Secular Music

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I was listening to a radio program where a priest was being interviewed who was suggesting that most if not all secular music is evil. He mentioned a few examples, he said that Queen songs are all about homosexuality and Hotel California glamorizes hell to name a few. He most songs have underlying themes of sex, drugs or satanic messages. Even if they are not overt there are things that your subconcious will pick up on.
Last week I was reading Jimmy Akins blog and he said that you can refuse to accept the subtext of a song I quote: “I can take the song in whatever sense I want in the privacy of my own mind…”
His example was “Looking Out My Back Door” by CCR. There are many many songs which could fit this bill.
So what do you think. Where do we draw the line at what we will accept in secular music.
 
There are some songs that are obviously intended to cause offence and I usually try not to listen to those. I certainly won’t buy them intentionally. An old example (from the early 1990s) is Cop Killer by Ice Tea. That was a purely offensive song. I’m sure there are more modern examples but I couldn’t think of one off the top of my head.

There are other songs that contain bad language but, if you think deeply about their lyrics, are in essence saying something good about someone (Sexy M.F. by Prince is an example here - really good, powerful beat and melody, reasonably clean message in the song but filthy lyrics used to express that message).

Other songs I avoid because the people who write or sing them offend. Such as anything by Pearl Jam (Eddie Vedder is a fairly loud pro-abortion person and I don’t like his attitude in that area).

I wouldn’t say Queen’s songs are all about homosexual acts. Most of their hits are about all sorts of different things and a large number of them are absolute classics. Radio Ga-Ga, Under Pressure, Crazy Little Thing Called Love. Only three examples of a huge catalogue and all of them are interesting, wholesome-sounding songs. Freddie Mercury was a homosexual but that didn’t stop the more famous of his band’s songs being richly detailed, highly ‘musical’ pieces.
 
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Philip76:
I wouldn’t say Queen’s songs are all about homosexual acts. Most of their hits are about all sorts of different things and a large number of them are absolute classics. Radio Ga-Ga, Under Pressure, Crazy Little Thing Called Love. Only three examples of a huge catalogue and all of them are interesting, wholesome-sounding songs. Freddie Mercury was a homosexual but that didn’t stop the more famous of his band’s songs being richly detailed, highly ‘musical’ pieces.
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Generally I like Queen and even though a song like “We Are The Champions” MAY be about victories in the homosexual agenda, that is not obvious in the lyrics and I choose not to listen to it in that way. Although there were alot of rumors about Freddy but none were confirmed until he was on his death bed.
 
There is a lot of secular music that I like (or used to like). I simply don’t listen to it anymore. There are two Christian radio stations available in our area and I if I am listening to the radio I listen to those. I believe that formation is taking place at all times. We are either being formed by the world or by our faith and our Church. While much secular music is not overtly offensive I find that many of the disc jockeys are. Try listening to a good Christian station (or cd’s & tapes) for a couple of months and then go back to the secular stuff. If you’re like me, you’ll switch right back to Christian music.
 
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johnchapter6:
Try listening to a good Christian station (or cd’s & tapes) for a couple of months and then go back to the secular stuff. If you’re like me, you’ll switch right back to Christian music.
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I have tried to listen to the one Christian music station and just could not get into it. The music just did not appeal to me. It sounded like Brittany Spears or Christina Aguillera with Christian lyrics. I would not listen to that stuff no matter what they were singing about.
 
Queen wasn’t all about homosexuality, i think the only song closely related would be Bohemian Rhapsody, which is more of Freddy Mercury’s struggle with his homosexuality. Hotel california is about a brothel, not hell. I think that as long as the song isn’t overtly blashpemous, like having the title of “God is dead” or something like that, than it’s fine as long as you analyze the text of the song. Sometimes an artist will hide the meaning of the song within it’s words so what you think it may mean, it may not be it at all. What you percieve as satanic may be actually a devotion to God. Maybe not that but along those lines.
 
I listen to a lot of secular music, rock/alternative mainly. The lyrics are always of interest to me, because I think it gives us an idea of what is really going on in some people worlds. I find a lot of songs that while the subject is twisted from Gods desire, there is a core meaning that is good and I either focus on that and try to untwist the lyrics or listen once just to hear what the songwriter is trying to say. There are some songs that I just can’t listen to because of the lyrics, either because I find them overtly offensive or I don’t readily see a way to untwist it in my mind. Sometimes I just turn off the radio and pray, but lately I try to listen and pray to a CD reciting the rosary for most of my drive, then listen to a secular CD or the radio for the remainder.

