Discussion:
Contemporary Christian Music Sucks
(too old to reply)
Papillon
2008-06-21 08:52:29 UTC
Permalink
It's like a refuge for untalented musicians. Of course there are some
extraordinary exceptions to this general observation, but I wish there
were more exceptions. Please, all you talented musicians out there,
start writing and recording your music. Release it out there on the
web if that's what it takes, and if you are willing to let your
creations go without promise of financial reward.

We simply need better contemporary Christian music.
H8n S8n
2008-06-21 14:10:24 UTC
Permalink
Here is a link on this very subject, from Mr. Worship Series:

Your Guide to Contemporary Christian Music
http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/your-guide-contemporary-christian-music

note to afgs - I already have my pick for Sunday
Chaz Lambrusco
2008-06-21 14:33:19 UTC
Permalink
Post by H8n S8n
Your Guide to Contemporary Christian Music
http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/your-guide-contemporary-christian-music
note to afgs - I already have my pick for Sunday
Good article!

"Repetition is very important in contemporary Christian music. We
repeat: Repetition is very important in contemporary Christian music." LOL
Papillon
2008-06-21 14:51:07 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chaz Lambrusco
Post by H8n S8n
Your Guide to Contemporary Christian Music
http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/your-guide-contemporary-christian-music
note to afgs - I already have my pick for Sunday
Good article!
"Repetition is very important in contemporary Christian music. We
repeat: Repetition is very important in contemporary Christian music." LOL
http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/103772/
H8n S8n
2008-06-21 14:59:11 UTC
Permalink
Doo-Wap - very-highly recommended by S8n !

http://www.santosministries.com/music.html
LA Bowler
2008-06-22 06:25:17 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chaz Lambrusco
"Repetition is very important in contemporary Christian music. We
repeat: Repetition is very important in contemporary Christian music."  LOL
Gawd, aint it the truth. Ain't it the truth. Ain't in the truuuuuth
(raise hands and smile).
H8n S8n
2008-06-22 06:31:50 UTC
Permalink
Pete & Re-Pete were in a boat
Pete fell out, Who was left?
????????????????????????????????

Did I saw I got a good one for Sunday ?


Note to Jim = they do a mix of Satire & non-satire.
They just wrote what we already know.
H8n S8n
2008-06-22 06:53:47 UTC
Permalink
I would not know a key if it was in my pocket.
But I like this one:


Chaz Lambrusco
2008-06-22 07:13:56 UTC
Permalink
Post by H8n S8n
I would not know a key if it was in my pocket.
http://youtu.be/Z7EtA8EP6B8
Enjoyed your South Park episode. This King of the Hill episode is the
one where Hank forces Bobby to join their local church's youth group.
A tatooed Pastor K is the skateboarding Youth Pastor. They end up
going to a Christian concert called Messiahfest.

http://hardcoretv.info/movie/774-King_of_the_Hill_802_Reborn_To_Be_Wild.html

Hank Hill quote: "Cant you see? You're not making Christianity any
better. You're just making Rock N Roll worse."
Papillon
2008-06-22 08:44:54 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chaz Lambrusco
Post by H8n S8n
I would not know a key if it was in my pocket.
http://youtu.be/Z7EtA8EP6B8
Enjoyed your South Park episode. This King of the Hill episode is the
one where Hank forces Bobby to join their local church's youth group.
A tatooed Pastor K is the skateboarding Youth Pastor. They end up
going to a Christian concert called Messiahfest.
http://hardcoretv.info/movie/774-King_of_the_Hill_802_Reborn_To_Be_Wi...
Hank Hill quote: "Cant you see? You're not making Christianity any
better. You're just making Rock N Roll worse."
"Cant you see? You're not making Christianity any better. You're just
making Rock N Roll worse."

Amen!
Jim Chabot
2008-06-22 01:05:12 UTC
Permalink
Your Guide to Contemporary Christian Musichttp://www.wittenburgdoor.com/your-guide-contemporary-christian-music
note to afgs - I already have my pick for Sunday
Great article H8N. Hard to tell if it is satire, cause it's so damn
accurate. I'm convinced that this crap that they force feed people
with is nothing other than eastern mysticism. Read the lyrics, most
all of these songs are either about our part in the relationship or
they are purely emotive statements. Most all of these so called songs
contain anything about the object of our worship! The hymm's were
appropriately titled, they were about HIM! About the only place that
decent new music can be found is in southern gospel.

Judee:

Publishers use morals contracts to protect their investment. When
Johnny songwriter gets caught doing something that he shouldn't his
sales fall off and the publisher gets stuck with the mess. There
needs to be something in place to take something out of Johnny's hide
as well, since he caused the problem.

The real problem lies with the sheep who stay and graze on this stuff
until their minds are fully numbed. We need to vote with our feet and
leave churches that embrace this crap, and with our dollars to quit
buying it.
Jim Chabot
2008-06-22 01:13:28 UTC
Permalink
The Cross Was Enough (Amy Keffer)

www.thekeffers.com

A prisoner to the guilt and shame that I was livin it
So aware of my transgressions held captive by my sin
Never knew I’d need a savior to bridge the gap between
The holiness of god and my own humanity
In love the father saw everything that I could be
He came down to where I was and with grace he met my need
He became the sacrifice then paid the awful price

The cross was enough and now I am redeemed
Jesus purchased my salvation through the blood of Calvary
Justice said I’d never make it freedoms price was just too much
But then mercy made a way with the cross and the cross was enough

Every moment I’m amazed at all the lord had done for me
I love him with a thankful heart from a soul that’s been set free
And for all of my days I’ll live to give him praise
This is my testimony and it will always be
Jim Chabot
2008-06-22 01:15:48 UTC
Permalink
Whatever You Have left (Amy Keffer)

Sent by god to widow in Zarephath to eat
Elijah knew that what she had was more than she would need
He said go take the last of what you have and prepare me a cake
See I know your need is not for food your need is to obey
He said go into the house don’t focus on what you need
Gather all that you have left and bring it to me
If your looking at what you don’t have you will never be blessed
Sometimes a miracle starts with whatever you have left
With her final cruse of oil and the last bit of meal
She prepared it for the man of god, he ate and he was filled
So god provided for her family for a year they were fed
All because she had the faith to do all that he said
Chorus
Many times we come complaining into the house of god
With our eyes on what we don’t have instead of what we’ve got
God says come into this house chorus
If your looking at what you don’t have you will never be blessed
Sometimes a miracle starts with whatever you have left
Jim Chabot
2008-06-22 01:18:45 UTC
Permalink
When God Has Another Plan (Amy Keffer)

Forsaken by his brothers didn’t fit the scene
Being made a slave was not what Joseph dreamed
The coat of many colors was stained with blood and lies
But from this divine appointment a ruler would arise

When god has another plan
Walk on and just say yes
When god has another plan
Be assured that he know best

if all your dreams are shattered rest in his sufficient grace
we don’t have to understand
When god has another plan

Alone and broken hearted questions fill your mind
Changes can be hard that come by god’s design
But if you could see tomorrow with a view from heaven’s throne
Every unexpected struggle has led you closer home

Chorus

if all your dreams are shattered rest in his sufficient grace
we don’t have to understand
When god has another plan
Papillon
2008-06-22 08:48:16 UTC
Permalink
Post by Jim Chabot
Your Guide to Contemporary Christian Musichttp://www.wittenburgdoor.com/your-guide-contemporary-christian-music
note to afgs - I already have my pick for Sunday
Great article H8N. Hard to tell if it is satire, cause it's so damn
accurate. I'm convinced that this crap that they force feed people
with is nothing other than eastern mysticism. Read the lyrics, most
all of these songs are either about our part in the relationship or
they are purely emotive statements. Most all of these so called songs
contain anything about the object of our worship! The hymm's were
appropriately titled, they were about HIM! About the only place that
decent new music can be found is in southern gospel.
Publishers use morals contracts to protect their investment. When
Johnny songwriter gets caught doing something that he shouldn't his
sales fall off and the publisher gets stuck with the mess. There
needs to be something in place to take something out of Johnny's hide
as well, since he caused the problem.
The real problem lies with the sheep who stay and graze on this stuff
until their minds are fully numbed. We need to vote with our feet and
leave churches that embrace this crap, and with our dollars to quit
buying it.
Rupert Murdoch owns Zondervan... arguably one of the largest Christian
publishers around. Imagine signing a morals clause with the man who
brought us Fox Television. Now I like Fox, but an example of morality
it is not.
Judee77
2008-06-22 21:59:58 UTC
Permalink
Your Guide to Contemporary Christian Musichttp://www.wittenburgdoor.com/your-guide-contemporary-christian-music
note to afgs - I already have my pick for Sunday
Great article H8N. �Hard to tell if it is satire, cause it's so damn
accurate. �I'm convinced that this crap that they force feed people
with is nothing other than eastern mysticism. �Read the lyrics, most
all of these songs are either about our part in the relationship or
they are purely emotive statements. �Most all of these so called songs
contain anything about the object of our worship! �The hymm's were
appropriately titled, they were about HIM! �About the only place that
decent new music can be found is in southern gospel.
Publishers use morals contracts to protect their investment. �When
Johnny songwriter gets caught doing something that he shouldn't his
sales fall off and the publisher gets stuck with the mess. �There
needs to be something in place to take something out of Johnny's hide
as well, since he caused the problem.
The real problem lies with the sheep who stay and graze on this stuff
until their minds are fully numbed. �We need to vote with our feet and
leave churches that embrace this crap, and with our dollars to quit
buying it.
Jim,

