New song for Maundy Thursday just a bit late...

I forgot to share this last week. Here's a recording I did for Maundy Thursday.

I set music to Sydney Carter's lyrics to "Bitter Was the Night" and paired it with the chorus from Steve Merkel's "Lord Have Mercy".

Hope you like it as much as I do.

We Are the World 25 for Haiti

"We Are The World" 2010

The new "We Are The World" will premiere February 12 on NBC's opening games of the Olympics. Proceeds from the new version, which includes a new hip hop verse written by the Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am, will go to the relief effort in Haiti.

The artists for this version are a who's who of today's music including: Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Wyclef Jean, Harry Connick Jr., Kanye West, Miley Cyrus, Tony Bennett, Justin Bieber, P!nk, Patti Austin, Brian Wilson and Al Jardine, Carlos Santana, Josh Groban, Gladys Knight, The Jonas Brothers, Jennifer Hudson, Enrique Iglesias, Harry Connick Jr., Natalie Cole, Drake, LL Cool J, Bustah Rhymes, Heart, BeBe Winans, Jamie Foxx, Usher, will.i.am, Robin Thicke, Rob Thomas, Akon, Brandy, Keri Hilson, Zac Brown, Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest, Joel and Benji Madden (of Good Charlotte), Melanie Fiona, Drake, Jordin Sparks, Mya, Musiq Soulchild, Katharine McPhee, Orianthi, Trey Songz, Faith Evans, Sugarland, Jennifer Hudson, Jason Mraz, India.Arie, Mary Mary, Tyrese , Raphael Saadiq, Pink, Jordin Sparks, Rob Thomas, Usher, the Fray's Isaac Slade, Adam Levine, Nicole Scherzinger, Julianne Hough, Jeff Bridges, and yes...Vince Vaughn and Snoop Dogg.

Janet Jackson will sing Michael's part, which is nice.

Nepitism never hurts as Rashida Jones (the Parks & Rec and I Love You Man actress is Quincy's daughter) and Nicole Richie (Lionel's offspring) were also on hand.

I'm still trying scratching my head as to why Justin Bieber gets to sing the very first lines originally done by Lionel Richie. Not sure his voice is even deep enough to sing that part. Lil Wayne is doing the Bob Dylan part. No, seriously.

Some artists Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie and the others involved wanted, such as Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake and Lady GaGa, were unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts. So, who else was not there? Let's see: Rihanna, Fergie, Britney, Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige, Adam Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban...hmm, who else? Leave comments!

If you're wondering where Mariah Carey was, she took part in a Haiti tribute Simon Cowell put together across the pond. Others involved included Leona Lewis, Rod Stewart, Robbie Williams, Cheryl Cole, Jon Bon Jovi, Michael Buble, Kylie Minogue, and Susan Boyle.

The song is a cover of R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts". Listen to that one here:

Rich Mullins - "You Gotta Get Up (Christmas Song)"

I didn't like any of the videos that people had done for this song. So, I made one using footage I found on YouTube of Christmas mornings from various families from the 1950's and 1960's. Hope you enjoy.

Steven Curtis Chapman's "Beauty Will Rise"

Growing up, I was a big fan of Steven Curtis Chapman. His songwriting, singing, and guitar playing were all influential on me. I was so sad to hear about the tragedy he faced last year.

I have been amazed at the strength of the Chapmans in the months that have followed the death ,and after listening to "Beauty Will Rise" all I can say is wow.

Steven Curtis put his whole heart into this new album. The entire project is about losing his little girl and learning to live without her. And yet is filled with the hope that only Christ can provide and the faith that one day he will see her again.

Go here and listen to "Beauty Will Rise" in its entirety.

MY nominees for Best Video of the Year By a Female Artist

If MTV were still relevant at all, maybe Kanye would have complained that there were a ton of videos (including his own "Heartless") that weren't nominated at all.

