After days of debate, I have finally gotten my Top 100 songs of all-time. I invite you to spend time listening to and reading my explanations for these songs.
100) “Baby Got Book” – Dan Smith – The Caucasian Invasion: This is probably thought of by some as the most questionable inclusion on this list (that’s why it’s #100). But it is included on it’s lyrical merits. Parodying “Baby Got Back” by the ever so perverted Sir Mix-a-lot, Smith does well in changing it into an anthem for Christian guys everywhere, much like #24 on this list. The Napoleony Dynamite nod at the end is hilarious.
99) “Another Day in Paradise” – Phil Collins – But Seriously: My dad introduced me to this song, and, seriously, it’s probably Collins’ best work, maybe “In the Air Tonight” is there too. But this song is here because of its clear message that makes you think about the person that you pass by as you walk on the street that seems less fortunate than you. It was a #1 hit around the world and won the 1991 Grammy Award for Record of the Year.
98) “When Love Takes You In” – Steven Curtis Chapman – Declaration: This heartfelt number to Chapman’s adopted children is one of my favorite piano-driven songs and the first of three songs by this CCM legend on this list. The music video, of which I have seen the first 45 seconds or so, seems to clarify the song a little bit and the title just hits home.
97) “A Beautiful Collision” – David Crowder*Band – A Collision: Probably one of the lesser known songs on this album leads DCB into this list as the first of 8 (wow!), tied with Relient K for first as far as numbers on this list go. This one is the weakest of the bunch but is still a great track (duh, otherwise it wouldn’t be on this list). It talks about the beautiful collision that occurs when we run into God.
96) “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)” – Chris Tomlin – See The Morning: Tomlin, the American modern worship expert, takes the classic hymn and adds a little something to it that makes it a little more metaphorical.
95) “You Are My Joy” – David Crowder*Band – A Collision: Track number two on the list from DCB, “You Are My Joy” is a guitar-driven bit that is an exclamation of the joy that God brings the singer.
94) “Just What I Neeeded” – The Cars – The Cars: The song used in the Circuit City commercial a long time ago, “Just What I Needed” should be on this list because it’s just a fun song, one that reminds me of, well, makes me think of a school dance in the 70s.
93) “Surfin’ Safari” – The Beach Boys - Surfin’ Safari: I can’t remember exactly where I heard this song first, but it was not by The Boys of the Beach (which is ironic, because Brian Wilson never surfed). It was on some kinda of Disney thing with Mickey Mouse and Co. Anyways, this is just a fun song.
92) “Thief in the Night” – Leeland – Opposite Way: This song won Best Songwriting of last year in my opinion, so it obviously belongs on this list somewhere. The thoughtful lyrics penetrate every Leeland song are so wonderful here it’s worth it to check it out.
91) “The Disease & The Cure” – Kutless – To Know That You’re Alive: One of my favorite things about Christian music is when artists compare God to a “disease” (check out #14 on the list). This is similar, but it’s talking about God as a “cure for this disease/to save me from all of my self-deprication.” Jon Micah Sumrall has a way with words and music (#28 also) and leads Kutless to two spots on this list.
90) “All Because of Jesus” – Casting Crowns – The Altar and The Door: Originally recorded by Steve Fee, this song really explains why we are here on the Earth, in my opinion. Casting Crowns’ version is kinda futuristic and snazzy, which makes it a nice rendition compared to the original. Mark Hall’s voice seems made for this track, which is the first of 4 on this list from the wildly successful CCM group.
89) “I Ran (So Far Away)” – A Flock of Seagulls – A Flock of Seagulls: I first heard this song in Guitar Hero: Rocks the 80s. It is so epic and just amazingly awesome. The lyrics don’t make too much sense, but its sick guitar makes it a must-have on this list.
88) “Take Me As I Am” – FM Static – Dear Diary: One of the most recent songs on this list is a piano-driven and lyrically strong song that sings out a message of being one’s self. Lead singer Trevor McNevan drives one of the many tracks featuring him on this list.
87) “I’m A Believer” – The Monkees – More of the Monkees: This song is probably more well-known for its inclusion in the popular Dreanworks’ film Shrek as performed by Smash Mouth, but Micky Dolenz’s smooth vocals and classic guitar make it a song worth remembering.
86) “God Only Knows” – The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds: One of The Beach Boys’ great songs (I know that’s kind of an understatement considering there’s 5 songs by them on this list, “God Only Knows” is just another love song that makes an impact, especially on me. Because for me, God only knows what I’d be “without you.”
