Michael W. Smith Revisits 9/11 Tribute “There She Stands” With Bold New Sound
Michael W. Smith Revisits 9/11 Tribute “There She Stands” With Bold New Sound. Michael W. Smith is returning to a song that has remained deeply personal to him for more than two decades. Nearly 25 years after recording “There She Stands,” the multi-platinum Christian artist and songwriter is reimagining the patriotic tribute with a new production that reflects the weight and emotion the song has carried since the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
“I’ve always wanted to reimagine this song. I’ve wanted to do it for a long, long time, and I’ve got a whole vision for it,” Smith said, describing a fresh approach that moves beyond the intimate sound of the original. Rather than relying heavily on piano and acoustic guitar, he is building the new version around a driving drumline, powerful brass and a larger cinematic sound.
“There She Stands” was inspired by Smith’s conversation with then-President George W. Bush following the attacks. The song became a tribute to the American flag and the resilience of a nation navigating an unprecedented moment of grief and uncertainty. Smith co-wrote the song with longtime collaborator and friend Wes King, and it was later featured on his 2002 album Worship Again.
For Smith, revisiting the song is not simply about updating an old recording. The new arrangement is designed to create a much bigger emotional impact. He envisions a propulsive, snare-driven drumline carrying the song forward before the arrangement changes dramatically during the second chorus.
At that point, the instrumentation pulls back, leaving Smith’s voice exposed as he reaches an emotional lyric connected to his late friend Wesley. Michael W. Smith said the moment still brings him to tears before the song erupts with a huge wall of horns.
“It’ll make the hair stand on your neck,” Smith said. “At least I think it will. But it’s very emotional.”
The new recording comes as the United States marks 25 years since the September 11 attacks, giving “There She Stands” another moment in the spotlight. For Smith, the reimagining offers an opportunity to revisit a song shaped by one of the most defining moments of the early 2000s while presenting it through a sound he has envisioned for years.
“I can’t wait for you to hear this reimagining of my song called ‘There She Stands,’” Smith said.
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