Listening to certain songs

[grandfather]

So because I listen to Rock N Roll music, my life is heading south rather quickly?

No.

Why? Because I’m choosing not to live the lifestyle that many people live. The music does not do anything to people as much as the lifestyle. According to your logic, rappers are all murderers. Talk to Grits or Toby Mac, then get back to me.

Once again. It’s not the music people choose to play or listen to, it’s the lifestyle people choose to live.

None of us know whose life is heading south, north or the fate of our souls. We do know that how we live determines that. Jesus said we will be judged by EVERY word that comes out of our mouths. Nothing is inconsequential. There is no doubt that music is an influence on us. It is a powerful influence, whatever style it is. It can make us feel happy, sad (blue), erotic, peaceful, etc., all the range of human emotions. It can make people want to dance. Strippers take off their clothing to music. It is powerful stuff. If it moves us to be disposed to one emotion or another then that can be good or evil. There are some parts of our nature we need to control and do not need any help to make them get out of control.

I have personally seen a lot of tragedy in the music game. Public figures have had tragic ends to their lives, from suicides and overdoses and many more are addicted.

So the argument is made that since Mozart became a Freemason or Beethoven was a drunk that makes Rock music harmless and we should overlook the horrible fates of so many rock musicians. It proves that listening to the music of a suicidal maniac on drugs is harmless. Yep, the lyrics of the rappers about hos and murder and rape are perfectly healthy. Twelve yearolds should not be warned that listening to Kurt Cobain is dangerous.

 

[UndertheRadar]

The reason that people avoid certain literature is they see that it is harmful to their souls. The same is true of certain music. They think there is spiritual danger there.

Should people just enjoy pornographic literature and not worry about it? Certain music will enflame the same passions, and others as well. Christians who are striving to live holy lives are careful about what they indulge in. They know ther is danger in the world and try to avoid it. Some souls perish who are not careful.

Everything in this life either moves your soul closer to God or further away. Whenever people engage in things they enjoy, but that are harmful, they tell themselves these things are harmless.

Rock and roll is not just music. It is a lifestyle and those artists who achive success there are anti-Christ. Their lifestyle is Anti-Christ, sex, drugs and rock and roll. If you are influenced by them and their music you put your soul in jeopardy. But if you enjoy being agitated, having certain passions enflamed, and are drawn into their music you will tell yourself it is harmless and there is no danger there.

I applaud this wisdom. No one is condemning anyone else who listens to rock, but as grandfather has said, it is a very dangerous path that I’m not sure that God is pleased with. Most of it is opposed to God, and if one wants to spend eternity with Him, I would advise that person to steer clear of that which is opposed to your Maker.

" No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. "
~Luke 16:13

I don’t see how one can honestly say that they acknowledge that the songs have immoral themes to them but then say that it is ok to listen to them. Huh? Why?

 

[CTA1967]

So the argument is made that since Mozart became a Freemason or Beethoven was a drunk that makes Rock music harmless and we should overlook the horrible fates of so many rock musicians. It proves that listening to the music of a suicidal maniac on drugs is harmless. Yep, the lyrics of the rappers about hos and murder and rape are perfectly healthy. Twelve yearolds should not be warned that listening to Kurt Cobain is dangerous.

So are you suggesting that listening to Mozart’s and Beethoven’s music will lead to Freemasonry and alcoholism?

 

[edwest2]

remember, radio wasn’t formatted the way it is now. DJs had a lot of discretion on what music to choose. I grew up listening to Boss Radio in L.A.

And your point is what? Most rock & roll was life affirming, love affirming and fun. Not the junk currently passing as rock.

Peace,
Ed

 

[CTA1967]

Not the junk currently passing as rock.

Amen!

 

[edwest2]

So because I listen to Rock N Roll music, my life is heading south rather quickly?

No.

Why? Because I’m choosing not to live the lifestyle that many people live. The music does not do anything to people as much as the lifestyle. According to your logic, rappers are all murderers. Talk to Grits or Toby Mac, then get back to me.

Once again. It’s not the music people choose to play or listen to, it’s the lifestyle people choose to live.

