[lit-ideas] Religious Music
- From: Paul Stone <pas@xxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 11:21:00 -0500
>A.A. Religion could be fun if it weren't so deadly serious. On the other
>hand, if it were fun, it wouldn't be religion. I saw a segment on CNN
>where rappers were doing religion and it drew inner city kids by the
>hundreds (Detroit?). How many people aren't aghast at that idea? Even
>there, it isn't the religion that was the draw, it was the loud music and
>party atmosphere.
In the mid '80s there was a heavy metal group called "Stryper". Stryper
stands for Salvation Through Redemption Yielding Peace, Encouragement and
Righteousness. The Isaiah 53:5 under their logo refers to a bible verse "by
His stripes we are healed". They wore yellow and black striped spandex
(like wasps/bees) and had one radio hit with "Soldiers Under Command".
Their first album was called "the yellow and black attack".
Here are the lyrics:
Soldiers Under Command
[Verse 1]
We are the soldiers under God's command
We hold His two-edged sword within our hands
We're not ashamed to stand up for what's right
We win without sin, it's not by our might
And we're fighting all the sin
And the good book -- it says we'll win!
[Chorus]
Soldiers, Soldiers, under command
Soldiers, Soldiers, fighting the Lords battle plan
[Verse 2]
Are you a soldier under God's command
Help fight the good fight, join us while you can
The battle that's waiting is fought so easily
Through Him, without sin there is victory
And were fighting all the sin
And the good book -- it says we'll win!
[Repeat Chorus]
Now... sung along to screeching guitars and amped up drums, this was a
pretty catchy tune for 18 year old males in the midst of the power guitar,
glam rock '80s. And... all of us dirty pagan teens who apparently
[according to the PMRC etc.] listened to 'the devil's music' proudly sang
out "soldiers.... soo ooo oooldiers, fighting the LOooooooord's Battle
Plan" every time the chorus came up. We didn't really care what we were
singing, but maybe the message got through to some. The brothers Sweet
(founding members) are STILL together preaching (in their own inimitable
way) the good word and their band has announced a new studio album for
2005. If you ask me... they are definitely doing something to reach out to
youth in a positive and yet 'relatable' manner. We HAD shirts that had the
bible verse mentioned on it.
As a kid, the thing that turned me off specifically about Christianity
(other than the fairy tales) was the method of delivery. The "sermon" is
just too stone boring to appeal to anyone [under 30] who lives in today's
fast-paced society. Surely, the juxtaposition of RAP and religion is
better than a lot of the gangsta rap out there. Perhaps some people are
just trying to do anything they can to 'reach' people.
On that note, there was another tune, by another metal band (Iron Maiden)
right around the same time called "Reach Out".
Iron Maiden - Reach Out
=======================
It's over your head
And you don't seem to understand
One word I say
And you can't live your life
Trying to run away
You're fighting your friends
You're wearing everybody out
But it never ends
You're wearing me out
(chorus)
Come on
Reach out
And let somebody into your life
Don't get me wrong
You always apologize
It's just your way
Of making a scene
You need to be loved
It's not such a crime
(repeat chorus)
Over your head
You just don't seem to understand
One word I say
And you can't live your life
You got so much love
It's burning inside
No mention of God... no commandments, but preaching a "positive" message
all the same.
Proud Metal-Head of yore,
P
##########
Paul Stone
pas@xxxxxxxx
Kingsville, ON, Canada
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