Michael Whitaker Smith was born on October 7, 1957 in
Kenova, West Virginia. His dad was an
oil refinery worker and his mom a caterer.
Michael signed as a songwriter with Meadowgreen Music in 1981, writing
songs for the likes of Sandi Patty and Amy Grant. He was Amy’s keyboardist on her AGE TO AGE
tour, and went on to become her opening act.
His debut album THE MICHAEL W. SMITH PROJECT came out in 1983 on Reunion
Records. It included several great songs
including ‘Friends’ and ‘You Need a Savior’.
My favourite album of his is THE BIG PICTURE released in 1986. His first worship album WORSHIP came out in 2001
and did very well. Now he is back with
his fourth worship album SOVEREIGN (2014, Capitol CMG/Sparrow). I am reviewing here the standard twelve song
version, which runs 56 minutes and 39 seconds.
‘You Won’t Let Go’, a rousing adult contemporary song penned
by Michael, Seth Mosley, and Mia Fieldes, starts things off. It should encourage those going through hard
times: “No raging storm can ever defy/One word of faith/My heart remains sure
in the wind/Sure in the waves/You are the anchor for my soul/You won’t let go
(2X)/No matter what may come I know/You won’t let go/No valley low changes the
truth/So I’m not afraid”. ‘Heaven Come
Down’ is a sincere cry for revival: “Oh, we are broken/Here before You now/God
we’re cryin’ out/Bringing You a heart that’s open/Come and light a fire
(2X)/Like an ocean/Washin’ over us/Strong and glorious/Your love has spoken/And
our hearts are open/Oh, heaven come down tonight/We wanna see Your glory
shine”.
‘Miracle’ is an adult pop song of testimony: “I am a
miracle/I am a miracle/Impossible/The war was lost/Before Your blood/Before the
cross/My shame no more/My curse no more/You made a way (2X).../Amazing
grace/How sweet the sound/I once was lost/But now I’m found”. ‘Sky Spills Over’ was penned by Michael, his
son Ryan, and Christopher Stevens. Wes
King plays acoustic guitars and Ben Clark plays banjo. This very positive song has a pulsating beat:
“Lift your eyes/Look to the horizon now/There’s still a hope for us/Reach up
from the dust/And call it down/Can you hear/Can you hear that thunder?/Sing His
Name, Sing it out/’Til the sky spills over/I may just be dry bones/Stripped of
sinew and skin/But the wind of His Spirit/Will raise me up again”.
‘All Arise’ includes strings by David Henry and reminds us
to revere God: “There is only One/Whose majesty is unending/There is only
One/The King of Kings, never failing/All, all arise/At the Name of our
Savior/Who is worthy/You are worthy”.
‘You Are The Fire’ is a song that builds in intensity musically and
reminds us God can’t be contained in a box of our own making: “You’re all
consuming/You can’t be contained/Never relenting, changing everything/You are
the love that overwhelms my heart/You are the fire lighting up the dark.../Fan
the flames ‘til the whole world sees us burn/You are the fire”.
‘Christ Be All Around Me’ was written by Leeland Mooring,
Jack Mooring, David Leonard, and Leslie Jordan.
It is a great congregational style song that serves as a prayer: “As I
rise, strength of God/Go before, lift me up/As I wake, eyes of God/Look upon,
be my sight/As I wait, heart of God/Satisfy and sustain/As I hear, voice of
God/Lead me on, be my guide/Be my guide/Above and below me/Before and behind
me/In every eye that sees me/Christ be all around me”. Aaron Keyes, Bryan Brown, and Jack Mooring
wrote ‘Sovereign Over Us’. Jack is
Michael’s son-in-law. This terrific
worship ballad uses violin, viola, cello, and double bass. It boldly declares who God is: “Your plans
are still to prosper/You have not forgotten us/You’re with us in the fire and
the flood/You’re faithful forever/Perfect in love/You are sovereign over
us.../You’re the lifter of the lowly/Compassionate and kind/You surround and
You uphold me/And Your promises are my delight”.
‘Hide Myself’ values intimacy with God above all else: “You
are the refuge that stands/You hold my world in Your hands/The quiet in the
noise/The stillness of Your voice/Will be enough.../And it’s Your presence
alone/That changes all that I know/’Til all that I know/Is just Your presence
alone/I’m safe in Your shadow”. Nick
Herbert and Ben Cantelon wrote ‘The Same Power’. It is a celebratory song appropriate for
Easter Sunday: “There is power in His Name/For the stone was rolled
away/Mountains bow down before/Jesus Christ, our risen Lord/Jesus Christ, our
risen Lord/Mighty Savior, lifted high/King forever, Jesus Christ/Crowned in
glory, raised to life/The same power lives in us”.
‘I Lay Me Down’ is a ballad that uses strings and finds
Michael on piano. It is a song of true
spiritual satisfaction: “I have found here/Love and mercy/From an infinite
supply/I have found here/Living water/From a well that won’t run dry/At Your
feet I bow in wonder/At Your feet/I place my crowns/Let surrender be the only
sound/At Your feet/I lay me down”. The
closing song ‘The One That Really Matters’ was penned by Jennie Lee Riddle and
Dustin Smith. It features Kari Jobe on
vocals along with Michael, Bellarive on backing vocals, and Cara Fox on
cello. The song includes these
passionate words: “I can’t help but scream about the way that You moved
in/Chaotic love has messed me up so I could live again/You’re the One that
really matters”.
Michael W. Smith and his wife Debbie have five kids and
several grandchildren. Michael has sold
over 15 million albums, had 28 No 1 hits, won 3 Grammy’s, and over 40 Dove
Awards. He says: “I’m pretty
passionate. I have lots of energy and
I’m probably enjoying making music more than I ever have in my entire
life. I’m having fun and I’m excited
about this record and this next chapter...I don’t see retirement anywhere in
the Bible”.
I recommend SOVEREIGN to fans of Chris Tomlin, Elton John,
Mark Schultz, and Billy Joel. This is
worship music for already converted youth and young adults. This album represents all that is good about
modern worship music. The
instrumentation is skillful and the lyrics are meaningful. Michael’s vocals are spot on. He is supported by many talented vocalists
including Lauren Daigle, Jamie Jamgochian, and Jeremy Edwardson. These songs will inspire you to grow closer
to God and trust Him more. They will
also make you desire to share Christ with those who don’t yet know Him. I’m rating SOVEREIGN 98%. For more info visit: www.michaelwsmith.com and www.sparrowrecords.com.