85) “You and Me” – Lifehouse – Lifehouse: This modern day slow-dance song is something that many dance to at their weddings recently, enough that the band has released a special “Wedding Cut” on iTunes.
84) “Making Memories of Us” – Keith Urban – Be Here: One of the few country inclusions on this list used to mean a whole lot to me, but not as much anymore. It’s a solid love song, many of which are on this list.
83) “The Way You Look Tonight” – Frank Sinatra: This song has been covered by so many artists that it would take a long time to type it all out. It’s another one of those great love songs.
82) “Here is Our King” – David Crowder*Band – A Collision: Another praise song from DCB hits the chart here at #82. It’s another classic that stays on my iPod for a while.
81) “How Great is Our God” – Chris Tomlin – Arriving: If you’ve been to a somewhat contemporary church, you’ve heard this song. I’ll let it speak for itself.
80) “Who Am I” – Casting Crowns – Casting Crowns: The orchestra, lyrics, and Mark Hall’s voice all come together to create another CC masterpiece, of which there are many.
79) “Never Alone” – BarlowGirl – BarlowGirl: Some might be shocked of the inclusion of this song on this list, especially those who know that I skipped the BarlowGirl portion of a concert I went to. But this song is so powerful and well-put-together that it’s hard to not include it.
78) “Don’t Give Up” – Sanctus Real – The Face of Love: On probably their dreariest record, CCM group Sanctus Real tells us to always believe in love and to not give up on it.
77) “Sadie Hawkins Dance” – Relient K – The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek: Whenever I hear the soft guitar riff to begin this song, I get a chill up my spine. This is the second song from RK that I had ever heard and one of the best. I’ve always dreamed of having some girl come up and say, “You’re smooth and good with talking. Will you go with me to the Sadie Hawkins?”
76) “Praise You in This Storm” – Casting Crowns – Lifesong: This song is just about making it through a bunch of troubles by focusing on God.
75) “Surfin’ U.S.A.” – The Beach Boys – Surfin’ Safari/Surfin’ U.S.A.: Another great beach song. That’s about all you can say.
74) “Here I Am to Worship” – Plus One – Exodus: Originally written by Tim Hughes, this worship song is just moving and sings about laying yourself down before God just to worship.
73) “My Girl” – The Temptations: So many different albums, so many different covers, but the original is the best on this classic love song.
72) “Dear God” – FM Static – Dear Diary: Another recent song on this list, “Dear God” is a letter to God from a teenager that just kinda hits home for me. McNevan comes in again with another hit in my book.”
71) “Blessed Be Your Name” – Tree63 – The Answer to the Question: Something like every other worship song on this list.
70) “ Supernatural” – DC Talk – Supernatural: One of this revolutionary Christian group’s greatest hits comes in here at #70. It’s a nice mix of guitars and lyrics that just works.
69) “No Longer” – Decyfer Down – End of Grey: I interviewed the drummer of this band and got a real sense of what this whole album is about, and this song embodies it perfectly. Combined with some great instrumentals, “No Longer” is this hard rock band’s best song.
68) “Ignition” – tobyMac – Portable Sounds: Featuring guitar by Trevor McNevan, this is probably Toby McKeehan’s best song, save one (#49), solo. “Ignition” has been featured in NASCAR commercials on ESPN, and rightly so.
67) “Everything Glorious” – David Crowder*Band – Remedy: DC*B’s next appearance on the list is another praise song. His songs gets better as we go on through this list, like this next one…
66) “Foreverandever Etc…” – David Crowder*Band – A Collision: Maybe Crowder’s best song here has one of the funniest music videos I have ever seen, with animated squirrels (Heehee).
65) “Dare You to Move” – Switchfoot – The Beautiful Letdown: What would a Top 100 songs of all-time of a Christian music fan be without Switchfoot and this song? Non-existent. This song in concert was amazing.
64) “Pressing On” – Relient K – The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek: The song that introduced me to this band has to be on this list. If it’s not, then I don’t have any business doing this.
63) “Consume Me” – DC Talk – Supernatural: DC Talk makes another appearance here. They have a way of mixing metaphorical and hip-hop praise with just straight up praise. This is one of the best examples of that.
62) “Devastation and Reform” – Relient K – Five Score and Seven Years Ago: Starting off with a slick guitar solo, “Devastation and Reform” is Relient K at its hardest. Matt Thiessen, whose vocals fit well on songs such as “When I Go Down” from Mmhmm and “I Am Understood?” from Two Lefts Don’t Make a Right, But Three Do…, does well with this hard song. If they ever let Relient K on Rock Band, this would be it.
