When I first moved to France, I was surprised by how much English-language rock/pop music was on the radio. I was also suprised that sometimes christian rock would be played between something like Nirvana’s Rape Me and Bloodhound Gang’s The Bad Touch. I mentioned it to my colleagues and they were like, “wtf is Christian rock?”
i'm fucking devastated but there are no exception
Submitted 3 weeks ago by cm0002@infosec.pub to memes@sopuli.xyz
Comments
pasdechance@jlai.lu 3 weeks ago
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
well so Jars of Clay was weirdly popular for a christian rock group. like i didn’t even think about them as a christian rock group until their second, maybe third album? but they got radio play on mainstream stations.
AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Despite we having our share of weirdos, most Europeans have no clue as to how mind bogglingy insane religion has become in the US.
pasdechance@jlai.lu 3 weeks ago
I’m originally from Canada. Barely any christian rock made it to radio. Probably because they didn’t want to be on the same station as the evil rock bands. I didn’t know it was a thing until university when my neighbour tried to get me to listen to Switchfoot after hearing me listening to Skinny Puppy or something like that.
captainlezbian@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
That’s fair. Basically since the 80s America has had a counterculture of Christians explicitly rejecting the secularity of society and attempting to create an alternative media landscape that will both pull secular people into the extreme Christian movement using counterculture aesthetics and concepts (ok that actually began in the 70s when they were preaching to burnt out hippies, lots of cults began with that), as well as to prevent their young people from leaving for these things.
“You don’t need to go be a hippie, you can be a Jesus freak and talk about peace and love and hear how the hippie life of sex and drugs was bad.” And copy and paste for rock, metal, and whatever else. So long as there was something there beyond what they consider immoral they’ll do it, and it’s extended to stuff like just tv.
ChicoSuave@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Europe is not ready for a Talladega caliber Floridaman
IAmYouButYouDontKnowYet@reddthat.com 3 weeks ago
That is weirdly true.
OwOarchist@pawb.social 3 weeks ago
Both are corpo-sanitized.
booscience@beehaw.org 3 weeks ago
It’s like averaging out anything- the temperature of your porridge is the average of all porridges, the new movie you’ve been waiting for just uses the most common tropes in its writing, the quality of sex you’ll have next is the average of all sex you’ve already had
FreddiesLantern@leminal.space 3 weeks ago
I’ve had the misfortune of having my ears raped over and over by Christian rock and metal. Can confirm: it’s horrid, empty, fake,…
Rozauhtuno@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
it’s horrid, empty, fake,…
Just like Christianity itself 🙂
oatscoop@midwest.social 3 weeks ago
There are legitimately good Christians and Christian churches, the problem is they actually practice all the “woke” bits in the new testament.
They’re humble, empathetic, and quiet – so they get drown out by the human garbage that also call themselves “Christian”.
BeMoreCareful@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
It’s like if an Multi level marker made pop music.
I’m also a little irritated that pop music is so formulaic that ai kinda nails the imitation.
Catchy but stupid.
…And not the fun kind of stupid either.
YawningNostalgia@thelemmy.club 3 weeks ago
Taste is a real talent. Whether it comes to decor, music, apparel, etc it fucking matters. When people have really horrible highlights or facial filler, it matters. Beauty matters. Try living in a beautiful environment and then an ugly one and the ugly one hurts.
I judge people harshly on this matter and I’d be a much happier person if I didn’t. I feel something close to physical pain when something is ugly.
AstralPath@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
One of the extremely few exceptions is Extol.
That chorus riff is unreal. Killer riffs and drumming all around.
FreddiesLantern@leminal.space 3 weeks ago
Well yes, but they are THE exception. And by a long shot at that.
rustydrd@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
It’s already cringe when the youth pastor shows up with his acoustic guitar, and there’s really no need to also bring electricity into this.
explodicle@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
I like those guys. Our existence is too short to waste it worrying about how cool people will think we are, and they’re ironically making the most of theirs. They’re out there having fun playing music.
zarkanian@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
…while worrying about what some imaginary war god thinks of them.
Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
The only good Christian rock band is Five Iron Frenzy and that proves the redemptive power of ska
redsand@infosec.pub 3 weeks ago
What about that one Skillet song that’s good? And I want to say switchfoot?
idiomaddict@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
My sister used to be a born again Christian and I always liked Jars of Clay better than the other options.
_stranger_@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I hadn’t heard the name switchfoot in decades. I remember they had one good song but it still got creepy in the middle. New way to be human?
ieGod@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
Collective Soul had some good stuff.
AlternatePersonMan@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
God damnit. You just ruined the one song of their’s that I liked.
ThatWeirdGuy1001@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I just hate it when I find a new song that sounds like a tragic story of the loss of a loved one just to find out it’s actually about their love for god.
