Friday, December 19th, 2008 at 12:00 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
Hi InTheTimes.com Girls!
Christmas is definitely one of my most favorite times of year! Family time...shopping...peppermint hot chocolate (with lots of whip cream of course, smile!) Christmas-themed movies...presents...parades... glitter...holiday foods...snow...wrapping paper...decorations...lights... holiday fashion...Church...parties...cooking...holiday smells...surprises... and Christmas music!!!
It is soooo easy to get caught up in ourselves, that we forget what Christmas is really about. God coming to Earth in the form of a man to teach us how to live and save us from a life of sin...Redemption! God teaching us through His Son Jesus, how to love Him, love ourselves, and love others!
A great way to make sure to keep 'the reason for the season' in the forefront of your brain is through great Christmas music! Take the time to think about the lyrics to some of our favorite Christmas songs, you'll be surprised how inspiring they can be!
Below you'll find some must-have Christmas albums for your collection, make sure to click the links to preview the songs for free and purchase your favs!
Talk Soon! RUTH
* Find more Must-Have Christmas Music by reading Part I of our feature!
tags: must have must-have top christmas music albums songs singles mp3 downloads, tween pre-teen teen teenage teenager young adult girl magazine web site blog e-zine christian faith-based biblically-based, inthetimes.com in the times magazine editor picks choices
Joy Williams / Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
Thursday, December 18th, 2008 at 12:00 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
Hi InTheTimes.com Girls!
After releasing her greatest hits album Every Moment : The Best of Joy Williams, which featured the new recording "Any More Sure", Joy took a break from recording and touring to concentrate on her successful songwriting career.
"I have a great group of musicians and writers that I get to collaborate with," Joy says, "Each day, I get to create! I get to listen, respond, share ideas, slip on the skin of someone else in the creative process...and help turn real stories into songs. It has been nothing short of totally invigorating."
Often writing under her married name "Joy Yetton", Joy has penned songs for a plethora of successful artists including InTheTimes.com favs pureNRG and like you read about last week, Cadia!
Joy and her husband, Nate, are both in their mid-twenties and have become a force in the music industry -- with Joy's successful recording and songwriting career and Nate's successful career working with top companies in the industry, in the field of A&R (these are the people that "discover" new artists for labels, oversee the recording process, and select which singles hit radio) and Marketing.
Now, the fashion-forward, intelligent young couple have created Sensibility Music and Joy's new EP One of Those Days is it's first release!
As a special Christmas gift to long-time and new Joy Williams fans, Sensibility Music is giving away a FREE DOWNLOAD at Joy's web site!
Joy has recorded a Christmas song that you probably have never heard before, "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella" The recording is not available on Joy's new EP, so head over to Joy's web site to download your copy FOR FREE!!!
#1 - Simply click the icon above with Joy's photo on it. You'll then be re-directed to her web site. #2 - There you'll find 'the story behind the song' and a link to DOWNLOAD IT FOR FREE! #3 - While you're at Joy's web site, make sure to add her as your MySpace friend, post a comment on her page thanking her for the FREE SONG, and join her E-mail Mailing List so you can stay up-to-date on Sensibility Music and Joy's upcoming EP to be released January 27th, 2009!
Of course we'll continue to bring you all the latest at InTheTimes.com! RUTH
>>>Joy has recorded a ton of songs! Make sure to click the links below to hear free audio samples and to purchase your favs! You can buy hard copies of Joy's albums, download individual songs, download the entire album, or buy used copies for a discounted price!
tags: joy williams yetton, free christmas music mp3 download, bring a torch jeanette isabella
Kristyn Leigh The Ornament / Must-Have Christmas Music
Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 at 2:15 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
The album features 5 tracks, including well-known Christmas carols such as "O Holy Night", "Do You Hear What I Hear?" and more! The title track, "The Ornament" is an original Christmas song that is sure to become a new Christmas favorite!
