“Breathe” by Sixpence None the Richer, Monday, November 6, 2023
In the late ‘90s, one of the biggest Christian Rock groups had a song that couldn’t be played on Christian radio, despite the song becoming a number 2 Billboard Hot 100 hit. While some Christian bands either quietly or vocally broke with the Christian music industry, Sixpence None the Richer, despite having the song “Kiss Me,” a G-rated love song that happened to be nothing about God, collaborated relentlessly with other Christian artists, solidifying their spot in late ‘90s Christian music. During the band’s reign on the pop charts from the singles “Kiss Me” and the cover of The La’s’ “There She Goes,” the latter eventually released on a deluxe edition of their 1997 eponymous record; Sixpence None the Richer contributed to several Christian compilations.
I WILL RUN INTO YOUR ARMS AGAIN. On the second day of my New Years Day Project, I wrote about the song “I Will Rest in You” performed by Jaci Valesquez, which appeared on the compilation Streams. The collaborative album featured some of the biggest Contemporary Christian artists. The album combines inspirational songs with orchestration by The Irish Film Orchestra. The album would probably be classified as New Age if it weren’t an explicitly Christian album. The album features pairings from both Christian and secular music, from Amy Grant and Delirious? to the Doobie Brothers’ Michael McDonald and Yes’ Jon Anderson, Streams features nine original songs and a cover of Peter Gabriel’s “Don’t Give Up.” These songs are immediately followed by a four-piece orchestral suite performed by The Irish Film Orchestra.
THE AIR OF HEAVEN, DRAWING IN YOUR FRAGRANCE. Sixpence None the Richer’s core members were vocalist Leigh Nash and guitarist/songwriter Matt Slocum, with Slocum writing most of the band’s songs. However, on Streams, today’s song “Breathe,” is credited to Nash and songwriters Michelle Tumes and John Mallory. Like “Kiss Me,” the lyrics of “Breathe” seem straightforward. The speaker is comparing someone, probably God, to the air. He provides her needs and she breathes him in. But explaining it feels, well, even more sensual than the band’s biggest hit. In fact, many of the songs on Streams feel like that illustration of God being the ultimate lover. Jesus is some metaphysical lover, and the worship sounds like some of the most sensual love poetry. Certainly the hymn writers of old would blush, until they thumb through the Song of Solomon.
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