Harry Connick Jr.: ‘We’re Never Alone If We Exercise That Gift of Faith’
By Movieguide® Staff
Award-winning singer Harry Connick Jr. shared how his newest album, “Alone With My Faith,” helped him strengthen his relationship with God.
Connick said that he relied on his faith and wanted to express that through his new album.
“It is a crazy time and I was at home, kind of like everybody else, wondering what was going on, and I started thinking about my faith and how it’s helping me get through. I just wanted to record my feelings. So I picked some songs that were familiar to people and I also wanted to write some new songs to describe what I was feeling and what I continue to feel during this unprecedented time,” Connick told The Christian Post.
“It’s been really hard; then, at the same time, it’s been full of the unexpected blessings. Like spending time with my family in this way is probably something that never would have happened if it weren’t for the pandemic,” Connick continued. “Or being able to be an artist in this way. Recording an entire album by myself is something that maybe I would have done, but this certainly provided me the chance to do it.”
Connick said the isolation he experienced while in isolation prompted the title of his new album.
“The title was about being alone, not only my family sort of being separated from everybody, but the actual recording process was literally alone for about eight months,” Connick recalled. “I was in the studio every day for eight or 10 hours, with no one else. No recording engineer, no trumpet players, no guitar players.”
Connick added: “If I wanted to sing backgrounds or hear backgrounds, I did it myself. If I wanted to have a guitar solo, I did it myself. So I played all the instruments and did all the vocals.”
Despite his time alone in the recording studio, Connick noted that he took the opportunity to reflect on God’s presence in his life.
“I was physically alone, but as the song says, ‘I’m eternally thankful so I’m never alone.’ So I really never felt alone,” Connick said.
He continued: “It was heavy; it was very emotional. I mean, there were many, many times when I would sing or play and just become overcome with emotion.
“I would cry and be unable to sing or I would just sit for a few moments in silence and then listen back to what I recorded because it was so intimate and so personal and ended up sounding like my personality in music, which is ultimately what you want as an artist is to have individuality.”
Connick also noted how he has stood firm in his faith, even with a successful entertainment career.
Connick starred in the Movieguide® Award-nominated movies DOLPHIN TALE 2, INDEPENDENCE DAY, and MY DOG SKIP.
“People talk about the fact that you can’t talk about your faith. I’ve never felt that. I’ve never shied away from it,” Connick said. “There are people that believe in very similar things to me, and I have friends who are atheists, I have friends who are Hindu, Buddhists, Jewish and none of them have ever had a problem with me talking about it.”
He continued: “It’s something that I’m proud to discuss, and it’s helped me as a person and as an artist get through this time.”
“Alone With My Faith” also features new renditions of hymns such as “How Great Thou Art,” “Amazing Grace” and “Because He Lives.”
“How can you be assured when you don’t know what to do? Well, that’s what faith is,” Connick stated. “‘I don’t have all the answers, but I have always known I’m eternally faithful. So I am never alone’– For me, those are powerful words that summarize the whole album. Even when we’re most alone, we’re really never alone if we exercise that gift of faith.”
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
