Australian-based Christian rock/worship band Hillsong United has earned the #2 spot on the iTunes Top Album Charts for its just released CD A Cross The Earth:Tear Down The Walls. The album sits just behind Eminem's new CD Relapse, which is at #1.
"For a band that is virtually unknown outside the Christian culture to be selling more than Green Day and Lady Gaga and almost as many as Eminem on iTunes, it says something about United's amazing trajectory as an impact artist beyond just the Christian music scene," says Chris Estes, Director of Digital Marketing for Integrity Music, the label that distributes United in the U.S. in a press release. "And, they did all this without traditional industry drivers like heavy radio play and mainstream TV. Not only do they sell out major venues, churches around the world are singing their songs every Sunday."
My first thought was that it's a little ironic to have a Christian band with an album #2 in the nation, and yet still be "virtually unknown outside the Christian culture." I mean, wouldn't it be great if the message of Hillsong United and this album - Jesus Christ, compassion, social justice - was being heard in every corner of the market? Isn't that kind of what we're supposed to be doing, sharing the gospel and preaching Jesus to every corner of the globe, not preaching to the choir?
I'm not faulting Hillsong United, just questioning the reality that oftentimes the very things the world needs to hear are kept under wraps in the Christian culture. It's not Hillsong's fault. It's just the by-product of our commercialized subculture.
Now through August, Hillsong United is playing to capacity crowds, including sell-outs at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, the Roseland Ballroom in New York and the Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre in Atlanta. Remaining shows are:
5/27 Atlanta, Ga.
5/29 Birmingham, Ala.
5/30 Nashville, Tenn.
6/1 Washington, D.C.
6/2 Boston, Mass.
6/3 Virginia Beach, Va.
6/5 New York
6/6 Toronto
6/8 Grand Rapids, Mich.
6/9-10 Chicago (Willow Creek Conference)
8/21-22 Los Angeles (Encounterfest)
8/24 Denver, Colo.
8/25 Dallas
8/28-29 Miami (Encounterfest)
Updated tour details for Hillsong United can be found at the Hillsong United website.
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Hillsong United's success may say something about their fans. I'd 'bet' that people are much less likely to download pirated versions of Christian songs. Lady Gaga, for example, has had huge iTunes downloads, but how many more would she have if people respected copyright? (Her latest video, for example, was leaked and its all over the internet, before she's even had a chance to put it on iTunes.) All the same, congrats to Hillsong United, and to their fans! I'll check them out!
They actually made it to #1 at some point last week, they had a screenshot on a facebook update I think. I think it's more impressive than other Christian artists, or any artist for that matter, to be up there with basically ZERO radio support. They may get dismissed as just P&W music, but there are actually a few gems on each release.
even i was amazed when i read these news from the internet...
i love hillsong united...
the very things the world needs to hear are kept under wraps in the Christian culture.
your right in these statement...
christian music is not only for people who are inside the church, but mostly its for the people outside the church!
TEAR DOWN THE WALLS as the title says,
why not they TEAR DOWN THE WALLS that divide christian music to the people around the world... hehe.. anywayz, loved this album!
Does anyone have a recommendation for a track from the new album?
I don't fully understand Hillsong United's appeal to me--a relatively stuffy, well-educated 58 year-old man who cannot carry a tune--but when I attended their recent Friday night (5/29/2009)worship service in Birmingham, Alabama, I was overwhelmed by the sense of joy and hope these young men and women shared with their 5,000 +/- audience of mostly teens and young adults. Irrespective of the beautifully simple lyrics of most of the songs on their new album, A Cross the Earth: Tear Down the Walls, which reflect a traditional Christian theology, the music is at the same time energetic, reflective, and inspiring.
As is nearly always the case with Hillsong's music, I find one of Brooke Fraser Ligertwood's songs, "Soon," to be the highlight of the new album, although it was not among those sung in the worship service.
If you have a desire to experience what I have concluded is the real presence of the Holy Spirit, I highly recommend the new album and especially your attendance at one of Hillsong's worship services. The hair on the back of my neck is still standing.
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