Top Ten Songs by Casting Crowns
His band cut two records before they became known as Casting Crowns. Through a series of fortunate circumstances one of the CDs landed in the hands of a member from the country band Sawyer Brown, Mark Miller. He saw potential immediately in the group but didn’t exactly know what to do with them. One lucky spring vacation connected him to Steven Curtis Chapman and Terry Hemmings (from the Provident Label Group), who created Beach Street Records with the group – now Casting Crowns – in mind. What resulted was a group that’s quickly becoming synonymous with Christian contemporary music, rivaling groups like MercyMe and FFH for popularity.
1. What If His People Prayed
From their self-titled “Casting Crowns” album from 2003, this song explores the lack of a solid praying community among Christians these days, lamenting how life-changing decisions are being made by those who don’t seek God. The lyric “Stop asking Oprah what to do” from this song briefly became a catchphrase.
2. If We Are the Body
From the same 2003 album, “If We Are the Body” is one of a number of songs following a similar theme discussing the inaction of the current Christian body. They ask why, if Christians are to be the light of the world, they don’t do more with that ability and show Christ’s love to the world.
3. Voice of Truth
Also from the same album, “Voice of Truth” explores the doubts and fears of Christians and encourages them to look up to hear the only Voice that matters. Mark Hall shows us how he uses his ministry training in these songs by exploring these themes over and over in Casting Crowns’ music.
4. Who Am I
Again from the self-titled 2003 album, this song praises God’s compassion by examining the singer’s life and coming up short.
5. American Dream
One more from Casting Crowns’ self-titled album. Taking pages directly from the youth he’s dealt with in the past, Mark Hall reaches out to the fathers of children who provide for them financially but not emotionally, trying to help heal the gap and encourage them to take a more active role in their child’s life.
6. Here I Go Again
The last song in this selection from the 2003 debut album. This song puts into words the daily struggle of a Christian to spread the Good Word to friends and family, fighting back the fear of rejection and other pressures of life.
7. Lifesong
Another praise song, “Lifesong” comes from the 2004 album of the same name. It reached the Top Twenty and remained for several weeks among the Contemporary Christian songs.
8. I Will Praise You In the Storm
Also from the “Lifesong” 2004 album. A “praise-in-trial” song, “Praise You In the Storm” holds personal significance to me and remains one of my favorite songs of all time. It encourages the praise of God even in times when your life seems its at its darkest.
9. Does Anybody Hear Her
Another song from the “Lifesong” album. It explores the unfortunate tendency for church-goers to judge rather than support people in need, and exhorts them to take more care when dealing with people having a hard time.
10. Stained Glass Masquerade
Along the same lines of “Does Anybody Hear Hear” (and also on the “Lifesong” album), this song speaks openly about the “happy face” facade that many Christians put on to hide the fact they’re in pain. The group holds nothing back with its feelings, asking that, if the facade were to be dropped, how would fellow Christians react? An excellent question, and the reason I chose this song to round out the Top Ten list for Casting Crowns.
