The new artist Leanna Crawford is a singer to watch. Captured by her sound, Grammy-nominated and Dove Award winner Matthew West began working with her in an artist development capacity. In fact, she's the first female artist to sign with Matthew's record label, Story House Collective. Leanna has really emerged as one of the top new female vocalists in Christian music. She has the gift of encouragement with an infectious and upbeat musical style.
Leanna recently released her self-titled EP, which includes standouts, “Truth I’m Standing On” and “Funeral.” Every song is a great showcase of Leanna’s excellent singing voice. You can practically hear her smile, as she delivers one infectious song after another. The layered and well-produced musical arrangements on the EP perfectly accentuate the singer's powerful and passionate music.
Leanna's entire EP really ministers to me and my family (I'm married with three young daughters). She's a great role model for girls. Her songs have connected with my daughters and her biblically-inspired lyrics represent how true happiness and her identity comes from her relationship with God. I had the chance to speak with Leanna about her song, “Photoshop.”
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
I grew up with a loving dad. I’m so thankful to have such loving parents. Not everyone has that. Even though my parents told me I was beautiful and made in the image of God, I still struggle with body image issues. I grew up seeing pictures of women or how women are portrayed in movies. I would look in the mirror and be so disappointed in how I looked: I wished I was thinner or had different hair. I didn’t see what I saw in magazines or on TV. I knew I would never measure up to those women. It was sad.
You can have nice words spoken over you and still feel insecure about yourself. You can think, "If I could just edit this feature about myself, I would be perfect." That’s not where it ends. Our culture is constantly telling us to try to have this perfect body and image. We’re never going to be satisfied with that.
I’m heartbroken by stories about people dealing with body image issues, who end up turning to alcohol and drugs to deal with it. As a society, we need to hear the truth. "Photoshop" speaks that truth in an upbeat and fun way. As I said, it’s a deep and real message that people need to hear.
I’ve personally struggled with body image issues. I had to realize that God designed every part of me. I may not look like the models I see in a magazine, but I have been fearfully and wonderfully made. I'm knitted together in His womb and I’m His creation. God cares about every one of us.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Ephesians 2:10(NLT): "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago."
Psalm 139:13-14(NKJV): "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well."
1 Samuel 16:7(NIV): "But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
Hebrews 13:5(NKJV): "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Romans 12:2(VOICE): "Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good, pleasing, and complete."
1 John 4:18(NKJV): "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."
2 Corinthians 12:9(NKJV): "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
What is the takeaway message?
When you know that you're loved by God, you will have more confidence. Then, you can love others well, and that’s our mission as Christians: to shine the bright light that God has put inside of us. You'll find that you don't need Photoshop.
When I think about the Mona Lisa, I think about how Da Vinci was commissioned to paint her. I think about how he never gave away the painting because he loved it so much. You would never think about painting over her. That’s how God thinks about us. He loves us so much. He thinks we're wonderful and beautiful masterpieces. It sounds so simple, and yet, it’s so profound that He created every detail of our being: physical, emotional, everything. I think that’s the coolest thing.
So, when you're on social media, you don’t have to be the same as everyone else. You don’t need to conform to society’s expectations. It’s okay to be different.
Lyrics
You see that Seventeen magazine Supermodel on display Perfect skin, so pristine With a Barbie doll waist Is it just me, or could it be This whole world is turning Plastic, plastic
Don’t like your freckles There’s an app for that What you wish was different We can fix all that
What you wish God would have made You can cover, you can change You can have it, have it
Well it sounds real nice But it’s just a beautiful Beautiful lie
No, you don’t need no photoshop Don’t need to be what you’re not You're already a treasure No one can make you better No, you don’t need no photoshop
This world don’t need a look-a-like You were made for standing out And burning bright I’m telling you the truth No one does you like you No, you don’t need no photoshop
Let me ask you a question Would you paint over the Mona Lisa When it comes to a masterpiece There’s no such thing As flaws just features
You got that one in a million Scratch that, one in a billion More like one in a trillion Hold up, what’s more than a trillion I don’t know, you get the point
No, you don’t need no photoshop Don’t need to be what you’re not You're already a treasure No one can make you better No, you don’t need no photoshop
This world don’t need a look-a-like You were made for standing out And burning bright I’m telling you the truth No one does you like you No, you don’t need no photoshop
You do you like nobody else does Nobody else does You do you like nobody else does Nobody else does
No, you don’t need no photoshop Don’t need to be what you’re not You're already a treasure No one can make you better No, you don’t need no photoshop
This world don’t need a look-a-like You were made for standing out And burning bright I’m telling you the truth No one does you like you No, you don’t need no photoshop
You do you like nobody else does Nobody else does You do you like nobody else does Nobody else does
You do you like nobody else does Nobody else does You do you like nobody else does Nobody else does
Closing Thoughts
I have three young daughters under the age of 21. And, I take my responsibility as a Christian father very seriously. My daughters' sense of self-worth, love, and knowledge of who they are in Christ is going to be most learned while they live in my home.
As the primary spiritual leader of my family, one of my jobs is to teach my girls biblical principles about love and self-respect. "Photoshop" really captures my true desire as a hurting father in this broken world. A broken world that tells girls lies. For me, Leanna's song is a reminder to put all my hope in Christ's love. And, affirm to my daughters that they are loved more than they can ever know by me and their Heavenly Father.
Satan seeks to destroy us and our relationship with God by making us believe lies that things of this world will fill the holes in our hearts. Leanna has written and sung an exceptional set of songs on her EP that is all based on the truth that deals with the identity struggle we all face of knowing that as children of God we are made in His image, and we are made whole only by His love.
We're called, as Christians, to believe in the freedom that we have in the cross of Jesus. We are free from our fears, addictions, insecurities, and perfectionism. Jesus came to die for us so that we can all truly live in Him.
The message of “Photoshop” is to know that we don't have to be perfect; God made us the way we are for a reason. We're beautiful and we're worth it. We have something to say.
Joy isn't just a happy emotion. It's deep peace and understanding, knowing that we're loved, without a shadow of a doubt. As Christians, we're God's adopted sons and daughters. We're fearfully and wonderfully made.
Don't let the world tell you who you are. It doesn't matter what you look like outside if you have Jesus on the inside. That's where we can find our true identities—in Him. A quote that connects to this song is, "Comparison is the thief of joy," as stated by President Theodore Roosevelt.
"Photoshop" is about being made in God's image and not seeking society's approval. But, knowing that God created and loves us, as we are. The song does a wonderful job challenging the world's definition of satisfaction, and acknowledging spiritual warfare while knowing that Jesus is the answer to all that we want and need.
We're all in need of God to fix our beautiful messes in some way. The beauty of grace is that it is not something we deserve or can earn. I love to sing along with this song with all my heart, “What you wish God would have made/You can cover, you can change/You can have it, have it/Well it sounds real nice/But it’s just a beautiful/Beautiful lie/No you don’t need no photoshop.” Amen to that.
NRT lead contributor Kevin Davis is a longtime fan of Christian music, an avid music collector, and credits the message of Christian music for leading him to Christ. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.
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