Are these the 10 worst songs of all time?

[snowlake]

But what standards are being used to evaluate “worse”? Bad tune? Bad theology? Just plain bad phrasing and choice of words?

I think the word “inappropriate” should have been used when naming the list. Sometimes
bad or good enters into it, but not always. One has to consider the text, melody, rhythm,
harmony, form and instrumentation. The text should reflect Catholic theology and be appropriate for the liturgy. The melody, rhythm, harmony, form and instrumentation
should have a certain dignity and character that is more in keeping with sacred music
and less with secular (pop, etc.) music. Some musical settings sound simply like religious music written in a secular style. Sacred music should sound like something “set apart” for the Mass.

 

[coolduude]

I apologize if this has been covered. I just saw the thread now so I’m a little late to the party

Anyway, I’m suprised “Wade in the Water” didn’t make an appearance on that list. No offense to any African-American members here, but I feel like I’m in an old school black church when we sing that song (think Blues Brothers). Worst of all, we sing it at the Easter Vigil

Also, I’m still somewhat lost as to why some of those songs aren’t good enough. Like “On Eagles Wings” or “Pan de Vida, Cuerpo del Señor”. I suppose that if I read all 7 pages of the thread I’ll find my answer though

Anyway, that’s my 2 cents.

 

[pnewton]

Holy God We Praise Thy Name wasn’t on the list?

That one gets SO overused. All

It’s amazing how different things are all over the country. I haven’t heard that hymn in many, many years! I love it. Maybe we should have a parish exchange program.

I think, looking at the comments here, that overuse is one of the biggest causes of dislike of hymns. My system is somewhat simple. I call it the messy desk method. I pull out the hymns I know from my loose leaf and through them on top of the shelf after Sunday. When my book becomes too thin to fill out a Mass, I file them back in and start over.

 

[bmadamsberry]

I think, looking at the comments here, that overuse is one of the biggest causes of dislike of hymns. My system is somewhat simple. I call it the messy desk method. I pull out the hymns I know from my loose leaf and through them on top of the shelf after Sunday. When my book becomes too thin to fill out a Mass, I file them back in and start over.

That actually sounds like a good system.

 

[Canto]

You’re right.

songsforpraise.com/HolyGodWePraiseThyName.html

I’m going to have to reconcile this, however, with my St. Basil’s hymnal. It does have Ignaz Franz as the alleged writer.

Ignaz Franz is perhaps the German writer. The English Holy God… translated in rhyme the German adaptation of Te Duem. Holy God… however is very close to the Latin Te Deum.

 

[Canto]

Your post title should have read: Are these the 10 worst songs SUNG AT MASS of all time. There **is nothing wrong with listening to these songs for entertainment. ** In fact, four of them are on my play list when I ride my bike miles and miles everyday…along with many SACRED songs. I almost hate replying to you, 'gal, because I know there is probably something “wrong” with my listening to church music while riding my bike!!! OK, let me have it!!

As a good way to socialise amongst else, why don’t those interested set up a music group to sing these songs outside of the Mass, like some form a Rosary group etc, and then we can get back to the propers

 

[puzzleannie]

as horrific as all these examples are, the one song that is enough to make me get up and leave and demand a refund is “Peace is flowing like a river”. That is a Girl Scout song for the campfire, not a liturgical hymn fcol.

 

[Indyann]

as horrific as all these examples are, the one song that is enough to make me get up and leave and demand a refund is “Peace is flowing like a river”. That is a Girl Scout song for the campfire, not a liturgical hymn fcol.

Ah “Peace is flowing like a river”, brings back many wonderful memories. My 4 kids all pre-schoolers at one time were subjected to “HI God” I and II, some days all day long. They loved it and it really taught them how to get along with each other.

Cary Landry is now music director at a local church and I have been wanting to go see if he has progressed any, after all these years. But the church is the opposite side of town, so I haven’t made it yet.

I will say that his albums saved my sanity many a day!

