So I just have to ask. Whatever happened to songs that actually meant something and were sung with passion and actually convicted you of something? I think particularly of Christian songs, here. I have been wracking my brain trying to think of a song, any song, that, when I listen to it, actually makes me want to be a better Christian and love God more and live a life that is real and selfless and right.
Not just some namby-pamby song about God. A song that steps on my toes and convicts me of the sin in my life, maybe. Or a song that presents a real, passionate message about God that is not trite and superficial.
And past the 80s, I'm just not sure if there are any. Which seems unfortunate, considering how many songs there are in the universe. Can anyone think of a reasonably modern Christian song that actually (1) conveys a real message and (2) inspires you to live rightly before God?
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I won't say I told you so because I don't think I ever told you in the first place, but I've been saying this for a long time.
I miss songs that moved me to tears because I felt convicted to change something in my life. I miss music that genuinely told the message of Christ.
This is why I hold so strongly to that Southern Gospel music that so many in our generation mock.
I KNOW I've told you this before, but when I am in a place that I truly need a real touch from God, that is the music I turn to. That is the music that ministers to my spirit. Remember this post?
I think that the music world has made it too easy for someone to become a “one-hit wonder,” and that has made for shoddy musicians who are in it for the money and not the music. When it was a little harder to become a superstar, I believe it helped to weed out the less sincere singers.
Just look at American Idol. It proves that America doesn’t want someone talented, they want someone popular. Sanjaya? Seriously? But, he’s popular. He has no talent, but the teenage girls love him, so he’ll probably win. Popularity carries 100 times more weight than talent and sincerity in this day and age.
So . . . yeah . . . I think I’ll just stick to my stuffy old hymns and outdated Southern Gospel quartets.
Hey Jana,
How about some David Simpson songs, starting with my favorite: "Turn My Eyes Back to the Cross." Though it may have been written in the '70's.
This is part of the reason why I very rarely listen to Christian music anymore and hardley EVER listen to Christian radio. (The other reason why is that it is, artistically speaking, one large pile of crap that all smells--sounds--the same.)
I'm curious...what are some of the old songs that you felt were of quality? What are some songs that have convicted you or spoken to your heart?
I remember being in elementary or middle school and listening to the song "He's Not for Me" (by... ??? maybe Kim Boyce???) and thinking about what it was saying. ("He's not for me--he doesn't know my Savior...") Despite the fact that it's a cheesy song (cool at the time, I guess) I don't think I'll even forget that song; it impacted me.
Do you think our age has anything to do with it? I think that we are more open to messages like that (more easily influenced) when we are younger. Many of my all-time favorite songs are from my youth: "He's Been Faithful" (Babbie Mason), "Lead Me On" (Amy Grant), "You'll Still Be Lord of All" (Truth).
This void of worthwhile modern Christian songs makes it especially hard to find something to sing for Sunday morning offering!
I forgot to mention anything Keith Green! Those were songs with substance!
This is why my favorites remain stuffy hymns and Bach and Handel, etc. What can you say against "A Mighty Fortress is our God!"? Granted, the tune's not "catchy," but does it need to be? Who decided Christian music needed to try to attract an audience, at the expense of substance? Although I did like some of Caedman's Call's stuff from the 90s.
Christian music today is a business, and part of me thinks that's ok, because people need to put food on the table. Maybe the real solution is for Christians to know more of the Bible and be smarter when it comes to quality music.
Sorry for posting multiple times--I just keep thinking of things!
I just keep thinking of things, too. Granted a lot of variations on "Jesus and me" stuff is drek and should be disposed of. I like the old hymns that call out scriptural truth and unchanging doctrine, too. But a few gripping, Biblically accurate, songs have been written recently. I think the current culture that continually demands something new has resulted in the dilution of the good with the mediocre, so it's harder to find.
I do like Dave Simpson's songs, generally, though I'm not very familiar with his older stuff. Of course, it's quite unfortunate that his music isn't out in the mainstream so more people could benefit from it.
Some songs I think of are "For the Sake of the Call" by Steven Curtis Chapman (still gives me chills whenever I hear it) or "How Much Love" by Allies.
Perhaps I do need to give Southern Gospel another chance. I grew up with it always being played in the car on road trips with my family, and I just never really got into it. Of course, I hated country music back then as well, and now I like it.
As for Caedmon's Call, yes, they do have some good newer songs. I think the problem there is that churches and radio stations snatched them up and played them to death so quickly that it was hard to keep liking them. Same with Third Day, which also has some very poignant, theologically accurate songs.
Or "Stranger to Holiness" by Steve Camp. I heard this song for the first time a week or so ago, and oh my gosh, I couldn't believe how amazing it was. It was the first song I had heard in a long time that actually made me want to love and serve God more. In fact, it's the song that prompted this post.
Also, Rich Mullins. His stuff was really awesome.
Something else that bugs me about a lot of current Christian music is the artist's inability to match appropriate musicality to lyrics. What I mean by that is, if you have a song with really intense lyrics and some light, airy melody and orchestration, it is going to miminze the effect of the song. Or a song with lyrics that are meant to be pondered, obscured by guitar riffs that distract you from the rest of the song. Even if they're really good guitar riffs.
I think there needs to be a balance, for the lyrics and the music to fit each other.
In my opinion -
Example of mismatched lyrics/music: Jeremy Camp's version of "You're Worthy Of My Praise". Too much head banging for a song that should be sung at a slower, more pensive and actually worshipful tempo.
Example of song that convicts: Charlie Peacock's "In The Light".
And yet I kind of like that Jeremy Camp song. There's this one chord in it that is so amazingly different! Haven't heard "In the Light"...must check it out.
Though I will admit I haven´t heard any new Christian music in at least two years (on purpose, with ease by living in a country where it´s even more painful than in the US), I will say that some of Rich Mullins and Chris Rice´s songs have had impact... Not so much in a ¨come to Jesus¨ sort of way, but more a ¨I am still normal despite my questions, fears, doubts, etc.¨.
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