Okay...so while it's been awhile since I've listened to heavy metal/screamo, the like and whatnot, I have suddenly come to have a craving for it. I haven't listened to heavy stuff since I was like 15. I used to be an avid fan of bands like Underoath, Showbread, Emery...probably some others I'm forgetting. Here's some Underoath.
While this is probably not very hipstery, I do enjoy it. I am not really by definition a hipster. But I do listen to a large quantity of musc that most people, especially in this area, have never heard of.
ANYWHO
This song...I somehow became obsessed with for a line in it that I simply adored for it's truth.
"Let's forget all pretense of what they thought we should be; what liars we can be."
I took a fond interest in Underoath, all by accident. My parents first heard them and thought them to be maniacs who couldn't sing and you couldn't understand the words. I never did either but somehow, I became attracted to the sound. It grew on me. First song by them I came to love was "It's Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door." I could obviously see it was a Lord of the Rings quote. But very clever I thought. and it was partly because of Underoath...that I began to write poetry. Probably not the best poetry in the world but it was poetry. Like them, I thought I could come up with random titles for my poems and think it was "creative." I cannot recall the poem itself (I still have it somewhere in my files, I'm just too stubborn to look it up) called "There are dead people in the graveyard." For some stupid reason, I found this to be a unique title and called myself a writer. I have since then stepped up a notch (not as far as you would think of a writer) but I'm not as stupid as I once was. Still am, just not as much.
I grew to love more and more of their songs and eventually, bought several of their albums. Two of their albums I have come to love and love almost every once of the songs on those two albums. (They're Only Chasing Safety) and Define the Great Line.
Now where I've not listened to them since I was 15 (rarely do I listen to them anymore) It's been interesting to hear the news of what all has happened to them, such as when Aaron Gillespie left the band to continue with his own band The Almost. As much as The Almsot is a good band and all, I was disappointed to hear he left and never really listened to them after that. The Almost is okay now but too naive for me. If you don't get what I mean by that, well then, don't get me started. I've gone to church long enough to know how really stupid most Christians can get. I love Aaron Gillespie. I think he's hot and all. Great voice and drumming skills. But he's gotten too Christian for my tastes.
I still love their old songs and I love The Almost's Southern Weather album. Other than that, I've not listened to any of their new stuff. It is just nice to go back and listen to some old music I was once a hardcore fan of.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
Here Comes Your Man
With the talk about tornados and everyone freaking out about their lives and such, I've been enjoying everything I've seen. I know I'm the oddball in the large quantity of people in my area but I have my reasons for why I enjoy this kind of weather. While everyone is scared...I've become quite excited. It's dangerous. and I like it. and it reminds me of a story of a song about earthquakes.
I first heard this song in 500 Days of Summer. Tom Hansen sings it at a karaoke bar in the movie. I adored his rendition and of course had to check out the original version for myself. I can't recall if i liked the Pixies version at first or not but I do love it now. the one I first heard was Meaghan Smith's rendition of it. Soft, sweet, cute. but noting like the Pixies.
I later on became kind of fascinated by the lyrics of the song and decided to check out a little bit of it's background. Of course, like any noob of the internet, I went to wikipedia to see what it had to say. It may or may not be a true story but from what it says, it reminds me of my current situation with this tornado.
Black Francis, frontman of The Pixies and writer of the song itself, says this in an interview about the song.
"I've been through a few earthquakes, actually, 'cause I grew up in California. I was only in one big one, in 1971. I was very young and I slept through it. I've been awake through lots of small ones at school and at home. It's very exciting actually—a very comical thing. It's like the earth is shaking, and what can you do? Nothing."
So there you have it. One piece of trivia I like so well from music. And while earthquakes and tornados differ in many ways they have one thing in common; they are dangerous. So..enjoy the tornado. :)
I first heard this song in 500 Days of Summer. Tom Hansen sings it at a karaoke bar in the movie. I adored his rendition and of course had to check out the original version for myself. I can't recall if i liked the Pixies version at first or not but I do love it now. the one I first heard was Meaghan Smith's rendition of it. Soft, sweet, cute. but noting like the Pixies.
