Matthew West’s one of those artists where it just feels real. A lot of his songs are pulled from real-life stories—people writing in, sharing what they’ve been through—and he turns that into something honest. He’s been through it himself too… even lost his voice for a season and had to fight his way back. He’s also written for artists like Casting Crowns, Rascal Flatts, and Mandisa—which says a lot about how strong his writing really is. You can hear it in his own music—nothing forced, nothing fake… just faith, struggle, and redemption showing up in the songs.
First up— 🎵 History History (2o05)
Next— 🎵 Get Away History (2o05)
Also I’ve included a cool bonus video where Matthew surprises a fan from Twitter with a phone call… a song… and a prayer.
Hope yall enjoy… 🙌🙏t`’
Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
When I was a kid… I wore Superman underwear— ’cause he was my hero… 🦸♂️
Then I got older— and found out Superman wears Chuck Norris underwear 😄
But here’s one most people don’t know…
Many of your favorite artists— across every genre—
they’re secretly wearing Elton John underwear.
…
I’ve been a fan of Elton since I first picked up a guitar as a teenager… and over time—I started noticing something…
the greats… they all love him too.
…
I saw an interview with Axl Rose once— they asked what he listens to… no pause— he says “Elton John.”
Then one night… I was watching one of the late night shows… I believe it was Letterman…
Dave Grohl walks out solo with an acoustic guitar…
starts playing “Tiny Dancer”… He gets the audience to sing along…
one of those moments you don’t forget.
And later… I found out Dave Grohl loves him some Elton.
…
So I started paying attention… and it’s everywhere. Across all genres… many have Elton in common.
His music is loved… admired… and listened to by his peers…
Fuel’s no different. Brett and Carl… they feel the same.
…
Elton… bruh… you’re the man! 🙌…
…
So today—
I’ve got two for you.
…
🎵 Innocent Something Like Human — 2oO0
🎵 Daniel (Elton John cover) Something Like Human — 2oO0
…
I love this cover of Daniel… it’s great… and it holds a deep place for me… I sang it on my guitar earlier tonight
But back in 2o12… I was hanging out with my friend Nathan… We were roommates… he was younger than me… like my little brother… so anyway… this song started playing…
Nathan told me how much it meant to him… said it reminded him of his older brother, Daniel… who had passed a few years earlier from a drug overdose…
Well… in 2o14… I lost Nathan… also to drugs…
I knew his brother too…
So now… when I hear this song… I don’t just hear it—
…
I remember them both…
…
Also “Innocent” is one of my all-time favorite songs… I’m not sure what it is about it… but it just gets better and better every time for me… and I love when the drums kick in around the 1-minute mark…
Also I’ve included a bonus interview with Carl & Brett… it’s really cool… I think…
Well, I think I’m overthinking this whole thing… About believing… in something I cannot see ‘Cause when I think about it I think there’s no doubt about it I do it every single day Well, it’s just like the air No one knows where it comes or where it goes But when I breathe in I believe again and again
And if they say there’s no such thing As Heaven or a God who waits for me I just point to the air And I know You’re there.
Hope yall enjoy the music and the message and have a blessed Sunday…
📖 Romans 1:20 (NIV)
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
So before Fuel was even Fuel… they moved through a couple early names like… “ReelTooReal”… and “Small the Joy”… before everything finally settled into place.
…
And right at the center of it all—
was Carl Bell.
Lead guitarist… but more than that—the architect.
The one writing the songs… lyrics… music… structure… building the sound from the ground up…
and even producing along the way.
…
Because Fuel… was never just a band…
it was Carl Bell’s vision— brought to life through the voice of Brett Scallions.
…
Today—I’ve got two good ones for you 🎧🔥
🎵 Falls On Me — Natural Selection (2003) 🎵 Sunburn — Sunburn (1998)
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I’ll be here a while with these guys… hope yall enjoy 🔥
So today I’m starting a new one on Matthew West… I’m a huge fan—especially his earlier stuff. So many songs just put together right… lyrically and musically. His first 3–4 albums are that good.
