[lit-ideas] Re: Religious Music
- From: "Erin Holder" <erin.holder@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 22:35:26 -0500
> Rap is obscene and violent.
That's a pretty ignorant generalization, don't you think?
----- Original Message -----
From: aamago@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ; lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2005 10:30 PM
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Religious Music
> [Original Message]
> From: Paul Stone <pas@xxxxxxxx>
> To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: 3/10/05 11:21:41 AM
> Subject: [lit-ideas] Religious Music
>
>
> 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".
>
A.A. I don't think of Christian rock as rock. It's more an attempt to keep
the young uns living and breathing salvation every minute of every day,
keep the ol brainwashing going. Keep them in the world but not of it. But
then all fundamentalists do that. No coincidence either that the religious
lyrics advocate holy war. Religion and war, the eternal combination. Rap
is obscene and violent. I hear it in all languages now and wonder if it's
obscene in all languages. Rock generally is a pretty good alternative. I
like the groups who can take a couple of words like "dirty laundry" and
make a good song out of them. I like their outfit, though. Yellow and
black striped spandex. I wonder if Walmart carries it.
Andy Amago
> 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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