Does anyone write christian based songs?

  • Thread starter Thread starter George Parler
  • Start date Start date
Hey, Merc...

I didn't get to hear the sound bytes, but I loved the web-site. It has a VERY nice design. Good to hear from you and best of luck in your life-ministry. If you guys ever start to play in the Memphis area, or want to, get in touch with me or my band:

http://www.teleo-rock.com

Peace <><
 
Thanks

I appreciate your comments on the site. It was my first website design. I checked out yours as well, looks cool. I see you guys play some secular gigs too. Awesome. I will definitely check you guys out if God ever puts me in your neck of the woods. Have you had any trouble getting gigs? I find here in So. Cal there are very few places to play Christian gigs. Most Christian bookings are for two distinct groups: youth or adult (contemporary). The whole idea of my band was to play the kind of music that is not getting played in either group, but while it is different booking people don't know what to do with you. We have appealed to a wide range of people though, from adults in Churches to playing alongside secular punk bands. If there is anything I pray for it's that Christian music not try to mirror secular music's styles, but be innovative on our own. However that means Christian media and record companies as well as Churches and other venues need to help accomplish this. I would love to see this happen because given the opportunity we could maybe lead artisticly instead of just mirroring secular music.

The good thing about it I guess is it forces us to play secular gigs which is where we need to be anyway.

clunk...

the sound of me getting off my artistic soapbox
 
Thanks for looking at our site. Yeah, it's been great to be able to play at some places outside of churches. We consider our efforts to be outreach/evangelism in nature and the best place to find the lost is not typically in a church. So even when we play parties and bar-n-grill venues we stick to our purpose and play what we play.

The first time we played the Hard Rock Cafe we had to win a "battle of the bands" kind of deal. (I hate those.) All through-out the process we kept telling them, "we're a Christian band, that sings about Jesus, and we're not going to change that." They said they understood and that it was OK. Following that first show, the manager came to us and asked us to head-line. We asked if we could do it as a CCM night and they had no problem it. We were really blown away by His provision.

Gigs aren't too hard to get here. We don't put a lot of effort in to it and we play about once a month. There is a great network of Christian artists forming here in the Memphis area. You can find out more at http://www.memphischristianmusic.com including venues, bands, studios, ... a little bit of everything.

As far as styles go, I feel you should do what you do. After all, it's God that has gifted you with the talent to play. Some people's talent is narrow (but not shallow) and end up having a lot of songs that fit in to a particular niche. Some people's talent is wide and have a repertoire that allows them to fit in many different styles. Even then, beyond talent, styles are highly influenced by who you listen to, how you learned your instruments, ... all of the external forces that play on your creative juices. (e.g. when Led Zepplin listened to reggae before going in the studio they played "D'yer Maker" and "Fool in the Rain".)

Peace <><
Acts 20:24
 
That's awesome

I think that's really cool. We've had some somewhat similiar experiences. I think the key is exactly what you did about being yourselves. I've never seen the point in being a Christian band and writing lyrics so ambiguous that no one gets the message and then claiming to be reaching the lost. I've seen God use bands such as mine and yours in secular places that you would think wouldn't want to hear the message, but it's not about being "preachy" it's just about writing songs about what we feel passionate about and being bold with them. Most of the time we're planting seeds not harvesting.

I've always felt that I should make a point of mentioning we're a Christian band to club owners, and although some get turned off, most are just concerned with how many people you can bring in the door. You could sing about Nostradamous and they wouldn't care. I think the real thing they worry about is a Christian crowd won't buy alot of alcohol, which is where they really make their money. But God continues to open up opportunities for us.
 
Christian Guitar Instructor.

Here is a link to one of my old instructors, he is a great guy and excellent educator. He also has a message board there for guitarists who are interested or are already taking classes. Istudies under him for around 2 years.

http://www.guitarcollege.com/witness.htm

Peace,
Dennis
 
Howdy, I would just like to add my name to Christian songwriters. I just thought if anyone wants to hear some great great Christian songwriters, I would suggest looking up Julie Deazevedo, Peter Brienholt, and Kenneth Cope. They are all very good, and write very uplifting, possitive songs. Just go to www.(fill in thier name).com
 
dudleys100 said:
Howdy, I would just like to add my name to Christian songwriters. I just thought if anyone wants to hear some great great Christian songwriters, I would suggest looking up Julie Deazevedo, Peter Brienholt, and Kenneth Cope. They are all very good, and write very uplifting, possitive songs. Just go to www.(fill in thier name).com
Click to expand...

Welcome to the thread Dudley. :)

<><
George
 
PLEASE !!!

If any of you guys that are Christian Songwriters or Musicians,want a clean,flame free place to post,go to my message board and check it out.

I am really trying to make it work,so if you would just stop by and introduce yourselves I would really appreciate it.Thanks.

http://pub51.ezboard.com/bchristianmusicianforum
 
Add me to the list

Hey all! Man what a thread.

Add me to the list. Being a Christian, I write songs from that perspective. Not all are Christian radio material, probably 90%.