For the most part, I didn't see anything new in any of the videos nominated. I didn't keep tally of cliches but the number would be pretty high if I did.

I was glad to hear that MTV brought back the Breakthrough Video of the Year category. It disappeared two years ago I think (when Mutemath should have won for "Typical". Alas, the category didn't make it to air though. If you want two of the best videos by female artists you can look at that category. Here are those two, plus Janelle Monae's "Many Moons".

Viral Video of the Week - Birds on the Wires

Birds on the Wires from Jarbas Agnelli on Vimeo.

Is the Free Credit Report Band legit?

I thought about writing a blog about whether or not the band from the freecreditreport.com commercials was real. Turns out Jim Shearer already wrote a great article over at ifc.com.

Jay-Za Vu

Jay-Z's new album cover is really cool. But it does look familiar.

Michael Jackson - 1958-2009

I can't find the words. I don't even know where to begin. We have lost a genius...a true genius. That word is thrown around so often, but Michael Jackson was an absolute genius. A legend.

Michael was an enormous influence on my music as he was on all musicians who make modern music.

I am devastated...I can't believe it...and yet, listening to his music, I can not help but smile. His music has that effect. And so, I will probably keep listening to his music for a long time.

Rest in Peace, Michael.

Pete Seeger

I have decided I have to see Pete Seeger in concert before he dies. He's 90 and still performing. I just love that.

I recently saw an documentary of his amazing life on PBS. He is now officially one of my only living heroes.

Here he is at 89 from his album "At 89" on Letterman. Listen to the words and sing along. You'll be happier than you were before you pushed play.

U2's "Magnificent" Video

Here's the video for the best praise and worship song of the year.

Oh! So, that's why no one's sung that song this season...

I don't know why I haven't blogged more about American Idol this season.

On the whole, this season's contestants pick crap songs just about every week. I mean, come on...they could pick anything from any movie and they do not one but TWO Bryan Adams songs? Seriously? No "Somewhere" from West Side Story? No "When You Wish Upon a Star" from Pinocchio? How about "As Time Goes By" or "Rainbow Connection"? Nope.

But I digress...

Just about every week I tell my wife, Daphne, what song I would've sung if I were on American Idol that week. She's the only one who would care and I don't really know if she does care.

A few weeks ago during the "anything that's popular on iTunes" episode, I think I would have sung "Taking Chances" by Celine Dion. I seriously think it's one of the best radio songs of the past several years. I thought it would have been really cool if one of the guys--Danny maybe--sang it. I like to think no one did it because (AI judge) Kara DioGuardi wrote it with Dave Stewart.

Check this video out. If you want to hear it done really well, go look for Celine's version on YouTube but Kara is actually a really good singer. I still want her to stop talking every time she opens her mouth on the show...even if her words are more helpful than just about anything Paula has said in eight seasons. There's just something about her that annoys the crap out of me but I'd still kill to write a song with her.

P.S. You think Dave Stewart might have traveled to Paris, TN a few years ago and stolen my guitar? Looks just like the one that was stolen from me there.

So, who do you think will be in the final two? Who do you think will win?

The Daft Punk Console

You gotta check this out.

Jack White is the drummer in The Dead Weather

And Alison Mosshart of The Kills is the singer.

Read more here.

New KNAPSACKHEROES! Video

CCM Magazine's Dove Award Predictions

The Gospel Music Association's Dove Awards are April 23. Check out CCM Magazine's predictions.

This year, for the first time, the GMA is allowing fans to vote for Artist of the Year and New Artist of the Year. Vote here.

One day my band will be on Yo Gabba Gabba too.

INXS Singer Lied?

Last week I posted an article that stated INXS lead singer J.D. Fortune had been fired by the band and was homeless.

According to the band's former manager Chris Murphy, Fortune fabricated the whole thing, including the airport where the alleged incident took place.

Time will tell.

Here's the interview that started it all.

U2's New Album

Listen to "No Line On the Horizon" at U2's MySpace.