The Piano Guys has gone country recently with their latest release, “Bless the Broken Road.”
Originally written in the 1990s by Marcus Hummon and Jeff Hanna, “Bless the Broken Road” topped the charts in 2004 with a version by Rascal Flatts, who later won a Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 2006 for their recording.
In the Piano Guys’ latest version of the song, Jon Schmidt takes a softer approach to the classic country tune, coaxing out a simple melody to emphasize the words in the song.
“I strived to play this in a way that the piano could ‘sing’ the lyrics,” wrote Schmidt in a Facebook post. “They’re profound and they’ve been a great comfort to me.”
The YouTube description for the video elaborated on maintaining a positive perspective in the midst of trials.
“The lyrics to ‘Bless the Broken Road’ are about maintaining optimism. To never give up on the probability that bad things will ultimately work for our good. That trials often ultimately become blessings. Of maintaining hope and gratitude under all circumstances,” according to the description.
The song was released on Friday, April 24, and has over 174,000 views. After the song, viewers get a peek into the Piano Guys’ studio as Steven Sharp Nelson explains how the group is hoping to make a difference during the coronavirus pandemic.
“If you’re like me, you’ve been trying to make heads or tails of this whole thing that we’re experiencing together and look for the silver lining in it. We’ve got something that might help, and actually it’s kind of a crazy idea,” says Nelson. “I’m so excited to share it with you. We know how powerful music can be and we know that part of that power is in the instrument. So, here’s the crazy part. We want to give away a brand-new Yamaha piano and we want to do this every week until this pandemic eases up to someone who needs it—someone who needs a little sunshine with the power of music and maybe that someone who needs it is you.”
Nelson recently talked about the power of music in his own life on the All In podcast, where he spoke about his many highs and lows during life that have “taught him to trust God and to consecrate each and every performance to Him.”
Whether you are in need of a piano or you know of a friend who does, Nelson says he hopes that the piano giveaway will make a difference.
“We hope this helps, even if it’s just good news,” he says. “Stay strong. Stay safe. And keep up the music.”
Those interested in the piano giveaway can text (801) 217-9512 or visit thepianoguys.com for more details.