61) “Wholly Yours” – David Crowder*Band – A Collision: DC*B’s greatest praise song, IMO. Whenever I hear this song, I want to sing out, except when we’re doing nothing in AP US History and I’m listening to it on my iPod.
60) “Holy is the Lord” – Chris Tomlin: This song has been done by so many different artists because of its worshipful approach both musically and lyrically. This song is amazing in concert. I really felt God in that place.
59) “Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been” – Relient K – Mmhmm: One of Relient K’s most popular songs mainstream-wise, “WIAHWIB” (haha) is a great combination of the lyrical and musical facets that this band has down-pat.
58) “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” – The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds: The theme song for every couple that is not married but wants to be. This is probably my favorite Beach Boys song but not their best (#36).
57) “Revelation” – Third Day – Revelation: Another band here that should belong on a Christian music fan’s top 100 list, but maybe a different song. But this is the first Third Day album I’ve gotten, and this song is epic.
56) “Feel Good Drag” – Anberlin – New Surrender: This song has always affected me because it kinda hits home. Plus, the guitar is pretty sick. Anberlin’s not my favorite, but this song is definitely awesome.
55) “Hotel California” – Eagles – Hotel California: What is a Top 100 song list without this? Not for real. ‘Nuff said.
54) “So Long Self” – MercyMe – Coming Up to Breathe: This song is the rockiest MercyMe song I know, and it’s pretty good. It’s what we should all be saying.
53) “Take You Back” – Jeremy Camp – Restored: A song that explains the beauty of grace and what it is exactly. Camp is a master of lyrics and music and belongs on any Top 100 Christian music list.
52) “Carry On Wayward Son” – Kansas – Leftoverture: So, this is one of the most epochal song I have ever heard. The air guitar possibilities on this song are endless. Sick guitars abound. Plus, that opening line: “Carry on my wayward son, there’ll be peace when you are done…”
51) “Luv is a Verb” – DC Talk – Free at Last: This is for all those peeps out there who think that love is a noun. Being “in love” is not for real, I think. You need to feel love, believe love, and just straight up love. They say, “L-O-V-E isn’t all that stuff you see on TV.”
50) “Meant to Live” – Switchfoot – The Beautiful Letdown: Whenever I hear this song, I think of the concert where they played this song and it was the best song I had ever heard live until I heard Casting Crowns do #… wait, I can’t say yet.
49) “Lose My Soul” – tobyMac feat. Mandisa & Kirk Franklin – Portable Sounds: When tobyMac does praise, he does well. This is a great example of that. He mixes in lyrical elements of his other songs and incorporates a former American Idol and one of gospel’s greatest stars.
48) “In Christ Alone” – Various Artists: Because I am a huge fan of contemporary praise music, this definitely belongs here. It really helps me realize who I should rely on.
47) “O Praise Him (All This For a King)” – David Crowder*Band – Illuminate: Another great DC*B song that definitely goes here because of the great lyrics. David Crowder is a master lyricist.
46) “Love is Not a Fight” – Warren Barfield – Worth Fighting For: This song made an impression on me with its appearance in the film Fireproof, one of my all-time favorite movies. My favorite line is “love is not a fight/ but it’s something worth fighting for.”
45) “Angels Wish” – Steven Curtis Chapman – All Things New: This is a song that ponders what “angels only wish they knew.” SCC makes another appearance on this list. He should definitely have at least 3 appearances on a Top 100 Christian music song list.
44) “Chasing Cars” – Snow Patrol – Eyes Open: This is a beautiful love song that I really like and feel good every time I hear this. I hope to one day sing this to a special girl.
43) “Homesick” – MercyMe – Undone: You could consider this a sequel to “I Can Only Imagine” by the same band. MercyMe makes 4 appearances on this list, one appearance already at #54.
42) “Unashamed” – Lecrae feat. Tedashii – After the Music Stops: Lecrae is the best rapper I have ever heard. With great lyrics and a nice beat, this song is the first of 4 from Christian rap’s greatest artist (IMO).
41) “I Need You” – Relient K – Five Score and Seven Years Ago: Another great hard rock song from Relient K. Just listen to it. That’s really all you should do. Instead of having me try to convince you, you just need to listen.
40) “Jesus is Just Alright” – DC Talk – Free At Last: A fun song. A great song. One that you can dance to. And the song that introduced the moniker “tobyMac” for the group’s rapper, Toby MacKeehan.
39) “Represent” – Lecrae feat. Tedashii – Real Talk: This is the song that introduced me to Christian rap. “Represent, get crunk, represent, get crunk, if you know you’re reppin’ Jesus, go ahead and THROW IT UP!”