I've written 120 songs or so, but have never really done anything with them other than play them myself or with my old band. Recently decided to change that, which is how I found this place, trying to figure out this maze called "Home Recording".

Gidge has helped alot. But I am pretty much overwhelmed with the technology and the hardware, I just want to lay down some tracks to get to a couple of folks.

Hey George how far is Many from Bossier? My in-laws live there so I get over there from time to time. And actually the folks I'm trying to get some tunes to live in LA, and are looking for material.
 
Re: Add me to the list

etunes said:
Hey all! Man what a thread.

Add me to the list. Being a Christian, I write songs from that perspective. Not all are Christian radio material, probably 90%.

I've written 120 songs or so, but have never really done anything with them other than play them myself or with my old band. Recently decided to change that, which is how I found this place, trying to figure out this maze called "Home Recording".

Gidge has helped alot. But I am pretty much overwhelmed with the technology and the hardware, I just want to lay down some tracks to get to a couple of folks.

Hey George how far is Many from Bossier? My in-laws live there so I get over there from time to time. And actually the folks I'm trying to get some tunes to live in LA, and are looking for material.
Click to expand...

Many is about 75 miles south on hwy. 171.

I go to Bossier about once a month with the group I play in. We play at a christian coffee house called "Jacob's Well". Its a small place on Traffic street that ministers to the streets. Its the kind of place I believe that every christian ought to experiance to get the starch out of their collars and reach out to others less fortunate.

But anyway, welcome to the thread. Its a pretty long thread but there is some good stuff in here that can be gleaned. Good luck with your songs.

<><
George
 
The only thing Lamer that a Lame Old Fart is someone who writes "Christian based songs".

Don't bother to pray for me or "rebuke my demons". I am beyond your bullshit.

El Lamo
 
Are you sure

Lame old Fart-

How many people do you know personally who write christian based songs?

And what is it specifically that makes the writing of christian- based songs "lame"?

BTW-
Although I am a christian(Catholic) - I have a big aversion to most contemporary christian music I hear, but I don't think that most of the people who write the songs are "lame" people. I am sure some of them are, but not most. I think most of them have the best of intentions. How can you condemn that?


But here are two reasons I dislike most contemporary christian music:

1. The music itself is often indistinguishable from the over-produced, over hyped, and over commercialized pop/rock garbage that you hear on top 40 radio. The lyrics are the only thing that make it christian and these often are extremely sappy and insipid.

2. Sometimes the music is outstanding and original and sometimes the lyrics are too;

BUT - Christian/pop, Christian/rock, Christian/Metal, Christian/Punk, Christian/rap, etc. All have one basic problem that I see and that is:

The beauty, truth, and importance of the divine message they are trying to convey is subverted by the music that accompanies it. The music itself should support and augment the meaning of the lyrics. It is absolutely ludicrous and oxymoronic to scream "christian" lyrics into a microphone with a Sex-Pistol style of music for background.

I heard some Christian Punk the other day that I honestly would not have known was christian if the person playing the cd hadn't told me. For all I could tell the vocalist was shouting profanities(indeed, the sound of his voice suggested that was what he was doing).

Christian/pop/alternative rock etc. is just as bad. A pop/rock love song should stay a pop/rock sappy love song. This kind of music has a place. A good old rock'n'roll tune about a car and a cute girl has its place and is very enjoyable.

To insert christian-based lyrics into these styles degrades the message itself and ruins the pop love song or rock'n'roll tune by trying to make them into something they're not. It's like trying to turn your kitchen sink into a jacuzzi. The sink was never meant to be a jacuzzi and won't turn into one no matter what you do to it.

All the best,

Franco
 
Sing unto Him a new song. Sing joyfully and with a LOUD noise......


as a writer of a few Christian/Hard Rock songs, I cant agree with your opinions...but its pretty typical Catholic thoughts.....go to Church an hour a week and outside of that, dont talk about God....dont dare utter the name Jesus outside of church.......yep, Catholic alright.....but I aint hatin' on em...i married one:D

singing about loving God can be a pretty powerful thing.....wanna check one out, click on my website and check out "Ive Got You My Son"....very rough demo, but let me know what you think Tucci....peace.....
 
Tucci..

Tucci,

You said,

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>1. The music itself is often indistinguishable from the over-produced, over hyped, and over commercialized pop/rock garbage that you hear on top 40 radio. The lyrics are the only thing that make it christian and these often are extremely sappy and insipid.

2. Sometimes the music is outstanding and original and sometimes the lyrics are too;

BUT - Christian/pop, Christian/rock, Christian/Metal, Christian/Punk, Christian/rap, etc. All have one basic problem that I see and that is:

The beauty, truth, and importance of the divine message they are trying to convey is subverted by the music that accompanies it. The music itself should support and augment the meaning of the lyrics. It is absolutely ludicrous and oxymoronic to scream "christian" lyrics into a microphone with a Sex-Pistol style of music for background.

I heard some Christian Punk the other day that I honestly would not have known was christian if the person playing the cd hadn't told me. For all I could tell the vocalist was shouting profanities(indeed, the sound of his voice suggested that was what he was doing).

