Posted on 08/17/2003 9:06:04 PM PDT by xzins
By Brian Bowers, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Sunday, August 17, 2003
MercyMe’s “I Can Only Imagine” has been all over mainstream radio. Superchic(k) provided more music for “Legally Blonde 2.” And Stacie Orrico is a staple on MTV’s “Total Request Live.”
Contemporary Christian music is very popular this summer — but you wouldn’t know it from the news media. Journalists generally aren’t interested in topics involving religion unless there’s a whiff of scandal. Perhaps that’s why a reader asked how to find out what’s topping the genre’s charts.
I can fill part of that vacuum by adding a list of best-sellers to the bottom of this column from now on. Fans will have to turn to the Web to fill in the rest.
The best source is Billboard magazine, but you normally can’t get to its listings on the Internet unless you are a subscriber. If you’re really into it, go to www.billboard.com and sign up.
R&R magazine keeps track of radio airplay. Its Christian listings are at: www.rronline.com/Formats/christ_home.htm.
If you are simply interested in news and trends, check out the site for CCM magazine at www.ccmmagazine.com or the Musicforce page at the site for Christian Book Distributors at www.christianbook.com.
Disc tip
“Testify to Love: The Very Best of Avalon,” Avalon. This adult-contemporary group has made a lot of fans happy by putting all of its best music on one CD. With its 12 hits spread among six albums, listeners had to take the good with a lot of so-so. Now, they can focus on the best — with only a little so-so mixed in. “In Not Of,” “Adonai,” “Testify To Love” and the other hits are still catchy and uplifting but the three new songs seem relatively routine. The best is “New Day,” which contains the harmonies and sunny lyrics that make Avalon popular but doesn’t soar to the level of past hits.
On the charts
Top contemporary Christian albums as reported by SoundScan, according to The Associated Press.
1. “Almost There,” MercyMe.
2. “Worship Together: I Could Sing of Your Love Forever,” Various Artists.
3. “Stacie Orrico,” Stacie Orrico.
4. “Spoken For,” MercyMe.
5. “WOW Worship (Yellow),” Various Artists.
6. “Unclassified,” Robert Randolph & the Family Band.
7. “The Beautiful Letdown,” Switchfoot.
8. “Offerings II: All I Have to Give,” Third Day.
9. “Rise and Shine,” Randy Travis.
10. “Adoration: The Worship Album,” Newsboys.
I was just at a state fair witnessing in a booth w/the Full Gospel Businessman's Assoc., and I sat for hours watching people walk by on a Sat. night. It made me very sad to watch these people walking by (not in judgment, mind you), but knowing that they were w/out God, totally. SO, PLEASE, anything and anyway to reach them is good -- don't get so picky about the Christian music. Millions of people need to hear about God's love and the Truth....and they need it now.
In other words, while you're arguing over which hospital to take them to, they bleed to death in front of you.
You're probably right, sadly, but there are also a few with an admirable amount of integrity.
I know one Christian artist who was offered a seven figure advance by the president of Capitol records (Charles Koppelman), but turned it down because they refused to let him have final say over the lyrics.
I don't mind the music...it's just that I imagine that most of the CC "artists" would sell their souls to the devil if they could break big on the secular charts.The question now becomes why you believe that "most" or "many" CC artists are like this. Are you stating that you know "most" or "many" CC artists and that they have revealed to you that this is their motivation? Are you projecting? Are you applying some sort of Sunday school spiritual calculus that since most of the world is lost in the darkness of sin, and since the group comprising CC music is in the world, that "most" of CC "artists" must, therefore, be lost in the darkness of sin? Or are you just generally cynical, believing that anyone who is any kind of performer must be in it for the bucks and the fame?
It's my personal opinion that For many CC "artists" "The Word" is a convenient way to make a buck while they're trying to make it big.
I think some CCM is a spiritual disease, and some is inspired by the same Holy Ghost who moved David as he watched the sunset over the sheep.
Some music in your and my most conservative hymnal is divine; and some is a spiritual disease.
You wrote:
... the predominant Scriptural suppport seems to be for Psalms and we should worship God not according to the 'he didn't tell us we couldn't' attitude, but instead, the attitude that what Scripture supports clearly, we should try to do.
I think it is *excellent* to *start* with Scripture as you build your theology of "worship." Most people would start with their feelings, or with contemporary expressions of worship, and try to bring in Scripture to support their view. But you are right to start with Scripture. Cool. :-)
I'd argue that the primary thing we should strive for in contemporary worship music is sound doctrine. "Worshipers" should be responding to some truth about God, not to a cool guitar hook. As we ponder God's grace in light of our sinfulness, for example, we are moved to respond in worship. If guitars and synths are relevant to the congregation, perhaps it's appropriate (if it supports the theme of the lyrics) to accompany congregational worship with guitar and synth.
I'm getting ready to jump in the shower (um, seriesly), but I'd absolutely love to continue this discussion either online or off-line.
False dichotomy. Food appeals to your flesh, but it is not therefore evil. Yes, an idolatrous gluttonous love of food is sinful, but enjoying food is not necessarily evil.
My flesh sometimes feels goosbumps when I consider how the Lord has saved me, someone who was "dead in my transgressions...." The flesh is not evil. Idolatry is evil, and pursuing fleshly comforts apart from the Lord (an element of idolatry) may very well be evil. But good music that touches your heart, or music that facilitates an environment in which you want to dance a jig ... is not necessarily evil.
Funny that this one is beginning to appear on mainstream stations. They recently released another CD that's become quite popular on the Christian stations and they hardly play anything from Almost There anymore.
For many CC "artists" "The Word" is a convenient way to make a buck while they're trying to make it big.
Not so for Mercy Me. Those guys are for real. Same thing with Shaun Groves.
I find it highly peculiar that these kids who so loudly proclaim the word of god dare to, in even the slightest way, dance with the devil.
On the other hand I've met some lovely kids who really believe about which they sing and do not need the trappings of the secular world......unfortunately they are in the minority.
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