So are Christian bands all the rage now?replacing rap?honest?

[katty]

Lately, I've been reading alot about Christian bands...what do they sing about? I have occasionally heard some stuff-is this the next music rage?

[MadMaddie]

1. I think this is the Media pushing this down our throats...

trying to make it mainstream.....

[FreedomAngel82]

3. So pop songs like Britney Spears sings don't?

:eyes:

[MadMaddie]

4. Don't get me wrong....pop songs are the same...

[katty]

12. yes, generally i would here about this stuff now & then, but

there is more about this genre in trade mags.

[FreedomAngel82]

2. It depends on the artist

There are some who do only worship themed songs and you can choose to use them in their worship service or not and some others just write regular songs. Some songs you can't tell are Christian until you find out about the artist. I remember being younger hearing on the radio Amy Grant and I never bought any of her cd's back than since this station played her a lot and I had no idea that she was a Christian artist till years later. :shrug:

[ugarte]

5. Somebody said P.O.D. is supposedly Christian

P.O.D.=Payable on Death, but I don't see any Christian content in their lyrics that I'm familiar with.

[Atman]

20. Some bands are "Christian" without being overt

One of my favorite albums is The Feelies' "It's Only Life," a gem from the late eighties. I listened to it for a couple of years before it dawned on me that it sounded like these songs all seemed to have a similar theme, and that theme tended to be spiritual, though not necessarily Christian. The way George Harrison's "love songs" like "If Not For You" sound like love songs, but are really paeans to Krishna.

I actually don't mind listening to this kind of "religious" music. Heck, I even have a few of Alison Kraus' bluegrass gospel albums. If the music is good, and the lyrics are not in-your-face about the god stuff, (not sure why Alison gets a pass on that one...maybe cuz she just has an incredible voice), I'll listen. Good music is good music.

[Mythsaje]

28. Alison Kraus has a great voice...

I have to agree with you there, though I can only take so much of that "God" stuff no matter who it is.

[katty]

43. luvbluegrass,certain gospel..

>Good music is good music.

yes!

[FreedomAngel82]

74. Yes POD is Christian

[DerBeppo]

78. must not have looked very closely

Preach

Let it be know that you heard it from here
When I'm on this microphone you know I make myself clear
With the power, with the love with the boldness
Look in my eyes and remember wo told you this
Payable on Death gonna hit ya hit-man
Talk all you want, I don't fear any man
Cuz ya frontin' ain't nothin but words to me
You never had the stuff and your butt ain't crazy enough
To handle, we come step to me
My King is He in the power of Three
So what you want you ain't down with us
You get so scared, so mad when I say the word Jesus
I ain't down, you preach too much
But if you ask me boy, I don't think I preach enough
I tell you God is real, so don't miss the boat
But since we come off hard, you say we shove it down your throats
You wanna talk that talk, walk that walk
I'm the only person you see, but it ain't me that you mock
Man is nothing, but you think that you're bad
Fool if it wasn't for my God, I would have already had you
Deny His name are you willing to admit it
And if so, are you willing to die for it
Cuz I am, He is my life and I don't fear death
Cuz he already paid the Price
All your talk and are your threats ain't jack blaspheme my God
Yo punk I'm not having that, turn away it's your own loss
Cuz all I can do is just take them to the cross




Selah

Kick down the teeth of the wicked creep undaground
Where I stay hid lurk down the alleyways, you be stalking me
Behind back talkers, cowards be mock'n me
Try to make me talk, make me confess can't break a brotha down
When there's no fear of Death, So you can't stand the sight of me
Next to the conquering Lion, at His right I'll be


Step up punks, get rushed, you can't touch me
Braced in your word, I say, I have no fear
Step up punks, get rushed, you can't touch me
Sheltered by Your blood, your sweat, your tears

I be all in your face, state my case even if you took me up,
There's another to take my place you waste,
Prisoner to your pride you can never kill me off
I've got too much life on the inside, kill me, beat me, break my bones,
Already gave up my life, you'll never have my soul
Give credit to the on who paid for your crimes
Suffer for His name and I'll die for mines



(Selah)
Identify your real master, Recognize and obey the sacrifice
<8x>

(Selah)




Breath Babylon


Babylon Breathe Babylon

I see you people babylon and on and on
Graven images, golden idols and false icons
I'm seeking wisdom like Solomon
But my antenae keeps on picking up evil transmissions
At headquarters I receive my mission
Blow up the ruler of the air like nuclear fission
So I analyze my weapons, laser guided rifles that shoot spiritual wisdom
I think I see enemy warriors,
Fragile heathens tryin' to run stuff like mayors
So with brotha's that snuff punks,
I set up time bombs to destroy the strong holds of Babylon

