Virtual Best-Of: Newsboys

[murlough23]

Let's attempt to put together what we all can (mostly, at least) agree on as being the best songs that the Newsboys have put out. The only restriction is that the songs must all fit on an 80-minute CD (even if we don't choose to physically burn it to CD), and they must be song srecorded under the name Newsboys, not Phil Joel or Jody Davis' solo material or whatever. Non-album tracks are allowed, though they don't seem to have too many of those. I'd steer clear of remixes unless a majority of us are convinced that a remixed version beats the original.

We can start off by each suggesting as many tracks as we want for possible inclusion. We'll take the ones that are most commonly liked and make those the must-haves, and then find some democratic way (maybe voting songs off Survivor-style?) to narrow down the wildcards. When we're done, we can talk track order (I'm generally good with things like that), and I can do the editing and ordering of everything once we have an agreed-upon list, and then upload it to either the Pub or some other file service.

EDIT: Voting is now closed. We are finalizing the tracklisting.

Definitely Making the Cut:
1. Lost the Plot (4:56)
2. Beautiful Sound (3:46)
3. Entertaining Angels (4:15)
4. Shine (3:41)
5. Take Me to Your Leader (2:57)
6. WooHoo (3:14)
7. Truth Be Known - Everybody Gets a Shot (3:58)
8. Always (4:59)
9. Cornelius (3:31)
10. Elle G. (5:12)
11. Breakfast (3:37)
12. Love Liberty Disco (3:43)
13. God Is Not a Secret (3:06)
14. Hallelujah (3:55)
15. Joy (4:09)
16. Cup o' Tea (2:38)
17. Step Up to the Microphone (3:55)
18. Lights Out (3:05)
19. Million Pieces (Kissin' Your Cares Goodbye) (4:13)
20. Breathe (3:13)
21. John Woo (3:06)

Total Time: 79:04

-----

My Picks:

Not Ashamed
Upon This Rock
I Cannot Get You Out of My System

Going Public
Elle G.
Shine
Lights Out
Spirit Thing

Take Me to Your Leader
Lost the Plot
Breakfast
God Is Not a Secret
Cup o' Tea
Reality
Take Me to Your Leader

Step Up to the Microphone
WooHoo
Hallelujah
Always
Truth Be Known - Everybody Gets a Shot
Entertaining Angels

Love Liberty Disco
Beautiful Sound
Love Liberty Disco
Good Stuff
Break

Shine - The Hits
Joy

Thrive
Million Pieces (Kissin' Your Cares Goodbye)
Cornelius
John Woo
Fad of the Land
It is You

Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie Soundtrack
In the Belly of the Whale

[Wildcatblue7]

My picks that coincide with yours:

Shine (original)
everything from Take Me To Your Leader, and everything you mentioned from Step Up...
Beautiful Sound
Love Liberty Disco
Cornelius
John Woo
Fad of the Land
Joy

Plus:
Not Ashamed (nostalgia alert)

I'm not really familiar with Elle G.

[murlough23]

everything from Take Me To Your Leader

Do you mean literally the whole album, or just everything I mentioned from that album?

And you should hear "Elle G." Last track on Going Public. It's haunting. I'd upload it for you, but the CD's at home.

NP: "I'm in No Mood", The Fiery Furnaces

[Wildcatblue7]

I figure Elle G. will make it on regardless; I know I've heard it before, but that was many moons ago.  (Not that there's very many moons in the life of a seventeen year old, but you know...)

As for TMTYL, I'm cool with everything on the album.  But the songs you mentioned work for me.

[Brenden]

Not Ashamed
I Cannot Get You Out of My System

Going Public
Elle G.
Spirit Thing

Take Me to Your Leader
Lost the Plot
Breakfast
God Is Not a Secret
It's All Who You Know
Cup o' Tea
Take Me to Your Leader

Step Up to the Microphone
WooHoo
Hallelujah
Always
Truth Be Known - Everybody Gets a Shot
Entertaining Angels
The Tide
Deep End
Tuning In

Love Liberty Disco
Beautiful Sound
Love Liberty Disco
Good Stuff

Shine - The Hits
God Is Not a Secret 2000

Thrive
Million Pieces (Kissin' Your Cares Goodbye)
Cornelius
John Woo
Live In Stereo
Giving It Over

Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie Soundtrack
In the Belly of the Whale

[Wildcatblue7]

Oh, you MUST add It's All Who You Know.  love that one.

