Is there such a thing as decent contemporary Christian music?

liesje · May 20, 2011

Have you ever heard anything by Sons of Korah? They're an Australian band, so I don't think they are well known in Canada, but they pretty much take the lyrics of the Psalms and set them to music, changing a word here and there to make it fit the ryhthm. They'e pretty good.

YouTube - ‪sons of korah, psalm 40, songs of redemption‬&rlm;

YouTube - ‪Sons of Korah - Psalm 139‬&rlm;

YouTube - ‪Sons of Korah Psalms 23‬&rlm;

Not as much of a contemporary style as CCM, but the lyrics are great...obviously!

River-Dweller · May 22, 2011

Here is some good Christian music, but most of these artists either have bad theology or they're not living the life they sing about in their song.

YouTube - ‪Jonny Lang~ Red Light (Live At The Ryman)‬&rlm;

Lang uses the bridge from the Bob Marley song "No Woman, No Cry" here in this live version of his song "Red Light". He wrote the song "Red Light" before he became a Christian, but he made it into a Gospel song here in this live recording. It already had a positive message anyway, but he made it Gospel.

YouTube - ‪Mase - Listen Close‬&rlm;

YouTube - ‪Bob Marley - Redemption Song (Live) + MP3 Download Link‬&rlm;

YouTube - ‪P.Diddy ft. Mario Winans - Best Friend (Official Music Video)‬&rlm;

YouTube - ‪Stevie Wonder - Jesus Children Of America‬&rlm;

YouTube - ‪Stevie Wonder - Higher Ground‬&rlm;

desmalia · Jun 5, 2011

Has anyone found a good recording of "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus" that can be purchased on iTunes?

Walter Kovacs · Jun 5, 2011

Bob Marley. In a Reformed thread.

lol.

A New Dawn · Jun 5, 2011

desmalia said:
Has anyone found a good recording of "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus" that can be purchased on iTunes?

The iTunes store says that they have about 50 recordings of it you can buy. I haven't listened to them (I don't even know if you can listen to them), so I do not know if there is anything decent on the list. I have an Amy Grant CD where she sings it, and I love that version of it. It really is a good recording. (I can't stand the version in the cyberhymnal now that I've heard hers.)

ETA: I just listened to them all, and there were a couple that I would download, but if you look up Amy Grant and look for the album called Legacy, it is on that album, and it can be downloaded.

GQ Chris · Jun 6, 2011

Everyone knows Hillsong is your typical contempo Christian music.

teejayinau · Jun 7, 2011

There is good contemporary Christian music out-there, the Sons of Korah are a good example. However a lot of contemporary copy the styles of secular popular music and graft it with christian themes. Hence why it is not good, I think christian musicians should be reminded they are in the world, but not of the world.

Erinwilcox · Jun 8, 2011

teejayinau said:
There is good contemporary Christian music out-there, the Sons of Korah are a good example. However a lot of contemporary copy the styles of secular popular music and graft it with christian themes. Hence why it is not good, I think christian musicians should be reminded they are in the world, but not of the world.

I don't think that, as Christians, we need to have our music sound like it's from the 1600's . . . As long as there is nothing sinful in the style/sound of secular music, what's wrong with Christian music "sounding secular" if the lyrics are good and solid?

The people who wrote the hymnals many times took secular songs of the day and put wonderful words to them--and now Christians seem to think that those are the only songs worth listening to today since they are fully "Christian" when in fact the roots of the music itself were often secular.

WannaWitness · Jun 8, 2011

A New Dawn said:
The iTunes store says that they have about 50 recordings of it you can buy. I haven't listened to them (I don't even know if you can listen to them), so I do not know if there is anything decent on the list. I have an Amy Grant CD where she sings it, and I love that version of it. It really is a good recording. (I can't stand the version in the cyberhymnal now that I've heard hers.)

ETA: I just listened to them all, and there were a couple that I would download, but if you look up Amy Grant and look for the album called Legacy, it is on that album, and it can be downloaded.

I have that album; it is very pleasant and soothing to listen to, all the way around. I like the way she sings "I Need Thee Every Hour" then launches into "Nothing But the Blood". It is very jazzy, and can appeal to pretty much anyone -- except, of course, for those remote few who think it's actually "sinful" to "jazz up" Gospel music. ^_^

The Outlier · Jun 16, 2011

I grew up on Christian rock and metal, so I could name 100's of bands. However, on my top 5 list lyrically in order would be:

1. Atomic Opera
2. Tourniquet
3. Petra
4. