Least Favorite Songs at Mass

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The one at the bottom of my favorite list is Lift High The Cross. Reminds me of a college fight song.

My very favorite is Behold The Lamb Of God. Very powerful and moving.
 
During Advent it was “Every Valley Shall Be Exalted.” Although I like the fact that it’s taken directly out of Scripture (it’s also one of the songs in Handel’s Messiah), the new tune was just too light and jumpy, like something out of a Disney cartoon. That and the woman behind me (God bless her) that was singing it so out of tune while most people kept their mouths shut just made a depressing entrance hymn.

I guess any hymn can sound bad when people don’t sing along.

I do like “You Are Near” though, maybe because people do sing along. And I leave you with this nice a cappella version of this song (plays on Real Player).
 
Lord of the dance is the worst . . I dont really like any of those nature type of hymns.
 
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teresas1979:
The reason why many of these more “popular” are sung at Mass is for the youth. They are the future of the Church. Why do people have to be so pompous about how we sing. If we praise the Lord does it really matter?
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Not pompous. “Proper” is more like it.

Lex orandi, lex credendi, and this applies to music as well. As for the youth, we owe it to them to recognize the sacred and lift up their hearts to the supernatural, rather than letting them remain in the world, even at Mass. That’s why we need “Sacred” music. Sacred = holy = set apart. We don’t do the youth a service by buckling.
 
Nick P.:
My vote for least favorite(s):
Gather Us In
Eagle’s Wings (way overdone)
We Come to tell His story
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Actually if the hymn was “We come to tell His story” it would be okay, in spite of the insipid melody, but the words are “We come to share Our Story, we come to break the bread, we come to know Our rising from the dead”. Wrong. we come to listen to the Word of God, worship Jesus in His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity and receive Him in communion with the whole church, and through this recognize and celebrate his passion and resurrection.
 
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Annunciata:
I’m sorry to disagree with on your 1st post, but I LOVE “Lord of The Dance” especially when accompanied by guitar. I really can’t think of any church music I don’t like…
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Oh, please. “It’s hard to dance with the devil on your back,” is the kind of cute liric for a pop song.

John
 
My vote is “Rain Down”. The words are good, but it’s the tune I really can’t stand. I
 
There are a few songs that I do not like, but that is not what irks me.

What Irks me is that it seems the cantor at my new parish is a Soprano and the music is scored for her. Being a Bass/Baritone, it make it impossible for me to sing many of the songs unless I know the Bass/Baritone for the particular song. Fortunately, the versions of the Acclamation (Holy, Holy, Holy) and the Lamb of God are one that I know the Bass/Baritone for.

PF
 
I actually like the “Lord of the Dance” and am not familiar with the second song you dislike. Offhand, I can not think of any songs I dislike at mass. I will try to remember this thread if I hear one I don’t like.
 
Wow! As I did my Catholic schooling during the liturgical “breakout” years between 1971-1987, this thread has brought back LOTS of memories, both good and bad. Many of the songs mentioned might be OK for youth Masses, but I can’t stand hearing most of them. It seems the songs are getting sappier and sappier. I’m in agreement with those who scorn the Haugen/Haas songs and I have someone to add: Ricky Manolo. I don’t know who he is other than he wrote several songs (in 1997! images/icons/icon9.gif) that have een sung the last several weeks. I cringe when I hear them.

For those who can appreciate parody and satire, I came across this blogwhich I found hysterical. My suggestion is to scroll down to the bottom of the page to the start of the blog. The early entries and song parodies are priceless. Here is just a part of the “On Eagle’s Wings” parody:

"You who are sitting in a chair or in a pew
Or are standing back there by the door,
Say to the Lord, “God help me, I can’t take this any more!”
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        And He will drown it out with flapping things,
        Unplug the mikes, break guitar strings,
        Short out the speakers and the amps
        And trip every circuit breaker in the box.
…

visit the site for the rest…and enjoy!
 
amazing grace,

lord of the dance,
i am the bread of life, o god our help in ages past, basic prot songs…
 
Without a doubt it has to be “O Come O Come Emmanuel” (as I’ve posted in other places before). Perhaps it stems from my 2nd grade music teacher, a tone deaf old nun who used to screech “O Cooommeee O Cooommee EEEEman-you-ELLL” at the top of her lungs. Truly excruciating, I’ll hate that song until my dying day!