[murlough23]

[murlough23]

You know what else is funny; I'd have actually nominated "He Reigns" if it weren't for the "Asian believers" line. It's like, the people from elsewhere in the world get a semi-poetic description, and they just get the matter-of-fact "Asian believers". Sucky bit of songwriting there. Aside from that, it's a solid song, but part of me doesn't want to give their aging worship fans the pleasure.

[ajyouthguy]

My Picks:

Not Ashamed
Not Ashamed
I Cannot Get You Out of My System
Where You Belong/Turn Your Eyes

Going Public
Real Good Thing
Elle G.
Shine
Lights Out

Take Me to Your Leader
Lost the Plot
Breakfast
Breathe
Breathe (Benediction)

Step Up to the Microphone
Woo Hoo
Always
Entertaining Angels

Love Liberty Disco
Beautiful Sound
Love Liberty Disco

Thrive
It is You

Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie Soundtrack
In the Belly of the Whale

Adoration:
He Reigns (our church praise band does a killer version of this song)

[NinjaRob17]

"I Cannot Get You Out of My System"
"Boycott Hell"
"Love Comes True"

"Shine"
"Lights Out"
"Elle G"

"Take Me To Your Leader"
"Reality"
"Cup Of Tea"
"Lost the Plot"

"Woohoo"
"Step Up to the Microphone"
"Truth Be Known (Everybody Gets A Shot)"
"Hallelujah"
"Always"

"Beautiful Sound"
"Love Liberty Disco"
"Break"

"Thrive"
"Cornelius"
"John Woo"

Don't know if you included mine from the other thread, so here they are. I added "Always" onto it, from SUttM

[plvarona]

I'll admit my knowledge is a bit hazy of the Newsboys' older songs, as well as their most recent material, so I'm not sure if I'm exactly "qualified" to submit a vote here.  I guess for now I can submit a "provisional" ballot, giving my picks based on the Newsboys songs I do know.

These would be my picks:

Spirit Thing
Shine
Take Me to Your Leader
Breakfast
It's All Who You Know
Lost The Plot
Truth Be Known - Everybody Gets a Shot
Deep End
Entertaining Angels
The Tide
Beautiful Sound
Joy
Cornelius

[ewok20t3]

In my opinion "Lost the Plot" and "Always" are the best Newsboys songs.

[bloop]

Yeah, I'm out of the loop on this one.  I only have "Take Me to Your Leader" and "Going Public" on cassettes, and I have no clue where those are.  I haven't listened to their stuff in ages.

[starhawk]

Noth Ashamed
Not Ashamed

Going Public
Shine
Elle G
Lights Out

Take Me To Your Leder
Lost the Plot
Breathe

Step Up to the Microphone
Step Up to the Microphone
Entertaining Angels
Believe
Deep End
Always

Love Liberty Disco
Beautiful Sound
Break
I Surrender All
Fall On You

Thrive
Million Pieces (Kissin' Your Cares Goodbye)

[murlough23]

Million Pieces (Kissin' Your Cares Goodbye)

FINALLY, someone else voted for that one. I thought it was more well-liked, but, whatever. (It has huge sentimental value for me, though I guess it doesn't for everyone else.)

It also looks like I'm the only one who cares about "Upon This Rock". Pity.

Anyway, I'm not sure how to tell when all of the preliminary voting (i.e. just to get songs on the nomination list) is done. But when it is, I figure I'll take the top few tiers (the top vote-getters), and however much from that list will fit for sure, I'll say those are definitely on the Best-Of mix. We'll probably have leftover slots; for those, we can figure out a way to vote amongst the songs from the next tier down.

In other words, if the voting were to end now, I'd take the 17 songs that got four or more votes. A few more would likely fit, so I'd figure out exactly how much time was left, and then we could vote on the tier that got three votes (most likely each of us would just pick the three from that list that we liked least, eliminate the ones that got the most votes from that round, and keep going until we only had left what would actually fit. Something like that.)

[dgp11776]

I'm not too educated about their older stuff, but here goes.

It Is You
Presence
Step Up To the Microphone
Woo Hoo
Entertaining Angels
Truth Be Known - Everybody Gets a Shot
Take Me To Your Leader
Lost the Plot
God Is Not A Secret
Breakfast
Who
Joy
Beautiful Sound
Love Liberty Disco
Giving It Over
Live In Stereo
Cornelius
Fad of the Land
Shine
Not Ashamed

[Wildcatblue7]

I like Million Pieces, I've just heard it a few too many times.  I got burned out on it in my TVU watching days. 

