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Why does religious music, from a technical perspective, suck?
Posted on 5/24/18 at 10:33 am
Posted on 5/24/18 at 10:33 am
Not all of it - some musicians are great but for the most part it’s just simple chord progressions.
One would think we would give God our best and write the best for Him.
We need some talented Musicians to come to Jesus
One would think we would give God our best and write the best for Him.
We need some talented Musicians to come to Jesus
16
Posted on 5/24/18 at 11:00 am to theunknownknight
Because technical proficiency and challenging lyrics don't appeal to the masses?
I love Jesus, but if I have to sit through 'What a Beautiful Name it is' one more time.....I may take up Atheism.
I love Jesus, but if I have to sit through 'What a Beautiful Name it is' one more time.....I may take up Atheism.
Posted on 5/24/18 at 11:09 am to theunknownknight
Well, a ton of the world's great music had religious origins, so there is that.
For stuff not in that category, a lot of it is intended to be simple and can be replicated in small churches with no particular musicianship required. The point being that the music itself is just a vehicle to the activity (worship).
Modern Christian music is typically pretty awful, of course. Probably because people with more talent gravitate to music that will reach a broader audience. I'm sure the budgets and professionals available to work on those recordings also don't help.
For stuff not in that category, a lot of it is intended to be simple and can be replicated in small churches with no particular musicianship required. The point being that the music itself is just a vehicle to the activity (worship).
Modern Christian music is typically pretty awful, of course. Probably because people with more talent gravitate to music that will reach a broader audience. I'm sure the budgets and professionals available to work on those recordings also don't help.
Posted on 5/24/18 at 11:23 am to theunknownknight
I see it like this: Most of those guys are good musicians sure, but not good enough to make it in the industry on the radio and touring and such. Then they realize that adding Jesus to their songs automatically gives them a built in audience.
Sort of like people who write children's books. No one gets into writing to write children's books, they just end up doing that because they aren't good enough to hack it becoming the next Tom Clancy.
Sort of like people who write children's books. No one gets into writing to write children's books, they just end up doing that because they aren't good enough to hack it becoming the next Tom Clancy.
This post was edited on 5/24/18 at 11:24 am
Posted on 5/24/18 at 11:44 am to ShoeBang
quote:
they aren't good enough to hack it becoming the next Tom Clancy.
Interesting choice.
Posted on 5/24/18 at 11:46 am to theunknownknight
Christians are pretty "narrow minded" so you can't play them anything different or they would reject you. So contemporary christian bands have to just regurgitate chord progressions and melodies that these people have already heard.
Posted on 5/24/18 at 12:10 pm to Zappas Stache
quote:
Christians are pretty "narrow minded" so you can't play them anything different or they would reject you. So contemporary christian bands have to just regurgitate chord progressions and melodies that these people have already heard.
Maybe, but not always. Some of the most famous acts of the modern Christian era don't really fit that mold. They probably succeeded precisely because they weren't just poppy gibberish or bland "contemporary Christian music" performers:
Strange mixed race rap group (DC Talk), quirky alternative act from Australia (Newsboys), acoustic act that was unique for both Christian and secular music at the time (Jars of Clay).
Posted on 5/24/18 at 12:17 pm to Zappas Stache
quote:
Christians are pretty "narrow minded" so you can't play them anything different or they would reject you.
LOL. Nice illogical jab.
Turn on fm radio. Rejection of difference is a natural human inclination.
Posted on 5/24/18 at 1:07 pm to AUjim
quote:
quirky alternative act from Australia (Newsboys), acoustic act that was unique for both Christian and secular music at the time (Jars of Clay).
Those bands were just mimicking what had already happened in the alternative music world in the 80s. And contemporary christian kids are quick to embrace music styles/fashions that are perceived as hip in mainstream society. Most young church going christian people I meet these days are more hipster than hipsters. The thing is, once these kids start mimicking a new style or music, it has crossed into the mainstream and so become more acceptable.
quote:
Turn on fm radio. Rejection of difference is a natural human inclination.
And who is listening to and buying fm radio music today? I would say christian people who are the majority in the US. In my anecdotal experience, the people listening to "different" music as a demographic are a lot less christian or religious.