Christian/pop/alternative rock etc. is just as bad. A pop/rock love song should stay a pop/rock sappy love song. This kind of music has a place. A good old rock'n'roll tune about a car and a cute girl has its place and is very enjoyable.

To insert christian-based lyrics into these styles degrades the message itself and ruins the pop love song or rock'n'roll tune by trying to make them into something they're not. It's like trying to turn your kitchen sink into a jacuzzi. The sink was never meant to be a jacuzzi and won't turn into one no matter what you do to it. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

I write Christian music, http://www.mp3.com/gbat , and I appreciate your viewpoint. I think it is good for us to hear this kind of logical thinking, us who write this kind of music. I hope my music conveys the feeling of the lyrics and is not just an attempt to "make Jesus fit in". He doesn't need to be hyped as "cool". Yet I wonder if it is not pleasing to Him when people express His love in their own way. I don't know, I guess only He knows our real motivations.

I must admit I get a bit sick sometimes when I hear the material that comes out of our local Christian station. I'd rather listen to an old uncouth country preacher, or some down home folks singing from their hearts, or some hymns. I hate slick productions in which the performers are full of themselves and convey no sence of sincerity.

I shall print your words and use them as inspiration. Thank you.
 
Just found this thread and I look forward to reading it in full. I have written a few Christian based tunes. Just don't tell Royston :)

Hope to share some MP3s when I get my recording system running smooth.

-drew
 
How are you Gidge?

I actually said nothing about reserving God for one hour on Sundays. If that was the attitude I conveyed it was unintentional. I think, talk, and read about God all week long; though you are right - many catholics have that attitude and could use some of the zeal that their protestant neighbors have. Still I don't think it's fair to say that it is the typical or common catholic attitude.

As far as the music goes; I simply stated the fact that I dislike most(not all; there's some that I like) contemporary christian music I hear and I also stated the reasons. I did not say people shouldn't make christian music. This world needs more good christian music, but I feel that most of the christian music out there isn't living up to
it's mission.

And I will listen to your song Gidge if I can figure out how to download it onto this school computer.

Gary: I really like your statement that said, "Jesus doesn't need to be hyped as cool"

All the best,

Tucci

Tucci@homerecording.net
 
My two Cents....

I would just like to say that although I see a your line of thinking with the "music must reflect God in style" concept, I feel it's really contrary to how I believe Jesus would have us look at music. We know that God is concerned with the internal, not the external. He looks at the heart. Many times as performers when we minister to others we are ministering to ourselves first and foremost. We are expressing ourselves in our own unique way to give God glory and this builds us up first. Some people will relate, some will not, however that doesn't make our way bad.

I experienced exactly what you are talking about not long ago. I went to a Christian Battle-of-the-bands, and I saw a metal band where the singer basically sounded like growls, shouts, etc. (and I'm no shut in, I grew up on Metallica, Rage Against the Machine, etc.) I couldn't understand a thing. I thought "How does this spread the message of Christ?" But then the Holy Spirit spoke to me and I understood, for this band it's more about how they are Ministering to themselves in song. Maybe some kids will relate too, but for the most part they are expressing their feelings to God in the way they feel most passionate.

I'm in a blues-rock Christian band, someone might say, "Hey you have way too many guitar solos! How is that edifying?" It's a style that excites me about presenting God's message.

I also play in my Praise band at Church, we play alot of Delirious songs, Matt Redman, etc. I play leads and use trippy U2 like rhythms and delays. It's how I hear the music best and how I want to give it to God.

I always think about how in some Churches an electric guitar alone is evil, let alone certain styles! Yet in some Churches it's perfectly accepted. My grandparents felt my Church is too loud and there's too much audience singing and raising hands, but for me their traditional Church is devoid of passionate worshiping. Either one is not bad, Churches and music are different for different people.

The other day I heard the kid up the street from me playing Amazing Grace in his garage the way he hears me play it in my garage (sort of Hendrixy). Maybe he will get involved in his youth group, maybe he will give his talent to God instead of the world. If he gives his life and his talent to God I don't care what sound he makes, I know God would be pleased.

Praise Him whatever way you know how!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
oh yeah...

forgot one thing......David was a stringed instrumentalist. Think on that for awhile.
 
Long ago in a far away galaxy.....

A young sailor attended a service in one of the local churches on GUAM. As a young inexperienced person , he was really turned off by the music they played. Old, out of tune guitars and shakers was about all they had for instruments. Their singing was crude, the words beyond comprehension. They must have been the local equivalent of HolyRollers, as they got very excited when they sang The young sailor was from the midwest and raised in a mainstream church. He really didn't enjoy the service much, but, having been raised right, he was much too polite to get up and leave. It took 35 years for him to finally understand that the form of worship and the style and expertise of the music mean nothing.
It's only the content of the heart and soul of those sharing the experience that counts in worship music.
writeon...chazba
 
its like saying that shouting at the top of your lungs "I LOVE JESUS!" is undermining the message.....
 
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