Peer pressure can work both ways. It sometimes gets young people in trouble, but the influence of friends also can be a powerful force in helping kids do good things.That's the premise behind the LDS youth theme for 2009: "Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (I Timothy 4:12).It is also the premise behind a new CD, "Be Thou An Example: 2009 Songs for Youth," recently released by Sounds of Zion/Inspirational Music Showcase and produced by Barry Gibbons and Jim Funk.The CD contains songs for and about young people and the challenges they face in today's world, and they are sung mostly by young musicians, who can relate to the youths they are singing for."We wanted some songs that are appropriate for the chapel, and some that they can rock out to at camp," says Earl Madsen, album coordinator.Young people want and need more of this kind of music, says Jessie Clark Funk, who sings two of the songs on the album. Now a mother of two, Jessie works with young women in her Mormon ward, and she knows leaders always are looking for additional resources. But, she says, "we want this to reach young men as well as young women. There's something about music that reaches a young person easier than a Sunday school lesson. Music is what these kids love, and they are more willing to listen. Music can be so influential, so conducive to the spirit in any given moment."Kids are often attracted to the beat and rhythm first, she says. "They will hear a great song and think it is 'cool.' Then they will hear the great message."Co-producer Barry Gibbons is also pleased with the concept. "We all have a vested interest in teenage kids," he says. "They are starved for things they can enjoy together."His daughter, Megan Gibbons Flinders, sings a duet with Ben Truman on the album. "It's exciting to be part of this," she says. "We sing a really neat song about holding out for the one you want to be with forever. I'm already married, so the words are even more special for me."For Ben, the son of Diamond Rio keyboard player Dan Truman, he thinks "Until Then" is "a groovy song with a good message." He also loves being involved in a recording session.He's always loved music, he says, "but I was born with the responsibility gene. I'm a finance major at BYU." He and his brother had a band called Truman, but that brother is now on an LDS mission. A senior, Ben "was about to take a job in New York City, when my dad called and said: 'Don't take that job. I know you love music. You need to give it a try.' So, I'm actually looking at some potential record deals when my brother gets back."Kalei Hogan, who lives in Logan and is 18, sings "Becoming," written by Wayne Burton. "It's a really cool song," she says, "that talks about how life is hard but that just makes you stronger." What young people need to realize, she says, is "you can learn from those experiences and try to avoid making the same mistakes. You can become a stronger person."Other featured singers on the CD include McCall Clark, a Nashville singer involved in "High School Musical 2"; Clint Poulsen and Rebecca Lopez, who both have been active on the local music scene; AnnAlyse Gibbons, another member of the musical Gibbons family; newcomer J.B. Ah-Fua; and, to balance the youth with a bit of maturity, says Madsen, Sam Payne and Greg Simpson."We also have a good variety of songwriters," says Madsen. There's one song written by Michael W. Smith, "Live The Life"; another co-written by Steve Siler, "I Place My Trust In Him"; but most are by local writers such as Don Sterling, Kurt Bestor, Brett Raymond, Jeannine Lasky, Todd McCabe and Cherie Call."Hopefully, they are songs that reinforce the values the youth are taught," says Jessie Funk. The CD includes performance tracks for several of the songs, and free downloads of the print music will available on her website, www.jessieclarkfunkmusic.com.
E-mail: carma@desnews.com