I later on became kind of fascinated by the lyrics of the song and decided to check out a little bit of it's background. Of course, like any noob of the internet, I went to wikipedia to see what it had to say. It may or may not be a true story but from what it says, it reminds me of my current situation with this tornado.
Black Francis, frontman of The Pixies and writer of the song itself, says this in an interview about the song.
"I've been through a few earthquakes, actually, 'cause I grew up in California. I was only in one big one, in 1971. I was very young and I slept through it. I've been awake through lots of small ones at school and at home. It's very exciting actually—a very comical thing. It's like the earth is shaking, and what can you do? Nothing."
So there you have it. One piece of trivia I like so well from music. And while earthquakes and tornados differ in many ways they have one thing in common; they are dangerous. So..enjoy the tornado. :)
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Polish Girl
Ever been filled with a strong emotion to the point you calmed down so much, you totally forgot everything? For a split second? and it made you feel mellow and easy going for awhile? Everything that made you glad, mad, sad, suddenly all switched around and it was like you were in love with life itself. Or the very song that took you into a trance like what happened to me.
My friend Brittany came over for the first time in what seems like a long time. We've played Wii Fit, Animal Crossing: City Folk, and talked and laughed all day. We bought Monster energy drinks and bags of Flamin' Hot Cheetos and Funnyons and a numerous amount of other junk food. Towards the end of the night, we were both very tired but she shared with me a band I had never heard of. Neon Indian.
She sat on my MacBook while I sat, lazily, staring at my scarecrow owl I had brought into the living room. His name is Jorge. While I listened to this music Brittany was looking up, I stared at Jorge in a trance. He was moving. Almost. He wasn't really but I forgot everything and everyone while staring at this plastic owl. This music took me into a trance I want back in. I was falling with the music. I was transcending into another realm almost. I was not here. Mind you, I was very tired and had by then drunk two Monster drinks. I think it was shortly after we went to bed but I was in the music. I was there with it. It was dancing with my mind. Almost whispering sweet nothings in my ear.
Almost...seducing me. Not in a "bad boy" way either. Coming up from behind me, holding my waste, and breathing on my neck, kind of seducing. Catching me while I fall and fall and fall, deeper and deeper and deeper into this wonderful abyss of music. Chills go through me every time I think about this sensation.
My friend Brittany came over for the first time in what seems like a long time. We've played Wii Fit, Animal Crossing: City Folk, and talked and laughed all day. We bought Monster energy drinks and bags of Flamin' Hot Cheetos and Funnyons and a numerous amount of other junk food. Towards the end of the night, we were both very tired but she shared with me a band I had never heard of. Neon Indian.
She sat on my MacBook while I sat, lazily, staring at my scarecrow owl I had brought into the living room. His name is Jorge. While I listened to this music Brittany was looking up, I stared at Jorge in a trance. He was moving. Almost. He wasn't really but I forgot everything and everyone while staring at this plastic owl. This music took me into a trance I want back in. I was falling with the music. I was transcending into another realm almost. I was not here. Mind you, I was very tired and had by then drunk two Monster drinks. I think it was shortly after we went to bed but I was in the music. I was there with it. It was dancing with my mind. Almost whispering sweet nothings in my ear.
Almost...seducing me. Not in a "bad boy" way either. Coming up from behind me, holding my waste, and breathing on my neck, kind of seducing. Catching me while I fall and fall and fall, deeper and deeper and deeper into this wonderful abyss of music. Chills go through me every time I think about this sensation.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Jealous Guy
Lately the Beatles have been on my mind. Even when they went on to be on their own, it's been particularly strange to think they separated and began to suck. With the exception with a few actually good songs. Such as this one.
Now other than playing Twilight Princess and apologizing to all the innocent chickens (cocaos or whatever if you get techinical about Zelda) and start singing off key "I didn't mean to hurt you!" This is a beautiful song in it's entirety.
