Posted on 05/04/2011 10:18:14 PM PDT by LouAvul
I'm an aspiring guitarist. I like some of Led Zeppelin's music. But Jimmy Page was reputed to have ties with witchcraft and satanism.
Do you see a conflict between Christianity and learning some of their instrumental guitar riffs?
Like, Stairway to Heaven. I kind of got around the question since it's actually "Taurus" by Spirit. But there are other guitar riffs I really like but am bothered by Page's influences.
Roy Clark and Chet Atkins come to mind ;)
“It is a bit like in the 50’s when Rock and Roll was purported to have an “evil satanic jungle beat”. “
Oh. You mean it doesn’t have that any more?
It never did.
Oh.
There's always the chance I'm not entirely kidding. Music is like a drug and works on a subconscious level - that's why armies use it, propagandists use it, native tribes use it, churches use it, capitalists use it to part teens from their cash and buy merchandise to look like some tarted up "pop idol", tyrants censor it, etc. That's why people have driving music, feeling sorry for themselves music, angry music, walking around with their earphones in so they can be amongst people and yet be completely separated from them, lost in a narrative about themselves. Or they can be a part of a big crowd, concert, etc - all tuned in as one.
Music is 1% about the words and 99% about the tune/rhythm/beat/etc. Others can debate whether if you change the lyrics from "Stairway to Heaven" to "Stairway to Jesus" it becomes acceptable Christian worship fare. If it were purely about the will, and not about "losing oneself" in some way, music would not be popular.
amen!
I pretty much agree with that.
My only real variance is that while I think you are 100% dead on that it can be a propaganda tool, I also think one must be pretty weak willed to buy the messages.
I can only speak for myself of course, but as I said in part earlier, I’m a long-time metalhead (80s stuff mostly) and that included a lot of ‘not too nice’ lyrics. I more recently got heavily into electronica, and Trance, a genre designed to lose one’s self and my beliefs have never wavered, nor did the music ever cause me to question it.
I think that if someone is so weak mentally/spiritually as to allow some goofy lyrics from people dressed in leather and spandex to determine their basic values, they have issues rooted far deeper than music a type of music cam be blamed for.
That said, the only reason this particular issue really gets me is that I know people whose families were so strict regarding the music their children listened to that they drove those children away forever. In those cases, there were other issues at work, but it was music that got the blame. I would just hate to see that general attitude/mentality (not pointing a finger at you) repeated (though I know it is every day somewhere)
Actually, so do Tommy Emmanuel and Brian Setzer. I heard Emmanuel in concert and was so blown away I almost donated my guitars to charity.
It never did. A beat or rhythm is not evil. Words, thoughts and actions can be, but not notes and sounds/rhythms.
And how about that backwards lyrics thing. :D
Actually, you and I are on the same page here. I just threw it out there for discussion. It reminds me of what Paul said to, I think it was the Romans, when he tried to clarify admonishing them not to hang around those that practiced sin. I paraphrase, but it was something like this: When I said that I meant BROTHERS in the Lord that are practicing sin, not non-Christians. Otherwise you would seal yourselves off from the world, and that would be ridiculous.
Tommy Emmanuel is impressive!
I saw Setzer/Stray Cats at the Gran Olde Opry in 83 at the peak of their popularity. Even in his youth he was a monster.
The bassist was so plowed he literally couldn’t stand up, but Stezer and the drummer basically did a duo act and tore it up big time.
I’d like to hear him live but most of his performances are overseas. I read that he wasn’t really accepted here. I find that hard to believe.
I know he does the Brian Setzer Orchestra stuff alot around the holidays, but I’m not too sure what his overall touring has been like. Every time I see one of his vids though he plays to a packed house so I know there’s love here for him.
The overseas market seems to love our truly talented... players like Steve Vai, Devin Townsend (I highly recommend any guitarist look his solo work up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrxmrS9FIzc ) Marty Friedman/ex-Megedeth and Paul Gilbert/ex-Current RacerX. Japan especially. Sadly, most American audiences would rather listen to top 40 Rap stuff than actual talent.
One of my all-time favorite performances (and bear in mind I’m NOT a major blues fan, though I like/appreciate it) was BB King in Laughlin NV a bout 5 years ago. Man just blew my mind. He’s up there in years and had to be helped on/off the stage, but once he got ‘Lucielle’ in hand, Granny bar the door, he burnt the place down ;)
Question. Should you be listening too those things? I’m not saying I don’t. But should we be? If the chief aim of man is to glorify God and enjoy HIM forever; and if we are to do all things to the glory of God - how does listening to There’s a tear in my Beer glorify God.
Now, listening to someone who openly worships the Devil ratchets it up a bit. That’s like saying, yeah, I know that those prophets of Baal are drawing millions of the souls you created into eternal punishment and that blaspheming you is really no big deal to them; but, hey, they have great music. Doesn’t work.
Uh, why are the roots bad? Read the lyrics. Read the statements concerning the devil of the musicians. If you can’t figure it out, I can’t help.
>>Uh, why are the roots bad? Read the lyrics. Read the statements concerning the devil of the musicians.<<
The lyrics are what matter. All men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. This includes not only musicians, but architects, car mechanics, preachers, burger flippers, you name it. So where I look for things to abstain from is in their product. It is one reason I don’t like AC/DC, but can enjoy the music of other bands in the same genre. What matters - ALL that matters - to me is the content of the lyrics. And I know nothing of the past of many of these musicians just as I know nothing of the religious beliefs of the guy making my nachos at the Mexican restaurant.
The music will make you ignore lyrics, however. A beautiful melody like Stairway to Heaven or Bohemian Rhapsody hides some sinister lyrics. Imagine is another one. Sorry, both play a role.
>>The music will make you ignore lyrics, however.<<
I disagree.
>>A beautiful melody like Stairway to Heaven or Bohemian Rhapsody hides some sinister lyrics. Imagine is another one.<<
I agree, except for Stairway to Heaven. I have no idea what those lyrics mean. Their meaning is in the ear of the listener.
>>Sorry, both play a role.<<
I disagree.
Titus 1:15
From the Amplified® Bible
“To the pure [in heart and conscience] all things are pure, but to the defiled {and} corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are defiled {and} polluted.”
I would say to you that if you’re not feeling purity in heart and conscience, then don’t play their music. I myself don’t have a problem with the songs musically, but lyrically I have to make some corrections to perform them.
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