Whether you like the lyrics or not, it does give an indication of what both young adults and adults are thinking/doing these days. I just hope people take a good listen and try to fix some of the harmful things that are being sung about instead of celebrating them…

John
 
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raphaela:
Queen wasn’t all about homosexuality, i think the only song closely related would be Bohemian Rhapsody, which is more of Freddy Mercury’s struggle with his homosexuality.
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Maybe maybe not. When I listen to a song by Melissa Etheridge, there are some very sensual lyrics, I can listen to them and apply them to my relationship to my wife even though I am certain she was writting them about her lesbian lover. Something like we are the Champions is usually used in a sport context however it would be safe to say that Freddie was writting about the homosexual struggle since he cared nothing about sport.
 
I couldn’t find the perfect category for me. I put “only overtly… avoided” although that is probably a shade too liberal for me - but it was the closest.

I have a huuuuuuge music collection from my younger days, nearly all secualr music, and a darn good chunk of it hard rock and heavy metal. I started listening to Christian Music because - even though that 80’s stuff may not be the most moral, it was just kind of ridiculous stuff that didn’t take itself too seriously. But as the 90s progressed, the music just got way too blatant, the heavy metal turned into “death metal” and I just overall lost my taste for secular music.

Now, I have a pretty good collection of Christian music. Sorry to say, I just have not found much good Catholic stuff (not the style I like, anyway). I’m recording a CD right now that I hope breaks the mold a little bit, but there just may not be a market for it.

Now, I generally listen to Christian Music, but I don’t think I’m immoral by whipping out a Queensryche CD and jamming to the old tunes, either. I’m just careful about staying away from certain items in my collection when the kids are around.
 
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Poisson:
Maybe maybe not. When I listen to a song by Melissa Etheridge, there are some very sensual lyrics, I can listen to them and apply them to my relationship to my wife even though I am certain she was writting them about her lesbian lover. Something like we are the Champions is usually used in a sport context however it would be safe to say that Freddie was writting about the homosexual struggle since he cared nothing about sport.
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Kind of an interesting point. If someone wrote a song that they meant to imply to one thing, and other people apply it to something else, isn’t that kind of similar to Catholics adopting pagan holidays and using them to promote Christianity? (I know it’s not exactly the same, but how about the general concept?)
 
gomer tree:
Kind of an interesting point. If someone wrote a song that they meant to imply to one thing, and other people apply it to something else, isn’t that kind of similar to Catholics adopting pagan holidays and using them to promote Christianity? (I know it’s not exactly the same, but how about the general concept?)
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A great example of this is “Let It Be” by the Beatles, Paul McCartney wrote it about his mother but it is so applicable to our Blessed Mother that some people think it was the original intent.
 
To me songs that are immoral are rejected but if I were to extend that to immoral artists I would have to reject almost everything I listen to as would most everyone here … Christian artists included.

90% of what I listen to is instrumental (mostly jazz, classical and electronica) so lyrics are hardly a concern for me.

Here is my opinion. People, having been created in the image of God are capable of glorious songs in and of themselves. When they devote their gifts to the Lord they allow themselves to excel but raw gifts and talent can be seen in very thoroughly secular folks and those gifts are a glory to God even if they are employed by those ignorant of God. When you go see a symphony performed, you have no idea what the lives of the performers are like. Chances are there are some pretty wretched folks up on stage. Does that make Bach’s Magnificat any less glorious to hear performed?
 
I think that secular music in general has just gotten way out of hand, especially in the last 10 years or so…Sure, rock n’roll has always been about immorality, but growing up as a kid in the 80s I don’t remember any songs on the radio using the “f” word every five seconds.

What’s worse is it is rubbing off on people, especially little kids. I recently had a “conversation” with my two 9 year old cousins who come from good Catholic families, and I was shocked by some of things they were talking about. I heard things coming out of their mouths that I didn’t even know about when I was their age. And if you ask them who their “artists” (and I use that term loosely) are, its Britney, Christina, Pink, 50 cent, Eminem, etc, etc.
 