Perhaps it's based upon which genre, or whether the House assumes the
writer will go big, but all the authors I worked with who were signed
on with a House, there was no moral clause to be signed. Now, perhaps
it was because it was the Romance genre, and all the pirates ravaging
virgins who later loved them, or other bodice-ripping savages who got
their gal, the thrills of being naughty were lived through the
characters.

That's why when one of the big names in Romance went over to a
Christian house, leaving us losers in the world secular, we were all
very shocked that she signed a clause attesting to the fact she'd be a
good little Christian, showing her fruits up to the standard of the
House.

She was, in fact, a brilliant writer, even had the pleasure of taking
one of her seminars (in which she witnessed to the crowd), then went
on to be one huge cash cow, chopped off her beautiful golden locks,
stopped wearing make-up, and had all her other books pulled from the
shelves (before conversion).

Maybe that's why she had to sign a moral's clause? I have no idea,
but it was not the norm for the genre I was in.

When you say Publishers do this in order to protect their investment,
I don't mean to be an idiot, but do you mean the damage done like when
the latest Rockers on Tour come to town and trash the entire
penthouse? I thought that was good publicity, and the Studio would
actually make money in the bad light of the bad boys.

Guess I'm sorta clueless as to what protecting the investment means.
Also, I don't think in the lower realms of writing where the Houses
keep their authors stabled...just the mere unsaid threat that if you
don't tow the line, there are a billion others just panting at a shot
to get stuck in your stall and slip on your oat bag.

:)
Jim Chabot
2008-06-22 22:36:42 UTC
Permalink
I guess that I'm thinking of artists like Michael English, when he
confessed to an affair back in 1994, his sales dropped to close to
zero. His publishers had money invested in him and they lost some when
he fell off of the charts. In other genres, this may have actually
helped his career, but in Christian music he was done, and he was done
because of something that he did that would for sure make him
unmarketable. In secular music this wouldn't be a problem, but in the
Christian music world it is known that immorality will take you down.
Whether one agrees that this is right or wrong is immaterial, it is a
business decision that makes sense. If you invest in someones work,
in effect you tie your fiscal success or failure to theirs, it isn't
fair that the house takes a hit because the artist can't keep his
pants zipped.
Judee77
2008-06-22 23:11:36 UTC
Permalink
Post by Jim Chabot
I guess that I'm thinking of artists like Michael English, when he
confessed to an affair back in 1994, his sales dropped to close to
zero. His publishers had money invested in him and they lost some when
he fell off of the charts. �In other genres, this may have actually
helped his career, but in Christian music he was done, and he was done
because of something that he did that would for sure make him
unmarketable. �In secular music this wouldn't be a problem, but in the
Christian music world it is known that immorality will take you down.
Whether one agrees that this is right or wrong is immaterial, it is a
business decision that makes sense. �If you invest in someones work,
in effect you tie your fiscal success or failure to theirs, it isn't
fair that the house takes a hit because the artist can't keep his
pants zipped.
Thanks for the explanation. I see your point. It's like the
publisher is backing not only the gift but the expected morals of the
"gifted."

And though I understand that, it assumes the person won't sin (or at
least won't get caught). Perhaps it's a sound business investment,
but I wonder if it doesn't promote a doctrine which is more harmful to
the church's view of Grace.

I'm probably all wet, but for the one who fell and was truly grieved,
should he not be shown a bit of Mercy before the door? I'd make a
lousy business person, huh?

