In yesterday’s post, I lamented that even as a worship leader and songwriter, I have become bored with most of the music that is labeled “Christian music” or “worship music.” I’m bored mostly because I’m hungry for something more.
The comments I got were interesting and varied (and thank you for all of them). Some expressed that they could definitely relate to what I was saying; some offered advice on how to improve my songwriting and/or music that speaks to them. It was a significant enough response that I thought it would be good to just continue the discussion here for a bit.
First, a bit of history as far as the worship music and styles that have spoken to me over the years:
- In the 1980s as a teenager, I enjoyed a lot of classic Christian rock and CCM–Petra and White Heart being my favorites. (wince)
- The first recorded worship music I was exposed to was the Hosanna! series in the early 1990s, back when they were very nearly the only ones doing it on a large scale. And yes, I did relate to a lot of it back in those days. One of my favorite recordings at that time was one that Kent Henry did. These days, I only sample Hosanna! music if I’m interested in what a particular artist is doing (like Paul Baloche, for example)
- In the mid-1990s I was introduced to Vineyard Music, and in line with how God was moving in my life and in the life of the church I was attending, I related to a LOT of that. If I have a favorite “stream” of worship music, it would still probably be Vineyard. All-time favorite Vineyard worship leader (now former Vineyard)–David Ruis. (I was also introduced to Hillsongs during this time, and liked it for awhile, but it all runs together now.)
- Late 1990s, my tastes drifted across the pond to the UK, and the music of Delirious? and Matt Redman really began to speak to me. I liked the fresh passion I heard in the lyric, and fresh edgy sounds at the time. (my personal music tastes gravitate toward rock/alternative, anyhow), but over the years I haven’t heard much growth or change in their sounds or music.
- The last worship CDs that really spoke to me were Hungry by Vineyard Music and Freedom by Darrell Evans–both released in 1999, nearly 10 years ago. Since that time, despite all the attempts to be “edgy” and “fresh”, I feel like “worship music” has been in a real dry spell. I think it’s been way over-marketed and not allowed to evolve. Also, I think the changes in my own heart have made me increasingly dissatisfied with the “same old same-old”.
A lot of my own songwriting in the past few years has actually been an attempt to fill this void. I would write a lot of my own material for our worship times simply because I wasn’t hearing what I wanted to hear in the record aisles, so I would write from my heart. So I think some of my songs in recent days have taken a few strides, but still isn’t the breakthrough sound I’m looking for yet.
Meanwhile, God has really revamped my whole outlook on the sacred/secular thing, and where I would often avoid “secular” music, now a lot of it is speaking to me, both musically and lyrically. Some of the standout songs and groups right now for me are…
- U2 (always have been an influence in the background, but really paying more attention these days)
- “Losing My Religion” by R.E.M. (DUH–see the title at the top of this blog)
- “The Pretender” by Foo Fighters
- “If Everyone Cared” by Nickelback
- Several songs by Coldplay
- Several songs from Linkin Park’s Meteora
- “All Fall Down” by OneRepublic
- “Get Up” by Circleslide
- “On Fire” by Switchfoot
And just for kicks…one group I am waiting on pins and needles for their debut album to be released…The Clark Brothers, the winners of last falls “Next Great American Band” competition. Love their sound, love their honesty, love their passion. Definitely looking forward to picking that one up when it comes available.
So that’s where I’m coming from musically. Thanks for sharing your remarks and ideas. Feel free to continue this conversation in the comments here today.
Wayward Son
Musician. Composer. Recovering perfectionist. Minister-in-transition. Lover of puns. Hijacker of rock song references. Questioner of the status quo.
I'm not really a rebel. Just a sincere Christ-follower with a thirst for significance that gets me into trouble. My quest has taken me over the fence of institutional Christianity. Here are some of my random thoughts along the way. Read along, join in the conversation. Just be nice.
