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| From | Not Lame <popmusic@notlame.com> |
| Subject | God Rawk |
| Date | Thu, 08 Jan 2004 10:03:28 -0700 |
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> Personally, I don't practice any religion...and I, like Kevin don't go in
> for preachy tunes (or people)...etc. However, I find no offense in the way
> the above artists include/approach the subject in their music. In the end,
> they don't preach...but they do make me think/conbsider what they are
> saying.
Have to chime in here---great point above, have to say.........in my
rebellious, punk-ridden(thanks Iggy, MC5, NY Dolls) youth and in my older,
just-as-imperfect Christian-walk, I've never had any trouble with overt
Christian lyrical content because, for me, I'm a melody-driven, as opposed
to lyrical driven guy---generally. Even if I was not a Christian, I'd be
listening to a lot of the CCM artists I'm postitive. (Professional
note/sidebar: we carry a lot of the power pop/melody driven CCM(contemporary
christian music) artists at Not Lame, NOT because of the owners' spiritual
beliefs but only because the music fits the quality standards of the music
we love to carry---and I always mention when an artist is an avowed
christian artist to lend a bit of 'truth in advertising' to what we carry.
The criteria: is good and will NL customers potentially dig it---no
judgement beyond that.)
Sure, many CCM artists come off as preachy(and you'd be surprised at how
many are quite the oppositie and almost elliptical in their lyrics,
too)-------as it is their right to articulate their passion inside their
faith, the issues the struggle with in their personal lives(all colored by
their beliefs) and that inspire creative movement thru song for the artist.
For most CCM artists, to NOT have such issues come in their music would be
like breathing something other than air----it's just part of who they are.
Of course, as is all our rights, we can choose to reject or embrace or
ignore such artist----which is a great, wonderful right and dose of
old-fashion free-will and the democracy of choice-----------but for so many
non-Christians, it perplexes me how incredibly uptight, sometimes angry many
get when artist mentions God or Jesus. "It mentions God, well, no
thanks---I don't need to hear it". Not talking about anyone here, but
just in my experience over the years w/ Not Lame.
(Another professional n ote: over the years, I've had a handful of
customers who will not buy anything from Not Lame simply because of the fact
we carry a CCM artist and I've had this discussion w/ them, too trying to
understand the whole revulsion......btw, it's almost impossible to weed out
5,000 releases for 'offending' mentions of God or Jesus)
It confuses me for this reason, I think(just typing off the top of my head
here)--------It's just subject-matter w/ CCM artist and non-CCM
artists---and in the realm of rock 'n roll(and other genres), when
objectionable lyrical content is digested by many of the offendees of CCM
artists, they find no issue(where there, arguably could be an issue) with so
much of what they listen to. I guess examples would be songs driven with
hate-ful lyrics about being dumped or friendship abused, sexual conquest,
hating mom and dad, hating and mistrusting people as a principled way of
life, hating people who don't agree with their way of thinking or
living----on and on the list goes. (btw, I listen to this sort of thing,
too------I just choose not reject much of it because the opinions of the
artists are opposed to my own....when it comes to music, I'm a pantheist)
But so many people who listen to music that is objectionable in the culture
they live in, they have a problem with CCM artist that write about the love,
grace, peace, whatever they feel with their relationship w/ God and/or
Jesus-----and this becomes an issue of consternation, rejection and anger
for music fans who don't want to ever see the word God or Jesus on a CD.
(sorry, CCM bashers, most these artists are just not budding Jimmy Swaggarts
and Pat Robertsons and do n ot preach DOWN at the listener---the huge
majority of songs coming from this genre just are not in the judgemental
realm---although there are exceptions, of course)
My point, I guess: We could all do a lot, lot worse than 'having' to
listen to songs that speak of the desire to love man, to love God as set
forth in the example of the life of Jesus(or God) that CCM artists sing
about, whether you believe in God/Jesus or NOT. CCM artists, a huge
majority of them, are NOT damning others who do not believe what they
do----they are saying 'hey, this is what moves me----want to listen?'
If one is going to get worked about about CCM artists, well also get worked
up about the other negative aspects of what's being digested and distributed
out in the music world and run counter-productive to building a more
peaceful culture and society, too.
Take or leave it, of course---I respect the right of those who leave
it....but, *for me*, to reject a lot of good music because of such lyrical
contents just perplexes me as I'm always looking for the next great song or
band around every corner and don't like limiting myself because an artists'
beliefs are different than my own.
Anyway, this subject comes up every 12-18 months in the six/seven years of
the Audities list----which I think is cool 'n good simply for the fact that
is gives some of us an opportunity to ponder and think about the 'why' of
what makes our musical passions ticks.
Peace On,
Bruce
@ Not Lame
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