Choral Counterpoints.

Thank you, Brother Aaron, for passing along Twisted Measure's a cappella rendition of Sia's "Chandelier." Goosebump alert to the extreme! I love when choirs take famous pop songs, burn them with soul-fire, and unleash them with full-throttled heart back at us. Here are four of my favorites -- the first two include the artist's official music video and the second two feature audio only; all four are followed by their choral counterpoints. Just click on each song title for the YouTube video to pop up. Get ready to tear up, smile wide, and dream big with shadow-laced hope.


Sia, Chandelier:

Twisted Measure, Chandelier:


Florence + the Machine, Shake It Out:

Capital Children's Choir, Shake It Out:


Bat for Lashes, Horse & I (*audio):

London Contemporary Voices feat. BeatFox, Horse & I:


Tori Amos, Flying Dutchman (*audio):

PS22 Chorus, Flying Dutchman:

Paragraph of the Day

"'There are only two qualities of reality that we as human beings can experience: One is physical matter, the other is information.' Stern held up a bright green apple. 'There are the atoms or particles that make up the form of an object: matter. There is the idea of the object that exists only in our minds: information. One has no meaning without the other but the combination of these two qualities is life. An apple, for instance.' He took a big bite and chewed vigorously, smiling. 'Would you care for one?'"

-- From Mark Frost's The 6 Messiahs, his companion to The List of 7