Holy by Matt Redman

Album: 10,000 Reasons (2011)

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Songfacts®:

Matt Redman (born February 14, 1974) is an English Christian worship leader and songwriter. Such songs of his as "Heart Of Worship," "Let Everything That Has Breath," "Undignified," "Better Is One Day" and "Blessed Be Your Name" are sung in churches throughout the world - the latter tune won the 2005 Dove award for Worship Song of the Year. Additionally many Contemporary Christian music artists including Michael W. Smith, Rebecca St. James and The David Crowder Band have covered his tunes.
This song is a track from his eighth album 10,000 Reasons, which he co-wrote with several of his friends. He then recorded the songs live in Atlanta, leading worship for over 1,000 worship leaders during LIFT: A Worship Leader Collective, put on by Passion City Church and sixstepsrecords on February 18 and 19, 2011.
Redman told the story of the song in an interview with Christianity Today: "'Holy' is an attempt to paint a big picture of God, focusing on how worthy he is. My friend Jonas Myrin initiated this song. He's a Swedish guy with a great melodic sensibility and a pretty amazing grasp on the poetry of the English language, considering it's his second language! But most of all he has a big heart for worshipping God. On the day we wrote, this we were in a little English chapel near my house, composing all day. Jason and I had both ducked out for an hour or so to call our families and check in on home. We assumed Jonas was also taking a break, but arriving back at the chapel, he was still at the piano, and singing out the foundation of something that seemed so special. We were glad to join him in helping shape and develop the song. But it's one of those songs where the moment I heard those opening bars, I had a strong sense that were being entrusted with something special. As it turns out I think this song became the centerpiece of the whole album in many ways. There was a wonderful response when we led it at the recording."
10,000 Reasons sold nearly 7,000 units its first week in the US, almost doubling his previous album release We Shall Not Be Shaken. The album entered the Billboard 200 at #66, his biggest debut to date.

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