It just feels so cringey to me 🥴
jj4211@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
BlackVenom@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Flyleaf All around me
ThatWeirdGuy1001@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
That and comatose by skillet are like the perfect examples
catboy_slim@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
Or you think it’s divorced dad rock and it’s actually about the devil
belochka@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Isn’t Skillet kinda fine?..
Quill7513@slrpnk.net 3 weeks ago
the key ingredient is they don’t only sing about Jesus. See also: Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. Mainstream audiences don’t generally mind christian themes so long as that band is being true to themselves rather than making common denominator slop.
i mean… look at all the music that came from Motown records before 1985. not all of those musicians and acts were devoutly christian, but a lot of them were
Danquebec@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
I think you nailed it. I don’t mind the Christian songs of Black Sabbath. They are just true to themselves and sing what they want to sing.
zewm@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
You misspelled fire.
hellmo_luciferrari@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
Skillet is trash, and the front man is a tool.
Cracks_InTheWalls@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
I have a soft spot for Creed sometimes, but it’s not exactly like they disprove this statement.
quarkquasar@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Creed is an honorary Christian rock band, which is 1000x worse than a normal one.
VerilyFemme@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
That’s one of those where they became so mainstream that they don’t want to name it, but they definitely make Christian rock.
Apparently, Higher is about lucid dreaming, but he’s also dreaming of biblical Heaven:
Can you take me higher
To a place where blind men see
(Isaiah 29:18-19) Can you take me higher
To a place with golden streets
(Revelations 21:21)“My Sacrifice” is about Scott’s struggle with alcoholism, but speaks of a person who gave him love and who he implies he repeatedly reunites with “in their mind.” That’s Jesus bro.
“One Last Breath” drops a capital-H “His grace” referring to God, “With Arms Wide Open” mentions praying, “What If” references Matthew 7:16-17, etc.
It seems quite a few of their songs are “actually” about something else, but totally allegorical to Christian belief. And idk what that makes you other than a Christian rock band.
backalleycoyote@lemmy.today 3 weeks ago
I thought My Sacrifice was about the double standard of being a supposed Christian rockstar but hanging with Kid Rock and getting bjs from the groupies.
“When you are with me, I’m free. I’m careless, I believe. Above all the others, we’ll fly. This brings tears to my eyes. My sacrifice.”
Canconda@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
Scott Stapp the vocalist and lyricist is a Christian and his solo albums are outrightly spiritual in theme.
Something you would have to grow up in the church to understand is how controversial a lot of “Christian bands” actually were in Christian circles. Like the pushback against music with scream vocals was real.
It was a genuine wedge issue because churches used professional audio/lights to attract members with polished modern rock worship music. Music became so intertwined that it led to all non christian music being labeled “secular”.
Bands like Creed didn’t fit either label but generally was considered acceptable listening material in the church circles I grew up in. Most objections to it genre based.
bitjunkie@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Alter Bridge is better
notthebees@reddthat.com 3 weeks ago
Alter bridge still has the only live album I’ll ever listen to. Wonderful life/watch over you with the parallax orchestra is genuinely a top 5 song. Probably no1 in the top 5.
blarth@thelemmy.club 3 weeks ago
They are.
ReluctantlyZen@ani.social 3 weeks ago
Nah. There are a lot of bad Christian rock/metal bands, but there are quite a few good ones too.
To name some:
- Skillet is an obvious one (not my thing anymore, especially everything after Awake, but can’t call them bad)
- Silent Planet
- August Burns Red
- Underoath (until they weren’t)
- Fit For A King
- Wolves At The Gate (though their lyrics can be too much on the nose)
- Flyleaf (when Lacey Sturm was still on board)
- Love & Death
- Children 18:3
Manalith@midwest.social 3 weeks ago
I’m just going to tack a few more on here so I can find some of yours later, but I’d like to add:
Nine Lashes, which are probably more overt than some
Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, for the entirety of Don’t You Fake It, and a few other songs
Red
Demon Hunter
Switchfoot, don’t @ me Dare You To Move is a banger
Disciple
Pillar
ReluctantlyZen@ani.social 3 weeks ago
Disciple is probably more overt than Nine Lashes though, no?
DH I’ve gotten uncomfortable with since Exile.
vala@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 weeks ago
How did you literally forget Reliant K?
ReluctantlyZen@ani.social 3 weeks ago
Cause I never listened to them for some reason
vegafjord@slrpnk.net 3 weeks ago
I like Half Alive
quixote84@midwest.social 3 weeks ago
Personally I still have a soft spot for Newsboys. Mostly just Shine, and Take Me To Your Leader. Those two still feel good.
Initially I kinda liked Audio Adrenaline, but looking back with what we all know now about the impact of a car based society on the world, I gotta admit, “Chevette” didn’t have an ounce of gospel in it, and was a much worse take on crappy cars that probably leaked toxic trash everywhere they went than Adam Sandler’s “Ode to my Car”.
Skullgrid@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Underoath (well, they used to be)
used to be good or used to be christian?