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Jeff, could it be that the whole idea of what we called “worship” has grown stale because there was very little actual worship imbedded in it. Let me explain. I love music. All kinds. Always have. When I finally found some good ‘christian’ music (all that you have described) I was in heaven. I could have good music, call it worship and everyone is happy. The only problem is while I’m sure it was music – and good music – I’m not so sure it was actually worship. I have been out of any ‘worship’ setting for almost a year now. I am so glad I took this break because I don’t think I would have seen it so clearly if I had an occasional fix from a ‘worship service’ that I loved. In looking back over my worship times, I did connect to God in those times and told him that I loved Him. But to be perfectly honest, I loved the music. The music that I was not excited about did not cause me to tell him that I loved him. Just the songs I connected with and loved. Therefore, was the good music my purpose or truly worshiping God? It got so intermingled that I could not tell the difference. Now, in my life, with no great band of musicians to “lead” me, my life has had to decide that other aspects are actually worship. It was here that I found that very little (at least for me) of music was actually tied up in true worship to my King and Lord. Where as 9/10ths of my worship had to do with music before, only about 1/10th or less does now.
And now I see what I couldn’t see before. Worship is my life and the thing I did with the band on a Sunday morning – while very enjoyable and emotionally releasing, was not really, actually, mostly worship. And since it was mostly about music, it became as stale as continually listening to the same music for years and years. I never did this in the secular music world. I change often my likes and dislikes. But for the last 20 years ‘worship’ music has not really changed. It was only because I equated it with true Worship, that I felt empty and guilty.
Just FYI – the Clark Brothers rock!! they’re just a shot away!! Wahoo!!
Barb…thanks for the remarks. I relate to what you’re saying. I do believe that music (which pre-dates man)actually is intended to evoke and encourage worship; but worship and music are definitely not the same thing, and our whole lives should be lived in the attitude of worship, not just in musical settings.
Aaron–I want to be a Clark Brother. 🙂
Spiritual Songs:
Higher Love – Steve Winwood
I Only Have Eyes For You – Art Garfunkel
Dogs – Pink Floyd
Shine On You Crazy Diamond – Pink Floyd
Don’t Dream Its Over – Crowded House
Carry On My Wayward Son – Kansas
Dust in the Wind – Kansas
Arms Wide Open – Creed
Going For the One – Yes
Landslide – Stevie Nicks
Nothing Else Matters – Metallica
Jeff,
I’m familiar with CCM starting back at Larry Norman, Love Song and Andre Crouch up through Casting Crowns and Delirious.
I was at a Petra concert in Austin, Texas, featured on “Captured Live in Time and Space.”
Those are my credentials along with singing in an Episcopal Church choir.
With both CCM and old Isaac Watts hymns, it both just started to seem more like performance than praise.
The church I currently attend meets in a library and has a lone keyboardist and brave church elder leading 30 or so in a mix of CCM like “Above All” with the older hymns.
Because it is bracketed with prayer and the songs focus on Jesus, I believe most of the time it is truly worship.
But sometimes it still appears something is missing. I want to sing as loud as possible not to call attention to myself, but to get others to think about what their singing. But I hold back – and holding back with praise – well there’s your problem. You should be free to praise God – but at what point do you remain self-aware to keep from being a distraction to other worshipers? And should you?
-Sam
Sam, thanks for the comment. That feeling that “something is missing” in our worship times is becoming more prevalent, and hopefully that hunger will bring many of us to a new place of passion.
Regarding the question about whether you let go or remain self-aware…although I myself am a passionate worshiper, I would lean more toward the self-aware, for two reasons:
1) In a corporate worship setting, where other people are involved, we are engaging the Lord as a group, and I think Scripture makes it clear that everything we do in a corporate setting should strive to benefit everyone involved, not just ourselves. If singing louder distracts others, it defeats the purpose of doing it *together.* If, on the other hand, you have a decent voice and using that voice might help others press in more…belt it out. 🙂 Do whatever you do for the benefit of all.
2) One thing I’m learning is that worship is a lifestyle, and encompasses all we do. If you are equating holding back your *voice* with holding back your *praise*, perhaps you are confusing the issue a little. Sure, there are times we all would like to just “turn it loose”, and there are proper times for that–not telling you *never* to do that. Just saying that singing more softly does not have to dampen the intensity of your worship. I’m all for loud worship, but volume isn’t as important as passion; those two can complement each other, but they are not necessarily one and the same.