 

[Canto]

Let all mortal flesh keep silence, But we are called to make a joyful noise to the Lord

Zec 2:13 Let all flesh be silent at the presence of the Lord: for he is risen up out of his holy habitation.

And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly minded,
For with blessing in His hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth, Christ didn’t descend to Earth. He was born of the Virgin Mary

John 3:13 And no man hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended from heaven, **the Son of man **who is in heaven.

Our full homage to demand. Christ doesn’t demand our homage. He asks for it. Just like he doesn’t force salvation upon us.

CCC 2084 God’s first call and just demand is that man accept him and worship him.

King of kings, yet born of Mary, This sounds like he was pure human. It doesn’t mention that he is begotten, not made

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her first born son
Rev 19:16 King of Kings and Lord of Lords

As of old on earth He stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
In the body and the blood;
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heavenly food. This is putting an emphasis on the meal instead of the sacrifice of the Mass

John 6:51 and the bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.
Luke 22:20 which shall be shed for you. [on the cross]

Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of light descendeth
From the realms of endless day,
That the powers of hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away.

At His feet the six wingèd seraph,
Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry:
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Lord Most High! Scripture never says that these two types of Angels sing this. Furthermore, what about the other angels? Is this song saying that there are no other angels?

Rev 19:5 And a voice came out from the throne, saying: Give praise to our God, all ye his servants: and you that fear him, little and great. 6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of great thunders, saying: Alleluia: for the Lord our God, the Almighty, hath reigned.

Obviously hymns can’t contain eveything and a zillion clarifications but the above hymn is very solid.

 

[CatholicZ09]

Good obeservations, Canto.

I think Carey Landry’s music is my least favorite line of music of all. The one song of his that might be okay is “Waiting in Silence” for Advent:

Waiting in silence, waiting in hope;
we are your people, we long for you, Lord.
God ever with us, Emmanuel,
Come, Lord Jesus, Maranatha!

Waiting in silence, waiting in hope;
we are your people, we trust in your love.
O Sun of Justice, true Prince of Peace,
Come with your justice Lord, Maranatha!

Waiting in silence, waiting in hope;
we are your people, Lord, we seek your truth.
Wisdom Incarnate, teach us your way;
Show us the path of life, Maranatha!

Waiting in silence, waiting in hope;
we are your people, we long for new life.
O Key of David, open our hearts.
Give us new vision, Lord, Maranatha!

Waiting in silence, waiting in hope;
we are your people, our hearts thirst for you.
Flower of Jesse, bloom in our midst.
Make us your garden, Lord, Maranatha!

 

[benedictgal]

as horrific as all these examples are, the one song that is enough to make me get up and leave and demand a refund is “Peace is flowing like a river”. That is a Girl Scout song for the campfire, not a liturgical hymn fcol.

Seriously, though, did you guys get inundated with the Great Flood? Laredo is still drying out.

 

[Canto]

But I’m curious, those of you who have eliminated all of these songs from your “good music at mass list” could you provide a list of songs, separated into categories (processional, preperation, communion, communion meditation if needed, recessional) that you would prefer as ideal at mass.

Aside from the approved proppers, if one must sing hymns…

how about the simple setting of Panis Angelicus (St Thomas Aquinas!) by Fr Lambiottie

The bread of angels
becomes the bread of men
the bread of heaven
ends all pre-figurations
O wondrous gift
eats the flesh of the Lord
the pauper, the servant
and the humble

or the simple chant setting of Ave Verum Corpus (Pope Innocent)

Hail, true body
born of the Virgin Mary
truly suffering, sacrificed
on the cross for man
from whose pierced side
flowed water and blood
be for us a foretaste
in the test of death

or Jesu Dulcis Memoria (St Bernard)

Jesus sweet thought
Giving true joy to the heart
But beyond honey and all things
Is his sweet presence

Nothing lovelier is sung
Noting more delightful is heard
Noting sweeter is thought
Than Jesus the Son of God

 

[CatholicZ09]

Although, I would perfer to have “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” as the processional hymn for the First Sunday of Advent, unlike how the processional hymn was “Waiting in Silence” this past Advent. Doesn’t give that “Christmas is coming” feel like “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” does.