ReluctantlyZen@ani.social 2 weeks ago
Used to be a christian band
RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Are you saying AI art…It can take me higher? To a place where blind men see?
Soapbox@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
I’m an atheist, but Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit In The Sky” is a banger.
Otherwise yeah, this meme nails it.
ContriteErudite@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I also like some religious music, I think the key is I don’t want to feel like I’m being browbeaten with it.
At the risk of turning this into a “not religious, but…” music recommendation thread: I’ve enjoyed mewithoutYou for a long time now. They have a subdued art-rock sound, and I even enjoy a lot of their more overtly religious songs like “In a Sweater Poorly Knit” and “The King Beetle On A Coconut Estate.”
Mewithoutyou - “Cattail Down”
melsaskca@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
The word “intelligence” means nothing when referencing most “AI”, just like the word Christian means nothing when referencing most “church-goers”.
far_university1990@reddthat.com 3 weeks ago
Skillet?
Drusas@fedia.io 3 weeks ago
Almost real.
OpenStars@piefed.social 3 weeks ago
POD was awesome tho
mrmisses@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Yup, phoney
bold_omi@lemmy.today 3 weeks ago
There are definitely exceptions. But this is often true.
MidsizedSedan@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I think back to those early hillsong albums. All the moshpits and everything.
Did hillsong expect all those people in the mosh pit to be sober?
kepix@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
i still like pod. lyrics suck, but the sound is still on point.
GreenKnight23@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I liked mxpx back in the early 2000s. when I found out they were a Christan punk band I stopped listening to them.
who the fuck makes a Christan punk band?? wankers, that’s who.
AllHailTheSheep@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
silent planet is the best christian band I’ve ever discovered. they just have incredibly correct takes so idc if they’re religious.
HeHoXa@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
Audio Adrenaline - Underdog slaps
I am ready for my punishment.
CreativeCider@feddit.org 3 weeks ago
More like K-Pop.
Grabthar@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Stryper sounded good and was very popular outside Christian circles. I don’t think most people knew unless they saw them in concert and had a bible tossed at them.
redlemace@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I’d argue there is (at least) one exception. Neal Morse. Yeah, the lyrics in his solo projects are all “hallelujah” but he really makes some good music.
addie@feddit.uk 3 weeks ago
Hate AI ‘art’. Love me some Icon For Hire. But they mostly sing about mental illness with pop-metal hooks, and rarely anything spiritual.
Yerbouti@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
Jesus why don’t you, turn off the light?
Iusedtobeanalien@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Gospel is crying in the corner
JennaR8r@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 weeks ago
I’m trying to imagine how something can look like something sounds.
Try to come up with an outfit that looks the way a murmuration of birds sounds.
Paint a mural that looks the way your favorite song sounds.
Ep1cFac3pa1m@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Image
JennaR8r@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 weeks ago
The objective was to try to get religion to appeal to youth. I knew some young 20’s guys in a band who were into it circa 1998.
jaybone@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
You mean the goal wasn’t to get rock to appeal to Christians? 😲
chiliedogg@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
When I was a preacher I did a sermon based on that episode. It’s such an accurate picture of a teenager finding a social group that happened to be at church. And Hank accurately calls out how shallow that kind of social faith is.
At the end of the episode, Hank pulls out a box of crap from fads Bobby had been into and talked about how he didn’t want Bobby’s spirituality to end up in that box.
For millions of people, church is basically a club where they meet with their friends, and since the church is still the most racially segregated place in America, that’s a problem.
The “Christian Club” mentality is what allowed the rise of the religious right, when churches should be vocal about justice for the the sick, the poor, and the foreigners.
luciferofastora@feddit.org 2 weeks ago
Unrelated to the rest of your comment, I find this observation perplexing. In Germany, the church I went to had close ties to several African communities. I loved their joyful, passionate style of worship-parties, more than what I learned of other churches in Germany. The Africans I knew at that church (refugees) were some of the kindest, loveliest people I’ve known. I’d credit that as being one of the good things I took from my faith: Growing up in frequent contact with different cultures and in a spirit of appreciation, I wasn’t even conscious of the concept of racism.
My mom once told me that, when she’d been babysitting a friendly couple’s son and pushing him in the stroller on a walk, she got evil looks from some people. For the longest time, I assumed that was just because it was apparent that we had come from different fathers and people thought we were both hers.
In middle or high school, when I learned about it from history class, the concept seemed so alien to me, like a relic of the past… until I realised that my primary school had one black kid, who was bullied (and a bit violent at times, which I’d now attribute to trauma from fleeing an active warzone coupled with facing racism in a fairly conservative town) while my secondary school had none, mostly upperclass “white” with a few other “white”-adjacent (Italian, Russian) ethnicities.
The idea that this childhood friend might have drawn evil looks because he was black hit me years later like a freight train of shattered childhood innocence.
(As an aside, that friend once declared that he’s dark chocolate and I’m white chocolate and if that isn’t the sweetest thing, I don’t know what is.)