Christian Music
March 3, 2010 - 7:49am
disagree
I disagree - I think Christian music is completely on par with quality of secular. I spent my first 21 years listening to many forms of secular music, but the last 12 has been just Christian. And of course, the lyrics and passion in the Christian music is safe and moral and etc. But again, I easily put the likes of Third Day, David Crowder, Barlow Girl, Newsboys, tobyMac, and countless others on the same level of quality as any secular band.
Curious - what bands are you listening to? That might play a part in your opinion.
tb
March 3, 2010 - 7:54am
There is very little
There is very little Christian music that I really like as a musician. I am not sure if Rob was coming at it from this angle or not as he is a musician too. For me it is the musical quality. I dislike some of it for the music quality just as much as I do most pop music.
I do think your reasoning for the music to play with the family is spot on. I agree that it is much easier to play Christian music for the family than worrying abuout every song that comes on the radio. Also, you got it totally. In the middle of the pop junk, there is some really good Christian music. For me, a lot of the good stuff is the actualy worship music.
March 3, 2010 - 12:05pm
An unusual perspective
I don't draw the same distinction that a lot of folks do. I see "Christian" music as unique for is it the only genre that is not based on style but instead on who the product is marketed to. Music on the wrong label is never considered "Christian". Let's say you have a musician who is a believer and covers both sacred and secular themes. On American Recordings, Johnny Cash's music progresses from a murder ballad ("Delia's Gone") to as good a worship song as I've ever heard ("Why Me Lord"). Would anyone consider this "Christian" music? I doubt it. I see it a believer exploring a variety of topics. The flip-side, years ago Petra, the church's top-40 superstars at the moment, recorded "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" which was later covered by KISS. KISS was the band two ministers from Minnesota branded as the worst of the worst. So is this a "Christian" song? Why should it matter who is performing it?
I enjoy some "Christian" branded music (Mark Heard, Keith Green), major label music which explores religious themes (16 Horsepower, Uncle Tupelo) as well as non-religious music (Frank Zappa, The Velvet Underground). My main issue is a lot of the music I enjoy explores really dark themes. And I notice a change in my mood when I focus too much time on it. (A problem I don't have when listening to Keith Green.)
At the heart of it, I see no point in arguing which is better. Whenever you find music you enjoy, then that's a wonderful thing.
-NP
March 3, 2010 - 1:13pm
music has an effect
NP, i agree in part...especially with how music can affect us. that is a huge reason why i quit listening to metal and other crap like that. it got into my brain and my emotions, even though it took years for me to admit that. my attitude and demeanor are 100x better listening to genuine Christian music (not the phony stuff some people make just to sell records).
so, using how music affects us as a test, it is clear to me that we need to be really stinking careful what we listen to...not just when around our kids.
tb
March 17, 2010 - 6:41am
I listen to both, secular and
I listen to both, secular and so called Christian music. My problem is that listening to the lyrics from some of christian labeled artists are pretty watered down. It's almost like they decided to throw the name of Jesus in there just to keep the Christian tag. Just a few I heard but for some reason when It's a band labeled as a Christian band I become more critical in the lyrics in the same way as I do listening to a sermon, I want accuracy and some meat to the words.
Secular music I can't understand half the words anyways so I go for the music itself. Maybe that's why I now listen to a lot of movie scores and other lyric less styles of music.
My daughter listens to the normal music as most of todays teenagers. But she is pretty observant to lyrics and if a song has flat out sexual lyrics or bad language she will not listen to it by her own decision.
I'm defiantly not saying my way of thinking is the right. In fact I'm pretty sure I'm screwed up in the way I go about most things in my walk with the Lord. He usually has to smack me around a few times before I see it His way. :)
July 21, 2010 - 12:24pm
I think its fun to read about
I think its fun to read about Larry Norman. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Norman
He was one of the further contempary christian artists who came out of the Jesus Movement. People like Cliff Richard and DC Talk are well influenced by him. Also interestingly enough is his oppinion on Christian music which pretty much mirrors yours! He was actually banned by many christian music stores because of his anti-racism and lyrics about the poor. Outcast is pretty amazing.