 

[benedictgal]

Zec 2:13 Let all flesh be silent at the presence of the Lord: for he is risen up out of his holy habitation.

John 3:13 And no man hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended from heaven, **the Son of man **who is in heaven.

CCC 2084 God’s first call and just demand is that man accept him and worship him.

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her first born son
Rev 19:16 King of Kings and Lord of Lords

John 6:51 and the bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.
Luke 22:20 which shall be shed for you. [on the cross]

Rev 19:5 And a voice came out from the throne, saying: Give praise to our God, all ye his servants: and you that fear him, little and great. 6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of great thunders, saying: Alleluia: for the Lord our God, the Almighty, hath reigned.

Obviously hymns can’t contain eveything and a zillion clarifications but the above hymn is very solid.

Great observations. The hymn is also based on the Liturgy of St. James, 6th century. By the way, Canto, I have a thread on songs with questionable theology.

 

[KostyaJMJ]

They didn’t mention “All Are Welcome” by Marty Haugen. I can’t believe that it didn’t make the list because that has got to be the single worst piece of church music ever written.

I feel sad that these are the only songs that I really recognize as church music. I feel like something was lost because a whole generation of catholics will never experience anything but this dreck.

I had the chance last month to attend a Russian Orthodox service, and I thought the experience was rather moving. The music was really beautiful and moving although it was a little bit challenging because the whole liturgy lasted over 3 hours. The whole Church was shaking from all of the voices and I even think that I actually felt some religious emotions for a second or two. It was so disappointing to learn that I had to return to our musical torture after that experience. I’ll just have to soldier on until I am old enough to simply turn off my hearing aid like the elderly people at mass do.

 

[coolduude]

Here are the lyrics to “Wade in the Water”, just so you guys know what I have to go through:

(Chorus)
Wade in the water.
Wade in the water, children.
Wade in the water.
God’s gonna trouble the water.

Well, who are these children all dressed in red?
God’s a-gonna trouble the water
Must be the children that Moses led
God’s a-gonna trouble the water.

Chorus

Who’s that young girl dressed in white
Wade in the Water
Must be the Children of Israelites
God’s gonna trouble the Water.

Chorus

Jordan’s water is chilly and cold.
God’s gonna trouble the water.
It chills the body, but not the soul.
God’s gonna trouble the water.

Chorus

If you get there before I do.
God’s gonna trouble the water.
Tell all of my friends I’m coming too.
God’s gonna trouble the water.

Chorus

Imagine this at Easter Vigil

By the way- if you’ve never heard this I’m sure you can look it up on YouTube and experience it for yourself

 

[CatholicZ09]

Here are the lyrics to “Wade in the Water”, just so you guys know what I have to go through:

Imagine this at Easter Vigil

By the way- if you’ve never heard this I’m sure you can look it up on YouTube and experience it for yourself

Oh my…“God’s gonna trouble the water”.

That just made me laugh out loud the first time I experienced the song.

 

[CatholicZ09]

I never really cared for “All Are Welcome” that much. It’s used quite often at my parish, though.

 

[benedictgal]

Here are the lyrics to “Wade in the Water”, just so you guys know what I have to go through:

Imagine this at Easter Vigil

By the way- if you’ve never heard this I’m sure you can look it up on YouTube and experience it for yourself

I think I suffered enough trauma during the Easter Vigil having to have suffered through the bongo-drum, paraphrased Exultet.

 

[CatholicZ09]

I think I suffered enough trauma during the Easter Vigil having to have suffered through the bongo-drum, paraphrased Exultet.

I still can’t believe that OCP suggested Bernadette Farrell’s Easter verses of “Christ, Be Our Light” for the Exsultet.