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The Chronicles of NARNIA: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
2005 EMI CMG Label Group
Reviewed by Lowell Hansen
December 5, 2005

The Chronicles of Narnia were written by C. S. Lewis over 50 years ago.  He created a land of wonder and enchantment called Narnia.  Since then over 60 million readers have explored the world that exists beyond the back of the wardrobe.  C. S. Lewis, known as Jack to his friends, was born in 1898.  Lewis and his good friend J. R. R. Tolkien were part of an informal writers’ club.  Lewis was fascinated with fairy tales, myths and ancient legends which led him to write THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, one of the best loved books of all time.  Six books followed that first one and now have become the popular Chronicles of Narnia.

Now, Walt Disney Pictures has produced a major motion picture surrounding Narnia that will be in theaters in December.  And, we have the soundtrack of the movie.  Contributors to this CD are some that you will find familiar to say the least; Jars of Clay, Steven Curtis Chapman, Jeremy Camp, Bethany Dillon, Chris Tomlin and Rebecca St. James to name a few.

Jeremy Camp sings the third song on this CD “Open Up Your Eyes”.  He is also the writer.  It’s a typical contemporary Christian song by a typical contemporary Christian artist.  I hope that’s not too redundant.  I like this one for the beat and Jeremy Camp’s voice.  The lyrics are thought provoking and maybe somewhat like the old cliché “wake up and smell the coffee”!

Open up your eyes and see these warning signs
Breaking through your heart and all the reason of your mind
Open up to find your action leaves behind the very hope
That’s given for the world to feel alive, oh
And the time has come to realize
And see the plan you’ve been designed for
So face the fear of all unknown and see the heart inside
So open up your eyes

Bethany Dillon brings the next song into focus, “Hero”.   I am not familiar with Bethany and for those of you who do not know her either, she is a 16-year old, high school sophomore from Bellefontaine, Ohio.  Her first album earned her three GMA nominations and she has a new CD “Imagination”.  Bethany is the writer of this track and the lyrics are about Jesus being the “Hero” and what He did for us, who He was and who He is today.  To me this is kind of a Thank-you-Jesus-for-what-You-have-done song of praise.  Maybe it goes without saying but this is also very contemporary Christian.

You broke the silence, a break in the clouds
A ray of hope in the judgment
You bridged the gap
You tore the veil
Almighty God in the flesh

A babe cries in the night
The earth shook in awe
The echo of a man’s cries
The curse undone
Our hero has won

After listening to “Turkish Delight” (track nine) 15 times, I HAD to find out exactly what it was.  Apparently it’s a type of pie/desert/candy.  Not much of anything substantial in the mix either.  I “googled” it to find out.  Strange!!!  Nevertheless, David Crowder Band vibrates the speakers on this one.  I liked it, really!  It’s a mixture (no pun intended) of ‘70s disco and something else that doesn’t come to mind right now.  David Crowder and four other people, probably the members of the band, wrote “Turkish Delight”.  I haven’t read any of the C. S. Lewis books but I’m sure that “Turkish Delight” must have some significance with Narnia.  I know you’ll enjoy this song.

Stumbled through the doorway, into the strangest thing
An unexpected magic land, with snow beneath my feet
Came across a lady who, dressed herself in white

You wouldn’t think I’d fall for it, you wouldn’t think I’d lie
But I think I’d do anything for that tiny bit of pie
I would sell you out, I’d give you all away
A life of treats might do me in, but I gotta get another taste

I enjoyed most of this CD.  I guess if I had seen the movie or even read the books, all seven of them, I would maybe have a little bit different opinion of some of the other songs here.  Check it out, you just might enjoy this Narnia project.

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© 2005, Lowell Hansen

Lowell Hansen is a lover of music and making music.  Perhaps someday it will pay off.  In heaven no doubt.