Posted on 5/24/18 at 1:10 pm to Zappas Stache
quote:
Christians are pretty "narrow minded"
^ how to tell when someone's only exposure to Christians is through television, fauxbook and the fake news media
Posted on 5/24/18 at 1:15 pm to Pettifogger
quote:
Well, a ton of the world's great music had religious origins, so there is that.
For stuff not in that category, a lot of it is intended to be simple and can be replicated in small churches with no particular musicianship required. The point being that the music itself is just a vehicle to the activity (worship).
Modern Christian music is typically pretty awful, of course. Probably because people with more talent gravitate to music that will reach a broader audience. I'm sure the budgets and professionals available to work on those recordings also don't help.
You pretty much nailed it. It's funny to watch the surprise on people's faces when they learn that U2's "Boy" and Smashing Pumpkins' "Gish" are christian rock albums. The difference is that the praise is told via metaphor, whereas "christian rock" is blatant praise meant to inspire in churches and arenas alike.
I personally do not like christian rock because of this very reason. Blatant, simplistic lyrics bore me.
I also think some bands do a great job of walking that line. My Morning Jacket, Ben Harper and Mumford and Sons all do a great job of being more obvious in their praise while at the same time being artistic in their wordcraft. 60's rock was dominated by this as well.
Posted on 5/24/18 at 1:20 pm to Midget Death Squad
quote:
how to tell when someone's only exposure to Christians is through television, fauxbook and the fake news media
Except I grew up in a holy roller household. Went to church 3 times a week and considered myself a christian until I was in my 30's....that brainwashing is a bitch to shake. And I live in Texas and talk to Christians every blessed day.
Posted on 5/24/18 at 1:52 pm to theunknownknight
A lot of non-religious pop music is pretty cookie cutter.
It's more a comment on how technical skill isn't getting you a popular following regardless of religion.
It's more a comment on how technical skill isn't getting you a popular following regardless of religion.
Posted on 5/24/18 at 1:57 pm to Zappas Stache
Bless you brother. I'm here and we'll get through this together.
Posted on 5/24/18 at 2:17 pm to Zappas Stache
quote:
Those bands were just mimicking what had already happened in the alternative music world in the 80s. And contemporary christian kids are quick to embrace music styles/fashions that are perceived as hip in mainstream society. Most young church going christian people I meet these days are more hipster than hipsters. The thing is, once these kids start mimicking a new style or music, it has crossed into the mainstream and so become more acceptable.
Not really. There wasn't anything like DC Talk at the time that I can recall, unless you just mean it was a 2/3rds white group mimicking 80s hip hop acts and combining it with gospel and folk music. Hence, a ton of non-Christians listened to DC Talk. Same with Jars of Clay, which is why they were on mainstream radio.
Of course, nothing is ever truly original, but they weren't merely ripoffs of secular acts.
Posted on 5/24/18 at 2:22 pm to Pettifogger
quote:
There wasn't anything like DC Talk at the time that I can recall
I purposely left them out of my quote since I have never heard them.....tell me a song to listen to because what I am finding is awful.
Posted on 5/24/18 at 2:41 pm to Zappas Stache
quote:
Except I grew up in a holy roller household. Went to church 3 times a week and considered myself a christian until I was in my 30's....that brainwashing is a bitch to shake. And I live in Texas and talk to Christians every blessed day.
^ how to tell when someone is lying and needs Jesus in his life
Posted on 5/24/18 at 3:02 pm to Midget Death Squad
quote:Might add there's a very wide degree of audience this music is trying to appeal to all at once. Most bands have a much narrower target market.
. . .quote:
. . .
And although don't have link for at the moment, but it's been shown there's a direct correlation between how well music is received and the amount of money collected. So consequently it's not only favorable to appeal to wide array but particularly those with the deepest pocketbooks.
Guessing music for teens and young adults would therefore be more experimental, than that used in the more (tried and true) setting of general Sunday morning service.
This post was edited on 5/24/18 at 3:03 pm
Posted on 5/24/18 at 3:21 pm to Midget Death Squad
quote:
how to tell when someone is lying and needs Jesus in his life
Biggest lier I've ever personally known was the preachers son at my church.
Posted on 5/24/18 at 3:33 pm to Zappas Stache
quote:
Biggest lier I've ever personally known was the preachers son at my church.
^ how to tell when someone is lonely and has no real friends
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