Speaking as a professional writer, I am responsible for every word I write. The music does affect people. The words do affect people. You don’t need to know anything about a guy, or his band, to pick up a clue from something titled Sympathy for the Devil. Give me a break.

Peace,
Ed

 

[InNomineDomini]

If I don’t agree with the lyrics, yet I like the music, and I’m not being tempted by the lyrics, am I committing a sin when I listen to these songs?

I assume you despise, from a moral perspective, lyrics which intellectually defend or else admire behaviours, acts, or plans for society which contradict your own opinions, passions, and dutifully held beliefs. I find it difficult to believe, then, that someone would, for the sake of entertainment, expose themselves to lyrics that they inherently despise, provided that they find the music enjoyable.

For example, if a rival of yours provided a witty yet defamatory satire song of your dearly loved mother’s personality, would you in turn respond inwardly by admiring the melody, the chord progression, and the capacity of the bassist’s musical understanding of tone and rhythm? Nonsense. You would instead become angry, and turn such music off.

I can therefore only assume that the lyrics you cryptically reference are ones which you primarily either (a) somewhat disagree with, but feel the writer is entitled to their opinion, and can empathise with their position; or else (b) you do not disagree with them at all.

Of course, examples might be of some value in determining a thoughtful response to your question.

 

[Wirraway]

And your point is what? Most rock & roll was life affirming, love affirming and fun. Not the junk currently passing as rock.

Peace,
Ed

my point is that hearing whatever sunshine pop song you remember hearing on a radio on a “rock” station doesn’t mean it was rock because of the lack of format at the time.

my other point is that most rock wasn’t, and isn’t, life affirming, love affirming bowdlerized fun.

 

[Wirraway]

Speaking as a professional writer, I am responsible for every word I write. The music does affect people. The words do affect people. You don’t need to know anything about a guy, or his band, to pick up a clue from something titled Sympathy for the Devil. Give me a break.

Peace,
Ed

its only rock and roll. stop looking for reasons to be offended. do you even know what *Sympathy for the devil *is about???

 

[Padilla7921]

Jesus said we will be judged by EVERY word that comes out of our mouths. Nothing is inconsequential. There is no doubt that music is an influence on us. It is a powerful influence, whatever style it is. It can make us feel happy, sad (blue), erotic, peaceful, etc., all the range of human emotions. It can make people want to dance. Strippers take off their clothing to music. It is powerful stuff. If it moves us to be disposed to one emotion or another then that can be good or evil. There are some parts of our nature we need to control and do not need any help to make them get out of control.

There’s nothing to agree about here…what you’ve said is 100% true.

However, at some point, people have control over how much they are influenced by music. It is illogical to say that someone does something just because “the music told him to” (unless, of course, the lyrical content of the music specifically suggests doing something), or something along those lines.

Everything can be influential in some way. However, at some point, it becomes the responsibility of the individual to moderate exactly what things influence his (or her) life.

 

[edwest2]

my point is that hearing whatever sunshine pop song you remember hearing on a radio on a “rock” station doesn’t mean it was rock because of the lack of format at the time.

my other point is that most rock wasn’t, and isn’t, life affirming, love affirming bowdlerized fun.

I spent 1960 to 1964, with a radio practically glued to my ear. Rock Around the Clock anyone? All of Elvis’ songs? Please. Don’t give anyone the impression here that rock & roll was anything else. My collection of 45s represented the most played and most popular songs. And most of them were about love - true love - not sex.

I collected the lists published by the local rock radio stations of the time. These were songs any Catholic in good conscience could listen to and that, along with their craftsmanship, is what made them popular. Today, the 180 degree opposite is being marketed as “music.” Ugh!

Peace,
Ed

 

[Wirraway]

I spent 1960 to 1964, with a radio practically glued to my ear. Rock Around the Clock anyone? All of Elvis’ songs? Please. Don’t give anyone the impression here that rock & roll was anything else. My collection of 45s represented the most played and most popular songs. And most of them were about love - true love - not sex.

