Six Christmas Carols for the Ages

Frosty the Snowman, sleigh rides and jingle bells ring in the holiday season for many Christmas radio listeners. But if you're looking to bask in the sounds of Christmastime, give these historical and biblically based classics a thoughtful listen.

Here are just six Christ-glorifying hymns that have stood the test of time:

"Joy to the World" (1719)

As of the late 20th century, "Joy to the World" was the most-published Christmas hymn in North America. It's based on the 98th Psalm and was written by the "Father of English Hymnody", Isaac Watts.

"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" (1739)

Methodist movement leader Charles Wesley penned this popular Christmas carol, one of 6,000 he eventually wrote, as a part of the 1739 collection Hymns and Sacred Poems.

"O Come, All Ye Faithful" (1751)

"O Come, All Ye Faithful", Latin for "Adeste Fideles", is attributed to John Francis Wade, an English hymnist who was exiled to France with fellow English Catholics in 1745.

"The First Noel" (1823)

This classical English carol is likely from the 18th century; however, its current form was first published in Carols Ancient and Modern in 1823. "Noel" is based on the Latin word, natalis, which means birthday.

"Silent Night" (1818)

First written in German, "Silent Night" is, too many, the carol to sing in celebration of our Savior's birth. It was first performed on Christmas Eve in 1818 at St. Nicholas Parish Church in Salzburg, Austria.

"O Holy Night" (1847)

Based on a French poem, "O Holy Night" was composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847. The poem about Christ's birth was titled "Minuit, chretiens", which means "Midnight, Christians".

VIDEO: Brandon Heath Debuts "Only Just Met You" Music Video

Video filmed at Malibu Club Young Life Camp

Five-time GRAMMY® nominated artist Brandon Heath debuted a new music video for his song "Only Just Met You," This video is from the album, No Turning Back, which shares glimpses of life lessons that Heath recounts from his own journey such as forgiveness, fear, love and the power of relationships, including his mother and other important mentors.

The video was filmed and directed by MTV Video Music Award winning director, Jason Koenig. Koenig is best known for his industry rule-bending videos for Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. Heath and Koenig are long time friends and supporters of Young Life. Click below to see the video, filmed on location at Young Life's Malibu Club in British Columbia, Canada. 

As a long-time advocate for Young Life, Heath is asking fans to join him in sponsoring 21 kids this summer to attend a Young Life camp. Heath's life was changed when he attended his first YL camp 21 years ago at the same location the new video was filmed.

Watch Video Below

"Young Life is the reason I heard the Gospel 21 years ago," shares Heath. "I came here (Malibu Club) as a 16-year-old student who had never been west of the Mississippi, and you can imagine how it was for me - as you can see God is very evident everywhere you look. This is where everything started for me - musically as well as I sang my first song that I wrote in front of students here. Last year we set the goal of sending 20 kids to camp and because of the generous giving we were able to send 29 students. This year we set the goal of 21 students (as it has been 21 years since I attended my first camp) - join us on this journey to change someone's life."

Click Here To Join Brandon Heath To Send 21 Kids to a Young Life Camp

NEWS: Brandon Heath's "Give Me Your Eyes" Receives RIAA Platinum Certification

Heath currently on tour with Third Day and hosting "Brandon By Request" after shows.

Provident Label Group announces the RIAA platinum certification of Brandon Heath's hit song, "Give Me Your Eyes." This No. 1 single and Dove Award "Song of the Year" is the first single to receive platinum status for PLG and is on a short list of CCM songs that have reached one million in sales.

"Give Me Your Eyes' hasn't ceased to surprise me after six years since it was released," shares Brandon Heath. "The conviction of the need of God's perspective lies in all of us, and this song has continued to remind us that we need Him to reveal the broken-hearted."

This honor is another accolade for Heath and his already storied career since earning the GMA's Dove Award for New Artist of the Year in 2008. He's also received two consecutive Dove Awards for "Male Vocalist of the Year" and "Song of the Year" and "Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year" for the platinum-selling song. Heath's received five GRAMMY nominations, won an Emmy Award and was named BMI's Songwriter of the Year (2014). In addition to "Give Me Your Eyes," Heath has had three additional No. 1 hit singles ("Wait and See," "I'm Not Who I Was," and "Your Love"). Earlier this year, Heath released his sixth studio album No Turning Back, which shares glimpses of life lessons that Heath recounts from his own journey such as forgiveness, fear, love and the power of relationships, including his mother and other important mentors.

 

Heath is currently on tour with Third Day and will return on their Spring 2016 tour. After each show, fans can find Heath with his own pop-up concerts - "Brandon By Request" --where he performs songs by request in the parking lots or coffee shops near the venues. With up to 200 people attending each night, Heath plays fan favorites including "Love Never Fails," which has prompted a few couples to dance. Check out other fun and inspiring stories with the hashtag: #brandonbyrequest

 

Source: Merge PR

Third Day Announces Fall Lead Us Back Tour

Brandon Heath and Warren Barfield to join Third Day on fall leg of the Lead Us Back Tour

GRAMMY® Award-winning Third Day have just announced their upcoming tour plans. In support of their most recent album Lead Us Back: Songs of Worship, the band will embark on the "Lead Us Back Tour." Hitting 22 markets this fall, the tour will kick off in Wichita, KS on October 1 and run through November 21 in Columbia, SC. The tour will pick back up in spring 2016. Brandon Heath is set to join the fall leg of the tour along with Warren Barfield who will speak on behalf of Food For The Hungry. The latest tour dates are below, and tickets will go on sale beginning this Friday, July 17 in select markets. 

In other touring news, Third Day wrapped their successful spring U.S. and Canadian "Soul On Fire Tour" in May. In June they sold out two of their well-known THIRD DAY & FRIENDS shows - at Atlanta's Gwinnett Arena on June 6 and Denver's Red Rocks Amphitheatre on June 14. 

The Atlanta THIRD DAY & FRIENDS show made news as Third Day was the first CCM act to perform a live stream concert with Yahoo! Live/Live Nation. Their concert was part of a large series of live stream shows where they joined the likes of previous concerts from Bruce Hornsby, New Kids On The Block as well as the iHeart Radio Mumford & Sons album release party, to name a few. 

Leading up to the fall tour, Third Day will appear at numerous summer festivals as well as headline two post-MLB game faith-based concerts in August. On Sunday, August 2 they will perform at Cincinnati's Great American Ballpark after the Reds game and August 9 after the Braves game at Turner Field in their hometown of Atlanta. For more information and how to purchase tickets, please click Here. 

Fans at the upcoming shows will surely get to hear Third Day's latest hit single, "Soul On Fire," which was No. 1 for 11 weeks and is charting on both the AC Monitored and National Audience Charts. The song's music video is below. The band's next single, "Your Words," will go for adds in August. Both songs are found on Third Day's latest release Lead Us Back: Songs of Worship (March 3, 2015; Essential Records). The album, their latest worship offering in more than ten years, debuted top 20 on Billboard's Top 200 Album Chart and No. 1 on the Christian Album Chart its first week. 

To find out more about Third Day and if they're performing in a city near you, please visit ThirdDay.com.

Source: Merge PR