PW Archive’s Top Songs is a web 2.0 style worship resource that can help worship leaders find out which new songs are popular in other churches. Learning which songs are used in heavy rotation in other churches in the US and around the world has several benefits:
Quality: Often songs are popular because they are of high quality both musically and lyrically. This is not always the case and there’s room for personal taste. (I’m not always a fan of what’s most popluar.) However, odds are that if you listen to songs that have popularity you will find several that you believe are also high quality.
Community: Singing well-known songs breeds community and connectedness with other Christians around the world. How cool is it to go to a Promise Keepers convention or to visit a church overseas and sing the same songs you do on Sunday morning? You feel instantly connected with those other people becuase you sing the same songs. (Note: Community is not only a reason to sing the newest popular songs, but also to sing the oldest popular hymns. The older the better as you become connected with other Christians not simply across the world but across time as well. )
Less Risk: Often times introducing a new song the congregation can be a nerve-wracking experience. There’s doubt involved in whether they will like the new song or connect with it. Knowing that a song has been used effectively in other congregations helps lessen the risk involved in introducing new songs.
Many worship leaders are familiar with CCLI’s Top 25. This resource can be inaccuratetowards the end of learning which worship songs are popular. It is based on which songs get reported the most to CCLI, not necessarily which songs are sung the most in churches. (For example Lord I Lift Your Name on High by Rick Founds is Ranked #10 for August 2007 in the United States.) The CCLI Top 25 is probably a better representation an “All Time Greatest Worship Hits.” These are songs that have stood the test of time, but you won’t find a lot of newly popular songs.
PW Archive (Praise/Worship Archive) likewise does not track which songs actually get sung the most. But it does track which chord charts are requested the most often. By design this system has a propensity to highlight songs that are both new and popular. People most likely already have the chord charts for older tunes, but search online to find the chords for new songs.
Top 5 songs for October 2007
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) – Louie Giglio, Chris Tomlin, John Newton, Edwin O. Excell, John P. Rees – Copyright 2006
From The Inside Out – Joel Houston – Copyright 2005
Hosanna – Brooke Fraser – Copyright 2006
Your Grace Is Enough – Chris Tomlin, Matt Maher – Copyright 2003
Everlasting God – Brenton Brown, Ken Riley – Copyright 2005
As you can see from the copyright date, all of these songs were recently published.
Most of us use PW Archive as a place to get chords charts. It has some nice features, such as the ability to make an instant overhead or format your lead sheet in a variety of ways. However, I find that the chord charts are often wrong. (I personally use these charts more as a starting point to then figure songs our by ear.)
The real power of PW Archive is that it tracks how many times a chord chart get clicked on and then organizes that data. Each month you will find a list of the 50 most popular chord charts.
Take a look at the top 50 for this month. You may find a song on there you weren’t aware of which would be worth looking into. This is a great resource for finding newly popular worship songs.
I received such a positive response to my last worship confessional I decided to break out my guitar again and do a little teaching on how to play slash chords:
September 30, 2007 Worship set list at Christian Fellowship Church:
Open the Eyes of My Heart – Paul Baloche
All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises – Paul Baloche
Filled with Your Glory – Tim and Jon Neufeld
He is Exalted – Twila Paris
Agnus Dei – Michael W. Smith
Just as I am – Charlotte Elliott and William Bardbury
Here is My Heart – Martin J. Nystrom
Updated version of older worship songs using slash chords:
Open the Eyes of My Heart by Paul Baloche
Arr. Sam Lynn
I love how Doug makes a classy move at the end and gives some encouragement.
I totally agree with the sarcasm of his statements on pushing the limits.
Taking strategic risks is one thing. You need to go out on a limb to get the fruit right? At the same time the guy who always lives on the edge eventually falls off. We need to be compassionate and loving as we encourage people forward in their spiritual walk.
Billy Chia 