38) “I Saw The Light” – David Crowder*Band – A Collision: I know they didn’t do the original one, but Crowder’s voice is great for this song. And with this band’s ability to do many different types of music, the bluegrass sounds like DC*B.
37) “The First Time” – Family Force 5 – Dance or Die: This is just a fun song. Any FF5 song from Dance or Die could go here. But this one is so well-written. Who would have thought that these crunk rockers could go electronic and lovelorn and still be amazing?
36) “Good Vibrations” – The Beach Boys – Smiley Smile/Wild Honey: One of the greatest songs of all-time, some do say. It is a great song. Without a doubt.
35) “Flood” – Jars of Clay – Jars of Clay: Considered one of the greatest songs in the Christian world. Jars of Clay was a young band at this point, and this song just hit it big time.
34) “Never Far Away” – Rush of Fools – Wonder of the World: Another one of the more recent songs on this list, “Never Far Away” is a beautiful love song that I did not expect from ROF. I bought the album even after hearing it was nothing real special, but it really is.
33) “Never Let Me Go” – Family Force 5 – Business Up Front/Party in the Back (Diamond Edition): This song has a crazy music video. It is a great song in that it has a spiritual message and it rocks out. Anybody who thinks that Christians can’t have a good time needs to listen to these guys.
32) “Must Have Done Something Right” – Relient K – Five Score and Seven Years Ago: Relient K is so diverse in their lyrics. This song is a love song that makes total since and changes a common pickup line: “We should get jerseys, ‘cause we’d make a good team. But yours would look better than mine, ‘cause you’re out of my league.” I’ve always wanted to use that.
31) “Tonight” – FM Static – Critically Ashamed: Written by Trevor McNevan about his brother, this song is beautifully written and instrumentalized. I absolutely love this song.
30) “Mighty to Save” – Various Artists: Done by many artists, “Mighty to Save” is another unabashed contemporary praise song that has stolen the hearts of many Christians across the world.
29) “Jesus Muzik” – Lecrae feat. Trip Lee – After the Music Stops: Another great rap song that I love. “Jesus Muzik” is a song about not being ashamed about playing “Jesus music” loud and proud while “ridin’ with my top down.”s
28) “Strong Tower” – Kutless – Strong Tower: I mentioned earlier in the list (#91) that Kutless has a way with words and music. This song is another example of that.
27) “Identity” – Lecrae feat. Da Truth, Jr – Rebel: Off of Lecrae’s newest album, “Identity” is a great song that mixes rap and R&B and has a solid message behind it too: Don’t let other people determine your identity for you, let God be your identity.
26) “What If I Stumble” – DC Talk – Jesus Freak: Also in CCM’s Top 100 Christian Songs of All-Time, this song is DC Talk’s third best. I can’t say enough about how this song works.
25) “Give Me Your Eyes” – Brandon Heath – What If We: Another modern day worshipful song that imagines a man coming into an airport terminal and seeing people around him, wishing that God would give him His eyes to see what these people are going through.
24) “Every Little Thing” – Hawk Nelson – Letters to the President: What I want in a wife. I mean, seriously. Once I heard it, I thought this song was perfect for me. Great songwriting by Jason Dunn here.
23) “Love Never Fails – Brandon Heath – What If We: Heath takes Scripture and translates it into a song about the beauty of love and what it means to truly love, not the love you see on TV, but a brotherly love.
22) “In the Light” – DC Talk – Jesus Freak: Cracking the top 25 is maybe a surprise, but “In the Light” has lyrics that just blow me over.
21) “Definitely Maybe” – FM Static – What Are You Waiting?: I once wrote a movie that kinda incorporated this song’s story into the plot because it’s a great story. McNevan crafts a great track here.
20) “Jesus Freak” – DC Talk – Jesus Freak: One of the greatest Christian songs of all time. #2 on CCM’s list. ‘Nuff said. It changed Christian music forever because of its approach lyrically and musically and coined a new phrase for believers everywhere. “What will people think when they hear that I’m a Jesus Freak? What will people do when they find that it’s true?”
19) “From the Inside Out” – Various Artists: It’s kinda hard to explain exactly why this song is so great. You just need to hear it.
18) “God With Us” – MercyMc – All That Is Within Me: Another MercyMe song on this list that “I Can Only Imagine” is slightly better than. We’re getting close to the top 10 and this could be up there, but there are some that beat it.
17) “Kountry Gentleman” – Family Force 5 – Business Up Front/Party in the Back: One of my absolute theme songs. Except I don’t have a mullet, or eat collared greens, or eat KFC very often. Wow, I’m really hungry now. Anyways, this song is great (duh).