The first time I heard this song, I remember I was sitting in the back of my dad's scion when he was taking me to my mother's one night. He had taken out the front seat so he could clean it, so there was no way I could sit in the front, unless I had sat on the floor of the car. Dangerous. Anywho, my dad was playing John Lennon's Imagine album which at the time, I had never gotten to listen to so this was an opportunity for me. I had only heard Imagine so you can Imagine what it must have been like for me to hear some of the other songs (see what I did there? no, wait...nevermind...) Some of the songs were okay. I don't remember them. But then Jealous Guy came on.
I can't remember if there were any tears shed or not that night. But I do remember feeling a great deal of sadness and heartbreak. Feeling it for my family who have been through hardships and heartbreaks of heir own, my friends and their heartbreaks and lastly....my own. It was then I saw why and how beautiful this song really was.
Tonight I feel a bit sad and down. And I listened to this song. and in a way...it reassures me that I wasn't the only one who made a foolish mistake in a relationship, ya know? John wasn't the best husband to begin with and wasn't the best father but even though this is to his second wife Yoko, he was making up for what he did, admitting his mistakes. This is the sort of thing every man ought to do. But it's not only the men who are guilty. Women are too. I am too.
So...
I didn't mean to hurt you.
I'm sorry that I made you cry.
I didn't want to hurt you.
I'm just a jealous girl.
If you could ever find it in your heart to understand I'm just going through some emotions right now, I'm truly sorry. I love you so much and I don't want to lose you. You are my best friend, and I have come to realize, I don't think I could live without you. I could never, ever hate you. You are and always will be, Sweetness to me.
Debbie
Now other than playing Twilight Princess and apologizing to all the innocent chickens (cocaos or whatever if you get techinical about Zelda) and start singing off key "I didn't mean to hurt you!" This is a beautiful song in it's entirety.
The first time I heard this song, I remember I was sitting in the back of my dad's scion when he was taking me to my mother's one night. He had taken out the front seat so he could clean it, so there was no way I could sit in the front, unless I had sat on the floor of the car. Dangerous. Anywho, my dad was playing John Lennon's Imagine album which at the time, I had never gotten to listen to so this was an opportunity for me. I had only heard Imagine so you can Imagine what it must have been like for me to hear some of the other songs (see what I did there? no, wait...nevermind...) Some of the songs were okay. I don't remember them. But then Jealous Guy came on.
I can't remember if there were any tears shed or not that night. But I do remember feeling a great deal of sadness and heartbreak. Feeling it for my family who have been through hardships and heartbreaks of heir own, my friends and their heartbreaks and lastly....my own. It was then I saw why and how beautiful this song really was.
Tonight I feel a bit sad and down. And I listened to this song. and in a way...it reassures me that I wasn't the only one who made a foolish mistake in a relationship, ya know? John wasn't the best husband to begin with and wasn't the best father but even though this is to his second wife Yoko, he was making up for what he did, admitting his mistakes. This is the sort of thing every man ought to do. But it's not only the men who are guilty. Women are too. I am too.
So...
I didn't mean to hurt you.
I'm sorry that I made you cry.
I didn't want to hurt you.
I'm just a jealous girl.
If you could ever find it in your heart to understand I'm just going through some emotions right now, I'm truly sorry. I love you so much and I don't want to lose you. You are my best friend, and I have come to realize, I don't think I could live without you. I could never, ever hate you. You are and always will be, Sweetness to me.
Debbie
Thursday, February 9, 2012
VCR
It's February. I've been sick. Sinus infection or allergies, cold or flu, I don't know and I don't really care. I just want to get better. I've been feeling miserable.
A few days ago I arrived at my mom's house early in the morning. My mom had gone to work and her husband was asleep in bed. I was left to go to sleep or browse the internet, whatever my choice. I was feeling miserable. I was in a worse stage of my feeling like crap so I mostly wanted to sleep. I couldn't though. I was kind of hungry.
As always, my mother never really has things I find appetizing. I don't mean to be picky but come on, tv dinners? stupid health beneficial drinks? chocolate breakfast bars? No thank you. (yes, I skip on on the chocolate. actually those bars in particular hurt my teeth. they are hard to chew.)