[murlough23]

Just to clarify, those who have voted for "Hallelujah" mean the song from Step Up to the Microphone, right? There's a completely different song entitled "Hallelujah" on Adoration, but I figured it was a safe guess nobody cared about that one.

NP: "In My Little Thatched Hut", The Fiery Furnaces

[Wildcatblue7]

You would be correct, sir.

[Brenden]

Just to clarify, those who have voted for "Hallelujah" mean the song from Step Up to the Microphone, right? There's a completely different song entitled "Hallelujah" on Adoration, but I figured it was a safe guess nobody cared about that one.

NP: "In My Little Thatched Hut", The Fiery Furnaces

Yup, that is indeed correct.

[murlough23]

On a related note, bands who are too lazy to come up with song titles that are different ones than they've already used, officially suck.

NP: "Truth", Dakoda Motor Co.

[Wildcatblue7]

On a related note, bands who are too lazy to come up with song titles that are different ones than they've already used, officially suck.

NP: "Truth", Dakoda Motor Co.

On a related note, I wonder how many people realize the 'Boys ripped off AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" in "Cornelius."

[worldofcm]

Is it too late to play?  If not, I'd like to:

From Going Public
Elle G.

From Take Me to Your Leader
Take Me to Your Leader
Breathe
Lost the Plot

From Step Up to the Microphone
Step Up to the Microphone
WooHoo
Entertaining Angels
Hallelujah

From Love, Liberty, Disco
Beautiful Sound
Forever Man
Good Stuff
I Surrender All

From Shine: The Hits
Joy
Praises
Who?
God Is Not a Secret 2000

From Thrive
Live In Stereo
Million Pieces (Kissing Your Cares Goodbye)
Giving It Over
Cornelius
Truth Be Known - Everybody Gets a Shot

From Adoration
He Reigns

[murlough23]

Truth Be Known - Everybody Gets a Shot

That one's actually from Step Up to the Microphone, but I won't disauqlify your vote. 

[murlough23]

It's been 48 hours, so I'm going to close the initial voting here.

If we kill two songs, we should be able to fit everything that got four or more votes. So, what I want you guys to do is, out of everything that got 4 votes, pick the best two and the worst two. Everything that gets picked in someone's best two scores one point, and if it's in someone's worst two, it loses one point. After 24 hours, we'll add those points up, and the bottom two overall will get dropped from the mix. Most of those songs are around the three minute range, so we should be left with about 80 minutes of music (we can allow a little extra room because I will likely trim silence when I make the actual mix).

Remember, only vote on the folling songs that got 4 votes:

I Cannot Get You Out of My System
I'm Not Ashamed
Lights Out
Breathe
Cup o' Tea
Step Up to the Microphone
Million Pieces (Kissin' Your Cares Goodbye)
John Woo

Everything with 5 or more votes is immune.

-----

My picks are:

Top two:
Million Pieces (Kissin' Your Cares Goodbye)
Cup o' Tea

Bottom two:
Step Up to the Microphone
Breathe

[Wildcatblue7]

Keep Step Up and Cup O' Tea; kill I Cannot Get You Out of My System and Lights Out.

[ajyouthguy]

Keep
Breathe and Lights Out

Kill
Million Pieces and John Woo

[worldofcm]

That one's actually from Step Up to the Microphone, but I won't disauqlify your vote. 

Yeah my bad.  The sad thing is, I used to could tell you where each of their singles peaked at even, but now as I "grow up" - those files are quickly leaving.  LOL

[worldofcm]

Keep:
Step Up to the Microphone
Million Pieces (Kissin' Your Cares Goodbye)

Kill:
I'm Not Ashamed
John Woo

[NinjaRob17]

Keep:
Step Up To the Microphone
Cup of Tea

Kill:
Million Pieces
I'm Not Ashamed

[Brenden]

Keep
Cup o' Tea
Million Pieces (Kissin' Your Cares Goodbye)

Kill
I Cannot Get You Out of My System
I'm Not Ashamed

[plvarona]

Keep:
Cup o' Tea
Lights Out

Don't Keep:
I'm Not Ashamed
Million Pieces

[murlough23]

OK, voting is now closed, so we're getting rid of the two oldest songs, as it turns out: "I Cannot Get You Out of My System" and "I'm Not Ashamed".

