Review: Oh! Great Is Our God! by The Sing Team

Shania’s Exclamation Points

For reasons I don’t fully understand, Shania Twain, the country-pop megastar of the 90’s and 2000’s, really loves exclamation points in her song titles.

“(If You’re Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here!”  

“Rocky This Country!”

“Up!”

“I’m Gonna Getcha Good!”

“Nah!”

“Ka-Ching!”

“What A Way To Wanna Be!”

That isn’t even an exhaustive list. But guess what… just when you thought you’d seen it all, check out these titles, also from Shania:

“Whatever You Do! Don’t!”
“Man! I Feel Like A Woman!”

Two exclamation points in a single song title! That is rather… exclamatory. She must’ve felt strongly about….stuff. Does she text in all caps as well? Science is still waiting on an answer.

This is relevant because in 2012 The Sing Team released a wonderful five-song EP called “Oh! Great Is Our God!” Finally….someone had risen up to take the song-title-punctuation-championship-belt away from Shania! 

The Sing Team announced their arrival with this EP and if there was ever anything worthy of two exclamation points, it is indeed the greatness of God.

Track Highlights

“Oh! Great Is Our God!” – Immediate warmth is the best way to describe this opening song to the EP. Some have suggested The Sing Team sound like “Marvin Gaye And The Muppets” and….that’s not wrong. In the best way possible, their unique style is immediately noticeable and exuding that warmth musically/theologically/lyrically, etc. 

Have you ever wondered what it might sound like if Yellowcard wrote a song with Barry White and other influences mixed in? “As Long As I Live (Psalm 63)” is sorta like that. Violins and strings. Fun rhythms. Big band and choirs. Man, it’s ALL there. 

Best Of The Best

“What A Friend We Have In Jesus” – What a refreshing take on an old hymn. The piano and organ. The guitars and bass. The build-up to the party-like atmosphere on the “Oh, What A Friend…Oh, What a Friend in Jesus” to wrap it up. 

If there was a masterclass on hymn arrangements that breathe new life into songs without totally changing them, then this song should be part of the syllabus.

Then we have “Satisfied in You (Psalm 42).” The EP had been upbeat bangers till this fourth track arrives. Things slow down as The Sing Team takes us through Psalm 42.

If there has been a celebration of exclamation points earlier, now we turn to questions. “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?” These haunting words from the Psalmist echo in this song about wrestling with despair and hopelessness on this side of the Gospel.

This song has been with me in some dark times. It has been an absolute treasure to have Scripture put to music like this. To say “I recommend this” is the definition of an understatement. To me, this song is necessary.

In my Spotify library, I have a playlist called “God Songs At Night” and this was the first track I put in it. This is because in Psalm 42, the Psalmist reminds himself in verse 8 “The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life.” His grace by day and His songs by night – that is comfort to a hurting heart. This song is a faithful display of that truth. It is unequivocally a “God song” at night.

The bridge and the third verse and post-bridge deserve to be read uninterrupted by me. This is where the song turns:

“Let my sighs give way to songs that sing about Your faithfulness

Let my pain reveal Your glory as my only real rest

Let my losses show me all I truly have is You

Because all I truly have is You

So when I’m drowning out sea

And Your breakers and Your waves crash down on me

I’ll recall Your safety scheme

You’re the One who made the waves

And Your Son went out to suffer in my place

And to tell me that I’m safe

So why am I down?

Why so disturbed?

I am satisfied in You.”

There is that gentle, prolonged pause enough to make you think the song might even be over… and then…once more… “I am satisfied in You.” The guitar comes back. Again he sings, “I am satisfied in You.” Again, “I am satisfied in You.” And one last time, “I am satisfied in You.”

A beautiful telling of the Gospel. A hope-giving theology in the midst of waves of adversity in this life. A reminder of what Christ has done for us. 

I am satisfied in Him. No matter the circumstances I face. 

If you are going to commit to using not just one, but two exclamations in the title of your songs or EP, then the subject matter BETTER be worthy of it. Friends, the greatness of God IS worthy of that. (Here’s a link to a previous essay I wrote just focusing more on this song and the themes it deals with.)

For reasons I don’t understand, Shania Twain really loves exclamation points in her song titles. For reasons I don’t understand, God is gracious to a sinner like me and gave His Son for me. 

He cares for you.

His Gospel is true.

His grace is available right now.

His forgiveness is sure.

His hope is real.

Oh! Great is our God!

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