Whether it’s the first single off a new album or the latest video from an iconic artist, releasing a new song is always exciting. It’s an opportunity to share with the world what you’ve been working on, and to let people know you haven’t gone away or forgotten about them.
But if you’re an artist, it can be just as daunting to write and record a new song as it is to release it. After all, you need to make sure the song has all the elements of a hit, including a catchy melody and relatable lyrics. And that can be a challenge for even the most talented singers.
For example, when pop star Beyonce released her new concert film Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce on Friday, she also included a brand-new song with it called “My House.” The track follows the release of the 2023 album of the same name and is a fitting finale to the eventful year that’s been marked by multiple highs for the singer.
The emergence of a new song also makes you feel like you’re part of a bigger movement. The New Song Movement, which emerged in Latin America in the 1970s, was a popular form of social protest and was founded on traditional Indigenous music. The popularity of this style grew and eventually caught on in other parts of the continent, despite efforts by ruling dictatorships to suppress it. In Chile, dictator Augusto Pinochet banned the playing of Andean instruments and ultimately killed one of the most famous musicians in the movement, Victor Jara.
Despite these setbacks, the New Song Movement continued to spread through the region, and it became the basis for many of today’s Latin music genres. The popularity of the genre has led to the development of a variety of distinct musical styles, ranging from the churning sounds of marimbas and horns to the intricate melodies of sitars and flutes.
Regardless of the genre, these songs are all part of the same movement: to sing a new song to God. We’re told in the Bible that we will add stanzas to the “song of the redeemed” throughout eternity as we praise him for his work on the cross and exodus from Egypt. In the meantime, it’s a good idea to keep singing your new song and remembering that no matter what challenges you may face, God is there with you to help you along the way.