For starters, this was a daring endeavor. I think they did okay with the challenge of placing music to a 10 year olds poems. Far from being a "filler" while Billy's voice changed, I think it was probably a challenge for him and his producers. As for Billy's vocal changes, evident for the first time on this album. . . I think he sounds WONDERFUL. I loved the new tone of his voice, it was extremely compelling. The best vocal performance on the cd is It Happened Anyway, when he holds that note "it happened anywaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay" that whole song was sung with strength and incredible control, and RANGE which had not been seen much from Billy before. For Our World is another good vocal performance, as is Shades Of Life. As for the songs themselves - nothing too catchy, you have to take them for what they are - not catchy sing alongs but inspirations and appeals to lost innocence. Such as the lost innocence of adults who will inevitably criticize this album as cliche and uninteresting. Tsk Tsk for you have exactly missed the lesson in this collection of songs. Its not a masterpiece, but Billy's voice remains strong (in fact strongER) and flawless, with a whole new tone.

This album is a grand collection of poetry from Mattie, thats only enhanced by the absolutely grand talents of Billy Gilman.

Wow. I can't believe Billy Gilman and Mattie J.T. Stepanek joined together to create one amazing cd! My youngest daughter was inspired by Stepanek's words and my eldest granddaughter was inspired by Gilman's singing talent. So imagine mother's inspiration and daughter's idol combining together to create Music Through Heartsongs. They just love this album! They bond together thanks to this album. They're favorite songs are: For Our World and It Happened Anyway. For Our World reminded them of 9/11 and It Happened Anyway reminded them of someone close to them. My daughter thinks it reminds her of my granddaughter's father. My granddaughter agrees with her mother, although her father died when she was a baby. Anyway, Billy Gilman, once again, you gave us another amazing album to listen to. We will never forget Mattie J.T. Stepanek. We pay tribute to him. Mattie, we'll miss you and your unbelievable words. Great job, boys!

Mattie Stepanek passed away on June 22, 2004. He was a best-selling poet and advocate for victims of muscular dystrophy. Dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy, or muscular dystrophy, is a genetic disease that impairs the heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, and digestion as well as causing muscle weakness.

I purchased this CD years ago when it first came out because I liked Billy Gilman's voice--he is very, very talented. I then learned later that Billy Gilman was a friend of Mattie, and through that friendship and support, this album was created. It is one of my favorite CDs, because the music is beautiful, the vocals wonderful, and the message positive, sweet and life affirming.

That Mattie has just passed away has broken my heart. I now listen to this album with a new appreciation for Mattie's life--and for his unearthly wisdom for his young years. He taught love, forgiveness, hope and peace. Simple really, but hard to apply in this world. Please, please listen to this CD. Buy it! Share in Mattie's message. Spread his message. Make his life count! He had a beautiful soul. And Billy Gilman's voice and talent are so wonderful to the task of spreading Mattie's message of love and peace. Buy this CD. It's good for you. But today I weep for Mattie. I also celebrate his life and message. - GC

OK, I have to say that I was one of those people that never cared much for country music...that is until I heard the Billy Gilman song "Oklahoma" from his first album "One Voice". (And boy, did that video bring me to tears!) After that I still didn't care much for country, but I bacame a big Billy Gilman fan. Something about his voice and the earnestness I found there spoke to me. His new album "Music Through Heartsongs" is every bit as good as his previous three albums. As happens with kids, he grew up some and his voice has matured and has found new ranges and opened up a whole new world in the area of music! I was a bit skeptical about the songs being converted from the poems of Mattie Stepanek, but their message really fits with Billy's voice and who he is as well. There are some very good songs on this album. "It Happened Anyway" deals with death from a child's perspective and Billy really brings that emotion out. "I Could If They Would" is a song of hope and acceptance, and I must say that Billy really nails the emotions here too. "About Watches" is a nice little ditty on which Billy is a cowriter for the music (he also helped write the music on "About Memories") Probably the strongest song on the album is "I Am/Shades of Life" as someone who works with kids, the lyric "The color of hope is rainbows and purple, the color of peace is people together" really spoke to me. Many kids do see things in the abstract and this really brings that point home. I applaud Billy for taking on this project. Thank you Billy for putting together another truley wonderful and remarkable album. Please, do the world a favor and keep making music.