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Canadian-born singer/songwriter Matt Brouwer’s latest single, 'Waking Up', is more than just a nod to the past 14 years of being a recording artist, which Brouwer is celebrating on the release of his first career spanning ‘best of’ collection, "Writing To Remember". The sentiment of a bookend and a new beginning is no accident and reveals a season of transition that Brouwer is happily embracing. With more than a decade of hit songs, including “Water,” “I Shall Believe,” “Tonight,” and the Top 20 "Sometimes”; two GMA Canada Covenant Awards; two Canadian people’s choice Vibe Awards—not to mention a 2010 Juno Award (Canada’s Grammy equivalent) for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the year—Matt has a lot to celebrate in all that has been accomplished so far over the course of his career. With the passage of time inevitably comes change and it is in looking back that Matt is starting to see a new and exciting road ahead.
Matt Brouwer got his start in the music industry while studying music at school in Alberta, Canada. While in college he and fellow students founded the band Monday Night Worship (MNW). Because of the spiritual content of his lyrics he was 'discovered' by a Nashville record company in 2000, and in 2001 recorded his solo debut CD "Imagerical". The album was released on May 29, 2001 on Reunion Records. He then formed his own label called Black Shoe Records and released an album titled 'Unlearning' in 2005, 'Where’s Our Revolution' (Universal) in 2009, and 'Till The Sunrise' in 2012. Brouwer's music has been hailed for its relentless vulnerability as he shares his life's story of tragedy (the tragic death of his father) and hope (his Spiritual pilgrimage) with his listeners.
“I never imagined where this journey would take me”, says Brouwer. “I can remember being 17 or 18 and feeling so compelled to want to shout from the rooftops about the Spiritual awakening I was experiencing. It was like being embraced by the most incredible love and connection to the Lord and the key to unlocking this door to my heart was through music. I was so hungry for that and totally committed and determined to follow it wherever it might lead me. My time in college and the friends I made there, the energy that was driving us, or driving me, to write songs and attempt to share them with the world felt like a humble but passionate expression of a new but relevant faith that was growing like a wildfire at the time. Fifteen years or so later, I still feel that longing. With all the miles travelled and water under the bridge, I still sit down in front or a piano or with a guitar and dream about what could be possible. I believe in the power of God’s love, transforming hearts through music and worship because I’ve experienced it and I’ve seen it happen in sometimes subtle and not so subtle ways. It’s something I believe I’ll be pursuing my entire life.”
That’s not to say that Brouwer believes that all anyone needs to find peace in life is a three minute pop song to solve all of their problems. Growing up in a very devout Christian family, Matt’s mom made sure that he and his siblings were memorizing full chapters of scripture by the time they started kindergarten and spending as much or more time during the week at church gatherings than in front of the tv or devouring any type of pop culture media. “I used to feel embarrassed by how sheltered we were, but now I am so thankful because it gave me an incredible foundation of solid teaching and an education in Biblical theology. But knowledge alone is pretty useless until it makes an emotional connection somehow and finds it’s way into your heart. For me, the music is what connected the two.”
Like so many new beginnings, much of the genesis for this fresh optimism happened when Hannah entered Matt’s life. The two first met while Matt was on a mission trip in Guatemala, where Hannah’s parents serve as medical missionaries. The relationship blossomed and they were engaged in spring 2010 and married later that year. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, in September of 2013 and life forever changed. The balance of career and family has been a stretch at times, but it’s something Matt says he is learning to embrace and explore. “It might sounds strange, but I’ve never been less interested in pursuing a music career. Being married and having a family has re-oriented my priorities completely and the career things that used to be so important to me have become less so. In that way it’s been very freeing and has forced me to let go of control and allowed my steps to be directed by opportunities that the Lord brings our way rather than striving and trying to ‘make it’. If ten or ten million people are listening, it really doesn’t matter. Being a great husband, father, and friend are much more important to me right now than striving for some big career that takes me away from these precious gifts of family and community.”