Babylon Breathe Babylon
<8x>

We be tribes under grace, a righteous minority
Decadent culture make you forget your spiritual priority
Back down by the movement, soldiers who will serve ya
Open to be used by God, destroy you like Medo-Persia
Jewel of all kingdoms, live evil, purified Hurrah take you down
Don't look back, overthrown you like Sodom and Gomorrah arm of the law
Guilty of all crimes I be like the great Prophet Isiah
Predict your fall over 150 times, got rhymes you could never use
For the purpose you be using, I'll dance over your fields
Present day Iraq still lies in ruins lies,
Schemes, backstab persuasions bumrushed
Get crushed by us, this rescue invasion



Look to the sky, heed the warning
The shadow is coming, the shadow is coming
<8x>

The plagues are coming, the plagues are coming
I feel the breath of the Death Beast
<4x>

Misled bureaucracy, full of hypocrisy
I gotta steel pulse, looking for a true democracy
Destruction, now your walls have fallen
Just sitting here waiting for the train to Zion

Sit down in the dust, Babylon without a throne to call your own is 47:1
The city has fallen, she has fallen golden images of it's god
Lie shattered on the ground

[joefree1]

6. Not hearing this in my world

However I could turn you on to some great celtic pagan stuff. :evilgrin:

http://www.thebards.net/celtic_music_and_more/Radio_Stations/


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PaganWarrior/

[katty]

9. love celtic pagan...thanks

[Critters2]

58. The only "Christian" music I like is Celtic

The only Christian performers I can stand are the band "Iona", and singer Maire Brennan. I also like "Clannad", a band with which Maire Brennan performs, but I don't think the band considers itself spcifically "Christian".

[Mythsaje]

10. For that matter

it might be worthwhile to check out http://www.gaiaconsort.com and listen to the streaming stuff, particularly from the 2nd and 3rd albums. Not crazy about the newest one, myself. "Cry Freedom" from Secret Voices is one of my favorites.

[katty]

15. i will check it out

[Mythsaje]

24. Drop me a line

and let me know what you think. I think they're a very talented bunch--the songwriting's amazing and the musicianship second to none.

[katty]

37. will do

[katty]

45. just fired this up-very nice indeed! thanks-my afternoon listening

[Mythsaje]

46. Glad to be of service...

:)

[reprehensor]

7. Standard lyric - -

Drop needle on canned pop-rock, insert lyric:

"Na-nuh, na-nuh-nuh-nu-nuh...
Ohhhh my Jesus...
Na-nah, nuh-nuh-nuh...
Oh, Jesus, oh I love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..."

I've had the misfortune of listening to contemporary Christian pop as a treat from my employer.

The tune changes, the lyric varies somewhat, as does tempo.

But still...

"Na-nah, na-na-na-nah...
I love you more than anything...
Na, na, na, na-nah, nuh..........
ooooooooooooooo my Jeeesuuss........"

Boom-be-boom-boom, etc., lather, rise, repeat.

[gatorboy]

8. Funny you should mention this:

I just read a story of a band suing it's label for promoting them as a Christian band.

http://articles.news.aol.com/music/article.adp?id=20060305181909990012

LOS ANGELES (March 6) - Rock act Mute Math is so frustrated at being branded a Christian band by Warner Music Group's Christian outlet Word Records, it has taken matters into its own hands, self-releasing its debut album Feb. 1.

And last September, Billboard has learned, Teleprompt Records -- a label co-founded by Mute Math keyboardist Paul Meany -- filed suit against Warner Bros. Records and Word.

The suit is for breach of contract and negligent misrepresentation, and seeks punitive damages. Warner, however, might be somewhat pardoned for the marketing approach.

Mute Math was formed by Meany, formerly of the unabashedly Christian act Earthsuit. Mute Math claims to have sold about 10,000 copies of its debut CD in one month, relying on word-of-mouth among its largely Christian fan base. The album followed an EP -- released by Word Records -- that sold nearly 30,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, with the bulk of sales coming from the Christianmarket. The act's buzz began when it played a string of Christian festivals last summer. And in October and November, the act supported fellow Christian band Mae.

[katty]

14. interesting...mute math(luv the name) i would definitely sue

[Solon]

11. Counter it with some Godsmack...

:)

[Mythsaje]

13. Both Creed and Evanescence have been saddled with

that title at various points. Same with Live. Mention God at all and the next thing you know...