I think secular music is ok as long as it’s not offensive. In fact there are a handful of ‘secular’ songs that are very spiritual for me.
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Poisson:
I have tried to listen to the one Christian music station and just could not get into it. The music just did not appeal to me. It sounded like Brittany Spears or Christina Aguillera with Christian lyrics. I would not listen to that stuff no matter what they were singing about.
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I hear that. Just because it’s “christian” music doesn’t mean it’s ‘good’ music.

Years ago I met a group of guys who listened to christian music. One in particular said he just recently cut out all secular music. We had a lengthy discussion about it and as I told him about bands that I liked, he told me their ‘christian alternative’ if you will. He turned me on to Phil Keaggy (and Glass Harp) and I’d love thank you.

Doug, wherever you are, God bless you!
 
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weunice:
To me songs that are immoral are rejected but if I were to extend that to immoral artists I would have to reject almost everything I listen to as would most everyone here … Christian artists included.
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When I referred to “immoral artists” I do not mean those who are sinners because everyone fits into that category. Those to whom I am referring are people who are actively involved in promoting things like abortion, homosexuality etc… People like Marilyn Manson, Madonna, and some of the gangsta rap guys.
 
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Philip76:
Other songs I avoid because the people who write or sing them offend. Such as anything by Pearl Jam (Eddie Vedder is a fairly loud pro-abortion person and I don’t like his attitude in that area).
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This made me think about about another question, what about artists who used to be somewhat offensive but are no longer? I’m specifically thinking about Alice Cooper. I seen an interview with him where he has embraced Christianity and he seemed really sincere. He said he cut anything out of his shows that would be offensive in a Christian sense and changes a few lyrics on some of his songs when performing live. I’ve read elsewhere that he goes to church regularly and supports alot of good Christian causes and is a really nice guy.
 
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Poisson:
This made me think about about another question, what about artists who used to be somewhat offensive but are no longer? I’m specifically thinking about Alice Cooper.
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Another example would be Dave Mustaine of Megadeth. He was known as one of the most out of control guys in music (he got kicked out of Metallica for excessive drinking, which is really bad when you realize that Metallica’s MO is excessive drinking - they have often been called Alcoholica). In recent years, Dave has converted strongly to Christianity. I noticed that Megadeth’s lyrics became more responsible.
 
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Poisson:
This made me think about about another question, what about artists who used to be somewhat offensive but are no longer? I’m specifically thinking about Alice Cooper. I seen an interview with him where he has embraced Christianity and he seemed really sincere. He said he cut anything out of his shows that would be offensive in a Christian sense and changes a few lyrics on some of his songs when performing live. I’ve read elsewhere that he goes to church regularly and supports alot of good Christian causes and is a really nice guy.
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My Unlce lives in the same neighborhood as Alice, and says that he was really a good dad who was involved at the local school and did all the normal “dad” stuff. Didn’t get into religion, per se. But I think a lot of “those” kind of artists have a stage persona that is separate from their “real life” persona.

Phil Keaggy is cool. Kudos there.

Anyone here like DC Talk? One of the few Christian bands I would submit into the “near-genius” category.
 
gomer tree:
I’m recording a CD right now that I hope breaks the mold a little bit, but there just may not be a market for it…
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You know that you have a built-in market here! Make sure that you let us know about it when it happens. 🙂

To anyone who mentioned looking for good Christian (harder) stuff, check out my thread about my current favorite band Theocracy:

“Theocracy: excellent Christian metal band” in Family Life section
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=5311

BTW, I’ve been reading a lot of music threads in Miscellaneous. I think that they should be in Family Life (see forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=2226). Just a friendly heads-up for future thread starters 😃
 
gomer tree:
My Unlce lives in the same neighborhood as Alice, and says that he was really a good dad who was involved at the local school and did all the normal “dad” stuff. Didn’t get into religion, per se. But I think a lot of “those” kind of artists have a stage persona that is separate from their “real life” persona.
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I seen an interview on TV with David Cassidy who was saying he and Alice Cooper were at their hight of populatity at the same time he was the clean cut kid and Alice was seen as a monster because of their stage personas but in reality if they had switched stage personas it would have more closely matched their personal lives.
 
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