Here are my top five songs for this week.  Check'em out.  You may find a few new favorites.

"Sound of Melodies" by Leeland
I don't love everything of Leeland's.  I tend to enjoy more upbeat songs, but Sound of Melodies caught my interest the first time I heard it played.  It's absolutely haunting and put me in a very worshipful mood.  The lyrics are quite convicting.  "We who were called to be Your people, struggling sinners and thieves.  We're lifted up from the ashes and out came the song of the redeemed..."  The song, while slow, isn't boring at all.  Leeland is a great worship band, and Sound of Melodies is a pretty song.  Check it out on YouTube.

"Kiss the Girl" by Colbie Caillat
I've actually never seen The Little Mermaid, but I know this song is from that movie.  Colbie Caillat remade the old Disney song, and I find it sweet, clean, and quite pretty.  Colbie Caillat's voice is beautiful and very well-controlled.  The song is basically trying to coax a boy to kiss a girl since they're finally alone together.  Like I said, I haven't seen the movie, but I assume they're old enough to kiss.  "Shalalalala, my oh my.  Look's like the boy's too shy, ain't gonna kiss the girl.  Shalalalala, ain't that sad?  It's such a shame, too bad.  You're gonna miss the girl.  Go on and kiss the girl."  I'm not usually a fan of Disney soundtracks, but I enjoy this song quite a bit.  It's a love song that I... well, love.  Check it out on YouTube.

"Forgiven" by Sanctus Real
This song is perfect on days when I feel absolutely undeserving of God's love.  It's an amazing worship song.  Sanctus Real's got it going on!  Look at these lyrics and tell me you aren't convicted.  "Well, the past is playing with my head and failure knocks me down again.  I'm reminded of the wrong that I have said and done, and that devil just won't let me forget.  In this life, I know what I've been, but here in Your arms, I know what I am.  I'm forgiven... and I don't have to carry the weight of who I've been, 'cause I'm forgiven.  My mistakes are running through my mind, and I'll relive my days in the middle of the night.  When I struggle with my pain, wrestle with my pride, sometimes I feel alone, and I cry...  When I don't fit in and I don't feel like I belong anywhere.  When I don't measure up to much in this life, oh, I'm a treasure in the arms of Christ."  Forgiven is a beautiful, beautiful song.  Check it out on YouTube. 

"One Girl Revolution" by Superchic[k]
Superchick has been one of my favorite bands since I was about eleven.  Pretty much every single one of their songs relates to my life somehow.  One Girl Revolution should be the anthem for young girls.  It's awesome.  It's rock.  It's Christian.  It's an inspiration.  I remember hearing this song for the first time and feeling confidence come over me.  "Some people see the revolution, but most only see the girl.  I can lose my hard-earned freedom if my fear defines my world.  I declare my independence from the critics and their stones.  I can find my revolution.  I can learn to stand alone.  And I'll be everything that I want to be.  I am confidence in insecurity.  I am a voice yet waiting to be hurt.  I'll shoot the shot- bang- that you hear 'round the world."  If you're looking for a pump-up song, consider adding One Girl Revolution to your playlist.  Check it out on YouTube first.

"Yearn" by Shane & Shane
Yearn is probably one of the most heartfelt worship songs I have ever heard in my life.  Its lyrics ignite an emotion in me every single time I hear it.  I mean, the lyrics describe what most Christians feel, if not all.  "Lord, I want to yearn for You.  I want to burn with passion over You and only You.  Lord, I want to yearn."  Listen to this on YouTube to get the full effect.  Yearn is just a beautiful song.  I love it.  Always. 

Here are my five favorite songs of the week.  Check'em out.

"Mess" by B.Reith
This song has the catchiest beat, some rap, some singing, and plenty of acoustic guitar, all of which I love.  It's Christian and basically an apology letter to God from someone who has taken his life into his own hands and forgotten to allow God in control.  The chorus goes like this: "Somebody get me out this mess I'm in.  See, I've been trying to do the best I can, but I keep on stumbling over and over again.  I ain't got no more excuses for You.  All that I can say is sorry.  Won't You please come rescue me as quickly as You can?"  I love this song.  It's a catchy tune and fun to sing along.  I love B. Reith's voice.  It's lov song he's a good rapper as well.  Check out this song on YouTube here.

"Our God" by Chris Tomlin
Moving on from slow rap to worship.  I'm not usually a big fan of contemporary worship songs, but Chris Tomlin has done an excellent job with this.  I love the words.  Just pure worship and adoration of the Lord.  I love it.  Very catchy.  "Our God is greater. Our God is stronger. God, You are higher than any other. Our God is Healer, awesome in power. Our God, our God..."  Check it out on YouTube.

"Outta Space Love" by Group 1 Crew
Group 1 Crew has got to be one of my favorite bands of all times.  They keep their music at a level where it could easily blend in -musically, not lyrically- with the secular industry, which few Christian artists seem to have the skill to do.  Most of Group 1 Crew's songs are catchy and fun, with lyrics that glorify God and encourage Christians not to follow the ways of the world.  Outta Space Love is a fun song with some meaning behind the funky music.  "Future ain't really promised today, so I'ma have to speak what He want me to say," and "And let the world see now just what we're talking 'bout, and take a trip to outer space and let your faith ring out."  With the catchiness of a secular song, but lyrics that glorify God rather than the world, I recommend Group 1 Crew's entire new album, also titled Outta Space Love, for your playlist.  Check out a preview of the song here.

"Joyful Noise" by Flame
For those of you who don't like rap, you probably won't like this song.  I don't know any more of Flame's songs, but he sure hit the nail on the head with this one.  I love this song.  It's so catchy.  It shares the Gospel and the story of Christ within the first verse.  Joyful Noise is basically a worship rap song.  I mean, check out the chorus.  "Angels surrounding His throne and worthy is the Lamb who was slain.  The whole earth is full of His glory.  All nations bow to His Name.  His majesty fills the heavens.  Our hearts give thunderous praise.  Declare the Lord is forever.  Make a joyful noise in this place."  My friends and I have jammed many times in a car with the windows rolled down to this song.  It's great.  Check it out here.

"I Call It Apathy" by Paige Armstrong
You may not have heard of Paige Armstrong before.  She's a budding new music artist whose debut album came out last year.  Her lyrics throw me to the floor.  She's so young, but so wise.  I Call It Apathy is Christian rock.  Check out the lyrics to the chorus: "I call it apathy, state of complacency, that's taking over who we really are.  I call it apathy that's keeping us asleep.  We've only got this one moment to leave our mark."  The words to the bridge also left me feeling stunned and convicted.  "So would you stop for one second, maybe think for yourself?  Arise now.  There's no revolution when we're all sitting down."  That's amazing.  Whenever you're having a day where you just don't care, turn on some Paige Armstrong.  She fought cancer and faced death as an eleven-year-old girl and now she fights to show people how important life truly is.  So when it comes to apathy, she knows what she's talking about.  Check out the song on YouTube.

Are any of these songs already on your playlist?  Which of these genres is your favorite?