Music Through Heartsongs: Songs Based on the Poems of Mattie J.T. Stepanek

Music Through Heartsongs: Songs Based on the Poems of Mattie J.T. Stepanek

ASIN: B00008WT4D

Track Listings

1. For Our World

2. About Things That Matter

3. Morning Gift

4. I Am/Shades of Life

5. It Happened Anyway

6. Possession

7. Songs of the Wind

8. Making Real Sense of the Senses

9. Gift of Color

10. I Could... If They Would

11. About Memories

12. About Watches

Tracks:

For Our World
About Things That Matter
Morning Gift
I Am/Shades Of Life
It Happened Anyway
Posession
Songs Of The Wind
Making Real Sense Of The Senses
The Gift Of Color
I Could... If They Would
About Memories
About Watches

Customer Reviews:

Excellent!.......2006-07-11

I really enjoy this CD. I have listened to it probably 30 times in the last 2 months, since a friend recommended it. Mattie has some very inspiring words and Billy Gilman has a beautiful voice. The musicians do a wonderful job. It's also a lot of fun and lifts me up.

---In Beloved Memory Of Mattie J.T. Stepanek---.......2006-07-03

My "4 stars" is not because of Billy's always-great-voice, but because I actually don't think it was the best idea to put Mattie's poems into songs - simply just because there are no rhymes (except from "I Am/Shades Of Life") and when reading Mattie's words, you have already found your own "thing" in them and having them recorded in a studio with music and all - it didn't make my cup of tea.

BUT - I read the lyrics/poems before I ever heard the CD, and I fell totally in love with them. Especially "For Our World", "It Happened Anyway", "I Could... If They Would" and "About Memories". It had me ending up buying all of Mattie's books here from amazon. I've read them several times by now - and I always find a very special harmony, sadness, as well as happiness, and beauty in them. They're great. And of course, knowing that Mattie is no longer with us, does make it a little difficult to hold back the tears in some places.

The CD is recorded in 2003, which takes it back to when Billy's voice was not "done" and "final". I was totally pleased with his debut album "One Voice", I listen to "Classic Christmas" from late November, through December and into January - until the holiday is over - then, I found his 3rd CD "Dare To Dream" a little too much kissy - with exceptions ("Elisabeth" - 3rd track, "My Time On Earth" - 5th track, "God's Alive And Well" - 8th track, "The Woman In My Life" - 9th track, and - "Some Things I Know" - 11th track. Also, the 12th track - "Shamey Shamey Shame" is very cool")!! But, back to the point, after a few listenings - "Music Through Heartsongs" did not please me far as much as Billy's previous recordings. But it's really worth buying - and to any Billy- or Mattie- (or BOTH) fan, this is a CD worth buying!! Mattie was a very, very wise young man with many thoughts, and many, many words. Billy remains the outstanding young singing-sensation and legend.

Billy Gilman's Music + Mattie J.T. Stepanek's Poems = One Great CD!.......2005-11-15

Wow. I can't believe Billy Gilman and Mattie J.T. Stepanek joined together to create one amazing cd! My youngest daughter was inspired by Stepanek's words and my eldest granddaughter was inspired by Gilman's singing talent. So imagine mother's inspiration and daughter's idol combining together to create Music Through Heartsongs. They just love this album! They bond together thanks to this album. They're favorite songs are: For Our World and It Happened Anyway. For Our World reminded them of 9/11 and It Happened Anyway reminded them of someone close to them. My daughter thinks it reminds her of my granddaughter's father. My granddaughter agrees with her mother, although her father died when she was a baby. Anyway, Billy Gilman, once again, you gave us another amazing album to listen to. We will never forget Mattie J.T. Stepanek. We pay tribute to him. Mattie, we'll miss you and your unbelievable words. Great job, boys!

LOVE HIS VOICE, SONGS OKAY.......2005-08-19

For starters, this was a daring endeavor. I think they did okay with the challenge of placing music to a 10 year olds poems. Far from being a "filler" while Billy's voice changed, I think it was probably a challenge for him and his producers. As for Billy's vocal changes, evident for the first time on this album. . . I think he sounds WONDERFUL. I loved the new tone of his voice, it was extremely compelling. The best vocal performance on the cd is It Happened Anyway, when he holds that note "it happened anywaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay" that whole song was sung with strength and incredible control, and RANGE which had not been seen much from Billy before. For Our World is another good vocal performance, as is Shades Of Life. As for the songs themselves - nothing too catchy, you have to take them for what they are - not catchy sing alongs but inspirations and appeals to lost innocence. Such as the lost innocence of adults who will inevitably criticize this album as cliche and uninteresting. Tsk Tsk for you have exactly missed the lesson in this collection of songs. Its not a masterpiece, but Billy's voice remains strong (in fact strongER) and flawless, with a whole new tone.

Absolutely wonderful.......2005-05-05

This album is a grand collection of poetry from Mattie, thats only enhanced by the absolutely grand talents of Billy Gilman.

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