I saw him live back around 2o08 or ’o9—not exactly sure. It was a wild setup… out in the middle of nowhere… big open field on what felt like someone’s farm in Brooksville, Florida. But man—it was a sweet performance. He’s great live. There were other artists too… might’ve been a 3-day thing—I only went one day… memory’s a little foggy there 😁
Also Matthew is supposedly a super nice dude from what I hear… really loves people and his fans…
Anyway—these two songs are from his second album History (2o05)… super good. Check it out sometime…
🎵 Only Grace — History (2o05) 🎵 Next Thing You Know — History (2o05)
🎥 Also—check this out… i included a great bonus video of Matthew surprising people at Waffle House with a little live performance… awesome moment.
Live Waffle House surprise performance 👇 supercool! 💯
Matthew 28:6 “He is not here… for He is risen… as He said…” ✝️
Hemorrhage (In My Hands) 🎵 Leave the Memories Alone
More Fuel… just for you…
I’m gonna be here a while… because… they’re incredible… and there’s just too many great songs… honestly… they’re one of my favorites… top 3 easy…
So here’s a cool recent story…
My uncle… he’s one of a kind… musician… singer… painter… writer… pilot… great cook… tells the best jokes… haha… super funny… just a straight up… Rockstar Renaissance dude…
He’s dealing with a rare form of cancer… and he calls me most every day…
So last time we were talking… music… bands… he asks me— “you know that band DIESEL?”
I said… nah… not ringing a bell…
He goes— “yeah… DIESEL… they sing that song Hemorrhage…”
I said— “Oooo… you mean FUEL bro…”
He pauses… “…yeah… FUEL!” 😂
He said they’re awesome…
I told him— yeah… you’re absolutely right… and started throwing him a few more songs to check out from them…
So… here’s two of them…
🎵 Hemorrhage (In My Hands) 🎵 Leave the Memories Alone
Hope you enjoy…
Also… I’m easing you into them… right now you’re getting milk from the baby’s bottle… later on… you can graduate to the red meat 🍖😋…
Also… Fuel had two different lead singers… over time… Brett Scallions and Toryn Green… Brett was first… Toryn came later… I’m a Brett fan… but Toryn is cool too… hemorrhage is Brett era… leave the memories alone is Toryn…
These next two — “Fully Alive” 🎶 “All Around Me” 🎶 — (acoustic versions)
are both from their debut self-titled album Flyleaf (2005)… and man… that record was something special. Made fans out of a whole lot of people… me included.
Somewhere along the way I drifted from Lacey Sturm for a bit… but about a year ago, I found my way back — right around the time I started my YouTube channel “bryanforchrist.”
All I do over there is make Christian music shorts — so if you’re ever bored one day… come check me out. I’ve got a few Flyleaf ones up there too 🎶
And quick tip — on all my shorts, you can get to the full song: tap the little thumbnail in the bottom right… then when it redirects, go up top left and tap the larger thumbnail — that’ll play the whole track. It can look a little tricky at first… but once you see it, you got it.
Now as much as I love Flyleaf… I’ve never actually performed any of their songs myself 🎤
That’s about to change.
I think this week… I’m gonna learn “Circle” 🎶 (from their second album Memento Mori — 2009)… it’s probably my favorite from them… hard to choose though
So again… thank y’all for listening… for reading… I appreciate you — and I’m always thinking of you 🙏
Have a blessed day…
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Man… I’m so loaded up with music and bands… sometimes I just sit there like… who’s next?… there’s just too many…
But yeah… Fuel… one of my favorites. They’re a little different… some songs are slower… easy… almost laid back… but when they decide to… they can come in hard and rock the absolute crap out of you.
I’ve seen them a few times… but here’s a cool one…
I lived in Leesburg, Florida from 2o16–2o21… little old house… about two blocks from downtown. Leesburg is known for Bikefest every year… bands playing all week long…
And I’m not kidding… I could always hear it all from inside my house… loud and clear.
So it’s 2o17… I’m laying on my bed one day… windows open… just chilling…
Then all of a sudden…
music cuts through the silence…
this band starts rocking… hard… sounding really good…
I’m laying there like… hold up… who is that?…
then it hits me…
duuuude… it’s Fuel !!! 😁🥳😎
So yeah… I just laid there… in my bed… and listened to their whole set that evening…
super cool.
…
I got two for you now…
🎧 Shimmer — Sunburn (1998)
🎧 Bad Day — Something Like Human (2oO0)
Shimmer is the song that put them on the map… these 2 are a little more chill… in coming weeks… I’ll let them rock harder for you… thought I’d take it easy on you for starters 😏…
Heart of Loia `'.,°~ 