Christian music. Whatever that ever meant or means now. Songwriters. After much thought and shuffling of the list I’ve decided on a Top 10. These lyricists have played a part in shaping my thinking on life, theology, my own attempts at crafting songs/poetry. These are the songwriters that shaped me and continue to do so to this day. You’ll notice not many of them exist comfortably in the confines of CCM, residing in that tension/middle space between. Here are my Top 10 Songwriters of Christian music.
First, some honorable mentions:
–Reese Roper (Five Iron Frenzy)
What a versatile lyrycist. Who else could convincingly pull off the silliness of “Pootermobile,” the earnestness of “Dandelions,” the hope-filled “Every New Day” and the fierce “While Supplies Last” without batting an eye? Answer: probably alot of people. But still, not as convincingly as this guy.
–Bear Rhineheart (Needtobreathe)
It’s hard to leave Bear off the list, but it’s also hard to tell just how much of my favorite era of his writing for Needtobreathe was co-shaped by his brother Bo. Either way, he’s certainly earned an honorable mention.
–Steven Curtis Chapman
Fifty #1 singles y’all. Fifty. The man knows how to write a tune. He would have been one of my first favorites, and I still love all of his 90s output.
10. John Van Deusen
It’s still early on in his solo career, but nearly 70 songs and through the four-part I Am Origami series he has quickly become my favorite artist of the last seven years.
9. Keith Green
A legend. Gone too soon. What a legacy. The passion and fury of the man who preached from his piano perch as much as he played, Green was prophetic, pastoral, and unwilling to let believers off the hook. He lived what he preached. His debut album For Him Who Has Ears is a stone cold 5 Star classic and that’s just the tip of the iceberg of great songs.
8. Brooke Fraser
One of two terrific songwriters for Australian worship group Hillsong United, I’ve always been drawn to her lyrically meaty worship choruses since first hearing “Hosanna” and “Lead Me to the Cross” in 2006. They both remain favorites to this day among nearly everything else both solo and for the church that she has penned.
Top 20 Songs of 20 Artists: Brooke Fraser
7. Aaron Tate
For my money, non-touring member of Caedmon’s Call Aaron Tate was the secret sauce of the first three excellent Caedmon’s Call albums. If you’re a fan of the band you know what I mean. Check out his songwriting credits from Self Titled, 40 Acres, and Long Line of Leavers…seriously. The depth of these songs are woven into the fabric of my heart at this point.
“Only One” “Prove Me Wrong” “Valleys Fill First”
“There You Go” “Shifting Sand” “Where I Began” “Petrified Heart” “40 Acres”
“Lead of Love” “This World” “Not Enough” “Coming Home”
6. Matt Thiessen
Oh man. I love this dude. He’s one I felt like I grew up right alongside. We started goofy and fun and in college and progressively got a little more serious. I truly don’t think there’s a writer in CCM that quite turns a phrase the way that Matty T does. He can be poignant, he does snarky really well, but I love when he’s clever. Collapsible Lung the album aside, he’s never disappointed me.
5. Matt Slocum
The principal lyricist and guitarist for Sixpence None the Richer, Slocum has written some of the best pop/rock gems of the last thirty years. Go check out “A Million Parachutes” “The Lines of My Earth” “Spotlight” and “Love, Salvation, the Fear of Death” if you don’t believe me.
Every Sixpence None the Richer Song Ranked
Ranking Sixpence None The Richer
4. Andrew Peterson
Though his songwriting output has slowed, Peterson has only gotten better with age. I loved his debut and then lost track of him for a while but remedied that mistake quickly. The man doesn’t write bad songs and he’s written so many that resonate so deeply with me. “Don’t You Want to Thank Someone” is his crown jewel, but “Is He Worthy?” and many others are excellent as well.
3. Dan Haseltine
Lead singer and main lyricist for my favorite band of all time Jars of Clay, Haseltine matches often melancholy lyrics with his bands signature acoustic based sound. “Worlds Apart” was an early standout, and “Love in Hard Times” was the most recent gem from their last album Inland.
Every Jars of Clay Song Ranked
2. Jon Foreman
Certainly, of the artists still currently writing and touring Foreman is tops in my book. His work with Switchfoot, solo output and two albums with Fiction Family prove that the man seems to have no shortage of songs at the ready. Most all of them are gems too. He’s written world weary alt rock anthems like “Meant to Live,” concert closers with heavenward ache like “Where I Belong,” bops like “When She’s Near” (Fiction Family) and acoustic solo musings like “Cure For the Pain.” Write on Jon!
Every Switchfoot Song Ranked (Updated)
Switchfoot: The Beautiful Letdown’s 20th Anniversary
1. Rich Mullins
I’m not sure there’s much more that can be said that I haven’t already written thru the years so I’ll quote myself:
“Like any great music, most of his has aged well. Time has only served to season it, there’s a depth to his lyrics that is rarely seen in today’s music industry, and that’s largely because he wasn’t afraid to spend time wrestling with God over big questions. Trust me, anything he wrote is worth hearing at least once.”
Top 20 Songs of 20 Artists: Rich Mullins
That’s it! What about you? Who are your favorites? Let me know.
Here’s a 30 song playlist of my picks by there’s songwriters if you’d like to listen along.
Happy listening!