[FreedomAngel82]

75. I'm not sure with Creed but I know Evanescence is NOT Christian

Amy Lee has made sure to point that out in interviews I've seen her in. I saw an interview with her at a Rock AM Ring MTV festival and a foreign guy interviewed her and asked her about singing in church and she said she sang in choirs but not church and I've read various other interviews where she proclaims they aren't Christian.

[DerBeppo]

79. the drummer

i believe the lable came from someone (i think the drummer, maybe not) came from a christian rock band 12 stones.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

16. if you are tone deaf, mindless and have sheep genes imbedded within,

AND plug your ears, yeah, you can stand it for a minute.

But, honestly, my otic allergies kick pretty quickly.

[katty]

34. ha! it sounds so freakin' weird to me, like a DrPepper-type ad for Jesus

[MazeRat7]

17. True story about all that....

About 6 months ago I got a call from one of the studios I freelance with needing "southern rock organ" for a band my friend had in his studio. Most of the pre-recording work was done so all I had to do was show up, set up, and lay down some tracks... nobody from the "band" was going to be there.

So I agreed. When I got there the engineer played the necessary tracks (drums, bass, guitars) needed for me to work out a keyboard part and we went to work. When it came time to actually "cut" the track I got to lay in my part to the full mix. Well you can imagine my surprise when, while trying to play, I hear a deep baritone singing... "Oh Jesus how I love you"...or something really close to that over a classic southern rock vibe.

Needless to say, I lost it. I could not stop laughing. I finished the session (sans vocals), collected my money, and "suggested" to my buddy to please provide warning before any such repeats.

BTW... I have since learned this band has a rather large following and the "preacher" is also the head of a biker club in east-central Texas.... Wow... I still get the heebeejeebees when I think of those songs, these people, and the general feel of that music.

MZr7

[Tulum_Moon]

19. Been noticing for some time now

There are christ stations all over the radio. I remember when they were stuck on AM.

[katty]

27. yes, me too-the i always catch the Jesus, Jesus lyric...

[katty]

21. OMG, i was LOL reading this..rather creepy

[MazeRat7]

25. Yeah... there is something wrong with....

Big Burly Biker Boys that Love Jesus... that is too gay even for Texas.

MZr7

[RufusEarl]

18. Christian Bands?

I own and operate a recording studio, about a year ago I got a phone call from a band wanting to book studio time. Long story short, after we started the session they told me they were a christian band. Didn't make any deference to me, i'm just the engineer. But as soon as they started playing i recognized the tune to the first song they started playing. It was Ohio by Neil Young! what they had done was take Neil's song and changed the lyric.

Ever song they recorded was the same way, Neil Young, Allman Brothers and so on. I explained that they had a copyright problem, but they didn't seem to mind. I just thought it was very christian like to steal from other people.

They never came back to finish the project, and that was ok with me. I never felt right being a party to thief.

[katty]

23. geezus(no pun)I do copyright/trademark law, surprised they even

dared to to do without the appropriate permissions (not that they WOULD get them!).

[RufusEarl]

31. I was really surprised,

they didn't understand when i tried to explain or they did understand but didn't want to except the fact that they were thieves. Either way they never came back, and i never heard from them again.

[MazeRat7]

32. Dude did we both work with the same band or what ?

While I didn't "exactly" recognize the tunes I helped on as a direct lift, they had riffs from several classics I am sure of it.

MZr7

[RufusEarl]

36. Perhaps

They had allot of money! Kept it folded in groups of five twenties, just the way drug dealers do. Very strange christian band.

[0rganism]

56. Did they use the "Eric Cartman formula"?

"All we have to do to make Christian songs is take regular old songs and add Jesus stuff to them. See? All we have to do is cross out words like 'baby' and 'Darling' and replace them with Jesus. All right, Butters, give me a beat."

lessee if it works...
Black God
(To the tune of Zep's Black Dog)

Hey, hey, Jesus, said the way you move
Gonna make me saved, gonna make me groove.
Ah, ah, God, way You shake that thing
Make the sinners burn, gonna make them sting.
Hey, hey, Jesus, when you make me pray
Watch your honey drip, can't keep away.

Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh, oh, oh
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh, oh, oh

I gotta roll, can't stand still,
Got a prayin' heart, can't get my fill,
Eyes that shine blessed red,
Dreams of God all through my head.
Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah...

