Re:creation (sometimes stylized as re:creation or re·creation) is the 16th album by the contemporary Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman. Released on August 9, 2011, the album has eight new mixes of some of Chapman's songs, as well as five new songs and a Christmas hymn. Re:creation received general critical acclaim upon release, and entered the Christian Albums chart at No. 2.
Background
"...when I sing these songs they have a much deeper meaning to me now... so that was the heart behind doing this [album]. It was how can I take some of those songs that have a new meaning to me and kind of reinterpret those, thus the title 're:creation.'"-Steven Curtis Chapman
After the accidental death of Chapman's daughter Maria Sue, he found many of his older songs taking on deeper, different meanings. Chapman commented that "Three years ago when Maria Sue went to heaven, all of my songs took on a much, much deeper meaning... I found myself singing these songs with a different passion and different purpose. I wanted to re-invent them in a way that really represents what they mean to me now ... '. Chapman further was inspired by Rick Rubin took on producing material with Johnny Cash. Chapman said that "He [Rubin] took those great songs you couldn't imagine ever redoing, everything from the Beatles 'In My Life' to Roberta Flack's 'The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face' [sic] and he even did a cover of Nine Inch Nails' 'Hurt.' They became almost like new songs... The emotion and what you could really feel in them was inspiring the way I wanted to record these songs".
Chapman had some difficulty choosing the songs on the record, commenting that "This was an album that seemed much easier to do in theory". Chapman chose about forty of his favorite songs, while his label had a list of its own, and they narrowed the list down to the final track listing.
Composition
Lyrics
The lyrical content of the 're:creations' remain mostly consistent with the original versions, although some of them replace backing vocals, such as on "The Great Adventure (Re:created)". Chapman also addresses lyrical themes such as living life to the fullest on "Meant To Be", his recent trials and journey on "Long Way Home", and the foundation of faith on "All That's Left".
Music
Re:creation uses a wider array of musical instruments than Chapman's previous works, making use of ukuleles, banjos, hammered dulcimers and string instruments, among other instruments, and has some world music and folk-pop influences. Most of the 're:creations' strip down the prominent production elements of the original versions, having a more organic, acoustic-driven sound.
"Long Way Home" is led by the ukulele, while "Heaven in the Real World (Re:created)" features use of a banjo. and hammered dulcimer. "The Great Adventure (Re:created)" omits the opening guitar riff of the original and replaces the backing vocals of the original with strings and percussion, while "Dive (Deeper)" tones down the upbeat vibe of the originals and adds in a flute and percussive handclaps. "Do Everything" features a more upbeat feel.
Release and promotion
Re:creation was released in the United States on August 16, 2011. Chapmann's first single from the album, "Do Everything", was released during the summer and peaked at number 3 on the Christian Songs chart, as well as number 1 on the Christian AC Indicator and Christian AC charts.
The album peaked at number 45 on the Billboard 200 and number 2 on the Christian Albums chart.