shyly looked at Laguna when she was performing this song? Or did Laguna take those long and meaningful looks at her? Irregardless, we know that this song is a manifestation of feelings that have been kept for so long. It is just sad that though they were probably meant for each other, they didn't end up together.

Well here's Eyes On Me:

Whenever sang my songs
On the stage, on my own
Whenever said my words
Wishing they would be heard
I saw you smiling at me
Was is it real or just my fantasy
You'd always be there in the corner
Of this tiny little bar

My last night here for you
Same old songs, just once more
My last night here for you
Maybe yes, maybe no
I kind of liked it your way
How you shyly placed your eyes on me
Oh, did you ever know
That I had mine on you

Darling, so there you are
With that look on your face
As if you're never hurt
As if you're never down
Shall I be the one for you
Who pinches you softly but sure
If frown is shown then
I will know that you are no dreamer

So let me come to you
Close as I want to be
Close enough for me
To feel your heart beating fast
And stay there as I whisper
How I loved your peaceful eyes on me
Did you ever know
That I had mine on you.

Darling, so share with me
Your love if you have enough
Your tears if you're holding back
Or pain if that's what it is
How can I let you know
I'm more than the dress and the voice
Just reach me out then
You will know that you're not dreaming


Darling, so there you are
With that look on your face
As if you're never hurt
As if you're never down
Shall I be the one for you
Who pinches you softly but sure
If frown is shown then
I will know that you are no dreamer

Here's the mp3 version:



Here's the live version:

Here is a more direct kind of "Eyes on Me" by Angela Aki:

The story didn't end in tradegy coz' Julia's daughter (Rinoa) and Laguna's son (Squall) eventually ended up together :)

脚步 by 泥土音樂 from album 脚步

Hello once again. Late last year, a Praise and Worship leader in our church introduced this song. At first I couldn't get into it since it is not the typical 讚美之泉 (Stream of Praise) song. I've left it off until we sang it again this year. Bugged by my curiosity, I finally researched about the song and the group that sang it. It is a group called 泥土音樂 (Clay Music). I copied their story from their website below:

Clay Music is a non-profit organization incorporated in California, in January 2004. Our mission is to preach the love of Jesus through music.

When I needed to pick a name for this ministry, I felt clueless for a few days. The album was merely a response to God’s grace, with no specific vision at the beginning. I remember blaming myself for not understanding exactly what God wanted to use us for, and feeling guilty that I could not come up with a name to tell people about this ministry. Then one day, as I read Jeremiah 18:6, “…Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand….” I immediately found comfort in God’s words and realized what we were…clay in His hands!

This ministry is just a piece of clay in the Potter’s hands. How is clay supposed to know what vessel the Potter will mold it into? Clay has no right to decide for the Potter, only the willingness to obey! So, I gladly named this ministry “Clay Music”. My prayer is very specific: May God’s will be done in Clay Music!


~ Amy Sand, founder of Clay Music ~

Indeed, amen! I agree to their story as I am a songwriter myself. Initially, I write songs for my own, but God used it somehow to touch people and bring them to him. The song talks about walking with God. Although at times it is hard to follow with God's step, he gives us the faith and strength to continue to follow him.

Here is Clay Music's 脚步 (Footsteps)

祢的脚步带着我的脚步 (As I follow in you footsteps)
一步一步都有祝福 (Every step brings its blessings)
每个脚步我要紧紧跟随 (I will follow ever so closely)
走在蒙福的道路 (And walk upon the blessed path)

求给我更多的勇气 (Give me more courage)
给我更多的信心 (Grant me more faith)
让我勇敢踏出 (That I may bravely take the step)
跟随祢的脚步 (To follow where You lead)
跟祢行在水面上 (Be it on water)
跟祢走在旷野地 (Or through a desert path)
曲曲折折我也不在乎 (I will take each step with no regrets)

我只要更多信靠祢 (All I have to do)
只要更多顺服祢 (Is trust and obey You more)
凡是出于祢的 (Everything that comes from You)
我就默然不语 (I willingly accept)
就算经过黑暗谷 (Even the dark valleys)
就算遇到暴风雨 (And the fierce storms)
在祢手中都将变成祝福 (Will turn into blessings in Your hands)

Here's the mp3 version:



Here's the Youtube version:

Here's the live version:

I hope that each footstep you take will lead you closer and closer to God!

Lamb Over Me by Byron Lim

The idea of this song came from the Chinese word for righteous (義). Literally speaking, it is the Chinese character for Lamb (羊) on top of the Chinese word for Me (我). This word has a powerful message indeed. Jesus died for us as a Sacrificial Lamb, but He rose again and reigns on high. Now and forever, He will be the one who makes my day, the Lamb over me!

I am blessed that God used this song... that God used someone like me who doesn't even know much about music... to save someone after hearing it during Shalom G2's evangelistic concert. All praise be to God!

Verse 1:
Jesus, You are God’s precious Son
You came to earth for me
Jesus, You are the Sacrifice –
Who bore my sins,
Who took my place,
Who died on the cross for me.

Chorus:
You’re the Lamb who paid the price
Yet you are holy and without sin
You're the Love sent from above
To cleanse us wholly within.
So I ask you now…
be the Lamb over me.

Verse 2:
Jesus, You are better than gold
Your worth is greater to me.
Jesus, You are the morning star –
Who brightens my day,
Who brings me to say,
“I’ll be devoted to You!”

Chorus: 

Ending:
Jesus, You are God’s precious Son
Jesus, You are the Sacrifice
Jesus, You are better than gold
Jesus, you are the morning star
Jesus, You are the Lamb over me.

Here's the mp3 version:



By the way, that's me singing solo with our church's acapella group Shalom G2. This was arranged by our very own Pastor Hensie Reyes. We will be doing a proper recording of this song for our church's 40th anniversary!