Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a special introduction to this year’s Advent Caroling Madness! Thank you, Jon Curtis Gemeroy!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwM6u3TMWm4]
Advent is beginning, and the season of Advent was created to help us tap into the longing we have for things to be made right and just in the world. This song is a great example of that.
I figure I might as well start with the yelling about my terrible seeding right off the bat. BUT! Let me explain. The line that captures this song for me is: “From our fears and sins release us”. Out of everything I listened to, I think Wolves at the Gate captures that angst and longing the best! So there you go. Commence your “ALL CAPS” yelling at me.
Voting is now open, with a deadline of Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 5 pm PST.
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#1 Wolves at the Gate Jon Curtis Gemeroy nominated this version-it’s not my usual style of music, and certainly not one I associate with Christmas. But as I said above, it captures the angst and longing of this song.
#16 AdoreVictoria I added this song and the #10 and #15 seed as well, since I only received 13 nominations.
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#8 Fernando Ortega Jennifer Perez and Erin Knoch both nominated Fernando Ortega’s version of this song.
#9 Reawaken This version was nominated by Margaret Fraser, I think the first time she has participated in Advent Caroling Madness. Thank you!
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#5 Robbie Seay Band Grateful as always for the new music Bethany Bylsma always brings my way through this. And waiting for her yelling when she listens to what I seeded #1.
#12 King’s Kaleidoscope Jennifer Perez also nominated this unique version, which I enjoyed.
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#4 Lexington Road I really like this one…and maybe should have seeded it even higher. Thanks to Erin Wilson for the nomination!
#13 Voice Male David Sherwood gave this excellent a cappella version.
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#6 Sandra McCracken & Derek Webb This is another suggestion from Bethany Bylsma. Derek used to be in Caedmon’s Call, and these two were married at the time.
#11 Jeff Johnson, Brian Dunning, Wendy Goodwin Jay Thatch submitted this version, and I know one of the artists personally!
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#3 Page CXVI This one also captures the sense of longing. I made Bethany Bylsma face off against herself in this matchup.
#14 Steve Green Bethany suggested this version, as Steve Green is her “parents’ version of Amy Grant”.
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#7 Chris Tomlin Leah Tenkate nominated this version-a simple, one voice a cappella version for most of it.
#10 Marcy Priest I found this one to fill a whole in the bracket. I like how it also is a bit angsty in parts.
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#2 Seacoast Worship Beautiful harmonies, well-expressed longing. Love this one from Bethany Bylsma.
#15 Shane and Shane My Youtube searching brought this one to fill out the bracket.
There you go! Listen to them all, make your votes by Wednesday at 5 pm PST, and then we will launch round 2.