Christian contemporary music & artist, thoughts?

[KEW]

The Atlanta area has a pretty great singer in Chinua Hawk who has a steady presence with the local Mega-church, Northpoint Community Church (Andy Stanley is the preacher and a Christian icon around here).
Here is one of the Christian songs he sings, and this is unquestionably Christian music:

But he also has a Pop album out which does not have a particularly strong Christian emphasis, so where does he sit? I feel like the Pop songs showcase his voice better (but that may be more of a matter of studio vs live performance and/or unfamiliar vs familiar song)!

 

[BMXTRIX]

I just gotta rock...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P.O.D.

 

[panteragstk]

It's interesting to me that this discussion went from "do you listen to christian music?" which I interpret as bands that specifically classify their genre as "christian" to "what "is" christian music?"

I think the OP wanted to know if you listen to bands that are on christian labels and classify themselves as a christian band. Not as in that's what the member's religion is, rather that's what all of their songs are about.

It is interesting that so many bands that don't have that classification have religious songs (someone showed some good examples above).

Hell, Black Sabbath made Christian songs.

It's also very interesting to me that news of Christian bands has come up as them not really being Christian (not that there's anything wrong with that). Which to me is very uncool. As a friend of mine put it "they're using God to sell music" which is very shady. it's kind of like Dennis Leary selling me a Ford F150 only to find out he's adamantly opposed to trucks and will only drive mopeds.

 

[TLS Guy]

It's interesting to me that this discussion went from "do you listen to christian music?" which I interpret as bands that specifically classify their genre as "christian" to "what "is" christian music?"

I think the OP wanted to know if you listen to bands that are on christian labels and classify themselves as a christian band. Not as in that's what the member's religion is, rather that's what all of their songs are about.

It is interesting that so many bands that don't have that classification have religious songs (someone showed some good examples above).

Hell, Black Sabbath made Christian songs.

It's also very interesting to me that news of Christian bands has come up as them not really being Christian (not that there's anything wrong with that). Which to me is very uncool. As a friend of mine put it "they're using God to sell music" which is very shady. it's kind of like Dennis Leary selling me a Ford F150 only to find out he's adamantly opposed to trucks and will only drive mopeds.

Well not so fast. Non Christians have written a lot of Christian music. The two best examples, are Ralph Vaughn Williams who wrote a lot of Christian music and reedited the British Hymnal. He was agnostic. Most of John Rutters output is Christian music and his music can certainly be considered contemporary. He is another agnostic.

Beethoven's religious convictions are hard to fathom, but he was certainly not devout. He wrote his great Missa Solemnis. Certainly there is some cynical aspects to the work. It has that ravishingly beautiful Benedictus section. In the final Donna Nobis Pacem section the beautiful peaceful melody is suddenly interrupted by the drums and trumpets of war. As Beethoven is saying, "Grant us Peace. Not going to happen".

One other interesting note. The UK is now barely a Christian county any more. The BBC have broadcast Choral Evensong from the cathedrals, Abbeys and colleges of the UK every week for nearly 100 years now, without interruption. Strangely these programs have now become the most listened to radio broadcast on the BBC.

So people search for peace, comfort and balance in their lives even if not proclaiming themselves Christian.

This whole issue is a very complex and interesting one.

Probably the lions share of the great music in our entire musical canon is Christian music.

In our family weddings thankfully we have had great music performed.

A guest said to me after one of them, "Thank goodness we don't have to listen to that Twangy Wangy music at your weddings.

I think that is what passes for music at a lot of our Churches. What is most infuriating to me is that quite often at American weddings that is an enticing pipe organ that must have cost a fortune, sitting silent, while there are a couple of guitar twangers often an electric key board and a singer or two off pitch croaking into microphones. Just awful.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

As a lover of all music genres, I find contemporary Christian music to be, well, god awful.

So glad I’m not the only one who’s noticed this! Judging from what I hear when I tune into our local Christian music radio station for 10-15 minutes (which is about all I can take), it seems any act can get a record deal these days. Most of it sounds like it’s coming out of the same studio with the same producer!

Last year I was really impressed with the song “Bulletproof” by Citizen Way, thinking “Alright! Here’s a Christian act that shows some originality!” But then I played a few of their other songs, and it’s the same dreck you get with Elevation Worship, Hillsong, Bethel, Tomlin, Vertical Worship, et. al.: Boring, predictable chord progressions.

I swear someone out there is holding formal classes for aspiring Christian composers, teaching them “How to Write 1000 Songs Using Only Five Chord Progressions” and “Spice Up Your Songs with Useless Diatonic Passing Chords,” and awarding a Bachelors in Sameness upon graduation. And surely there is a graduate course passing out a Masters in Sameness, featuring “How to Utilize a Pounding Quarter or Eighth Note Beat for Fun and Profit” and “A Novel Approach: Start Soft and Explode at the Chorus.” ’Cause y’ know, no one else is doing any of that! I’ve heard my local Christian station play back-to-back songs with the exact same chord progression! Pathetic.

