Michael Whitaker Smith was born on October 7, 1957 in Kenova, West Virginia. His debut album THE MICHAEL W. SMITH PROJECT came out in 1983. In 1986 he released one of my favourite albums of his, THE BIG PICTURE. It included the songs: 'Lamu', 'Old Enough to Know', and 'Rocketown'. Today many know Michael W. Smith mainly for his worship and Christmas albums, although in 2010 he released a great, but overlooked Christian pop album entitled WONDER. Fast forward to February 16, 2018 and he released the highly anticipated pop album A MILLION LIGHTS on Rocketown Records. In a press release he said: "Until the world ends, music is the most powerful language there is. It can transform your life on every level, not just the spiritual. It can help people reconnect with why they're here". The album debuted at #1 on the SoundScan Christian retail chart. In the liner notes, Michael writes: "My thanks for the inspiration for this album goes to my Mom and Dad. Your example of loving and respecting all people inspired me. Thank You!!!...To my Papa, thank You for reminding me every day of who I really am. No words to fully describe my gratitude. I am continually in awe and wonder that You call me Your own-Your beloved!"
1. First up is the title track and the album's debut single, 'A Million Lights'. It is one of two songs co-written by Kyle Lee and Michael W. Smith. It is essentially a wonderful pop praise song reminiscent of Coldplay: "For You/All the stars are singing/And You, I can feel You reaching/For You/All the stars are singing/With You, every day I'm feeling alive.../All the stars are singing/A million lights".
2. 'Conversation' is one of four songs written by the trio of Bryan Todd, Jason Walker, and Michael W. Smith. It's a dandy pop/dance song about all the divisions in society today: "One by one we're separated/What I thought was love just looked like hatred/I've been losing myself trying to prove you wrong/And right now all I know is I can't go on/So I'm stepping across all the lines I've drawn/Right now, right now/Bring me into the conversation.../I just want to talk to you/I just want to hear what you're saying".
3. 'Something in My Heart' is a pop/dance love song to God: "If not for You/I never move/You are the spark, spark/You wake something in my heart/Oh, oh, ah, oh, oh, oh, ah, oh".
4. Jason Walker, Chris Davenport and Smitty wrote 'Footsteps', a cool pop song that includes these words of testimony: "Everywhere that I ran took me to the beginning/When You called me Your son and You said You would lead me/Everything that I am is the man You made me/Everything You've done/Made my life, made my life worth living/But as long as I can see Your footsteps, I'm alright".
5. 'Your Love' is a techno ballad that speaks of God's rescuing power: "I took a journey through the devil's door/Chasing the freedom that I thought was Yours/Just found the bottom of an icy floor and regret/With trembling hands and an empty breath/You saw the struggle and You cast the nets/You knew me better than I ever knew myself/And now the only thing that's left/Oh, oh, ooh/Is Your love (2X)".
6. Thad Cockrell and Michael W. Smith wrote 'Love Always Wins', a terrific pop anthem about striving for unity: "It's written and it's always been, love always wins/You say there is a distance/You say the space is much too wide/I say with no resistance/I'm going to find you/Love always wins/I'm going to find you".
7. 'Crashing Waves' was penned by Jonathan Jackson and Smitty. It testifies: "Somebody hears the Son/In the midnight of suffering/The tears were falling down and crashing like waves/Somebody stole the pain/A thief in the night came/I'll never be the same/You rolled the stone away/Oh, I'll never be the same/You rolled this stone away/My heart is beating loud/In perfect rhythm".
8. 'Louder' is a creative pop/dance track of encouragement: "You're born a child of God/Don't let the truth get lost/Lost beyond the fear of the moment/There's a reason why you hear those dreams inside/Calling up from under the ocean.../Oh, play your symphony/Let me hear it/No one else can say the words inside your head/I don't know what you're waiting for/Play your symphony, let me hear it/Keep on saying all the words inside your head/Louder!"
9. 'Revolution' was the first song written for this project and was penned by Ryan Smith, Alan Robertson and Michael W. Smith. It's adult contemporary and more acoustic in nature in some ways. Again, it's about pursuing unity on this earth: "Do we care and do we hear all the voices raised in hate and fear?/They're singing oh, oh/All these lines separating what's yours and what's mine/It's suffocating, oh, oh/Revolution/Revolution/Build a bridge to the other side/Cross the great divide".
10. 'Hey Love' was co-written by Smitty and Wayne Kirkpatrick. It features Jordin Sparks who in 2007 won Season Six of 'American Idol'. She has three full length studio albums of her own out. This cut is a beautiful adult contemporary love song that should be a mainstream radio hit in my opinion: "We're circling the sun, we're basking in the afterglow/It's back around to me and you/Come sail away with me/We can talk about old times/We're heading into something new/Hey love it's me/Hey love it's me/I want you like I wanted you back then/I want you more today than I did then/In other words I want you always".
11. 'You Make Me Feel this Way' has a weak chorus lyrically: "Sing it over/I'll sing it over/No doubt, no doubt/Oh, you make me feel/Sing it over, I'll sing it over/No doubt, no doubt/You make me feel this way".
12. Wes King and Michael co-wrote 'Forgive'. Brent Milligan plays cello on this beautifully orchestrated, quieter, emotional track: "Whenever it rains/Reminds me of the day/When you left me/Didn't say goodbye/I was young/You broke my heart/I learned to dance with pain/And how to pray and how to hope/Still I wonder where you were/Did you care and cry with me when it rained?/I forgive you".
13. Michael co-wrote the last song 'Who You Are' with the multi-talented Cindy Morgan. He says it was inspired by kids committing suicide. It's a memorable adult contemporary/light rock song from God's perspective: "I know the wolf's howling at your door/Says you're not strong enough/Telling you not to fight no more/I hope you don't give up/Give Me time/There's so much more than this/Give me time/I'll show you how to live, oh yeah/Give Me time/I'll heal the pain you feel/Give Me time/I'll show you love that's real/Give Me time/You haven't gone too far/Give me time/To show you who you are".
I am extremely impressed with this new Christian pop album by CCM legend Michael W. Smith. He really breaks new ground here musically. I'm digging the techno, electronic dance/pop sounds on many of the tracks. It shows that this Christian music pioneer is still relevant today. Don't worry, there's just enough adult contemporary music mixed in to please long-time fans. One of the main themes on the album is God's love and care for us. We have a hope and a future. Another theme is that of bridging societal gaps. Smith encourages us to listen to and hear what other people are saying rather than fighting with them. He calls for unity rather than division and suspicion. There's also a good love song on here featuring Jordin Sparks. I'm rating A MILLION LIGHTS 95%. This is one album that truly lived up to its hype. For more info visit: www.michaelwsmith.com.