I think Tourniquet is one of the most innovative Christian bands around. They write metal music that is easily more interesting, new whilst still being good compared to most secular bands.
August 7, 2010 - 2:46am
Emotions and music ...
As I my self have been "smacked around" a bit by the Lord. I too have made more of a move to Christian music and less of the secular. It does effect the emotions of the listener(s), good, bad or other wise thats all part of it.
I heard this at some point ( I think it was in a Ken Davis skit). The base of the skit was this, we wouldn't let the bad people from whatever TV show was on the tube just walk in our front door, so why do we allow them to show on our TV?
This makes sense and could be said for the music we listen to as well. Bottom line, just be careful to what you allowing into your home, ect.
AS others, we have been listening to the Christian radio stations and bands since our kids were babies. In this I have found my self being moved by the music. As for my kids as well. There is nothing better than hearing my 11 and 8 year old kids jammin to the new Toby Mac song (or whoever) in the back seat. :-) This is, of course, because our radio is always tuned to K-LOVE or Air1.
August 26, 2010 - 3:42pm
for those interested, there
for those interested, there might be some things on the rise from the great Christian band, The Prayer Chain.
I own the domain and have been working with a few band members in putting up a quick site... i am not yet sure what they are planning but hopefully something new :)
January 17, 2011 - 3:06pm
it is all up to the station
it is all up to the station that you listen too. It is true in some areas there maybe 1 choice for Christian music. larger markets have more of a selection. On the internet there are tones of internet only stations.
Also if you dont like the music Call or write the station letting them know how you feel. Suggestions always help!
March 28, 2011 - 8:27pm
Christian music easily
Christian music easily compares with the secular these days. Or in-fact its better! Most new mainstream stuff is honestly rubbish. In the last 15years Christian bands (not genre, because there really is not genre for Christians unless you would like to file it in Christian Rock, Christian Rap, etc..) have really excelled in quality music.
Like tb stated about some bands, ill add some more: Thirdday, DC Talk (old school 'christian'), Casting Crowns, Seventh Day Slumber, Pillar, Switchfoot (christian and mainstream), P.O.D (christian and mainstream), Superchik, Kutless, Newsboys, and so many many more with quality recording and performance.
As far as stating that some bands just seem to throw in 'Jesus' to keep the title of Christian, isn't a good one. Who are we to judge where there heart is at or what God has told them to do?
But if you do not like Christian music because it emphasises 'unprofessional' -- Id encourage you to look at any of those bands I mentioned on youtube (ofcourse judge according the genre you like, so dont listen to TobyMac if you love ROCK only)! TRY IT, You might like it :P
All my comments are neutral and im not meaning to attack so read it nicely =)
I hope you find this post helpful!
Thanks,
Josh
June 27, 2011 - 12:00am
Neal Morse!
Neal Morse is a progressive rock artist who is unquestionably one of the leading artists in his genre. Check out his story of becoming a Christian on his albums Testimony (2003) and Testimony 2 (2011). It's a great story, and the guest musicians list on his albums usually reads like a who's who of various genres: Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, Avenged Sevenfold), Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big, Racer X), Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs, Kansas, Deep Purple), etc. Check him out sometime - the musician's musician! http://www.nealmorse.com/
A recent tweet by Rob Feature about Christian music got me thinking. The gist of his tweet was that Christian Music wasn't very good (I apologize if that's not the right representation). When my wife and I had our first child, she made the conscious effort to only listen to Christian music in the car. She had previously listened to only country music and didn't want some of the lyrics about sex and drinking to be heard by young ears.
At some point after that, I too made a decision to only listen to Christian music. While I admit that musically, much of what is played on the contemporary Christian station is lacking, there are some jewels. But, more important to me is that I fill my ears with music that strives to praise God instead of the often smutty sports talk that I had listened to before.
Admittedly, I haven't gone searching for Christian music beyond what is played on the radio. So my question is, does Christian music really suck? And if it does, is that OK? Isn't it the lyrics and the heart of the artist that are important?
Not sure why I felt spurred to post this topic, but I'd be interested to hear what everyone thinks as it relates to the quality (musically and spiritually) of Christian music. When it comes down to it, I prefer Christian music hands down to what I hear from "popular" music in passing.
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