Hallelujah: It’s the Christian music thread.

[realitybug]

man, you have no idea how many christian band I've seen. lol. Former Christian here, now a filthy agnostic -- I was hardcore until I went off to college.

So I've seen:
Mercy Me (seen them multiple times, they would always play the conferences I went to)
P.O.D.
Newsboys
12 stones
Relient K
Thousand Foot Krutch/FM static
Pillar

A bunch of other lesser knowns.

Me and my best friend had some major lulz because at one of these concerts, they were actually praying for P.O.D. because apparently, they used language they did not approve of. Fits of laughter over the dramatics of it all.

[Trish]

Oh man, I was all about Christian music in the late 80s/early 90s. I was part of a Christian youth group and the music was a big part of it. Any other Aussies in here remember Black Stump? It was an annual Christian music/arts festival held over the October long weekend near Sydney. I went '91-'93 and saw a lot of bands there, mainly Australian.

Someone upthread mentioned Mortification. I remember them, although I wasn't a fan. One of my best friends was though. There was one particular song, maybe by someone else though (same genre though), that included the line "head chopped off" and we used to sing it allll the time even though I hated the song.

I never liked Amy Grant particularly, although I was a huge MWS fan (I know... I know...). Then there was Steve Grace, an Aussie in a similiar vein although maybe a little more rock. Saw him live a few times. There was another group I loved too, but for the life of me I cannot remember their name! Somehow I doubt I'd like them quite so much now. And then there was Whiteheart - I think they were from the US, although I could be wrong. They were more hard rock. I should still have a couple of their albums somewhere, should go dig them out and see if they're still listenable.

Good God (lol pun was NOT intended!) what else was there? Some band called Toe Jam. Some "rap" artist that said friend's younger brother loved that had a song "Where Do I Go When I Die?" which looking back now was appallingly bad. Thrash Pebbles? Was that a group or a song? Lol, Black Stump equalled no sleep for 3 days so some of my memories are very hazy now!

Talk about a trip down memory lane... I haven't thought about these bands for years!

[abbynormal]

tabby said:

Call me a traditionalist, but I never ever get tired of singing or hearing things like Motart's various Masses or Bach's Passion of St. John. The chamber choir here is doing Brahams' Requiem and I can't wait. And I'm Agnostic!
*That's* the kind of Christian music I can get behind. Maybe if church services were all music and no talking, I'd still be going to church regularly.

Hello, friend! To me, Christian music is the likes of Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, J.S. Bach, and Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Same here. I'll also add that I love the Gregorian chant. I find it extraordinarily peaceful.

As for the rest of what's considered to be Christian music today, no thanks.

[millie77]

abbynormal said:

tabby said:

Hello, friend! To me, Christian music is the likes of Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, J.S. Bach, and Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Same here. I'll also add that I love the Gregorian chant. I find it extraordinarily peaceful.

As for the rest of what's considered to be Christian music today, no thanks.

Same here.

I’m a Christian and a lifelong church choir member but I’ve never gotten into the modern/pop Christian music. My church (I’m a Methodist) has a contemporary service with a band and everything, but I’ve never been. I was (briefly) friends with some contemporary-Christian-music fans in college, but I never felt comfortable when religion came up -- especially not when one of them wore an anti-evolution t-shirt, which was one of the things that eventually led me to start looking for new friends. For me, church and church music is traditional hymns and anthems. Our regular service is very “high-church” which is much more my speed. Something about contemporary Christian music makes me squirm but I can’t put my finger on it. Maybe because it’s too “in your face” and obvious. I much prefer pop songs that are subtle.

I love Mozart, Bach, even some of the more recent guys like Rutter. Or hymns. One of my favorites is “It Is Well With My Soul” (mainly because of the story behind it).

[Sunnyhorse]

I'm an atheist, but I appreciate the great music that the Christian religion has inspired, from symphonies to spirituals. Contemporary Christian is not part of that canon, as far as I'm concerned. Everything I've heard is smarmy and musically trite -- squirm-inducing indeed.

[divasahm]

I think part of my problem with contemporary Christian music is that there is SO much of it, and I suspect that much of it is written to sell rather than to inspire. I have heard precious little that I ever care to hear again.

Abby, I could have written your post--our contemporary service holds no interest for me at all, although I have gotten involved with our contemplative prayer service and like it very much. I really think it's the music that turns me off the contemporary.

We have a local radio station that plays hymns and gospel music by classic country artists on Sunday mornings. Willie Nelson's "Amazing Grace" will make you cry. I wish I could listen more often, but I'm at church then...

[Sunnyhorse]

It's been years since I sang it with any conviction, but "Amazing Grace" will always make me cry, and not just because it was played over my father's and grandmother's caskets. I think it's simply encoded in my DNA, you know?

[Oxynia]

I think it's one of the few songs that can be called "perfect" in every way...it really has the power to move and inspire. I can never get through anyone's version without getting weepy.

[LAX]

My youth had Amy Grant, Petra, Michael W Smith and Stryper, but I never really got into these artists. Even though their subject matter was the same as many of the old time gospel tunes, none of it ever resonated well. Today, as a agnostic, I still listen to old hymns and gospel and although I don't believe in the message, there is still something about the music that feels good for my soul.

I've gone to a couple contemporary services with friends. The music is now is worse than the contemporary stuff from my youth. It seems geared towards generating an almost over emotional, hysterical response but I guess some people like that kind of thing. I'll take the mellow and contemplative, yet still passionate and stirring tone of the oldies.

"It is Well With My Soul" is also one my my favorites. And I'll give Jars of Clay a pass, since they do a decent version of this song.

[Alexis Machine]

Kirk Franklin- I Smile

Chorus:
I smile, even though I hurt see I smile,
I know God is working so I smile,
Even though I’ve been here for a while
I smile, smile..
It’s so hard to look up when you look down.
Sure would hate to see you give up now.
You look so much better when you smile, so smile.

Today’s a new day, but there is no sunshine.
Nothing but clouds, and it’s dark in my heart
and it feels like a cold night.
Today’s a new day, but tell me where are my blue skies,
where is the love and the joy that you promised me
tell me it’s – alright.

(the truth is)
I almost gave up, but a power that I can’t explain
fell from heaven like a shower now.

Chorus

Smile.. for me
Can you just smile… for me.(2x)

ohohoh, you look so much better when you(5x)
(and while your waiting)
ohohoh, you look so much better when you
(and while your praying)
ohohoh, you look so much better when you
(look in the mirror)
ohohoh, you look so much better when you smile

I almost gave up, but a power that I can’t explain
fell from heaven like a shower now – right now.

Chorus
ohohoh, you look so much better when you(8x)
smile…

I just want you to be happy..
I want you to have joy ’cause can’t nobody
take that away from you.
I see you.. SMILE!!


Two things piss me off about this song:

1) I know the song is about the recession, but they're pretty much telling people, "I don't care what awful things might be happening in your life, you need to smile like a freaking psycho until things get better."

2) I'm black (maybe other black women on this site can back me up on this one) and I can't remember how many times I've been walking down a street when, completely unprompted, someone says, "You need to smile!" ,as if I had a pissed off look on my face to solely bother them. The first time I heard this song, I thought "Oh God, they have a theme song now!"