So, I’ve been listening to a new CD. It is “Cannons” by Phil Wickham. All I can say about it is…..amazing.
Now, if I am being honest, which I strive to do, I must say that I am a bit skeptical of mainstream Christian music. Alot of it sounds as if it just came off an assembly line out of some factory. It sounds manufactured. To be fair, though, I am sure that God has used mainstream Christian radio to reach many people. It would be foolish of me to say that kind of music serves no purpose. Its just not my preference.
BUT….Phil Wickham’s album is so far from manufactured…its not even funny. From beginning to end it is amazing. From lyrics to instrumentation….amazing. This guy is believable. I believe every word that he sings. This CD just makes me want to…..be better. It paints a portrait of God and His Son, which in turn makes me look upon myself, and realize that I am lacking. I am lacking in wonder and amazement at how different and marvelous God is. This CD makes me want to see God the way Phil does. It spurs me on to completely lay my life down for Him.
So……a question. What do you want to hear? What do you need to hear musically? Is there a part of the Christian walk that is not being addressed by artists? If you could make a request as to what kind of song you wanted someone to write, what kind of song would it be?
Sorry…. that was 4 questions.
Joy
I want music that is real, that shows vulnerability. I think it goes to the whole believability thing. (as long as it isn’t a cheesy metaphor ;))
i would like to hear music about the supremacy of Christ in relationships and singleness. i would like to see the image of Christ and His bride displayed in marriage rejoiced in. and hear about singleness not as a “waiting room” but a glorious opportunity. nearly 50% of Christian marriages end in divorce. i think it is because our views are being shaped by the world; and for some music plays a huge part. lots of secular songs are centered around relationships. i would like to hear real, “believable” Christ-centered music that confronts the struggles and joys of both.
1) The Christian music I want to hear is honest. Not necessarily raw or abrasive in that honesty, but not glossed over. I want to hear about God’s promises to us, but I want to see them fulfilled and not just repeated. Don’t just tell me I need God and that He will save me - show me in real life.
2) Musically, I’m open to about any style. What I don’t want to hear is music that is overly/needlessly simplistic or a set of music that is too uniform in sound. What I need to hear varies from time to time - sometimes I need the subtle reminders of how it looks like to live as a child of God while other times I just need a good slap in the face to wake me from my reverie or a quiet place to slip into solemn worship. So there are places for a lot out there.
3) I think that many of the aspects of out Christian walk are being covered by artists today. You just have to look for it, because it seems less the desire of artists to write/sing about these things and more a reluctance of stations and audience to listen.
4) Good question. You’re basically challenging us to put up or shut up with the complaints that are out there about lame CCM. What I ask might depend on who I’m asking to write it - what their passions are and how their history has shaped them. For you I would have asked you to write much as you did on God and a Girl; I really feel a first-person perspective in many of the songs, that you have lived this and experienced this and learned from this. From that perspective I can learn and I can grow, much more than if you had come out and simply said don’t do this or that in so many lyrics.
By the way, I miss the quote you had up on your old site, “Art that’s not simply propaganda”.
Joy, thank you so much for your post (and your music). “Cannons” by Phil Wickham is totally brilliant. The opening notes of “Must I Wait” stood out to me as not your typical CCM song. Actually the song and album reminds me of some of my favorite non-CCM artists Keane and Coldplay (which is a good thing), but then you can’t help but sing along with Phil in his unashamed love and adoration of our Lord and Savior. Especially “Cannons”, “The Light Will Come”, “You’re Beautiful” and “True Love”. So, Phil Wickham, Sara Groves, Leeland, Sanctus Real, Jars of Clay, Shaun Groves, Todd Agnew, MercyMe, Derek Webb and downhere are my top 10 CCM artists for the way they write songs from their hearts and also have incredible music.
For your next questions, the part of my Christian walk I felt was being left out in CCM used to be my “emo” side which left me searching for solace with Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, Weezer, Death Cab for Cutie, etc. but they aren’t exactly writing from my complete perspective. For me, Leeland, downhere, Sanctus Real and Phil Wickham are giving me that musical infusion combined with writing and singing songs from my perspective. My examples are “Opposite Way” by Leeland, “A Better Way” by downhere, “I’m Not Alright” by Sanctus Real and “True Love” by Phil Wickham, 4 of my favorite songs ever. If I could make a song writing request it would be for another song like “Maybe There’s A Loving God” by Sara Groves, which is probably my best example of female Christian “emo”. Your song “Faith Don’t Fail” speaks to me in that way and drew me to your music. Thank you for your honesty and songs. Take care and God Bless! Kevin
Phil Wickham is one of my favorites too. Mystery is my favorite from his album Cannons. Have you heard his song Grace, his video is on my http://www.myspace.com/hhannabanana. It’s awesome. I enjoy Building 429, Barlow Girl, Sara Groves, to name a few . Your music has also become one of my favorites. It’s real and from the heart. Thank you for your testimony and your music. My favorite songs from you album so far are Colors, Faith Don’t Fail, and Fake. I agree with you about christian music. I don’t care for music that sounds like it just came off of an assembly line. Blessings…
Helen