Finding nothing and kind of disappointed, I turned to my refrigerator like most hopeless, idiots do when they think food will suddenly appear there. There was something however that I missed the first time that I checked it. A box of strawberries. Deep, red and so sweet looking. "I think I'll have one and head to bed." I took the box and opened it, got the most delicious one I spotted and washed it and took a bite. The sweetness of this strawberry made me feel so alive. Better than I had been. I didn't go to bed like I said. I took another strawberry and had more of these scrumptious beauties. They brought me so much comfort that I needed. and then I went to bed. and I slept, a restful sleep. Since then whenever I was feeling cruddy, I went downstairs and got me a few strawberries to make me feel better.
Lately I've been getting into this band called The Xx. and this song got in my head tonight. I kind of need a little bit of hope. a little bit of comfort. I want more strawberries. Tonight, this is my strawberry. This song kind of brings me the same feeling of relief and comfort that I needed that one morning. I didn't expect this but...for now, I need a strawberry.
They are so beautiful.
A few days ago I arrived at my mom's house early in the morning. My mom had gone to work and her husband was asleep in bed. I was left to go to sleep or browse the internet, whatever my choice. I was feeling miserable. I was in a worse stage of my feeling like crap so I mostly wanted to sleep. I couldn't though. I was kind of hungry.
As always, my mother never really has things I find appetizing. I don't mean to be picky but come on, tv dinners? stupid health beneficial drinks? chocolate breakfast bars? No thank you. (yes, I skip on on the chocolate. actually those bars in particular hurt my teeth. they are hard to chew.)
Finding nothing and kind of disappointed, I turned to my refrigerator like most hopeless, idiots do when they think food will suddenly appear there. There was something however that I missed the first time that I checked it. A box of strawberries. Deep, red and so sweet looking. "I think I'll have one and head to bed." I took the box and opened it, got the most delicious one I spotted and washed it and took a bite. The sweetness of this strawberry made me feel so alive. Better than I had been. I didn't go to bed like I said. I took another strawberry and had more of these scrumptious beauties. They brought me so much comfort that I needed. and then I went to bed. and I slept, a restful sleep. Since then whenever I was feeling cruddy, I went downstairs and got me a few strawberries to make me feel better.
Lately I've been getting into this band called The Xx. and this song got in my head tonight. I kind of need a little bit of hope. a little bit of comfort. I want more strawberries. Tonight, this is my strawberry. This song kind of brings me the same feeling of relief and comfort that I needed that one morning. I didn't expect this but...for now, I need a strawberry.
They are so beautiful.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Secular vs. Christian
I will start out by saying, I grew up in a Christian home. My dad was the pastor and praise & worship leader of the church we attended. So fairly speaking, I was under strict rules. Including all my music strictly be by Christian artists. Examples of the artists I was allowed to listen to (Christian artists, that is.) are listed here:
DC Talk
Phil Keaggy
Jon Gibson
Rebecca St. James
Third Day
Tobymac
Tait
Newsboys
Delirious?
Far From Home
Sixpence None The Richer
Sonicflood
and a bunch more.
There was a time in my life...where I was briefly introduced to secular music but covers in such a way they were made Christian. the words changed around to make it "clean" for young children. Hallelujah Hop was a collection of Christian, clean covers of secular songs. One of them introduced the first Beatles song I remember. "Help, I need somebody! Help! Not just anybody! Help! You know I need someone! Help!" Makes sense, right?
Later on I was told that my parents used to sing Beatles songs to me when I was just a baby. "Golden Slumbers" was one of their favorites. They had a tape that had mellowed down versions of the songs that they would sing to me. From all that I know, this is about most of the secular music I ever got.
Switching over to a different time period, some years after we moved to Virginia, my parents got Sky Angel, a Christian Television network that showed mostly clean tv. (when I say mostly, they sometimes aired things you never thought would end up on there, like Welcome Back, Kotter.) This is where I was introduced to most of the bands I know of today. Some I still listen to. Others I've grown a strong hatred for.