Hey, Jesus, oh, Jesus, pretty Jesus,
Tell me what you do me now.
Hey, Jesus, oh, Jesus, pretty Jesus,
Move me while you do me now.

Didn't take too long 'fore I found out
What people mean by down and out.
Spent my money, tithed my pay,
Started tellin' His friends He's goin' be the Way. (uh-uh)
I don't know, but I've been told
Big legged heathens ain't got no soul

Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh, oh, ah
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh, oh, yeah

All I ask for, all I pray,
Steady Holy Spirit gonna come my way.
I need a Jesus gonna hold my hand
Wont tell me no lies, make me a happy man.

Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah...

Ahhhhhh!

Ooooh-ahhhh

Well, is this a hit single waiting to happen or what?

[FreedomAngel82]

76. Wow serious?

I'm surprised any serious singer/songwriter would do that to someone else's songs. That's a huge sin in the music industry. You're forever shamed if it's found out you stole from someone else.

[xultar]

22. Christian Bands = Bullshit for the fundies to fake the funk...and

for bands who wouldn't have gotten a deal elsewhare to fake the funk

[Warren DeMontague]

26. Yeah. And abstinence is all the rage with today's teens.

They're all staying home, reading the bible, and avoiding those pernicious, soul-destroying orgasms.

[katty]

29. so, the bible reading, singing IS the substitute for sex? that's it?

[knitter4democracy]

64. Nope. Backrubs are.

;)

I went to an evangelical Christian college. It's an old joke.

[Mythsaje]

30. ROFL...

My 15 y.o. niece's boyfriend just broke up with her 'cuz she wouldn't have sex. Of course her abstinence is more a function of rational thinking than for religious reasons. She doesn't want to screw up her future. Her past is screwed up enough and, if her parents have done nothing else (and they haven't) at least they've provided excellent bad examples.

[katty]

33. yeah, got it

[Warren DeMontague]

54. Nothing wrong with that. I just think there's an element of delusion

among the folks that think that if they just bombard teens- including the ones that are mature enough and choose to become sexually active- with enough cheesy christian rock and bible thumping (paid for with our tax dollars, of course) then they'll stop screwing.

[Mythsaje]

57. I agree...

Some of the most out-of-control people I knew were HEAVILY indoctrinated early on...

[ghostsofgiants]

35. Underoath is a good band if you're into post-hardcore/screamo stuff

They're a Christian band.

[The Stranger]

38. The cults have expropriated popular music to spread their drug.

Rock is protest music, but the garbage imbibing this poison has forgotten that.

[katty]

41. interesting observation-yes, real rock is protest music

[Initech]

39. KFSH has been replacing KOST and KISS as the pop station of choice

In Los Angeles anyways. :puke:

[emulatorloo]

40. I thought Hasidic Reggae was all the rage now

I am so out of it, I guess

http://www.hasidicreggae.com/

[Initech]

44. Hey... Matisyahu rules!!

I just got his new album on Friday, it's fucking awesome!

[emulatorloo]

47. Wow - I didn't think it came out until tomorrow!

I was planning a trip to the store first thing. . .glad to hear it is so good.

[Initech]

60. I pre-ordered my copy from his website.

It's pretty cool, it came with an extra disc called "Youth Dub" which is basically all the tracks on Youth remixed Dub-reggae style.

[emulatorloo]

67. thanks for the tip -- I'll go order it there EOM

[BeTheChange]

66. That guy is wicked good.

There is nothing better then a hasidic jew who flows like Bob Marley.

[xilet]

42. It is not all bad.

There are two types of christian pop/rock. One is the "oh jesus how I love you jesus" which is at best the same drivel as any pop band just with jesus and lord thrown in a few times. .

There is a second kind that you get once in a while such as Pod, that while christian inspired has more universal appeal and is not cramming god down your throat, and often you never even realize the song was originally inspired from their religious perspectives. From what I hear the "oh jesus jesus" types really get irritated at the more mainstream and universal appealing christan bands because they don't want to just be another cookie cutter, no originality type christan rock band.


Also I am a big fan of the phrase "this is the worst thing to happen to music since Creed"

[EC]

48. There are many that seem to be Creed copiers...

some have faith, some pretend....same as anything else. About 12 years ago I had a woman working for me that was writing Christian Music, I swear it all sounded alike and was just a few words repeated over and over. Now it sounds just like what I hear on some of the commercials for Christian rock that the TV stations advertise late at night in between those 1-800 "date" lines ads....

