Hosanna in the Highest

Wow, this song, "Hosanna" is taken off Hillsong United's latest album - All Of The Above. While I heard it's not a live album this time round, this was recorded at their EncounterFest 2006. For those of you who do not know, Hillsong is a church in Australia whose music and songs have impacted Christians worldwide with their distinct sound and simple yet beautiful lyrics.

What impressed me about this video was not so much the song itself (though i think it's beautiful) but the person who wrote it. That's the lady you see singing in the video. Her name is Brooke Fraser and she's been one of the key song writers in the hills team for some time. In fact, she's got 2 solo albums (commercial albums, not under Hillsong church) to her name too. Those who listen to Hillsong will be more familiar with names like Joel Houston, Marty Sampson, Reuben Morgan etc. Yups, and they are all lads. Nothing wrong with that, but it's really refreshing to see someone different take the stage. While I probably do not know enough of Brooke to give her my full endorsement, this is indeed one accomplished singer-songwriter. Here's why.

Born in Wellington, New Zealand on December 15, 1983, she was only 19 years old when her debut album "What To Do With Daylight" catapulted her into the charts with four number one radio hits and sales exceeding seven times platinum. That's over 100,000 albums in New Zealand alone! This year she will be 24 and her new album, "Albertine" was released in Dec 2006, produced by Marshall Altman, a recording artist and former Columbia Records A&R director who recently hit success producing Marc Broussard. Her studio band were a bunch of good-hearted and super-talented fellows who have played for stars including Jane's Addiction, Gwen Stefani, Alanis Morrisette, Lionel Richie, Jewel, John Mayer, Sarah McLachlan and more. Albertine has since gone 2 x Platinum in less than 1 month since its release.

So what's this gal's connection with Hillsong? After the success of her first album, Brooke Gabrielle Fraser moved to Sydney and has been attending Hillsong Church since then! She is a worship leader there and collaborator on the Hillsong United series of worship albums. She did the vocals on the song "None But Jesus" on the United We Stand album but I'm not sure if she wrote it.

Back to the latest Hillsong United Album, All Of The Above. While the album is not available in Singapore yet, you can find a write up of the album here. I was reading The Story Behind All Of The Above on the Hillsong website and listening to Hosanna at the same time when I felt goosebumps all over my body. It was the part where Joel Houston was talking about "the i heart revolution" project which is "ambitious, and time consuming, and large, and everything that would be required and expected in the pursuit of trying to create something significant". Wow. To create something significant for God. That brought back to my mind, dreams that I once had. A desire to be used by God significantly for His glory. I seem so far away from that now.

It's funny you know. I felt God reminding me that the key to the big things is in the small things. What's significant to Him is our relationship with Him. Our heart for Him and for His people. As you listen to this song again, may you be filled with the passion to return to Him and worship Him for who He is. Hosanna in the highest.