16) “Moment of Truth” – FM Static – Critically Ashamed: The best FM Static song out there. McNevan, who shows up twice more on this list, wrote this to propose to his wife. If only I could write something that good.
15) “Pieces” – RED – End of Silence: Contemporary praise at its finest by a hard rock band. “Never Be The Same” from Innocence & Instinct is good too, but this one just kills it.
14) “Favorite Disease” – Thousand Foot Krutch – The Flame in All of Us: “Sometimes I feel like a monster and times I feel like a saint, I’m on my knees, you’re my favorite disease.” God is a disease that some catch, and its Trevor McNevan’s favorite apparently. A great song lyrically and musically and it really hits home.
13) “London” – Brandon Heath – What If We: Beautiful piano, great lyrics, and Heath’s stunning voice mix well in this song. It’s… you just have to listen to it.
12) “Replace Me” – Family Force 5 – Business Up Front/Party in the Back: This song is like “Never Let Me Go” (#33): a contemporary praise song that is rocked up and stylized quite a bit. You wouldn’t think that it would work as a praise song, but if it’s made acoustic, it would work.
11) “Fight Inside” – RED – Innocence & Instinct: RED is well-known for singing about internal conflict and using hard rock guitars and strings. This song embodies all of that and makes a great track on a spectacular album, one that might be the best this year.
10) “I Will Be Here” – Steven Curtis Chapman – More to This Life: Now we’re on to number 10. This song is on CCM’s Top 100, but it is the second highest of that list to get on here, ahead of “Jesus Freak” (#20), even though that DC Talk track is ahead of this classic love song on the list. This song is just straight up amazing. I want to sing this song to my wife at our wedding.
9) “Be My Escape” – Relient K – Mmhmm: The second best Relient K song ever, “Be My Escape” was this band’s highest charting song on the Billboard Top 200. It is the epitome of what Relient K is: the rock and piano, the hard and the soft mix. Just an amazing song like every other song on this list.
“Hey There Delilah” – Plain White T’s – All We Ever Needed: I know some people who despise this song and some people who love it. Judging by its placement on this list, I hope you realize that I love this song. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS SONG. I have it memorized straight up and sing it in the shower sometimes. Wait, did I just say that?
7) “Don’t Stop Believin’” – Journey – Escape: “Just a small town girl, living in a lonely world…” Enough said. The highest non-Christian song on this list.
6) “Undo” – Rush of Fools – Rush of Fools: The ultimate song of surrender to Christ and His will for your life. Rush of Fools is a relatively new contemporary worship band. I’m still surprised that, despite its “newness,” this song is not sung in churches across America, because it is so amazing.
5) “I Can Only Imagine” – MercyMe – Almost There: This song is the highest on this list on the CCM Top 100, but the Top 4, with the exception of #1, came out after the list was published, I believe. This is a benchmark to reach for a Christian song with it’s amazingness, awe, and lyrical greatness.
4) “East to West” – Casting Crowns – The Altar and the Door: “East to West” takes a Scripture passage that I can’t remember and don’t feel like looking up and makes it a song that just blows me away. I remember first hearing this song and being amazed. I remember falling on my knees and singing along with my iPod in times of trouble. This song has meant a lot in my life, but this is not a biased choice. “Undo” (#6) has meant more, but it’s not as good as this.
3) “Trust You” – Brandon Heath – What If We: The newest song here in the Top 10 is one of those songs of submission and such, but it just works so wonderfully with a chorus you can pick up easily and a fantastic music arrangement. Heath really has a talent for writing songs and putting the right type of music behind it. It results in a clear masterpiece.
2) “Getting Into You” – Relient K – Two Left’s Don’t Make a Right But Three Do…: When I first heard this song, it didn’t make any sense at all. But after listening to it for a while, I get goosebumps when I hear this song. Matt Thiessen’s lyrics just mesh with the acoustic guitar riffs and come together to make a fantastic track. It shows that Relient K can be really mature, even with songs such as “Gibberish” and “The Only Thing Worse Than Beating a Dead Horse is Betting on One” or whatever it’s called.
1) “Breathe You In” – Thousand Foot Krutch – The Art of Breaking: McNevan’s lyrics drive the song all the way. Not the soft musical arrangement featuring proper drumming by Steve Augustine, not the guitar. It is Trevor McNevan all the way. The lyrics. The vocals. Everything that has to do with Trevor McNevan makes this song what it is: the #1 song IMO.
So there it is, my Top 100 Songs. I invite you to comment. Argue. Agree. Accept. That’s all I ask: the three As.
