Secular Music

[gomer_tree]

Wampa:

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

I have one song uploaded to a Yahoo! briefcase. If anyone is interested in listening, PM me a Yahoo! ID and I’ll add you to the friends list and send you the address. (Don’t worry, it’s not metal or anything, just not “traditional.”)

 

[Poisson]

Wampa:

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.

Dave Mustaine??? Wow that’s great he is very talented. I used to be a fan in my younger days. I never would have seen that coming. I also read that Brian Setzer became a Catholic which also surprises the heck out of me.
Will our God never stop amazing us??

 

[gomer_tree]

I noticed that Megadeth’s lyrics became more responsible

How in the world can you tell?

Seriously, I love their version of “These Boots.”

These boots are made for stomping
And that’s what they will do
One of these days these boots
Are gonna STOMP all over you!

Ah, yes. The good old days when I actually had time to listen to mindless trash. I mean that in a good way.

 

[yochumjy]

gomer tree:

I have one song uploaded to a Yahoo! briefcase. If anyone is interested in listening, PM me a Yahoo! ID and I’ll add you to the friends list and send you the address. (Don’t worry, it’s not metal or anything, just not “traditional.”)

I’ll put in a plug for this. Gomer Tree has a catchy tune uploaded. He’s not the new Billy Joel mind you, but it’s worth a listen. I guess I’d consider it more light rock…

John

 

[dream_wanderer]

I’m a big U2 fan…

I’m not into comtemporary Christian music all that much…although my husband listens to it a lot.

dream wanderer

 

[gomer_tree]

yochumjy:

I’ll put in a plug for this. Gomer Tree has a catchy tune uploaded. He’s not the new Billy Joel mind you, but it’s worth a listen. I guess I’d consider it more light rock…

John

Thanks, John.

And I’m sure there’ll be more “plugs” to come! How else is some schlub from Wisconsin going to get listened to?

 

[DrCat]

I voted “some is ok…” But it doesn’t really fit with how I really feel. I don’t listen to secular music except when I am with my wife or children or am at a party. I don’t think it is wrong - I just prefer Christian (actually Catholic) music. My wife and kids don’t really like it that much, and sometimes make comments about how I listen to more religious music than priests do - but I just can’t get into secular. (If I don’t have one of my cd’s with me, I just don’t listen to anything (I pray the Rosary instead).

Oh, and as for my kids - I’m sorry, but I just don’t care for Meringue (unless it is on a pie) and the only Salsa I like is made out of tomatoes.

John

 

[Poisson]

dream wanderer:

I’m a big U2 fan…

U2 have alot of Christian references in their music and I don’t think any of it is negative.
“And the battle’s just begun to claim the victory Jesus won”

 

[Veronica_Anne]

Poisson:

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.

The words “mother Mary comes to me” so clearly (to me, anyway, as a devout Catholic) is so obviously referring to the Blessed Virgin Mary that it never occurred to me that Paul McCartney meant to refer to anyone else.

Even though his own mother’s name is Mary.

 

[Veronica_Anne]

weunice:

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?

Exactly!

 

[S_Corda]

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 …

*"Oh yeh, I’ll, tell you something, I think you’ll understand.
When I’ll, say that something, I wanna hold your hand,
I wanna hold your hand, I wanna hold your hand.

Oh please, say to me, you’ll let me be your man,
and please, say to me, you’ll let me hold your hand,
now let me hold your hand, I wanna hold your hand."*

 

[IoA]

dream wanderer:

I’m a big U2 fan…

I’m not into comtemporary Christian music all that much…although my husband listens to it a lot.

dream wanderer

U2 is good stuff.

I, for the most part, dislike Christian music. I look for lyrically driven, complex music, and I just plain don’t find much depth in contemporary Christian, which goes about as far as most modern pop (except at least the contemporary Christian is less morally objectionable)…

 

[karisue]

Dave Mustaine converted? Now that is a miracle!

Wampa:

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.

 

[jeffreedy789]

i didn’t choose any of the options in the poll - none seemed to fit my view.

i see SO MUCH value in ‘secular’ music. there are songs in which i worship God, or experience deep repentance, when i listen to them. songs like ‘i love you’ by donna lewis, or ‘thank you’ by dido, or ‘bent’ by matchbox twenty, or ‘i’m with you’ by avril lavigne. songs like ‘time after time’ by cyndi lauper make me realize how much God loves me - and how He will always be there for me, no matter how many times i screw up.

but besides the overwhelming God aspect of ‘secular’ music, i find so much good in just listening to beautiful words put to beautiful music. songs like ‘one headlight’ by the wallflowers, or ‘freshmen’ by the verve pipe , or ‘torn’ by natalie imbruglia, or ‘barely breathing’ by duncan sheik. when i hear these songs, my soul dances. i experience depth and richness and joy. i LOVE these songs.

and don’t even get me started on u2.

so, while i understand this priest’s concern about the morality behind alot of music today, i would say it’s dangerously unbalanced to say that we should stay away from ‘secular’ music. it creates a false dichotomy - between the ‘sacred’ and the ‘profane’ - that doesn’t apply to the question.

yes, there is bad music out there. there is music about hate and music that makes you want to do all sorts of things you shouldn’t.

but there is SO MUCH good music out there. we’re certainly not called to bury our heads in the sand.

 

[antiaphrodite]

you guys think you have it bad? i’m a frustrated metal fan!!! i like the music, but the lyrics… smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_4.gif

 

[Bobby_Jim]

I think that if you need to deconstruct the song to come up with an anti-Christian message (which is probably the case with the Queen songs I am familiar with), then it’s probably ok in actuality. Because usually when you deconstruct something, you can put any spin you want on it. You could probably put a very pro-Christian spin on “We are the Champions” or “Bohemian Rhapsody” if you tried, even if that wasn’t the artists original intent.

But of course there is some music that’s just not redeemable. My personal vote for the worst music in this regard - not gangsta rap or heavy metal or death metal or black metal or whatever - but some of the “hardcore” punk, as exemplified by the Dead Kennedys - blatantly offensive, virulently anti-Christian, and completely nihilistic, yet waving the flags of free speech and progressive politics. I think it feeds more directly into some of the current “culture wars” much more than the overtly Satanic heavy metal, which has always struck me as kind of ridiculous and sensational.

 

[Fashina86]

I am not completely against it, but when immorality is being sung about or portrayed by the artists, I feel it should be avoided. Music is a huge influence, and therefore, we need to make it moral and good!

God Bless–JMJ
Laura

 

[buffalo]

Positive Music Alternative List

 

[turboEDvo]

I personally do not have a problem with most music. I will be honest, I pitched all of my rap CD’s and deleted my mp3s that had vulgar lyrics in them. I can’t give up classic rock (my dad got me addicted at a very young age), and I am also a huge fan of some modern Christian bands.

Eamon

 

[Lisa_N]

Say would anyone have suggestions for music to send to a soldier in either Iraq or Afghanistan? I am sending a package to “My Soldier” and one of the things they suggest is a CD of music. You are not supposed to send religious music so I’m trying to find something inoffensive from the secular realm. I do not know the soldier who will receive my package as yet so I have no clue about what kind of music he/she likes. A friend who is also doing this project sent some country western “remakes” by the Eagles. That sounded relatively inoffensive and something that has broad appeal.

Any suggestions? “Greatest Hits” of someone? Grammy award winners (yikes will there be rap on that one?). I don’t HAVE to send music but it was one of the items suggested that is hard for the soldiers to get while overseas.

Thanks!

Lisa N