There were two Music television channels. Spirit Television Network and TVU Music Television. Spirit was the clean cut artists, Christian contemporary, no screamo or indie artists. They mostly showed the artists I hate. here they are for ya;
Casting Crowns
Jeremy Camp
Chris Tomlin
Third Day
Bethany Dillion
Natalie Grant
Amy Grant
Michael W. Smith
Plus One
Avalon
Building 429
MercyMe
Point of Grace
ZOEgirl
Probably there are some others. but these are the ones that irk me the most. You want to know why? Some just look like the rich ass moms who go sing about how we need to change the world and send food to all these starving kids and yet they have all the money to get the make up they wear and the clothes they wear. Then, (my favorite hatred of them to rant about) is that most of the people we went to church with at one point, LOVED Casting Crowns and some of those others. They not only wore them out on me, they inflicted it on me like it was cool. They kept asking me "Oh why don't you ever listen to something normal like Casting Crowns, they're so good and they love the Lord" and yadah yadah. Seriously, I don't care how much they love the Lord, they are NOT good artists and maybe I would like them more if you didn't WEAR THEM OUT ON ME.
and my last reason...which is my part of my main topic I'm trying to get to here. None of them are so creative enough that they keep my interest long enough. I know Chris Tomlin does NOT write his own songs. And that worries me. because you'd think that if he is considered an "artist" they would be writing their own songs. Yeah, sure your voice is great, you can glorify the Lord with that but come on. You're only an artist because it's part of the Christian face that people put on. So that you'll look good and supposedly make Christianity itself look good. and rich. and clean. You know, I honestly gave some of you artists a listen awhile back. and even I could see how tired and how, almost unhappy all of them are. They're not creating music. They're being forced into this by the Christian labels. There is no creativity in the Christian music industry. and that is why, it's getting nowhere and the music is getting old and it's all the same. (and to you Christians out there who read this, don't think for a minute that I haven't heard the songs you all listen to these days. Trust me, I've heard, I've seen, I know. I'm not stupid.)
Now...switching back to when I had television...the other channel was TVU Music Television. This is where I first heard of Copeland. and a long list of other bands. Some were more or less considered Christian Contemporary and others...well, others were not what I expected. Even my parents thought most of the bands on there were NOT Christian. Because of the way they dressed or sang or some of the graphicness in their videos. Here are some examples of the bands on TVU;
Copeland (Indie rock)
Showbread (raw rock/screamo)
As I Lay Dying (metal/screamo)
12 Stones (heavy rock)
Underoath (screamo/metal)
Switchfoot (rock)
Deas Vail (indie rock)
Maylene & The Sons of Disaster (screamo/metal)
Falling Up (techno/rock)
Between The Trees (punk rock/indie rock)
Anberlin (punk rock/indie rock)
Hawk Nelson (punk)
Flyleaf (metal/screamo/rock)
KJ-52 (hip-hop)
and tons more
Now some of these...are questionable. Some you would've never thought they were Christian. And mostly, the music isn't considered Christian. I have heard some bands specify how they did NOT want to be considered a Christian band. Because they write to create music. If someone is lead to Christ by it, then by all means cool but for the most part, they do what they do and do it because it's their art, their trade, they enjoy what they do. They aren't putting on a face for the people. They are real. Now my parents liked to always talk back and say things like, "Well, spreading the word isn't offensive and if you're really Christian then you would spread the word and not be ashamed." It is not a matter of shame. It is a matter of caring. Some people have chosen the way they are going to go and that's it. They may change their minds later but that's up to them. Not you. So don't press it. Please.
One of the things my parents always thought was very un-Christian was this video of Showbread.
Guys wearing make-up. Nail polish. screaming. Moving their hips, looking suggestive. I remember this one struck out to them because they never thought I would like it. Of course, growing up in a strict family, of course I'll be attracted to some form of rebellion. Of course, now I don't like them as much as I did then but they do rank in my "underground" bands. I met one of my best friends because of them. (I'd also like to point out, that while I'm trying to think up for the next paragraph, I'm rocking out to this song, with my fist in the air. Good times...)
