See if you can guess what the Year 13 “Top 5” songs are for 2023.

The song at #5 was released in 2009 and was written for a Disney movie, becoming a signature song for the artist who sang it in the movie. The co-writer of this song says that they developed a song about overcoming life’s obstacles, and that it came from a place where they realised that life is not a race, but it is a journey; even if there are times you lose, you have to keep on trying, and keep the faith, because there is always going to be another mountain. I think this is good advice to take away from a last chapel. So, thank you 'Hannah Montana' Miley Cyrus for “The Climb”!

The song voted #4 was released in 2011 and received two Grammys. The co-writer, English singer-songwriter Matt Redman, said that the song reminds us that, “we live beneath an unceasing flow of goodness, kindness, greatness, and holiness, and every day we're given reason after reason why the Lord is so completely and utterly worthy of our highest and best devotion.” My hope for the Y13s is that they always have reasons to be grateful, and always find God's goodness, kindness, forgiveness, peace and hope in their life. There are “10,000 reasons” to like this song!

The song that came into the countdown at #3 was released in 2004 (well before the Y13s were even born!) by English singer-songwriter, Natasha Bedingfield. She says that the video is a spiritual narrative showing life as a journey to reach God – seen as a dove – and that even as you reach the end, the words you have written with your life can continue to inspire others. Jesus is the Word, and St Paul encourages us to hold onto the Word of Life, so this is a good message for the Y13s: life is a book that begins today, with the rest still “Unwritten,” so drench yourself in words unspoken, and live your life with arms wide open.

The song that comes in at #2 has never been in our Top 5 before although we first sang it in 2016 when we had a worship band from Elim church come and teach it to us. It was written in 2013 by the Australian worship team Hillsong, and Billboard ranked it as the No.1 Christian songs of the 2010's decade. The songwriters say that it is based on the Gospel story of Peter stepping out of the boat and walking to meet Jesus. The writers said they wanted to remind people that God is always there with us especially when we step out into the unknown, to places where “Oceans” rise, and our trust is without borders.

The #1 song has been in every Countdown over the years, except for 2019, but it made a huge comeback in 2020, going straight to the top – and that is where it is once again! The singer was the winner of the 4th season of American Idol in 2005, and since then has become the 10th highest female recording artist ever. All of this after she left High School saying she would give up her dream of singing in order to do something practical. She was even listed by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2014 and we know she has influenced us here at St Hilda’s. Her song has good advice for life – as long as it isn’t taken literally, especially when it comes to driving! All the same, I encourage you to do what Carrie Underwood says, and let “Jesus Take the Wheel" of Your Life!

Dr Gillian Townsley
Chaplain