[Roaming]

49. It's not new; they have been around for a very long time

Our local radio market has a contemporary Christian station. It's not bad. They sing about biblical things, but some of the music has made crossover into mainstream. Some that come to mind are Jars of Clay, and you may have heard "I Can Only Imagine" by MercyMe. I think there's another one out now "Jesus Take the Wheel" which is by some female artist--don't know the name--think she was on American Idol??

[MrSlayer]

50. Not as far as I can see.

Then again I couldn't name even one of the top 10 songs in the country right now. I hate pop music.

[Blackthorn]

62. Could it be the *real* MrSlayer?

[MrSlayer]

63. I'm certainly real.

And while there may be some others who go by the name, I'm the "official" Mr. Slayer on the internets. Heh.

[Blackthorn]

68. Perhaps I should have put 'the' in asterisks.

As in *the* MrSlayer, from the damn coolest Slayer board on the Internets. You know, the one Tom Araya mentions?

[MrSlayer]

69. Yes, I am he.

[Blackthorn]

71. Hmmm well fancy that.

Tis Puubert. My puubert account was mangled.

[MrSlayer]

73. Ah nice.

I thought it might be. But I knew you've been around here for awhile and I saw the low post count and considered that it might be another Australian from the Slayer board.

Nice to see you here.

[Blackthorn]

81. Yeah, I don't tend to post much.

I just read a lot. Some people have some good insights here. This place is one source of my daily news and analysis. It's a fuckload better than any commerical news outlet that I can access.

[Raydawg1234]

51. no

[Gregorian]

52. No. You can trust my response, too.

I'm obsessed with college radio. The definitive birthing place for rock and alternative (ie. NOT commercial) music. Christian music is a never been, never will be. Period. I'm as worried about good music (rock/indie/punk/etc.) as I am about America dissolving into Bushland. It won't happen. The majority of people have brains.
I'm not sure if I addressed your question. But I'll tell you that I have been completely glued to the newest edge of music for a quarter century. I make a point of staying right up on that wave of new music. And Christian rock is not there, and never will be. Don't worry.

Cherry Bomb, by L7 is just as loved today as it was when it came out a zillion years ago. Queen is playing in Georgia this week, albeit with only two of the members.


I had to laugh along with the dj's when hearing a very rare kind of rock group, yesterday. A freeper metal band. Even the young college dj's were making a point out of how ironic, and stupid they are.

[katty]

61. thanks-good info on this

[FreedomAngel82]

77. The thing I think is nice

is that the Christian genere has it's own thing going on and same with all the other genere's. I do think it's nice to have an alternative to the mainstream secular music for those who don't like it. I personally don't care for some mainstream music myself. I'm not a particular fan of rap and sometimes pop music just gets so boring. I used to listen to the radio but last time I did, about two or so years ago, all they did was play the same boring songs just in different rotation. So I think it's nice to have all types of music out there since everybody has different tastes.

[The Revolution]

53. Zao is pretty good

Basically Christian hardcore. Although I believe they think of themselves more as a band composed of Christians, rather than a "Christian band."

[Warren DeMontague]

55. We need to bring Bill Hicks back from the dead...

just so he can weigh in on some of this crap.

[VADem11]

59. No

Nothing will replace rap for a few years. Christian bands by their very definition appeal to a niche and aren't sweeping the nation. Not all of it is bad though, some of it is actually tolerable.

[knitter4democracy]

65. Bwahahahahahaha!!!

They recycle that crap every few years. I wouldn't worry about it. "Christian" music sells very well in its own niche, and this is just a ploy to sell more and possibly convert some while they're at it.

I have to say, though, that the DC Talk concert I went to in college was really fun. I had good seats, courtesy of a friend's mom who had contacts, and ended up actually dancing and having a ball. Of course, we all agreed never to rat each other out to our college, as there was a strict no-dancing policy at the time. We even tracked down the religion major (who married his wife over the summer a year early ;) ) and made him promise, too. He was cool, though, so we were fine.

Ahhhh, the bad old days.

[rppper]

70. X-tian rock....one word...STRYPER!!!!!

it's all about the hair baby...it's all about the hair!!!

[montana500]

72. What a joke.

Christian rock bands are not the "latest thing", and never were.

[realisticphish]

80. You would be suprised

at the number of bands that have religious roots. For example, System of a Down.

And, notably, the metal band Soulfly (formed by Max Cavalera of Sepultura). Look at tracks like "Born Again Anarchist" and "Moses."
A christian band that advocates revolution...