I mean, check these songs from Youtube. Every single one has the same chord progression. I know I could spend an additial hour or so and easily double this list:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-P8pUCV5MI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQWFzMvCfLE&list=PLWvahZRxLnLPV5ECCHvmLuus6Tjmv4Oir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtyVdC7E6Wo


Suffice it to say, a garage band of reasonably talented high school kids can easily match or outdo most of what passes for Christian music these days. (Apparently I’m not alone - do an Internet search on “mediocre Christian music” or “why is Christian music so boring” and you’ll find no shortage of articles and blogs on the subject over the first few pages. I particularly like this one.)

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[Mark of Cenla]

Big Daddy Weave
Kerry Livgren
John Elefante
Chris Falson
Neal Morse


Peace and goodwill.

 

[Alex2507]

I'm not sure I really know what Christian Music means.

It's a lot like regular music but it sucks.

 

[Irvrobinson]

Well not so fast. Non Christians have written a lot of Christian music. The two best examples, are Ralph Vaughn Williams who wrote a lot of Christian music and reedited the British Hymnal. He was agnostic. Most of John Rutters output is Christian music and his music can certainly be considered contemporary. He is another agnostic.

I know what you mean, Mark. As a young person I sang in the high school chorus, and even the state chorus. All of the material had a decided Christian religious theme, especially the Christmas music we sang. I still remember singing "Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley" in a state choral performance. That I was an atheist even then was irrelevant; I sang like I meant it. (And I'm a guy who got in trouble for refusing to contribute ten cents to the class Christmas tree fund in the 5th grade, in a community that was probably 95%-plus Catholic. I'm glad I've mellowed.)

I do still enjoy gospel music very much. It is one of the best sources of choral music sang with feeling, and I own many albums. The words don't mean anything to me, but the music and the singing are still awesome, just like "The Little Drummer Boy" and "Oh, Holy Night".

Nonetheless, I know a few people who are into pop Christian music, and I know they don't want it sang & played by someone like me. They definitely want performers who believe as they do; I believe they want authenticity. And I genuinely think it would be disrespectful to these folks for someone like me to perform that music.

 

[KEW]

Does this count?
I really like it!

 

[Mark of Cenla]

Any radio is not usually the place to find quality music. Most Christian radio stations play very mellow stuff that is far from the best quality. To me radio is a poor place to fine decent music of any kind. Maybe your mileage varies. Peace and goodwill.

 

[panteragstk]

Well not so fast. Non Christians have written a lot of Christian music. The two best examples, are Ralph Vaughn Williams who wrote a lot of Christian music and reedited the British Hymnal. He was agnostic. Most of John Rutters output is Christian music and his music can certainly be considered contemporary. He is another agnostic.

Beethoven's religious convictions are hard to fathom, but he was certainly not devout. He wrote his great Missa Solemnis. Certainly there is some cynical aspects to the work. It has that ravishingly beautiful Benedictus section. In the final Donna Nobis Pacem section the beautiful peaceful melody is suddenly interrupted by the drums and trumpets of war. As Beethoven is saying, "Grant us Peace. Not going to happen".

One other interesting note. The UK is now barely a Christian county any more. The BBC have broadcast Choral Evensong from the cathedrals, Abbeys and colleges of the UK every week for nearly 100 years now, without interruption. Strangely these programs have now become the most listened to radio broadcast on the BBC.

So people search for peace, comfort and balance in their lives even if not proclaiming themselves Christian.

This whole issue is a very complex and interesting one.

Probably the lions share of the great music in our entire musical canon is Christian music.

In our family weddings thankfully we have had great music performed.

A guest said to me after one of them, "Thank goodness we don't have to listen to that Twangy Wangy music at your weddings.

I think that is what passes for music at a lot of our Churches. What is most infuriating to me is that quite often at American weddings that is an enticing pipe organ that must have cost a fortune, sitting silent, while there are a couple of guitar twangers often an electric key board and a singer or two off pitch croaking into microphones. Just awful.

Fair points all around, but I think it's a bit different when someone puts out christian themed music just because it's appealing or part of tradition as opposed to centering your entire career around christian music. Especially when you consider how most Christians think of atheists. I guess the part that bugs me as they are specifically using faith they don't have to sell records because they couldn't make it as a non-christian genre artist.

Kind of like people that had a rock career that went away and are now somehow country artists (I'm looking at you Hootie).

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

Nonetheless, I know a few people who are into pop Christian music, and I know they don't want it sang & played by someone like me. They definitely want performers who believe as they do; I believe they want authenticity. And I genuinely think it would be disrespectful to these folks for someone like me to perform that music.

I’d agree that Christians typically want performers to be Christian, at least the “front man.” However, Christian artists have often used non-Christian musicians on their albums. Back in the late ’70s Chuck Girard used some of the guys from the band Ambrosia on some of his albums. In the same era, Andrae Crouch was also using non-Christian studio musicians on his albums. Kerry Livgren of Kansas fame used non-Christian musicians almost exclusively on his 1980 solo album “Seeds of Change,” which in my mind rates as one of the finest Christian rock albums of all time. I’m sure there are plenty of other examples I’m unaware of.

So, if you’re a musician and have some chops to bring to the table, and can put up with all their religious talk, go for it!

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt