With each passing year, there's a unique changing of the guard per se, in the encouraging and inspirational world of Christian music. Even if it's purely coincidence, somehow most the year's Christian music hits have a similar theme to them. Is it coincidence or divine intervention? One thing is for sure, the theme for the year will be reflected in the Wow Hits 2011 collection.
WOW Hits History
The Wow Hits CD collection is an annual representation of all the number one hits of the previous year. Thus Wow Hits 2011 is actually a collection of 2010 Christian music hits, and so on and so on. The release of the annual collection began in 1995 with WOW 1996, produced and released through a collaboration from three of the top Christian music recording companies at that time: Sparrow Records, WORD Records and Reunion Records. Over the years a few name changes have been made. Sparrow Records is now EMI Christian Music Group. Word Record is now WORD Entertainment and Reunion Records is now under the Sony name, Provident Label. The Wow series was changed to the Wow Hits beginning with the 2001 collection in December 2000.
The WOW 1995 - 2000 CDs were the first in a series of WOW collections:
- WOW 1995
- WOW 1996
- WOW 1997
- WOW 1998
- WOW 1999
- WOW 2000
WOW Hits began in 2001 and this series has been the most successful series of WOW collections to date:
- WOW HITS 2001
- WOW HITS 2002
- WOW HITS 2003
- WOW HITS 2004
- WOW HITS 2005
- WOW HITS 2006
- WOW HITS 2007
- WOW HITS 2008
- WOW HITS 2009
- WOW HITS 2010
- WOW HITS 2011
There are other WOW series available: WOW Essentials, WOW Worship, WOW Gospel and WOW Christmas. However, WOW Hits remains the #1 selling CD in the WOW collections. Christian music fans look forward to the annual release each year before Christmas.
WOW HITS 2011
This year's collection revolved around a unique, unplanned theme of Faith in the midst of trial. Without intending to do so, most every artist featured wrote a number one hit song that reflected the Bible verses in James 1:2-4, (NIV), "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Last year's WOW HITS 2010 seemed to have an underlining theme of God's healing through His infinite love, grace and mercy. Take a look at the songs included on this year's CD collection. Do they not all convey a similar message of stay strong in the Faith even in the midst of trial?
- "Until the Whole World Hears" by Casting Crowns
- "Our God" by Chris Tomlin
- "What Faith Can Do" by Kutless
- "The Greatness of Our God" by Natalie Grant
- "Healing Hand of God" by Jeremy Camp
- "Hold Us Together" by Matt Maher
- "Love Never Fails" by Brandon Heath
- "My Own Little World" by Matthew West
- "The Words I Would Say" by Sidewalk Prophets
- "Heaven is the Face" by Steven Curtis Chapman
- "Better Than a Hallelujah" by Amy Grant
- "Before the Morning" by Josh Wilson
- "Love Has Come" by Mark Schultz
- "You Found Me" by Big Daddy Weave
- "My Help Comes From the Lord" by the Museum
- "Get Back Up" by tobyMac
- "Beautiful, Beautiful" by Francesca Battistelli
- "Born Again" by Third Day
- "Lay 'Em Down"by Needtobreathe
- "Healing Begins" by Tenth Avenue North
- "Born Again" by Newsboys
- "Hero" by Skillet
- "Walk On the Water" by Britt Nicole
- "Let the Waters Rise" by MikesChair
- "Forgiven" by Sanctus Real
- "Your Love is a Song"by Switchfoot
- "Follow You" by Leeland
- "More Beautiful You" by Jonny Diaz
- "Starry Night: by Chris August
- "No Matter What" by Kerrie Roberts
Thoughts for 2011
Many of the above artists are up and coming in the Christian music industry. Francesca Battistelli was awarded the 2010 Dove Award Female Vocalist of the Year. She has new album coming out March 1, 2011 titled 100 Hundred Years. Chris August is back up at number one on the Billboard Christian Songs Chart with "Starry Night". Fans can expect a Dove Award nomination this year for his album No Far Away.
Brandon Heath was the winner of the 2010 Dove Award for Male Vocalist of the Year. With his latest hit, "Your Love", he wishes to convey a message that it's not him but God. Don't worry Brandon, it's obvious that God is getting the glory from every song written by one Brandon Heath. Of course, old familiar favorites are still at the top of the charts with every new hit they release. This well known list of artists include: tobyMac, Casting Crowns, Newsboys and Chris Tomlin.
Many Christian fans are not financially able to buy the latest new releases from their favorite artists. It is also becoming more difficult to afford concert tickets even in the smaller towns. The WOW Hits collection released every year gives fans an affordable alternative to buying several CDs or attending concerts. Of all the CDs released each year, the WOW HITS CD should be the one at the top of the wish list.
Amy Wingfield - Amy, a freelance writer since 1999, has combined her passion for writing and for Christian music.There's always a story behind the ...
