My grandparents believed Elvis was of the Devil. My parents believe Marilyn Manson is of the Devil. I'm pretty sure Lady Gaga IS the Devil. And probably, my great-grandparents thought, Oh I don't know, Lawerence Welk was the spawn of Satan. Every generation latches onto one or two artists as symbols of the inevitable apocalypse to come. If Will.I.am isn't enough evidence for you, then you are one of those fabled eternal optimists.
This essay is about music. I've been working on this one for awhile. The original tone has changed because I am attempting to ease up on the combative rhetoric that I'm so used to. That said, I do feel the need to explain a few things, in the name of self-awareness.
I am a music snob. That's being polite; I am more accurately a music jerk. I like what I like and hate most of everything else, and I think everyone else should hate everything I hate with equal passion. So, I'm going to say things in the paragraphs to come that will sound like universal absolutes that are, in fact, only matters of opinion. And I don't think the people with differing opinions are stupid, evil or unpatriotic. I just think those people are wrong. And that's okay. Let's get started.
When I was fifteen, I had an experience at one of my many church camps, I can't remember if it was Galilee or Happening, that led me to make the decision that God wanted me to give up all secular forms of art, including music. So, I sold all my cd's, changed my presets and attempted to purge my life from the Satanic influence of secular music. Of course, when I was fifteen I ALSO thought it was a great idea to wear 7 cross necklaces at a time and big, black Buddy Holly-style glasses. (that's right, I did it first, Hipsters)
Here's what I learned from my self-sacrificial fast from non-Christian music: Christian music is TERRIBLE! (@ Andy Bryan et al, this excludes Handel, Isaac Watts and, of course, Charles Wesley) And it hasn't gotten any better. It's still terrible. Musically, artistically, poetically, theologically. Terrible.
Before you churchy folks get all up in my grill, do something for me. Listen to the worst thing Pearl Jam ever did, which is a toss-up between the albums No Code and Binaural, and then listen to Audio Adrenaline's greatest hits. Listen to the worst thing Dave Matthews Band ever did, which is clearly Busted Stuff, then listen to the best song David Crowder Band ever put out. Jack Johnson and Shane and Shane (not really the same other than acoustic guitars, but I couldn't think of anything else). Mariah Carey and Amy Grant. Jay-Z and T-Bone or whoever the Christian rapper is. There's no comparison! Christian artists are simply and (again, in my opinion, so relax) CLEARLY just not as good.
Beyond a question of personal taste, Christian music is musically, poetically and theologically immature. Please write something that's not DAG or CFG. And, okay already, I get it, "Love" rhymes with "Above". Any images of God other than King or Shepherd? Music fans: expand your horizons. Musicians: write better worship music!
Now, I'm no musical genius. (At least on guitar, I mean, I have been playing drums for 90% of my life) I know how hard it is to write words without using "He" or "Him" language and have it 1. make sense and 2. sound good. I know how hard it is to write songs with more than three chords that a congregation can sing. I know how hard it is to write thoughtfully theological songs that are also catchy. It's hard. But can we please offer more to musical history than Jars of Clay or Switchfoot? Are these really the best we can do?
A deeper question than just my music-snoberific dislike for the sounds of Christian music is this admittedly non-pervasive attitude among some Christians that anything outside the Christian community is all evil and can't possibly have anything to do with the voice of God. I got in trouble once for talking about Harry Potter in a children's sermon 'cause wizards are evil. What's interesting is that believing that wizards are evil necessitates believing that wizards are REAL. Come on, people.
Don't put any limits on what, who, when, where or how God can use the things in this world to speak to us. I have felt the presence of God in a church camp worship experience AND at a Tool concert. I have heard God speak through Eric Clapton's guitar, Bob Dylan's words and Metallica's pyrotechnics!
The point is not that Christian music sucks, pardon my french, even though it does! I just want to make a plea: please don't lock your children in a cave of over-protection and deny them the life-changing experience of Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, Black Keys and, yes, even the Harry Potter movies because they aren't explicitly Christian. It works a couple ways: putting limits on how God speaks and putting limits on the experiences that make up a full life.
Don't limit yourself and don't limit God. And, please, don't tell me that Harry Potter is taking all our children to hell in a handbasket.
Recommendations: (excluding the obvious)
Heavy rock: Clutch
Normal rock: Band of Horses, Kings of Leon, Black Keys, My Morning Jacket
Country rock: anything that has anything to do with Buddy Miller or T. Bone Burnett, Wilco, Conor Oberst/Bright Eyes
Just miles, leagues, fathoms above anything that's happening in the Christian music world.
Peace, B
Brad, there is some truth in what you say, but I think you generalize in regard to Christian music. I don't think you can lump all "Christian" music together and say that it is inferior to secular music. Also, where do you put Bach or Mozart? Or secular music that sounds Christian like "Dear God" by Monsters of Folk? Or "Bridge Over Troubled Water"? Have you ever listened to Randall Goodgame's "Hands of the Potter" (performed by Caedmon's Call) or his secular song "Charlie Robin" that is as good or better than anything written by Paul Simon? What about Mike Crawford's "Words to Build a Life On"?
ReplyDeleteOK, whatever "Christian pop/rock" is, that's what I'm talking about. And, as a matter of personal taste, my friend, the phrase "as good or better than anything written by Paul Simon" really has no meaning for me. ;) The other guys, I've never heard of.
ReplyDeleteI generalize, it's what I do. But I did listen to as many minutes as I could take of Mid-Missouri contempory Christian music today, just to see. And yes, horrible.
I agree Brad. To address about Mike Crawford, he has really good music (even comparable to the secular artist that Brad is talking about) but you won't hear his stuff or similar artist on stations like K-Love or the BOT radio network, where the crappy Christian music is played.
ReplyDeleteJose
The sounds that you hear on Christian Radio stations tend not to be great. I'm with you. Why do we only hear bands that sound so similar on KLOVE or whatever? They all sound like country light. That touch of twange that drives me crazy. There has to be thoughtful Christian artists out there who play music that doesn't sound a little like Toby Keith.
ReplyDeleteAlso, in general the theology is not overly thoughtful, but I've been to churches where the sermons are just as theologically narrow. God's love comes from above...that's pretty much it. See ya next week, and we'll talk about how God's love is from above and I'll tell you a feel good story about it. All this to say that I agree, and there has to be more.
Oh, and in your parents' defense at least Marilyn Manson did claim to be a Satanist, which if you look into it is a fancy way of saying a skeptic/atheistic materialist.