Ellen's Stomp
I don't listen to a load of Christian music because much of it sounds awful. Often I'm either offended by what the lyrics are saying or the music itself is sub-standard. Sometimes, when I'm turning the dial on the radio in a new city I can immediately identify the Christian station even if I've never heard the song before and there were no lyrics spoken. Today's Christian music has a common sound, a low evangelical gong at a frequency nearly undetectable. A song that sounds like that tells me that the creators are unoriginal and uninspired.
Video Clip: Good faith based music crossing cultural barriers. Begins at 2:25.
I believe that some Christians feel like they have to advocate for any music if it is labeled "Christian." That somehow, their piousness deafens them to the cookie cutter crap they consume on a daily basis.
The reasonable world hears today's Christian music for what it is, however, and so it's a real find when you see the so called 'secular' rocking out to Christian music. Good music is supposed to cross the great divide between cultures and beliefs, just like Christ calls us to be authentic and original in the way his followers spread his message of hope and love.
This post was inspired by JJ at her blog Gay And Christian.
10 comments:
I have found so many songs that I hold close to the Christian Part of my heart to be those that are not labeled "Christian".
if that makes sense...
I hear what you're saying. I'm thankful the Holy Spirit can escape the vacuum that modern Christianity seems to place it in.
...eh that was ok
I hope the "Ellen" clip was an example of the good stuff (and not what you were complaining about) because I love that sort of excited, joyous, energised choir singing. I don't always agree with the message (given that it's religious and I don't always agree with the religion), but, man, who can argue with sounds like that? :-)
Oh, absolutely it is an example of good music! I'll clarify that in the post.
See here's the thing with me... I'm just like you - where I can't listen to that Christian stuff - LOVE being a Christian, but their music is so ..............corny? But then you get the Baptists and gospel folks, and you think, ...why can't all Christian music be like this? It's beautiful, it makes you want to dance and it has a beat...
Even the alternative rock Christian music doesn't do it for me.
Hmm.
:)
I can't stand 99.9% of Christian music. So over produced. I've come to realize something about the divide between "secular" music and "christian" music. Maybe some day I will tell you about it.
thanks for sharing by the way.
aw, I <3 ellen! Cheers for the comment btw, I answered back on my blog, figured it might be more in context there :) (on muchfarthertogo.wordpress.com, forgot about the old blogger thang:) )
No better way to make your argument than by making broad sweeping statements.
You say much Christian music and you say many Christians. And yes there are Christians that feel a need to defend lousy music that gets radio play like Kutless for example. At the same time sometimes you need to try and appreciate the music as being it's own genre. A lot of Christian artists are actually looking at making good CCM music. Which by definition is kinda lousy a lot of the time. Typically the formula is taking one inspiring metaphor making that your chorus, and having the rest be verses about essentially having sex with Jesus. But that IS the genre.
That said that is simply CCM.
Any type of music that is popular is often crap. Hiphop, R&B, Pop, typically all get really popular by being complete and utter crap. Classic rock for exmaple, I can't stand, every time I've heard ACDC I've felt as if it's over played junk.
To give you an example of great Christian bands that never got any radio play that definitely did their own thing. Paul Wright, Family Force 5, Superchick, Five Iron Frenzy, Shawn McDonald, Anberlin, Switchfoot, All Star United (who have a song called Song of the Year that mocks what you're talking about), The Benjamin Gate.
Essentially you've left out any Christian rock artists. Not that they're all awesome, but the thing is popular music typically sucks. Quite frankly until you wanna listen to exclusively indie stuff you don't really have a right to be critical of anyone.
Post a Comment