When I think about the developing world, sometimes called the third world, I’m not sad. It doesn’t conjure up images of distended bellies and crowded city dumps, shoeless children or rusted orange slums. Instead, my mind goes to Kiran and Yanci and thousands of sponsors, and thriving selfless churches, benevolent pastors, miracles. And how all this has changed me.
In 2005 I saw Jesus in El Salvador. Once home He began patiently, slowly, began teaching me, freeing me, inspiring me in frightening and wonderful ways.
He changed my tune. And my reasons for writing them.
I was explaining all this to a friend a couple years ago and had one of those embarrassing artsy moments – one of those times when I started talking like a song writer instead of a normal person. I said my life since El Salvador had added dimension, like it went from a cassette of a guy with a guitar to being in the front row at the symphony. More complicatedly and beautifully big, clear, bombastic, LIVE!
He looked at me the way I imagine you’re looking at your computer screen. This is what happens when you ask songwriters how they’ve been. I’m warning you.
Anyway, I thought to myself back then that “Third World Symphony” would be a great album title someday. And so that’s what I’m naming my next recording – the one you’re helping me make remember?
Because these are songs that were put into me and squeezed out of me by a new kind of living: Learning to follow Jesus in the first world, aware and engaged with the third world for the benefit of both.
Good title? Make sense? What do you think?
Like it!
i think it’s genius…loved it the second i saw the t-shirt designs! it encapsulates perfectly what you’re about.
I love it!
Makes total sense. I love it. Are you going to use flavors and sounds of the music and cultures that you’ve visited over the years?
I agree with Kelli. I love the title, and I think it would be really cool if you were able to work in some musical styles from some of the places that have shaped you or audio clips from your trips.
I’d like to but I don’t know that I have those resources at my disposal. I should have been recording music on all those trips I took. Dang it! Oh well.
Love it.
If you call the record “Third World Symphony” you’ll be obligated to use big orchestrations on every track (lest the masses get confused). I’m not sure you’ve raised enough money for that and I’d hate to see you resort to a lot of cheesy synth stuff. My alternative suggestion is that you call the album “Shaun Groves: Skin & Bones” and record the whole thing with just a 5 piece band.
I love the smell of sarcasm in the morning.
Mr Bombastic. I say you fantastic.
You rap now?
Now? Always!
And yes, I’m available as a back up singer.
Third World Rap..sody.
Catchy! For what it’s worth, I think it’s a keeper.
i think that rocks! and now every time i wear my shirt and someone asks me about it…i’ll be able to share about Compassion and how it changes lives and the melody of our heart!!
Good name. I like it!
+1
Awesome news and album title Shaun!! I absolutely can’t wait to hear your “Third World Symphony.” Take care and God bless, Kevin
Thanks, Kevin.
I’ll keep you posted as we determine a release date too…since you’re a fancy shmancy music journalist and all now ; )
Hope to head your way in the Spring. Hope to see you again then.
When I saw the t-shirts, I got a huge smile on my face.
I knew exactly where the title came from, and I think it’s perfectly perfect. 
It’s a beautiful message and lovely thought. Do it!
Looooooove it. And after spending time in Cambodia this summer and falling in love with some rescued, joyful kiddos, I totally get it.
love it! I’m seriously thinking about bumping my donation up to the $50 level – nice job by your graphic artist on the shirt design!
LOVE it.
Not just like -LOVE IT!
Can’t wait to hear the finished product!
Love it!
Wow, I love the title…I cannot wait to hear it and see what creativity God gives you to express what He has taught you!
I think that is a great name, Shaun! It’s something that would make me pick up the cd and look at it in the store. (Which I won’t have to do, because I AM A SUPPORTER!!!!)
Love it!!
And….I think I have missed something along the way…..
what shirt??
Misty, folks who backed this recording here get weekly updates from me about how the process is progressing and whatnot. One of those updates was a bunch of shirt designs I asked them to vote on.
Those who backed the project at $50 or more get the winning shirt along with their other rewards.
For five bucks you can get the album and see the shirt designs. You’ve got 15 days left ; )
http://bit.ly/MakeARecord
OH!!! I did back you…. but I didn’t sign up to get all the rewards…
I only selected to get the new CD.
I just missed the shirt thingie!
Beautiful and brilliant title.
I wondered about the title when I saw it on KickStart. But I figured you’d reveal the explanation in your own time.
It was worth waiting for. It makes perfect sense. I’m excited to see what God is stirring in you.
Love the title and the shirt and the thoughts behind it all.
I am looking forward to the music. How is the hand?
Getting better. Thanks for asking. The cast is off but it still hurts. Now I’m just playing daily to get back my strength.
I like it. I love that it immediately spotlights OUT instead of IN. Beautiful. Can’t wait to hear it . . .
And I bet the songs will be the background music for like a million photo-slideshows of people’s missions trips in future years!
Maybe you could charge a fee for that, and really make bank. 
Love that you said it’s from the First World to the Third World to the benefit of both– love that.
“Learning to follow Jesus in the first world, aware and engaged with the third world for the benefit of both.” PERFECT.
Is this a play on Dvorak’s New World Symphony? Or is that painfully obvious?
Honestly, the term “third world” has always felt pejorative to me. Kind of like, “Hey! You’re in the third world. I’m in the first world (i.e. better world), so I’m better than you. Neener-neener-nanner!”
I still support you and will wear the shirt. Just sharing my feelings.
Honest question: Do people in the third world refer to themselves as being in the third world?
Sometimes we us the word “honestly” to soften critical statements as a way to express a desire to be constructive and not offensive. I’ll just shoot straight from now on, still with a desire to be constructive and encouraging… and I’ll keep following you on twitter.
I like the idea, but you should know that many people in the developing world consider the term “third world” to be derogatory, pejorative, and offensive. The term itself is a relic of the Cold War (when the West was the “first world,” the East was the “second world,” and everybody else was the “third world.” My colleagues who are from developing countries think that it relegates poor people to third-class status, as though they are somehow inferior to the rest of us.
I’m aware of the negative connotation the term carries IN the third…um, developing world for SOME. But, my audience is thoroughly first…er, developed world (?), and here the descriptive is understood. Not sure there’s an adjective for those nations that is better understood by my audience here. Got a suggestion?
Actually, Shaun, I first saw the title and thought to myself that it is something of a nice juxtaposition: something beautiful (a symphony) out of something often disdained and discarded (the “third world”). Sounds like something Jesus said.
I’m not sure there is one. In academia, we use “global south” or “developing world.” 10/40 Window Symphony doesn’t have much of a ring, huh?
Good title. Nice catch to it. Makes my mind turn intrigued.
I like it.