:)
Jim Chabot
2008-06-23 02:53:46 UTC
Permalink
Post by Judee77
I'm probably all wet, but for the one who fell and was truly grieved,
should he not be shown a bit of Mercy before the door? I'd make a
lousy business person, huh?
:)
Ok, let me try to clear just a little more mud out of the way.
Ultimately it isn't the house that makes the decision to sack the
artist, it's the fans. Customers in any business generally show no
mercy. When the customers stop buying the CD's and stop buying
concert tickets, it's over. The producer can be mercy's biggest fan,
but in the end he still needs to feed his family. Sometimes in
business one has to decide who gets the mercy, do you give mercy to
the employee who screwed up, or do you give mercy to your family?
It's not always easy.
Judee77
2008-06-23 03:05:24 UTC
Permalink
Post by Jim Chabot
Post by Judee77
I'm probably all wet, but for the one who fell and was truly grieved,
should he not be shown a bit of Mercy before the door? �I'd make a
lousy business person, huh?
:)
Ok, let me try to clear just a little more mud out of the way.
Ultimately it isn't the house that makes the decision to sack the
artist, it's the fans. �Customers in any business generally show no
mercy. �When the customers stop buying the CD's and stop buying
concert tickets, it's over. �The producer can be mercy's biggest fan,
but in the end he still needs to feed his family. �Sometimes in
business one has to decide who gets the mercy, do you give mercy to
the employee who screwed up, or do you give mercy to your family?
It's not always easy.
Excellent answer, Jim. Makes perfect sense. We fans can perhaps
expect a bit much from our role models, eh? As I said, I'd make a
lousy business person.

Again, good explanation. You taught me something today! I kiss you
on cheeks.

:)
WeatherMan
2008-06-23 07:34:46 UTC
Permalink
http://www.forgottenword.org/haggard.html

This is on topic but its also dam strange. Sounds like Scientology with
whiff of a spiritual Betty Ford Clinic type thing. Years of recovery wor
with the church pulling the bill. A place for the fallen stars! Meanwhil
regular members have to face their sin in real time and space with rea
consequences.

-
Message posted using http://www.talkaboutpeople.com/group/alt.fan.gene-scott
More information at http://www.talkaboutpeople.com/faq.htm
matt2442
2008-06-21 16:10:21 UTC
Permalink
It's like a refuge for untalented musicians.  Of course there are some
extraordinary exceptions to this general observation, but I wish there
were more exceptions.  Please, all you talented musicians out there,
start writing and recording your music.  Release it out there on the
web if that's what it takes, and if you are willing to let your
creations go without promise of financial reward.
We simply need better contemporary Christian music.
Matt2442:
I agree. Generic BS, most of it. There is some real music by artists
who are Christian, but it is usually independent of the Christian
music industry.
Try www.grassrootsmusic.com
matt2442
2008-06-21 16:17:54 UTC
Permalink
Post by matt2442
It's like a refuge for untalented musicians.  Of course there are some
extraordinary exceptions to this general observation, but I wish there
were more exceptions.  Please, all you talented musicians out there,
start writing and recording your music.  Release it out there on the
web if that's what it takes, and if you are willing to let your
creations go without promise of financial reward.
We simply need better contemporary Christian music.
I agree. Generic BS, most of it. There is some real music by artists
who are Christian, but it is usually independent of the Christian
music industry.
Trywww.grassrootsmusic.com
Matt2442:
Nevermind. I tried the link myself, and it forwarded to another site,
http://www.bookschristian.com/se/view/books/index.html ,which is a
Christian book website (which might be worth exploring anyway). Bummer
though, because grassroots music was a good source of independently
recorded and produced Christian music. There must be something else
out there.
Papillon
2008-06-21 18:01:53 UTC
Permalink
Post by matt2442
Post by Papillon
It's like a refuge for untalented musicians. Of course there are some
extraordinary exceptions to this general observation, but I wish there
were more exceptions. Please, all you talented musicians out there,
start writing and recording your music. Release it out there on the
web if that's what it takes, and if you are willing to let your
creations go without promise of financial reward.
We simply need better contemporary Christian music.
I agree. Generic BS, most of it. There is some real music by artists
who are Christian, but it is usually independent of the Christian
music industry.
Trywww.grassrootsmusic.com
Nevermind. I tried the link myself, and it forwarded to another site,http://www.bookschristian.com/se/view/books/index.html,which is a
Christian book website (which might be worth exploring anyway). Bummer
though, because grassroots music was a good source of independently
recorded and produced Christian music. There must be something else
out there.
Dang, sorry I missed it. Yeah, there must be something else out
there,
Judee77
2008-06-21 21:43:31 UTC
Permalink
It's like a refuge for untalented musicians. �Of course there are some
extraordinary exceptions to this general observation, but I wish there
were more exceptions. �Please, all you talented musicians out there,
start writing and recording your music. �Release it out there on the
web if that's what it takes, and if you are willing to let your
creations go without promise of financial reward.
We simply need better contemporary Christian music.
From my experience in the writing industry (and I'm quite sure the
music industry follows a similar pattern), the Houses/Studios do not
want anything different. They want the same ol' BS.