Now things have changed. my parents rules have mellowed out and even when I was still under their rule, I was allowed to listen to new bands. Because of TVU introducing me to new ideas and music and thanks to the internet and my friends I've heard of these bands since...
Fleet Foxes
My Chemical Romance
Foster The People
Gorillaz
Radiohead
The Smiths
Blur
Arctic Monkeys
Michael Jackson (I didn't know who he was till high school.)
The Almost
Anchor & Braille
The River Empires
Sigur Ros
BJork
The Black Keys
Cage The Elephant
The White Stripes
Daft Punk
Doves
Feist
The Kills
Owl City
The Pixies
Regina Spektor
Simon & Garfunkel
She & Him
...and the list goes on and on. and is still going on. always will until I die.
So what I wanted to write this blog to say was...Secular music is creative. There is sound to it. no mask or fake-face. the real deal. it's down to the nitty gritty. and Christians, there are reasons why you're music isn't great. It's not a matter about it being offensive (in some cases, at least not for me really. Not in the sense these songs talk about God.) it's a matter of whether the lyrics get to you or not, in that good way when you can relate. I know of very few Christian people, also artists, who actually can do that. Can make good, creative music and still have some human meaning in the lyrics and still yet some praise. But I am sorry, Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns...no. never. they are not creative, do not sound that good, and Tomlin doesn't even write his own songs. If you want honest artists, LOOK FOR THEM. No, they are not going to be Christians half the time. But I've found a ton of real artists with real passion. that's why I'm so hipster. Because they are underground. Consider them dirty, and I've been digging for this gem in my life, and it's called..."_____" Fill in the blank. Copeland, Fleet Foxes, Foster The People, Radiohead, name some bands that means something to you because they have real lyrics. I have this gem encrusted in my life and how happy I am, thank you.
To put it simply, I think that you can glorify God, even with secular music. Love songs for example. Isn't the church the bride and God the groom and all that? Get down with God to some Marvin Gaye or The Beatles. Even if the artists are or aren't into God or Jesus, they can still glorify God with the music they make because God did give them the talent, therefore we may enjoy it ourselves. It's not a sin to enjoy what God placed on this earth, is it?
Instead of ranting on and on about how I think Christian music basically sucks and that my "underground" music is way better, this is how I'll end it. If you Christians keep thinking my music sucks and then you get offended because I think yours sucks, psht, oh well. How do you think I feel? (Actually I'll be glad you don't like some of the bands I like because you Christians tend to make everything mainstream and I wouldn't want that to happen, hmm?) But it is nice when you come across someone who listens to the same band as you (who doesn't wear it out) and you can say, "Oh, you've heard them too?" Wouldn't it be a satisfying feeling to know that what you were digging for was the most valuable gem in your whole collection? and that you can share these gems with a friend? (and to you Christians, no your music is not a real gem. It's those pieces of plastic they put in fake jewelry for kids. That's how cheap and terrible it is.)
Also, I have nothing against Christians. Just their religious ways. and their music obviously. I'm a Universalist (I believe in God, Jesus, the Holy Ghost and all that. But I don't like being called a Christian. too mainstream.) and I still listen to some of those Christian bands I listened to back then. Every once in awhile. I am very selective on what I listen to now. Ask my friends and they'll tell you I have to be in a certain mood to listen to anything new.
Anywho, just wanted to rant and talk about my thoughts on the whole creativity side to secular music. I hope I made my point clear and that someone will see my side of things.
DC Talk
Phil Keaggy
Jon Gibson
Rebecca St. James
Third Day
Tobymac
Tait
Newsboys
Delirious?
Far From Home
Sixpence None The Richer
Sonicflood
and a bunch more.
There was a time in my life...where I was briefly introduced to secular music but covers in such a way they were made Christian. the words changed around to make it "clean" for young children. Hallelujah Hop was a collection of Christian, clean covers of secular songs. One of them introduced the first Beatles song I remember. "Help, I need somebody! Help! Not just anybody! Help! You know I need someone! Help!" Makes sense, right?
