Now that GMA Week is over and the Dove Awards have been handed out, I can finally announce the winners of the Backseat Writer 1st Annual Raven Awards. Here’s the thing with the Raven Awards, if you’re nominated, you win! Of course, our winners don’t get a cool looking-trophy (maybe next year). Heck, half of ‘em won’t even know they won a Raven Award…but that’s not really the point.
The point, dear friends, is to nominate songs that have impacted my life and the lives of those around me throughout the past year. Whether these are artists who are making it big or who are rockin’ the indie scene, they have all been meaningful to me.
Originally, I thought it would be funny to have my own awards to rival the Doves…and what’s the opposite of a white bird of peace? The black bird of death! Then I thought to myself, that’s not really the message I want to send. But then I realized why ravens are among my favorite birds. The book of Kings speaks of the prophet Elijah’s flight into the desert when he was fleeing for his life from Queen Jezebel, who promised to kill him. While sitting under a broom tree, God provided His messenger with food delivered to him by ravens. In this instance, ravens were used by God to bring life to His Child, who was in a very dark place (read my post “Fed by the Ravens”). To me, being fed by ravens is be given a message from God Himself, delivered by a third party.
Thus, these are my “Ravens.” Feel free to nominate anyone you think deserves a BSW Raven Awards in the comments section. You can share how this artist or song has impacted you. Sorry, I just don’t have the energy to put links to everyone–do a Backseat Writer site–chances are that I’ve written about these artists. Oh, and we definitely needed some side art; I’m not favoring the artists whose pictures appear on this post!
(Artist pics from top to bottom:: Seabird, Tara Leigh Cobble, Josh Wilson, This Beautiful Republic)
Song of the Year
“Cinderella”—Steven Curtis Chapman
“For the Life of Me”-This Beautiful Republic
“Learning How to Die”—Jon Foreman
“Don’t Wash Your Hands of Me”—Alli Rogers
“Britney”—Bebo Norman
“Savior, Please”—Josh Wilson
“Listen Up”—Brandon Heath
“Rescue”—Seabird
“Hold My Heart”—Tenth Avenue North
“Still Young”-Shirock
Male Vocalist of the Year
Bebo Norman
Jon Foreman
Josh Wilson
Brandon Heath
Fernando Ortega
Female Vocalist of the Year
Alli Rogers
Francesca Battistelli
Dawn Richardson (Fireflight)
Tara Leigh Cobble
Band of the Year
This Beautiful Republic
Seabird
Leeland
Shirock
The Myriad
Album of the Year
Til We See The Shore—Seabird
Limbs & Branches—Jon Foreman
Empty and Beautiful—Matt Maher
Perceptions—This Beautiful Republic
Bebo Norman—Bebo Norman
Trying to Fit the Ocean in a Cup—Josh Wilson
If any of our winners want the world to know about his or her or their amazing award, please feel free to use this cool award jpg I designed! It’s not a statue, but it’s pretty darn close. Congrats to all our award winners!
She is Beloved 