“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” U2
“Memories May be beautiful and yet, What’s too painful to remember, We simply choose to forget.” Barbra Streisand Also, “I could never fall in love with a Republican.”
“If I said you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against me?” The Bellamy Brothers
“I write the songs that make the young girls cry.” Barry Manilow
“Just as I am without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me. And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee, Oh, Lamb of God, I come, I come.” Charlotte Elliott 1835
The Doobie Brothers[1] told us to Listen To the Music. Especially when we are in one of California’s New Cannabis Cafes[2], coming to a neighborhood near you in 2025. Cindy Lauper told us, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, then became a “corner man” character in the drama that was the World Wrestling Federation. This created the historic moment when in the middle of a wrestling ring, Donald Trump slapped Vince McMahon. In an unrelated event undocumented by eyewitness testimony, Joe Biden, age 19, employed a chain to intimidate “Corn Pop” a gang member at a swimming pool. [3] “Those were the days my friend, we thought they’d never end.” [4]
And who can forget that Freudian classic by Charlene, “I’ve Never Been to Me,” a destination on everyone’s itinerary. Or the humanitarian hymn by the Beastie Boys, “Fight for Your Right to Party” which Eastern Sea- “bored” college students misinterpreted to mean they could compose anti-Semitic rants and protest against Israel within the spineless academic culture that conflates civil rights and human rights. Oh yes, there were “Women for Palestine”—meaning against Israel defending themselves—who did not research what they were protesting, or they would have discovered the crimes against Palestinian women—forced to dress like non-persons and sentenced to lives of perpetual oppression and abuse. In the same way, “Queers for Palestine,” didn’t realize that queers were murdered for being queers. And the most mind-numbing of all, “Jews for Palestine.” How uninformed and lost these poor kids are.
Then there was the self-esteem ballad “Creep,” by Radiohead where thousands of kids, maybe more, learned that they weren’t sinners with the hope of change but creeps outside of redemption. And finally, there is Bruce Springsteen whom I can picture singing Born in the USA at a fundraiser for Open Boarders. You got paid 500 million for your song catalog Bruce, so build some condos on your property, and move them in.
Music is the soundtrack of our lives, at least the background music. What makes music music, is itself a mystery. Some think of it as God’s voice reaching us at a deeper level than mere language. At a very human level, to sing is to lift your voice, to open your head and heart to something different. It lifts one’s spirit, it is as though your heart is revealed. The scripture says that when one is filled with the Holy Spirit, we make melody in our hearts to the Lord. [5]
When I am down, I don’t listen to music, I don’t sing, I don’t dance, I don’t laugh. Music is a journey. When we sing and dance we travel, and go somewhere. It seems that music takes us to something or someone greater than ourselves. It does something to our brains, suspends the pain and confusion of life, and makes us vulnerable, so what we sing and the reasons we have for singing, listening, or meditating via music are critical.
Variety
There are different kinds of music for people in various conditions. The Battle Hymn of the Republic, American the Beautiful, and the National Anthem, are patriotic and make Americans stand a bit taller, straighter, chins out, eyes up. Rap is a cry from the bowels of oppression, full of pain and pride. Its beat is contagious, rattles your windshield, and its words can bring hope, reveal pain, anger, and yes, sometimes a twisted soul.
Rock
The School of Rock claims that rock music can reduce the levels of stress hormones and increase serotonin. Rock and Roll is the inner teen sped up, the twist and shout of youth unleashed in dance by the Beatles, the Monkees, the Byrds, and the Animals. The dances were the same, but different. The Twist, the Jerk, the Monkey, the Pony, the Dog, the Stroll, the Swim—and then it turned into some post-modern contortion—let’s call it the thing old people try at wedding receptions. Just test this out: seventy-year-olds will know what to do when they hear Louie Louie by the Kingsmen, and they will do it. Be careful where you try this, the first few bars of Louie Louie sent to a seventy-plus will act like a Russian spy, after fifty years, finally being activated by Moscow.
Country
There is country and western music, even though it’s not restricted to farmers and cowboys. Unlike Rap and Rock and Roll, where you have no idea what they are singing about, this kind of music tells a story, usually involving a pick-up truck, a rifle, a dog, and a beautiful girl in cut-offs. It is now mainstream because people can make out the words and relate to the stories. Country Music grew in popularity, primarily in the 1970s because of the country rock vibe of the Eagles Band, led by Glenn Frey and Don Henley. With popular hits such as Peaceful Easy Feeling, Take it Easy, and Lyin’ Eyes. Who didn’t imagine driving the Pacific Coast Highway with the sunroof open, sunglasses on, a nice hat and the Hotel California turned up loud? The Eagles became and remain the most successful American band in history. At the same time, the Eagles were stressed, addicted to cocaine, and living Life in the Fast Lane. This was not restricted to the music industry. Much of their hotel destruction, after concert orgies, and notorious behavior demonstrated what a corrupted culture could do to a group of regular guys. And if you think it couldn’t happen to you, you’re just not in touch with the nature of human nature, the sinfulness of sin, and the salvation found in repentance and the cross.
Christian
Many think Christian music is the best music, but it is not! It has unraveled just like all the other music. Historians report that the church argued about whether it should include music at all in its regular order. But since the Psalms are poetry set to music, and the heavens are filled with Angel’s choirs, to argue against it seemed rather annoying. Even Mary, the mother of God, wrote a song which came to be called the Magnificat. [6] The real argument was what kind of music. Would it be chanting or priests singing solos dressed in fine robes? Would the people be permitted to participate? Someone got the bright idea that maybe we should let the “unwashed” read the Bible, and then maybe they would have something to sing about. After a few burnings at the stake, hangings, and beheadings, it was agreed, let them read the Bible!
