Tweet, Baby, Tweet
By Christa A. Banister, senior music editor, GospelMusicChannel.com
They’ve Got the Tweet
Since I’m already addicted to Facebook like everyone else on the planet, have a barely used MySpace page, blog regularly and also keep track of what I’m reading on GoodReads, I really never saw the point of signing up for Twitter, despite its insatiable popularity.
I don’t why, but I just couldn’t wrap my mind around the masses wanting to know what I’m doing several times a day, let alone having “followers.” But a little peer pressure goes a long way, and I finally caved. So @Christabanister was officially launched.
While I’m still not sure if my status updates are quite witty enough (although I certainly give it the proverbial college try), I have discovered that Twitter is a pretty great way of keeping tabs on your favorite Christian musicians.
In fact, a recent trip through the Twitterverse offered a few interesting revelations...
It’s Already Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas
Matthew West is “thinking Christmas thoughts” and getting into the spirit several months early in anticipation of his upcoming holiday album. In fact, while cutting vocals at producer Brown Bannister’s studio for Give This Christmas Away, West and Company even put up a Christmas tree to set the mood. Here’s hoping it was a fake since it was 80+ degrees that day. (Follow Matthew West at http://twitter.com/matthew_west).
These Jars are Full of Insights
Of all the artists I follow, Jars of Clay’s Dan Haseltine, Charlie Lowell, Stephen Mason and Matt Odmark are, hands down, the most active “tweeters.” Surely, they must have killer cell phones to deliver this sort of productivity. From updates on their travels (the boys recently played a show with Delirious in NYC) to lighthearted banter about recent IKEA purchases, there’s always some amusing reading. (Follow Dan Haseltine at http://twitter.com/scribblepotemus, Charlie Lowell at http://twitter.com/cdlowell, Stephen Mason at http://twitter.com/StephenDMason and Matt Odmark at http://twitter.com/modmark.
The ’Mac is Back No Slack
Proving he’s no imposter, tobyMac’s Twitter handle is http://twitter.com/therealtobymac. And for those wondering when a proper follow-up to 2007’s Portable Sounds (after all, even if they’re good, remix albums don’t count right?) is coming, Toby offers dedicated fans a glimmer of hope: “Songs are coming, God is gracious! Askin’ Him for songs and He delivers...breathin’ them through me as long as I stay hollow of my junk.” Not sure what that means exactly, but it sounds like new songs are on the way nonetheless.
Bringin’ the Noise, Bringin’ the Funk
On her frequently updated Twitter log, Mandisa (http://twitter.com/mandisaofficial) gives readers a snapshot of her very busy life (mostly from the airports she’s flying in and out of) while she’s singing and performing on the Women of Faith circuit. And like me, she’s also a sucker for the occasional E! “True Hollywood Story.”
Revealed: The Life and Times of Singer/Songwriters
Brandon Heath has been drooling over Harleys (http://twitter.com/brandonheath), Shawn McDonald (http://twitter.com/ShawnMcDonald) recently watched a bonfire that was “like, 25 feet high” and Bebo Norman (http://twitter.com/bebonorman) has spent his summer break introducing his son Smith to his first snowball (cute pictures included).
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Since I’m addicted to Facebook like everyone else, I really never saw the point of signing up for Twitter. But a little peer pressure goes a long way, and I’ve discovered Twitter is a pretty great way of keeping tabs on your favorite Christian musicians. Do you Twitter? Why or why not? If so, who do you follow? What interesting tidbits have you learned?
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