Later on I was told that my parents used to sing Beatles songs to me when I was just a baby. "Golden Slumbers" was one of their favorites. They had a tape that had mellowed down versions of the songs that they would sing to me. From all that I know, this is about most of the secular music I ever got.
Switching over to a different time period, some years after we moved to Virginia, my parents got Sky Angel, a Christian Television network that showed mostly clean tv. (when I say mostly, they sometimes aired things you never thought would end up on there, like Welcome Back, Kotter.) This is where I was introduced to most of the bands I know of today. Some I still listen to. Others I've grown a strong hatred for.
There were two Music television channels. Spirit Television Network and TVU Music Television. Spirit was the clean cut artists, Christian contemporary, no screamo or indie artists. They mostly showed the artists I hate. here they are for ya;
Casting Crowns
Jeremy Camp
Chris Tomlin
Third Day
Bethany Dillion
Natalie Grant
Amy Grant
Michael W. Smith
Plus One
Avalon
Building 429
MercyMe
Point of Grace
ZOEgirl
Probably there are some others. but these are the ones that irk me the most. You want to know why? Some just look like the rich ass moms who go sing about how we need to change the world and send food to all these starving kids and yet they have all the money to get the make up they wear and the clothes they wear. Then, (my favorite hatred of them to rant about) is that most of the people we went to church with at one point, LOVED Casting Crowns and some of those others. They not only wore them out on me, they inflicted it on me like it was cool. They kept asking me "Oh why don't you ever listen to something normal like Casting Crowns, they're so good and they love the Lord" and yadah yadah. Seriously, I don't care how much they love the Lord, they are NOT good artists and maybe I would like them more if you didn't WEAR THEM OUT ON ME.
and my last reason...which is my part of my main topic I'm trying to get to here. None of them are so creative enough that they keep my interest long enough. I know Chris Tomlin does NOT write his own songs. And that worries me. because you'd think that if he is considered an "artist" they would be writing their own songs. Yeah, sure your voice is great, you can glorify the Lord with that but come on. You're only an artist because it's part of the Christian face that people put on. So that you'll look good and supposedly make Christianity itself look good. and rich. and clean. You know, I honestly gave some of you artists a listen awhile back. and even I could see how tired and how, almost unhappy all of them are. They're not creating music. They're being forced into this by the Christian labels. There is no creativity in the Christian music industry. and that is why, it's getting nowhere and the music is getting old and it's all the same. (and to you Christians out there who read this, don't think for a minute that I haven't heard the songs you all listen to these days. Trust me, I've heard, I've seen, I know. I'm not stupid.)
Now...switching back to when I had television...the other channel was TVU Music Television. This is where I first heard of Copeland. and a long list of other bands. Some were more or less considered Christian Contemporary and others...well, others were not what I expected. Even my parents thought most of the bands on there were NOT Christian. Because of the way they dressed or sang or some of the graphicness in their videos. Here are some examples of the bands on TVU;
Copeland (Indie rock)
Showbread (raw rock/screamo)
As I Lay Dying (metal/screamo)
12 Stones (heavy rock)
Underoath (screamo/metal)
Switchfoot (rock)
Deas Vail (indie rock)
Maylene & The Sons of Disaster (screamo/metal)
Falling Up (techno/rock)
Between The Trees (punk rock/indie rock)
Anberlin (punk rock/indie rock)
Hawk Nelson (punk)
Flyleaf (metal/screamo/rock)
KJ-52 (hip-hop)
and tons more
Now some of these...are questionable. Some you would've never thought they were Christian. And mostly, the music isn't considered Christian. I have heard some bands specify how they did NOT want to be considered a Christian band. Because they write to create music. If someone is lead to Christ by it, then by all means cool but for the most part, they do what they do and do it because it's their art, their trade, they enjoy what they do. They aren't putting on a face for the people. They are real. Now my parents liked to always talk back and say things like, "Well, spreading the word isn't offensive and if you're really Christian then you would spread the word and not be ashamed." It is not a matter of shame. It is a matter of caring. Some people have chosen the way they are going to go and that's it. They may change their minds later but that's up to them. Not you. So don't press it. Please.
