#lisamcclendon

Ok so Lisa McClendon and I go way back…in my mind at least.  I’ll never forget that day, well over a decade ago when I walked into that Christian Bookstore in Sterling, Virginia (where I used to live) in search of some new tunes (back when you actually had to, and loved to, go INTO a store to find the latest music). Just as I was leaving the store, I spotted a bin filled with random CDs.  It must’ve been God who led me to take the time to look through it because Lord knows what I found changed the game for me! That CD was Soul Music (and I still love it to this day)! Shortly after, the song You Are Holy blew up and every church was singing it every Sunday.  Many years later, I was at a music conference in Nashville and she was there.  She became an impromptu backup singer during a talent showcase for someone who was singing HER song! That was super cool! Needless to say I was so excited and asked her to take a picture. She was very kind and down to earth.  Throughout the years I’ve kept up with her progress and enjoyed new projects as they’ve come along, but this new one, 5AM, is some of her best work!  The songs are original and refreshing! I can’t quite decide on a favorite because they are all so different and special, but if you twisted my arm I’d have to say, I really love the lyrics of Fly. It’s so beautiful and well written alongside a laidback acoustic track.  It starts off, “Walk to the sun, walk to the moon, walk too late, walk too soon.”  That’s one of the simplest yet most interesting lines I’ve ever heard. The verse builds,” Walk to love, walk to hate, walk too close, then walk away.” Ok yep! I officially love this now! She closes it out with, “And yeah I get where I’m going…” and then the chorus finishes the thought with, “…but I wanna fly. Yeah, oh I wanna fly.” and then repeat.  Well that is rather lovely I say (in my British accent)!  The second verse follows that same pattern but the hook is sung with more power as the music swells which is effective in evoking my emotions. Like Lisa, I too wanna fly to all the places she names, “Fly to the river, fly upstream…to my destiny…to my dreams.” Yes! Yes! Yes! “Fly to the mountain…to the sky…to the heavenlies, I just want, I just wanna fly.” I am now fully ascended to the highest heights! I  can see so clearly now. I’m there, I’m where I was meant to be, way beyond my problems, way beyond my limitations, way beyond this world! Thank you my friend (in my head). She’s been there for us all throughout the years (through her God-inspired music) and now she’s taking us with her up, up and away! You probably won’t find this amazing work of art in a bin at a Christian bookstore but I guarantee you can find it on iTunes!  Also check out her upliftingly spirited blog at http://www.lisamcclendonmusic.com/ .