I collected the lists published by the local rock radio stations of the time. These were songs any Catholic in good conscience could listen to and that, along with their craftsmanship, is what made them popular. Today, the 180 degree opposite is being marketed as “music.” Ugh!

Peace,
Ed

a lot of lyrics just flew over your head. no offense, but they did.

 

[edwest2]

its only rock and roll. stop looking for reasons to be offended. do you even know what *Sympathy for the devil *is about???

“looking for reasons to be offended”? Why not? If you’re not a Christian or don’t believe in the Ten Commandments then I understand why you don’t get it.

I heard Sympathy for the Devil when it first came out. Ed Sullivan wouldn’t allow Jagger and company to sing “let’s spend the night together” on his show, they had to change it to “let’s spend some time together.” I hope you can understand why.

Peace,
Ed

 

[Wirraway]

“looking for reasons to be offended”? Why not? If you’re not a Christian or believe in the Ten Commandments then I understand why you don’t get it.

I heard Sympathy for the Devil when it first came out. Ed Sullivan wouldn’t allow Jagger and company to sing “let’s spend the night together” on his show, they had to change it to “let’s spend some time together.” I hope you can understand why.

Peace,
Ed

yes, if Jagger et al had actually said, “let’s spend the night together”, thousands, millions of teens would have slept together that very night.

apart from ridiculous pressure from parents (another proof of the rebellious nature of rock) which translates into sponsor revenue, no, I don’t understsand the need.

 

[CTA1967]

a lot of lyrics just flew over your head. no offense, but they did.

Er… I still don’t quite get this claim you keep making.

 

[grandfather]

So are you suggesting that listening to Mozart’s and Beethoven’s music will lead to Freemasonry and alcoholism?

It clearly does not. I am suggesting that a high percentage of those who are devotees of Rock music get involved in the destructive lifestyle it espouses. They admire the artists and imitate them. They dress like them. They embrace their ideals and the music influences them to do this. They take the same drugs and pattern their lives after the behavior they see in those they idolize. This is a fact. People immitate what they admire.

It is a matter of percentages. Not everyone who drives drunk will kill someone and be convicted of manslaughter. If someone is an alcoholic and drives drunk and is a respectable person in the community, a great physician, this does not prove drunk driving is harmless.

At one point there was a man who lived in my neighborhood who was a heroin addict. He spent a lot of time in prison. I tried to evangelize him and failed. He told me about other addicts he knew. One was a research scientist in a university lab and had been on heroin for many years. To him this was absolute proof that you could use the drug for pleasure and not have it destory your life. He also knew a black man who was 75 years old who used heroin for forty some ondd years. More proof there was no correlation between drug use and anything bad. He looked like death. The reason his life was hell was not due to being an addict, but because the government unjustly persecuted drug abusers.

 

[edwest2]

a lot of lyrics just flew over your head. no offense, but they did.

I think other people, not just you, really want to believe that. That, somehow, us kids were not intelligent enough or not sophisticated enough, to pick up on some of those double meanings or other meanings. We were warned about certain songs. We picked up on adult conversations. Catholic reacted rather strongly when John Lennon made a comparison between the popularity of the Beatles and Jesus Christ.

I was there. I know those songs by heart, and most of my favorites include the words, I love you, sung in earnest and with sincerity.

Peace,
Ed

 

[EdWasHere]

I think it would very close to being a sin even if one does not act on it.
I think it best to stay completely away from music that in anyway supports sins such as fornication, self-please or hate of people and or a certain race. Or music that puts women down…Pray about it and stay away from it. You’ll be a better Catholic.

 

[Wirraway]

Er… I still don’t quite get this claim you keep making.

I could cherrypick endlessly, but, songwriters were notorious for masking meaning to avoid radio censors …what do you think the Martha and the Vandellas song *Heatwave *was about? Summer of 69? the song Groovin’?

 

[Wirraway]

I think other people, not just you, really want to believe that. That, somehow, us kids were not intelligent enough or not sophisticated enough, to pick up on some of those double meanings or other meanings. …

the double meanings were for the kids, ed.