Pope Francis Will Release a Rock Album in November

Pope Francis not only is making his historic visit to the US, he is also planning to release his debut rock album titled Wake Up! this November. Wake Up! arrives November 27th, with the iTunes pre-order now available with an instant download of "Wake Up! Go! Go! Forward!" (you can listen below).
So, what will the album sound like? The record will feature Pope Francis speaking to the listener in Italian, English, Spanish and Portuguese over 11 tracks to address issues like peace, dignity, environmental concerns and helping those most in need. The pope's words are accompanied by rock-infused tunes handled by Wake Up!'s producer and artistic director Don Giulio Neroni.
"For many years, I've been the producer and the artistic director of albums by the Pope. I had the honor to work with John Paul II, Benedict XVI and now Pope Francis," Neroni tells Rolling Stone. "As in the past, for this album too, I tried to be strongly faithful to the pastoral and personality of Pope Francis: the Pope of dialogue, open doors, hospitality. For this reason, the voice of Pope Francis in Wake Up! dialogues music. And contemporary music (rock, pop, Latin etc.) dialogues with the Christian tradition of sacred hymns."
The lead single "Wake Up! Go! Go! Forward!" finds Pope Francis addressing a South Korean audience in English last year amid atmospheric synths, trumpeting horns and skyscraping electric guitars. "Wake up / Wake up," Pope Francis says on the track. "The Lord speaks of a responsibility that the Lord gives you / It is a duty to be vigilant / Not to allow the pressures, the temptations and the sins to dull our sensibility of the beauty of holiness." Later on the moving track, the Pope tells his audience, "No one who sleeps can sing, dance and rejoice," as he urges them to wake up and go.
Musician Tony Pagliuca, who composed several Wake Up! songs including "Wake Up! Go! Go! Forward!," tells Rolling Stone, "In the Seventies, I founded the prog-rock band Le Orme and topped the charts, toured Italy and U.K. and had the chance to collaborate with international artists like Peter Hammil and David Jackson (Van Der Graaf Generator). During the years, I also made an important journey of faith. When Don Giulio Neroni asked me to collaborate on this CD, I immediately accepted with enthusiasm. Putting my music in the service of the words and the voice of Pope Francis has been a fantastic experience and a very interesting artistic challenge."
Tags : pope francis pope francis new album pope francis wake up! wake up go forward! pope francis wake up pope francis latest pope francis news
Hot Trends
-
Forrest Frank & Crowder Release New Collab “The Rock”
-
Cory Asbury Apologizes to Forrest Frank, Emphasizes Grace and Growth Amid Viral Song Trend
-
Ross King Mourns the Loss of His Wife Staci After Courageous Battle with Cancer
-
Hillsong's Marty Sampson's Startling Revelations About Brian Houston & His Own Marriage
-
Here Are the Lyrics to Passion's "Follow"
-
What We Know About "American Idol" Winner Jamal Roberts' Faith
-
Marvin Winans Joins Justin Bieber on Surprise Album SWAG
-
Critically Acclaimed SKETCH Now Available for Streaming
-
The Grace Effect 2025 to Feature Gospel Powerhouses Jekalyn Carr, Joe Mettle, and More
-
Phil Wickham Unveils “So So Good (Live)” Featuring Brandon Lake and Elevation Worship
-
Josiah Queen “Mt. Zion” Album Review
-
Lysa TerKeurst Remarries Two Years After Divorce
-
The 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards Announces Second Round Of Performers And Presenters
-
Here Are the Lyrics to Martin Smith's "Joy (What The World Calls Foolish)"
-
Phil Wickham Celebrates His 15th Wedding Anniversary with "Just Too Good"
Most Popular
-
Forrest Frank & Crowder Release New Collab “The Rock”
-
Cory Asbury Apologizes to Forrest Frank, Emphasizes Grace and Growth Amid Viral Song Trend
-
Ross King Mourns the Loss of His Wife Staci After Courageous Battle with Cancer
-
Hillsong's Marty Sampson's Startling Revelations About Brian Houston & His Own Marriage
-
Here Are the Lyrics to Passion's "Follow"
-
What We Know About "American Idol" Winner Jamal Roberts' Faith
-
Marvin Winans Joins Justin Bieber on Surprise Album SWAG
-
Critically Acclaimed SKETCH Now Available for Streaming
-
The Grace Effect 2025 to Feature Gospel Powerhouses Jekalyn Carr, Joe Mettle, and More
-
Phil Wickham Unveils “So So Good (Live)” Featuring Brandon Lake and Elevation Worship
-
Josiah Queen “Mt. Zion” Album Review
-
Lysa TerKeurst Remarries Two Years After Divorce
-
The 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards Announces Second Round Of Performers And Presenters
-
Here Are the Lyrics to Martin Smith's "Joy (What The World Calls Foolish)"
-
Phil Wickham Celebrates His 15th Wedding Anniversary with "Just Too Good"