Music Discussions

Stereo Hearts

June 9, 2011

Main Point of Discussion: God’s heart is a stereo heart like the one in the song – when our lives are broken, we should closely tune Him in.

Introducing the video:
Gym Class Heroes “Stereo Hearts” is the first single from their fifth album, The Papercut Chronicles 2. This song features Maroon 5 front man and The Voice coach Adam Levine on the chorus. Adam Levine’s contribution was an unexpected and very cool surprise for the band. Guitarist Disashi Lumumba told Billboard magazine: “We were actually in the studio rehearsing collectively as a band about a month ago for a show in California. We had never practiced the song all together before. Adam Levine just happened to be there with his people from ‘The Voice’ and we were playing the song and all of a sudden, Adam just flies through the door and starts singing the chorus. It was pretty amazing.”

Stereo Hearts has been on the charts for over 20 weeks and the video for the song has over 30 million views. McCoy explained the song’s meaning to MTV News: “We worked with Benny Blanco on this single, and the chorus kind of jumped out at me, the whole metaphor for your heart being a stereo. Lyrically, I played off that, just imagining my heart being inanimate objects like dusty records and old-school boom boxes and what not.”

The Music Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3E9Wjbq44E
(Pass out the lyrics to Stereo Hearts, then play the video)

My heart’s a stereo
It beats for you, so listen close
Hear my thoughts in every no-o-o-te
Make me your radio
And turn me up when you feel low
This melody was meant for you
Just sing along to my stereo

Gym Class Heroes baby!
If I was just another dusty record on the shelf
Would you blow me off and play me like everybody else?
If I asked you to scratch my back, could you manage that?
Like yea [scratched], check it Travie, I can handle that
Furthermore, I apologize for any skipping tracks
It’s just the last girl that played me left a couple cracks
I used to used to used to, now I’m over that
‘Cause holding grudges over love is ancient artifacts

If I could only find a note to make you understand
I’d sing it softly in your ear and grab you by the hand
Just keep it stuck inside your head, like your favorite tune
And know my heart’s a stereo that only plays for you

[Chorus:]
My heart’s a stereo
It beats for you, so listen close
Hear my thoughts in every no-o-o-te
Make me your radio
And turn me up when you feel low
This melody was meant for you
Just sing along to my stereo

Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh to my stereo
Oh oh oh oh to sing along to my stereo

Let’s go!
If I was an old-school fifty pound boombox (remember them?)
Would you hold me on your shoulder wherever you walk
Would you turn my volume up in front of the cops (turn it up)
And crank it higher everytime they told you to stop
And all I ask is that you don’t get mad at me
When you have to purchase mad D batteries
Appreciate every mixtape your friends make
You never know we come and go like on the interstate

I think I finally found a note to make you understand
If you can hit it, sing along and take me by the hand
Just keep me stuck inside your head, like your favorite tune
You know my heart’s a stereo that only plays for you

[Chorus:]
My heart’s a stereo
It beats for you, so listen close
Hear my thoughts in every no-o-o-te
Make me your radio
Turn me up when you feel low
This melody was meant for you
Just sing along to my stereo

Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh to my stereo
Oh oh oh oh to sing along to my stereo

[Bridge:]
I only pray you’ll never leave me behind (never leave me)
Because good music can be so hard to find (so hard to find)
I take your hand and hold it closer to mine
Thought love was dead, but now you’re changing my mind

[Chorus:]
My heart’s a stereo
It beats for you, so listen close
Hear my thoughts in every no-o-o-te
Make me your radio
Turn me up when you feel low
This melody was meant for you
Just sing along to my stereo

Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh to my stereo
Oh oh oh oh (Gym Class Heroes baby!) to sing along to my stereo

Transitional Statement:
‘Stereo Hearts’ is a great reminder that God has a ‘stereo heart’ that beats for us. He takes such great delight in us that the only way to authentically express it is in the power of music. The Bible is full of the lyrics that He sings over us, especially in the Psalms, which is an entire book of song lyrics from God. Let’s take a look at a few of them so you can have something to ‘tune in to’ when the music of the world has brought you to a low or hard place.

Divide into Small Groups:
Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word.

CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groups using our small group format—a great resource to equip your small group leaders.

Discussion Questions:

AROUND THE CIRCLE: Before we dive in, let’s go around and share our names and some of our all-time favorite songs.

ASK A FEW: Has music played an impactful role in your life? Why or why not?

ASK A FEW: What lyrics from Stereo Hearts jumped out at you?

ASK A FEW: If your heart was a stereo, what kind of music would it play most of the time?

ASK A FEW: What kind of music is coming out of most people’s ‘stereo heart’?

Read the following passage from the Bible:

For the LORD your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.

ASK A FEW: Have you ever wanted to burst out in song? What makes people do that?

ASK A FEW: Why do you think God bursts out in song when He thinks about us?

ASK A FEW: Have you ever thought that God has a ‘stereo heart’ that beats for us? Why or why not?

ASK A FEW: What do you imagine the lyrics are to the songs that He sings to us?

ASK A FEW: How can His music ‘calm our fears’?

ASK A FEW: How do the messages from the world’s music compare with the lyrics to the songs that God is singing over us?

ASK A FEW: In the song, McCoy encouraged the listener to turn up the song when she felt ‘low’. Based on this passage, do you think God is encouraging us to do the same?

ASK A FEW: When have you tuned into God’s ‘stereo heart’ and it has made a difference?

ASK A FEW: How does the fact that God sings over us with rejoicing impact your view of your relationship with Him?

Wrap Up:
Pass out a copy of Psalm 34:4-10 to every student.

I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me.
He freed me from all my fears.
Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the LORD is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.
Taste and see that the LORD is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
Fear the LORD, you his godly people,
for those who fear him will have all they need.
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing.

This Psalm was written by David while he was inspired by the Holy Spirit. Take a few minutes to pour over these words of comfort and try to hear God’s voice and stereo heart beating for you and calming your fears.

After a few minutes, close in a prayer that gives students a chance to trust Christ, then ask a few students to pray and thank God that he rejoices over us with singing.

Written by Lane Palmer