One of the things my parents always thought was very un-Christian was this video of Showbread.
Guys wearing make-up. Nail polish. screaming. Moving their hips, looking suggestive. I remember this one struck out to them because they never thought I would like it. Of course, growing up in a strict family, of course I'll be attracted to some form of rebellion. Of course, now I don't like them as much as I did then but they do rank in my "underground" bands. I met one of my best friends because of them. (I'd also like to point out, that while I'm trying to think up for the next paragraph, I'm rocking out to this song, with my fist in the air. Good times...)
Now things have changed. my parents rules have mellowed out and even when I was still under their rule, I was allowed to listen to new bands. Because of TVU introducing me to new ideas and music and thanks to the internet and my friends I've heard of these bands since...
Fleet Foxes
My Chemical Romance
Foster The People
Gorillaz
Radiohead
The Smiths
Blur
Arctic Monkeys
Michael Jackson (I didn't know who he was till high school.)
The Almost
Anchor & Braille
The River Empires
Sigur Ros
BJork
The Black Keys
Cage The Elephant
The White Stripes
Daft Punk
Doves
Feist
The Kills
Owl City
The Pixies
Regina Spektor
Simon & Garfunkel
She & Him
...and the list goes on and on. and is still going on. always will until I die.
So what I wanted to write this blog to say was...Secular music is creative. There is sound to it. no mask or fake-face. the real deal. it's down to the nitty gritty. and Christians, there are reasons why you're music isn't great. It's not a matter about it being offensive (in some cases, at least not for me really. Not in the sense these songs talk about God.) it's a matter of whether the lyrics get to you or not, in that good way when you can relate. I know of very few Christian people, also artists, who actually can do that. Can make good, creative music and still have some human meaning in the lyrics and still yet some praise. But I am sorry, Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns...no. never. they are not creative, do not sound that good, and Tomlin doesn't even write his own songs. If you want honest artists, LOOK FOR THEM. No, they are not going to be Christians half the time. But I've found a ton of real artists with real passion. that's why I'm so hipster. Because they are underground. Consider them dirty, and I've been digging for this gem in my life, and it's called..."_____" Fill in the blank. Copeland, Fleet Foxes, Foster The People, Radiohead, name some bands that means something to you because they have real lyrics. I have this gem encrusted in my life and how happy I am, thank you.
To put it simply, I think that you can glorify God, even with secular music. Love songs for example. Isn't the church the bride and God the groom and all that? Get down with God to some Marvin Gaye or The Beatles. Even if the artists are or aren't into God or Jesus, they can still glorify God with the music they make because God did give them the talent, therefore we may enjoy it ourselves. It's not a sin to enjoy what God placed on this earth, is it?
Instead of ranting on and on about how I think Christian music basically sucks and that my "underground" music is way better, this is how I'll end it. If you Christians keep thinking my music sucks and then you get offended because I think yours sucks, psht, oh well. How do you think I feel? (Actually I'll be glad you don't like some of the bands I like because you Christians tend to make everything mainstream and I wouldn't want that to happen, hmm?) But it is nice when you come across someone who listens to the same band as you (who doesn't wear it out) and you can say, "Oh, you've heard them too?" Wouldn't it be a satisfying feeling to know that what you were digging for was the most valuable gem in your whole collection? and that you can share these gems with a friend? (and to you Christians, no your music is not a real gem. It's those pieces of plastic they put in fake jewelry for kids. That's how cheap and terrible it is.)
Also, I have nothing against Christians. Just their religious ways. and their music obviously. I'm a Universalist (I believe in God, Jesus, the Holy Ghost and all that. But I don't like being called a Christian. too mainstream.) and I still listen to some of those Christian bands I listened to back then. Every once in awhile. I am very selective on what I listen to now. Ask my friends and they'll tell you I have to be in a certain mood to listen to anything new.
Anywho, just wanted to rant and talk about my thoughts on the whole creativity side to secular music. I hope I made my point clear and that someone will see my side of things.
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