Christian Publishers are the worst, because to get a contract with
them, you must sign a "moral clause" which outlines what "traits" the
individual House believes a "real" Christian should exhibit. So if
someone blows it, they can lose their contract and must give back any
royalties they were advanced.

Be it the music industry or the writing industry, what they fail to
grasp is creativity is God-given and wants to push the envelope. If
the one with the gift is under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the
words that tell a tale or pull together a song will reflect His
leadership in ways that would blow that status quo out of the water.

A fricken moral clause will chase away the more talented people
because they recognize that Grace is magnified by depravity (in words
or lyrics). Why not do away with the "walk this way, talk this way"
crap and deal with any situations one on one?
Papillon
2008-06-23 17:06:02 UTC
Permalink
Okay, so I downloaded about seventy-five contemporary Christian songs
currently being played on Christian radio. Virtually all of the songs
sound like they were produced in the same studio using the same studio
musicians. I found that I only liked the songs sung by women. All the
male-sung songs sounded whiny. Basically all the tunes I liked were
catchy to some degree (obviously engineered to be so as they seem to
using Avril Lavinge's writing style as a template.), but none of them
make a person stop and think in the way that traditional hymns tend to
do. If one wasn't playing very close attention to the lyrics one
would just think they were listening to the latest pop releases.
Okay, so they are certainly more wholesome in content than typical pop
releases, but this music could kill a diabetic as it is pure refined
white sugar with no nutritional value.
H8n S8n
2008-06-23 17:19:13 UTC
Permalink
http://www.air1.com/ You may be able to to pick up 90.1
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

I have tried a few time to listen to this stuff.
So far? I have failed to get it.
matt2442
2008-06-23 22:23:45 UTC
Permalink
Post by Papillon
Okay, so I downloaded about seventy-five contemporary Christian songs
currently being played on Christian radio.  Virtually all of the songs
sound like they were produced in the same studio using the same studio
musicians. I found that I only liked the songs sung by women.  All the
male-sung songs sounded whiny.  Basically all the tunes I liked were
catchy to some degree (obviously engineered to be so as they seem to
using Avril Lavinge's writing style as a template.), but none of them
make a person stop and think in the way that traditional hymns tend to
do.  If one wasn't playing very close attention to the lyrics one
would just think they were listening to the latest pop releases.
Okay, so they are certainly more wholesome in content than typical pop
releases, but this music could kill a diabetic as it is pure refined
white sugar with no nutritional value.
Matt2442:
That's what I meant by generic. It almost all sounds the same. Someone
out there in the Christian music industry (should there even be a
christian music "industry"?) decides what proper Christian music ought
to sound like, and they homogenize all Christian bands to sound alike.
I can't listen to stations like "the Fish", 'cause it's mostly cheezy
Christian pop music that sounds like Britney Spears for Jesus. I'm not
saying that I don't get into some 3rd Day or Mercy Me though.
matt2442
2008-06-23 22:31:51 UTC
Permalink
It's like a refuge for untalented musicians.  Of course there are some
extraordinary exceptions to this general observation, but I wish there
were more exceptions.  Please, all you talented musicians out there,
start writing and recording your music.  Release it out there on the
web if that's what it takes, and if you are willing to let your
creations go without promise of financial reward.
We simply need better contemporary Christian music.
Matt2442:
Some of the bands and artists on this record label are really good. In
particular, I like Seeds, The Crossing (Celtic music), Glen Kaiser,
his old band from the '70's - Resurrection Band. There's a few others
listed that I haven't heard yet.

http://www.grrrrecords.com/artists.cfm

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