Personally, I'm a bit surprised that we lost "I'm Not Ashamed" (it's never been one of my faves, but it's a classic), and kept "Breathe" and "Step Up to the Microphone", both of which I think are subpar. ("Breathe" is fun but has a dull chorus; "Step Up" seems kind of musically constipated and doesn't really say anything other than "OK, I've got a captive audience so I'm gonna tell you what I believe 'cause I believe it and that's it, and you don't get to respond.")

Anyway, we now have to deal with track order, so I'll just throw one idea out; y'all can suggest tweaks to that or come up with your own. I'll take the one that seems to flow the best and upload the mp3's to... somewhere.

Keep in mind that one thing I like to do, just to keep things interesting and less predictable, is to never make the first song from a CD the first song on a mix, and the same thing with the last song. So that means that "God Is Not a Secret", "WooHoo", and "Beautiful Sound" can't be first, and "Elle G." and "Always" can't be last. At least, not on my initial draft of the list; if we find that it works better to be more covnentional about this, then I'm open to it. Here's my suggested track order:

1. Cup o' Tea
2. Joy
3. God Is Not a Secret
4. Shine
5. Love Liberty Disco
6. Breakfast
7. Million Pieces (Kissin' Your Cares Goodbye)
8. Beautiful Sound
9. WooHoo
10. John Woo
11. Take Me to Your Leader
12. Step Up to the Microphone
13. Hallelujah
14. Cornelius
15. Truth Be Known - Everybody Gets a Shot
16. Breathe
17. Entertaining Angels
18. Always
19. Elle G.
20. Lights Out
21. Lost the Plot

Most of this is ordered with the momentum of the songs in mind, so things don't get alowed down too early or end too abruptly. I tried to make songs that end abruptly lead immediately into something that opens strong ratehr than having a quiet fade-in or whatever. I have a group of darker songs that got clumped together at the end. I like those songs grouped that way because it kind of allows for an emotional climax, rather than scattering them out over the course of the mix.

In a few cases, I was attempting to be cheeky by putting a few tracks together. "Million Pieces" mentions a "Beautiful Sound" so I figured "Beautiful Sound" should follow. "John Woo" and "WooHoo" are together just to be funny. I don't like the song "Who?" very much, but if it had made the cut, I could have made a knock-knock joke out of those three song titles.

[Wildcatblue7]

I know it's probably cliche, but I honestly can't picture Lost the Plot as anything but the final song.  Did Reality not make the cut?  Darn.

Other than that, it's cool with me.  You know, I'm sure Vlad! wouldn't have a huge problem if we loaded this onto the pub for a short time (say, whoever wants it better get it within a week or so), since other entire albums have been loaded there for ages. 

[NinjaRob17]

I agree with putting Lost the Plot as the last song. There's just no other way to do it.

[murlough23]

I agree with putting Lost the Plot as the last song. There's just no other way to do it.

Is it cliche? It actually isn't the last song on the album it came from. I did it as the last song on a mix for myself way back in 2006; cause I liked the tension left by its unresolved ending. But it feels really weird to have things just drop to silence there. I can shuffle things around if y'all like it that way, though.

EDIT: Check the tracklist now; I've shuffled some things around.

NP: "Glorious One", Starfield

[Brenden]

I think starting off with Cup O' Tea might be interesting, other than that I have no issue with the tracklist.

[Wildcatblue7]

All stations go.  I say finalize.

[murlough23]

I think starting off with Cup O' Tea might be interesting, other than that I have no issue with the tracklist.

I like that idea, too (because then the first words you hear are "Kickstart, his overdue life as a star"). I've moved that one up to track 1, with "Joy" right after it (whose immediate intro sounds good to me after a song that cuts out abruptly), and flipped "Love Liberty Disco" and "Breakfast" so that the two songs from LLD won't be too close together.

Since we're almost done with this, any suggestions for what artist we should tackle next? I'd go with someone we've likely all heard a good amount of albums from, like Sixpence None the Richer, Switchfoot, etc. We've kind of already done Radiohead, a while back. I kind of like the idea of doing it for artists whose actual greatest hits CDs have been botched by the powers-that-be. But somebody like U2 would be a pain, because there's no way it'd all fit on one CD. I'm open to suggestions.

[Brenden]

Switchfoot, Jars of Clay, maybe Caedmon's Call

But Switchfoot or Jars would get my vote.