Tuesday, August 19, 2008

#26 Innocuous Music

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By definition, Christian culture likes contemporary Christian music. Music that is made by non-Christians is called "secular" music. Some Christians don't listen to secular music at all, but those who do enjoy U2, The Fray, Michael Buble, James Blunt, John Mayer, Dave Matthews, Sting, Enya, Innocence Mission, Over The Rhine, Norah Jones, U2, Harry Connick Jr., Moby, Coldplay (see #3), Allison Krauss, U2, and Sufjan Stevens. Did I mention U2?

Christians also enjoy country music, especially "new" country, and they all like Johnny Cash since he was a Christian, however gritty. They don't like rap. Same goes for R&B and hip hop.

14 comments:

Magnus said...

They like rap/hip-hop if it is DC Talk, however.

juls said...

omg i was in love with DC talk. for my 13th birthday I went to a DC talk concert. i was very misguided.

i have to say U2 was the best thing that ever happened to me in church. well, ok that's not entirely true. but i still love U2.

Anonymous said...

Bette Midler and Mc Hammer are also acceptable. Oh, and John Tesh if you're over 45.

Anonymous said...

Ahhh...Christian music!
Twila Paris!
Steven Curtis Chapman!
Amy Grant!
Clay Crosse!
Carman!
Geoff Moore & the Distance!
I grew up hearing it all day long, and 90% of if sounds like the artists penned the lyrics first, then slapped the music on as an afterthought.

I did like Rich Mullins though...he was a good musician. Too bad God had to snuff him out early.

Mikey said...

Waitaminute, waitaminute... Are you kidding me?
I'm a Christian and guess what? I love my rap, R&G (rhythm and gospel), reggae and soul, so long as the lyrics are inspiring and uplifting.
No offense, but I'm not really into Johnnies Tesh or Cash, them Gaither Vocal dudes, or any other country music—whether it be old or "new," sanctified or secular. It's just not my cup o' tea. Hit me with the gospel styles of Kurt Carr, Israel Houghton, Richard Smallwood, Yolanda Adams, or Spensha Baker anyday!
Sorry to fire at your "Christians not liking R&B" assumption; but I've long since escaped from that Ned Flanders stained-glass pigeonhole.

Unknown said...

I never understood Christian culture's infatuation with country music. About 60% of the songs are about drinking, and although most Christians decry the dangers of the bottle, they don't mind listening to the music.

Anonymous said...

Thank God, the only one on that list that I listen to is Enya.

Mark Brown, Chief Markeologist said...

When I graduated high school and moved out, my dad gave me a box. Inside the box were 4 vinyl records, 18 CDs and 87 cassette tapes that had been confiscated during my upbringing. Yes, I was one of "THOSE" kids who could not listen to secular music (thanks Bob Larson). So I had to rely on thinking Degarmo & Key, Petra, Randy Stonehill and others were cool. None of my friends had ANY CLUE what I was talking about since they didn't listen. Sad to say, as much of a music fan as I am - my first record bought with my own money was Amy Grant's Straight Ahead. And I've liked U2 since middle school. My parents didn't let me listen to them either. I didn't understand they were considered a "rock band of christians" until high school. I still follow them to this day - because I like their music, not a Bono-man-crush. :) He's a short little guy....

Anonymous said...

hmm.. so far I love this website, and technically I only have a minor complaint. Being a music "buff" I have to say that Over the Rhine & Sufjan Stevens would fall into the Christian category, in as much as their backgrounds, lyrical matter and general tours seem to be based in the Christian circles... minor details I know, but I would throw them into the Christian camp before ever throwing them in the "Secular" camp.

ElktoothChain said...

Re: the above comment - Sufjan and Over the Rhine are indeed unquestionably Christian artists (despite Over the Rhine's infrequent forays into the areas of using swear words OH NOZE!).

I don't know about this James Blunt business, though. He talks about doing drugs and drops the F-bomb, so...

ElktoothChain said...

Oh, and I thought I might add that Moby is openly a Christian, though I don't think the musical artists Moby would/should really be considered "a Christian artists," whatever that means.

Tia Lynn said...

Guilty! U2 is my favorite band...but I hate contemporary christian music....blek

missagatha said...

i remember the day i pulled the "christian alternatives to secular music" poster out of the latest issue of CCM (Contemporary Christian Music). U2 appeared on the "ok to listen to" side and i expressed surprise to a friend because i hadn't realized they were christian. my friend got really uncomfortable for a few seconds and then finally forced out, "wellll, they're ..... (shudder) Catholic." priceless

Yo merengues said...

I live in Mexico and evangelical christians around here dig Bob Marley a lot. They don't seem to mind his rastafari beliefs.