Community and camaraderie has become increasingly more important to the singer and one listen to 'Writing to Remember' reveals this collaborative spirit that is a hallmark of Matt’s musical pallet. Those lending their vocal talents include JJ Heller, Jill Paquette, and even Vince Gill and Amy Grant on a deeply personal and emotional track, 'The Other Side'. 'Writing to Remember' is equally saturated with a spirit of hope, togetherness, and God’s love. The album beautifully bookends this first chapter with a nod to the next waiting to unfold. “These 15 songs truly represent the progression of learning for me and express the joys and struggles of life that has been lived these past 14 years”, says Matt. “It’s been cool to re-discover how relevant these simple truths still are in my life and I believe for all of us.”
One In a Million
Matt Brouwer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying to make amends
You held your heart out in the palm of your hand
Right as I looked, you took it back again
Yeah you're one, one in a million, one
Out of all the stars in the sky
You're the only one that shines
Your voice so sweet in the morning
You're always taking me by surprise
You roll your stories out in a run on sentence
But somehow I always undertand
Yeah you're one, one in a million, one
Out of all the stars in the sky
You're the only one that shines
What can I do to make you mine
I can see us in love
If you give us a chance
You always make me want to be
The best that I can
Girl, you're one, one in a million, one
Out of all the stars in the sky
You're the only one that shines
What can I do to make you mine
You're one, one in a million, one
Out of all the stars in the sky
You're the only one that shines
What can I do to make you mine
The song "One In a Million" by Matt Brouwer is a romantic ballad that features a man who realizes his mistake of not recognizing the worth of his partner in the beginning, now trying to make amends to win back her heart. The lyrics, "Couldn't see it beginning, now I'm trying to make amends. You held your heart out in the palm of your hand, right as I looked, you took it back again," signifies the past mistake of not valuing the love and commitment of his partner. The singer in the song admires the unique qualities of his partner, and he considers her "one in a million" because of her attributes that distinguish her from other people, even the brightest stars in the sky.
The song indicates that the man sees a future with his partner, and he is willing to make an effort to ensure they can be together. He appreciates the voice of his lover, which he regards as sweet and pleasant, and her storytelling capability that he finds understandable even in complex, run-on sentences. The lyrics, "I can see us in love if you give us a chance, you always make me want to be the best that I can," portrays the man's desire to have a future with his partner. He believes that she has the potential to make him a better person, and he would love to show her how much she means to him.
Overall, the song "One In a Million" by Matt Brouwer is a song about love that is both tender and sincere. It showcases the importance of understanding and appreciating the worth of our partners and makes us realize that sometimes the best things in life can be right in front of us. It is a song that can touch the hearts of people in love and make them appreciate the uniqueness of their partners.
Line by Line Meaning
Couldn't see it beginning, now I'm Trying to make amends
I wasn't aware of our relationship's importance before, but now I'm trying to fix things
You held your heart out in the palm of your hand Right as I looked, you took it back again
You were willing to give our relationship a chance, but changed your mind quickly
Yeah you're one, one in a million, one Out of all the stars in the sky You're the only one that shines What can I do to make you mine
You're unique and special, and I want to have a romantic relationship with you
Your voice so sweet in the morning You're always taking me by surprise You roll your stories out in a run on sentence But somehow I always understand
Your charming, unpredictable personality makes me happy, and I enjoy hearing you talk
I can see us in love If you give us a chance You always make me want to be The best that I can
I can picture us having a romantic relationship if you're willing to try. You inspire me to be a better person
Girl, you're one, one in a million, one Out of all the stars in the sky You're the only one that shines What can I do to make you mine
You're truly one of a kind, and I want to be in a relationship with you. How can I win your heart?
You're one, one in a million, one Out of all the stars in the sky You're the only one that shines What can I do to make you mine
You're incredibly special and unique, and I desire to have a romantic relationship with you. How can I make that happen?
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC, TuneCore Inc.
Written by: Jill Paquette Dezwaan, Matt Brouwer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind