{"id":15820,"date":"2015-06-03T17:07:54","date_gmt":"2015-06-03T17:07:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.musicademy.com\/?p=15820"},"modified":"2019-07-29T16:04:45","modified_gmt":"2019-07-29T16:04:45","slug":"10-traits-of-top-ccli-songs-guest-post-by-marty-nystrom-writer-of-as-the-deer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.musicademy.com\/blog\/10-traits-of-top-ccli-songs-guest-post-by-marty-nystrom-writer-of-as-the-deer\/","title":{"rendered":"10 traits of top CCLI songs. Guest post by Marty Nystrom (writer of As the Deer)"},"content":{"rendered":"

We’re delighted to announce a new partnership with CCLI who have agreed to share a number of articles with our subscribers from their Worship Fuel blog over the coming weeks.<\/p>\n

CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International, Inc.) releases a semi-annual list of the top worship songs<\/a> sung by churches throughout\u00a0America.<\/h3>\n

A similar\u00a0list is also published in\u00a0Europe, Australia, South Africa, and the other far-flung locales\u00a0where CCLI works with churches to \u201cencourage the spirit of worship\u201d. Each list is an indicator of the\u00a0songs that have crossed not only\u00a0denominational boundaries, but also the sometimes fuzzy lines between worship styles in different\u00a0regions.<\/p>\n

As a songwriter I\u2019ve\u00a0studied this list closely through the years. Not only have I watched it for worship trends but also for song elements that have remained consistent regardless of changing musical styles. Here are my \u201cTop Ten traits\u201d that are important in\u00a0the success of these favorite\u00a0worship songs.<\/p>\n

1. Universal Theme<\/h2>\n

A successful lyric will be an existing sentiment in the hearts of worshipers from a broad audience. A song on the top of the CCLI list is there because its theme remains true to worshipers regardless of age, denomination or cultural background. Lyric phrases such as \u201cHow Great is Our God\u201d and \u201cYour Love Never Fails\u201d are relevant and honest expressions for all believers. A lyric should not require an in-depth Bible study before it can be appreciated.<\/p>\n

2. Lyric Consistency<\/h2>\n

A strong song will have a theme that remains consistent through all of its sections. The lyrics in the verse will support or build on the topic stated in the chorus. A strong song will not wander from idea to idea. The second section of \u201cOpen the Eyes of My Heart\u201d begins with \u201cTo see you high and lifted up.\u201d This is an effective transition tying the sections together. The verses of \u201cBlessed Be Your Name\u201d bring more understanding to the message and encourages us to sing the chorus with even greater passion. A good question to ask is, \u201cCan the theme be stated in a word or short phrase?\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cProsody in song writing refers to the perfect marriage of music and lyric.\u201d<\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\n

3. Prosody<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Not only should\u00a0the music and lyrics\u00a0compliment\u00a0each other but\u00a0should ideally bring out the best in each other. When heard alone, does the music incite the same emotion or message that the lyric expresses? Does the pitch, rhythm, tension and energy in the melody\u00a0naturally fit with\u00a0the lyrics? \u201cEverlasting God\u201d is an example of effective prosody.<\/p>\n

4. Lyric Originality<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

The lyricist of a\u00a0top worship\u00a0song finds a fresh way to express an old thought. Lyrics like \u201cYou stepped down into darkness\u201d and \u201cHe wraps Himself in light\u201d paint a picture in the mind\u2019s eyes making the message memorable without being overly poetic. A lasting song will include words, phrases, and rhyme pairs that have not been overused and that cause a lyric to be predictable and trite. A good lyricist will seek out scriptural truths and make them accessible to the worshiper.<\/p>\n

5. Form<\/h2>\n

Right-brained creative types love to break the mold and free themselves from the restraints of musical structure. Before abandoning traditional song forms, writers should remember that their audience is made up mostly of \u201cleft-brainers.\u201d Their minds will be seeking a clear picture of how a song is ordered. They will not be satisfied if it leaves them feeling unsettled or disjointed. All of the CCLI examples contain solid song forms and are built with sections that are so distinctive that there is no question where the verse ends and the chorus begins.<\/p>\n