Then just as predicted, they started singing, and “gee,” by the 1700s people like Charles and John Wesley were writing hymns. Martin Luther, in the 1500s —and some earlier figures—did write some pretty good stuff. “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” is one. But the 1700s had some Hymns that had a good beat and were easy to dance to.[7] As culture changed, so did the music. Not only was it easier to dance to, it was easier to fight about. As “Christian Music” entered the modern era, it was classified in church life to be two things—hymns and the work of a lesser god, “praise songs.” The Hymns were for serious mature Christians, and praise songs were for the kids, with hand motions to keep everyone happy. The new stuff was great for retreats, campfires, guitars & harmonicas, just keep it out of the real church.
When I was a Pastor I was confronted by an angry group of parishioners who insisted on a worship service with no praise songs. I recall saying, “Do you want no praise songs, only un-praise songs?” No one laughed. After many negotiations, I announced to the church that I would not argue about, hold meetings concerning, or even think about our selection of music again. I told them the discussion was over. We, the church leadership, had decided to mix it up and do what seemed appropriate for each service. We might use oboes, bongos, steel guitars, drums, violins, trumpets, whatever was right at that moment. I was asked by an irate protestor, “Why are you doing this?” I simply answered, because “God doesn’t care! I don’t think it will come up on judgment day. It’s not a priority for him. This entire discussion is a devilish distraction because he doesn’t give a rip about our musical style. If you want a church with different music, go there and God bless you.”
“What is my favorite Christian band?” “U2, that little Irish band with the lead singer, Bono.” Some are puzzled at my choice. I like them because they are good and they have great and honest Christian songs and lyrics.
Christian music is less honest than other music. I find that any art form preceded by the word Christian will be a bit dishonest in its attempt to keep it “clean” or family-friendly. They remove the fifty percent of life that is profane, ugly, and difficult because they want to protect its viewers from such depths of depravity. I sympathize with this, and it can be good and entertaining, it just can’t be great. It’s like the Hallmark Channelwhich is pleasant, pleasing to the eye, and always has a happy ending. There is even an off-shoot network for those who believe the Hallmark Channel sold out to wokeism.[8] There is a pretending in intentionally Christian art forms that attempt to compete with non-Christian art forms but they fail to reach down into the deepest places in the human soul. Regarding music, U2 has freely delved into the darkness, hopes, fears, and imperfections of the human predicament. They don’t sing the plastic, pretend world of simple answers and canned apologetics. They sing the real world—dark, mysterious, grand, glorious, and hopeful in a dying God who comes back to life.
The Christian music industry is no better or worse than any other part of society. It has slid down the slide of cultural decadence along with the rest of us. The musicians have morphed from monks in the early morning cold, see-your-breath Gregorian Chants, to green rooms filled with coffee, hot tea, bottled water, make-up, and snacks. Church has become performance art, which has its place and gives many good-hearted people with moderate talent a place to use their abilities. Music is the medium, performance is valid, and it is such a tightrope, that almost no one—not preacher or singer—can escape its pernicious effect. When everyone has a microphone, water bottle, or script, and can be on stage with the bright lights on, or live on the internet—maybe only a few souls are watching—but that can’t stop the feeling, that a star is born.
I’m still a bit stumped about music. It does something to one’s brain and spirit. When someone is filled with God’s Spirit, our soul sings, our heart is full, it’s more than magic. It is mystical, holy, and primal, all simultaneously. The condition of a national soul is revealed in it. Who is happy? Who is singing? Politicians aren’t singing, angry protestors aren’t singing, professors aren’t singing, commentators, and even comedians, aren’t singing. They are not even laughing. They are mocking and ridiculing. But when children sing, adults usually join them. We Christians—I think we should start singing more, and as soon as we get our spirits right, it will be easier to do.
“Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art”
Bill Hull
Babylon 2024
In Babylon, I no longer need an I.D. to vote
Update: I just heard—I will need an I.D. to vote, I was born here, and I am a U.S. Citizen. Sorry for the disinformation—thanks for listening, Siri.
[1] Hall of Fame Rock Group- “Doobie” is a slang reference to Marijuana.
[2] Cannabis Cafes will start in January 2025 in state of California.
[3] A possibly fictional person who Joe Biden reportedly beat up or at least put in his place in Biden folklore.
[4] Mary Hopkin Those Were The Days 1968
[5] Ephesians 5:18-20.
[6] Luke 1:47-55
[7] “ A good beat and easy to dance to” were the most important categories to teens. Each week on American Bandstand hosted by Dick Clark, they would play three songs and rate them. If the song was lacking beat or be difficult to dance to, it would be rated low. Something like Richard Harris’ “MacArthur Park” a very long song about someone leaving their “cake out in the rain” would have flopped on American Bandstand.
[8] Great American Media – woke or wokeism is the word that most easily captures the whole of political correctness and DEI, aka, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. DEI is a manifestation of the Marxist notion of dividing people into categories such as oppressor, the oppressed, the perpetrators, and the victims. When you say, “they went woke” everyone seems to get the general drift of what you are talking about.
Coming soon:
You’ll never go wrong with Southern Gospel Music.