Peace…
 
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tpmjr42:
For those who can appreciate parody and satire, I came across this blogwhich I found hysterical. My suggestion is to scroll down to the bottom of the page to the start of the blog. The early entries and song parodies are priceless. Here is just a part of the “On Eagle’s Wings” parody:

"You who are sitting in a chair or in a pew
Or are standing back there by the door,
Say to the Lord, “God help me, I can’t take this any more!”

And He will drown it out with flapping things,
Unplug the mikes, break guitar strings,
Short out the speakers and the amps
And trip every circuit breaker in the box.
…

visit the site for the rest…and enjoy!
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That’s great!
 
I think the manner in which the song is played and sung has a lot to do with my reaction to any song. For as long as I can remember the hymn held at ceremonies to crown Mary (“O Mary, we crown thee with blossoms today…”) was always done at the tempo of a dirge rather than a song of joy. Last year, for the first time, I heard it performed at an upbeat, joyous, triumphant pace, suitable for the crowning of the “Queen of the angels”. It was terrific, and I felt as if I was hearing the song for the first time.
 
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Edwin1961:
When I returned to the Byzantine Catholic Church, I found the songs rather shorter and to the point in lyric content…and of course we sing (chant) the Psalms.

However now in the Byzantine Rite, I mostly feel uncomfortable about the off key singing and lack of not singing the Tones in the correct melody.
Go with God!
Edwin
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Well, the good news is that the Byzantines have modestly rewritten the words and lyrics to better fit English. For amateur singers like me, it’s hard to understand that the melodies (modes) were made to fit language patterns. When the Byzantines shifted from Ruthenian to English, they ran into this problem. But the good news is that it is being fixed! It will be better as the Church learns the new versions.

As for my my least favorite songs at Mass, the good audience at this forum has covered my least favorites in spades. I would only say that I am sure that the composers of all of those pieces in their hearts felt they were praising God…even if we don’t enjoy their art!!
 
I have trouble with “The King of Glory”, probably because our choir insists on accompanying it with a tanbourine. I can’t get used to 70+ year old women banging a tambourine. Now the image is in my head no matter where I hear the song.
 
For all of you who hate “Happy the Man” (See message # 161 from Tantum ergo), I need your help. That was my father’s FAVORITE song. His funeral is in two weeks and my family is frantically searching for the music/lyrics to this song. Ironically, the ONLY reference I found after an exhausing google search was message #161. PLEEEEEASE…if any one knows where I can find the words/music for Happy the Man (See Message # 161) please contact me at kevin.carrigan@us.army.mil. thanks and God bless…Kevin
 
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kevin.carrigan:
For all of you who hate “Happy the Man” (See message # 161 from Tantum ergo), I need your help. That was my father’s FAVORITE song. His funeral is in two weeks and my family is frantically searching for the music/lyrics to this song. Ironically, the ONLY reference I found after an exhausing google search was message #161. PLEEEEEASE…if any one knows where I can find the words/music for Happy the Man (See Message # 161) please contact me at kevin.carrigan@us.army.mil. thanks and God bless…Kevin
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I just sent the info to your address. The song is published by GIA.
 
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Bugsfan:
I have trouble with “The King of Glory”, probably because our choir insists on accompanying it with a tanbourine. I can’t get used to 70+ year old women banging a tambourine. Now the image is in my head no matter where I hear the song.
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The organist at my childhood parish used to play “The King of Glory” at about 1/3 tempo. I thought it was the dreariest thing I’d ever heard. 😦

Until I heard the same thing done to “Gather Us In.” :eek:
 
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