Music author James E. Perone has penned ‘SMASH HITS – The 100 Songs That Defined America’ and has listed ‘You Raise Me Up’ written by Brendan Graham and Rolf Løvland as one of the songs that defined America.
The book contains 100 songs which cross a number of demographics and genres and generated mass appeal in the States. The author reviews the songs chronologically from the date of creation rather than release to show what environment shaped the composition.
‘You Raise Me Up’ is described as a worldwide phenomenon, stemming from Josh Groban’s version of the song and subsequently Westlife’s. It has become a song of inspiration and is used extensively as a hymn in worship services so much so that it ‘keeps this folk-like song a part of public consciousness that extends well beyond its success in the recording world‘.