Long-time Kristyn Leigh fans will be pleased to hear Kristyn's signature strong vocals. A highlight is that the talent that Kristyn has already showcased on her previous album releases, has indeed heightened as Kristyn continues to grow as an artist -- Kristyn hits some beautiful notes on this project!
Visit Kristyn's web site and contact her team for information on how to purchase The Ornament release!
Talk soon! RUTH
* Note - Next week we'll be re-publishing an Interview we did a few years back with Kristyn on her experience performing at the annual Christmas Pageant of Peace in Washington, D.C. !
>>>Let's go shopping! Make sure to click the links below to hear free audio samples of Kristyn's music and to purchase your favs! You can buy hard copies of Kristyn's albums, download individual songs, download the entire album, or buy used copies for a discounted price!
tags: kristyn leigh interview, must-have christmas music albums
Alathea Christmas / Must-Have Christmas Music
Tuesday, December 16th, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
Christmas features 11 songs, including well-known Christmas carols such as "Silent Night", "What Child Is This?", and "O Come O Come Emmanuel", as well as some songs you might not be familiar with, such as the spotlight first track on the album "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem" A highlight that long-time Alathea fans will enjoy, is a re-make of the popular previously recorded Alathea song, "Emmanuel" !
If you like what the Alathea girls call "Popalachian" music (a mix of contemporary and traditional folk / bluegrass music) Christmas is a must-have (you'll probably find yourself listening to it all year long) ! Mandee Radford and Cristi Johnson present a solid Christmas album with unique artistry.
Fast fact - On the album, Mandee not only does Vocals, but plays the Acoustic and Resonator Guitars, as well as the Banjo! Cristi not only does Vocals, but plays the Mandolin, Lap Dulcimer, Baritone Ukulele, Harmonicas, and Percussion! The Alathea girls shine as Vocalists, Musicians, and Songwriters on this project! Make sure to click the link above to preview the album for free!
Talk soon! RUTH
tags: alathea mandee radford cristi johnson christmas review, must-have christmas music albums mp3 downloads
Jeni Varnadeau / Something Changed Stories Behind the Songs --- Part II
Monday, December 15th, 2008 at 12:00 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
Just Like You >>>
Often we pray, but we don't really expect that God will answer us. But shouldn't we expect Him to, when He says, if you ask of me and believe, you will receive? Shouldn't we expect Him to keep His promises? To be true to who He says He is?
"Just Like You" is about God showing up being the God He says He is -- forgiving, calming, and comforting. Of course He is all that
and so much more, but He definitely is the ultimate picture of love. And as He shows up and is true to His character as a loving, forgiving Father, we have a great example to follow so we can grow to become 'just like Him'
Silly Me >>>
I wrote this song about my cat, who is actually a MISS [song lyrics say "Mr. Cat on the window sill" ] I changed the name to protect the innocent.
Anyway, running around my house like a crazy person, as I would often do, I got stopped in my tracks one day, just thinking about -- if someone was in my living room right now, they would have to laugh at the huge contrast between me running around like a crazy person,
and my cat just lying on the couch sleeping.
It happened in the Bible, too! The disciples were in the boat while this huge storm was going on, and tossing the boat around, and you know they had to feel like panicked crazy people afraid they were about to die -- and Jesus -- He's just lying underneath the deck catchin' some zzz's. Hello!! Something's wrong with this picture!
But I realized that day, that this is a really good picture. We stress and worry about so many things that just really don't matter in the long run. It's time to stop and enjoy the people we're around, and the lives we've been given....and maybe those who are relaxing a little bit more are teaching a great lesson by their example.
>>> More Jeni Varnadeau Something Changed Stories Behind the Songs next week!
* BONUS VIDEO - Behind the Scenes with Jeni on the set of her Music Video "I'm Waiting"
>>>Jeni has recorded a ton of songs! Make sure to click the links below to hear free audio samples and to purchase your favs! You can buy hard copies of Jeni's albums, download individual songs, download the entire album, or buy used copies for a discounted price!
