Amy Grant is called a sellout by some Christian critics for switching from explicitly Christian music to more "mainstream" pop. The critics are probably right. I'm not a Christian, have never been, and never plan on becoming one despite anybody's attempts to "save" me by converting me, but I do like much of Amy's pop music. If the music were all of a blatantly religious nature, I certainly wouldn't be able to stomach it as I can her more secular stuff, so she'd have a few less CD sales from me and others of similar mind. The question, I guess, is whether this was done as a "sellout" scheme to make more money for her and her record company by forsaking her beliefs, or a clever proselytism technique to get secular radio stations to play the songs, non-Christians like me to buy the CDs, and still sneak in some Christian messages that now wouldn't just be preaching to the converted, as they would in songs played only on Christian radio. Well, since I can't read her mind, I don't know which was the motivation, but I can say that if religious conversion is the aim, it failed on me; I'm not ready to run out and get baptized. However, she's still a good ambassador for her faith; where Christian religion is mentioned in her songs, it's in the vein of "God is with us, doing great things if you let Him into your heart," rather than "You're going straight to hell if you don't believe the way I do!" It's a sugar-coated message, more tolerable to unbelievers than some other religious propaganda.

But I don't listen to pop music in order to engage in theological debate; I do it because a catchy tune and a pleasant singing voice are fun to listen to. And Amy pleases in that regard, since her voice is very nice and the songs (which she co-writes) pleasant and catchy. Maybe some will find them a little too syrupy, but I've always had a soft spot for sappy music, especially when sung by young female vocalists.

Heart in Motion was her debut pop album, released in 1991 after a number of Christian releases earlier. The title was taken from a line in the song "Baby Baby" ("Ever since the day you put my heart in motion / Baby I realize there's just no getting over you"), putting this album in the category of albums deriving their titles from song lyrics that are not the title of any song on the album (something of interest to trivia quiz writers; this factoid could pop up in one of Casey Kasem or Rick Dees' radio countdown shows). Here are the songs:

1) Good For Me: A good opening for the CD; this song starts right off with a driving beat to get your pulse pounding. The lyrics describe how her romantic partner is the opposite of her in every way (well, not every way... I doubt that he's an atheist... she's got her limits) and that this is good because he complements her, making her life complete.

2) Baby Baby: Her first big pop hit. A catchy song with a beat. She says it's about her actual infant baby, not a lover. Since she's married, I presume that any songs that are about lovers are about her husband; those Christian critics would get even more strident if she seemed to be singing love songs to other men!

3) Every Heartbeat: This album doesn't slow down... here's another catchy tune with a beat. True, these are more "bubblegum-pop beats" than "hard-rock beats", but they're still energetic. While there's nothing explicitly religious in this love song, the lyrical reference to "a witness" probably betrays her Christian roots, though this witness is only of her human romance, not of Jehovah's...

4) That's What Love Is For: Anyone who's been fast-dancing to her earlier tracks gets a bit of a rest here, as this is a bit slower and softer, but still catchy.

5) Ask Me: The liner notes say that this song is about an abuse victim who's a friend of hers, and gives the number, 1-800-4-A-Child, that's open 24 hours to help victims of sexual abuse. A "message song," this is the first on the album that's explicitly religious, as the girl in the song finds solace in her knowledge that there's a God in heaven watching over her.

6) Galileo: This mid-tempo song mentions some famous explorers and discoverers, comparing them to lovers discovering one another. She doesn't mention how title scientist Galileo was cruelly persecuted by the Christian authorities of his day; that would kind of spoil the mood.

7) You're Not Alone: This song is telling somebody who's been hurt (in unspecified ways) that he/she is not alone in this world. Probably another religious-message song, but it doesn't explicitly mention who or what is causing you not to be alone (so the listener can fill in the belief structure of his/her choice).

8) Hats: She's singing about all the roles she must play in her frantic life, between work, fun, and family responsibilities. She's not following the fundamentalist "women's place" and devoting herself solely to her husband and family, but, like many modern women, must juggle this along with other activities.

9) I Will Remember You: Another hit song, this one is fairly slow in tempo but has a beat.

10) How Can We See That Far: A song about how things can change over time, maybe good and maybe bad, but she can't predict it, only hope things will work out in the end. Not all that much of a tune to this one; I didn't find it very memorable.

11) Hope Set High: Here's where she proselytizes for her faith, saying that "If there's anything good that happens in life, it's from Jesus." Sorry, Amy, you haven't converted me yet.

OK, it's got some propaganda for a religion in which I don't believe, but it's still got some nice, fun music anyway.



Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Exercising