6. Musical Interest<\/h2>\n

Songs included on the top of CCLI\u2019s list are often included on instrumental recordings based on the merit of their musical interest. A great song will have a melody that is easily recognizable apart from its harmonic and rhythmic accompaniment. It will have musical integrity enough to be appreciated by musicians of all levels and will introduce new musical ideas with each section.<\/p>\n

7. Usability<\/h2>\n

Perhaps the greatest challenge for the writer of praise and worship music is to find the balance between originality and usability. How do we introduce new musical ideas while keeping the song playable and singable for the local church? \u201cHow Great Is Our God\u201d has been high on CCLI\u2019s list for many years. Apart from being an inherently strong song, it has lasted because its chordal simplicity makes it approachable for any church band.<\/p>\n

8. A Well Placed Title<\/h2>\n

Ideally a song should never leave a listener wondering what the title is. The title should be unique, repeated appropriately and set in strong places within the song. \u201cHere I Am to Worship\u201d and \u201cJesus Messiah\u201d both place the title as the opening line of the chorus. \u201cYour Grace Is Enough,\u201d \u201cBlessed Be Your Name\u201d and \u201cHow Great Is Our God\u201d make use of repetition. \u201cForever\u201d and \u201cForever Reign\u201d end the chorus with their titles.<\/p>\n

9. Balance of Repetition and New Ideas<\/h2>\n

Life is made up of the familiar and the new. Human beings love both as long as they are kept in balance. The same is true in song writing. Too much of a good thing can make a song boring. An overabundance of new ideas can cause a song to ramble. Songwriters repeat words, phrases, melodic motifs, and chord progressions to bring a sense of coherence to their song ideas. It\u2019s not hard to find examples of these techniques in all of these top CCLI songs.<\/p>\n

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I\u2019ve saved the most important for last<\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\n

\u00a010. Effectiveness in Worship<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The primary reason these songs are so beloved by Christians world-wide is simply because they are effective in helping worshippers exalt Jesus. Rather than drawing attention to themselves as musical works, these songs have been proven to incite worship in the hearts of people around the globe. This above all is what determines which songs will span generations.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"MartyMarty Nystrom is a songwriter with over 100 recorded songs, including the worship classic \u201cAs the Deer.\u201d He has taught and led worship at conferences throughout North America and around the world.<\/p>\n

Thanks for permission to share this article which was originally published on CCLI’s\u00a0Worship Fuel.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Other posts you might like<\/h2>\n

Worship songs are a bit rubbish at serving the local church<\/a><\/p>\n

Is there science behind what makes a great worship song?\u201d
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

Congregationally friendly keys for worship songs
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

Worship song cull<\/a><\/p>\n

Top 10 signs it\u2019s time to cut a song<\/a><\/p>\n

The lifecycle of a worship song (and why it matters for your church)<\/a><\/p>\n

Is it just me or are a lot of worship songs mediocre?<\/a><\/p>\n

Matt Redman says he\u2019s never heard a bad worship song. This writer would disagree
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

How to discern a good worship song \u2013 3 things to consider<\/a><\/p>\n

What makes a good worship song?
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

Has worship music lost its soul?<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cChristians don\u2019t tell lies \u2013 they just go to church and sing them\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We’re delighted to announce a new partnership with CCLI who have agreed to share a number of articles with our subscribers from their Worship Fuel blog over the coming weeks. CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International, Inc.) releases a semi-annual list of the top worship songs sung by churches throughout\u00a0America. A similar\u00a0list is also published in\u00a0Europe, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10208,"featured_media":15821,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[701],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n10 traits of top CCLI songs. Guest post by Marty Nystrom (writer of As the Deer)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"As a songwriter I\u2019ve studied the CCLI list closely through the years. 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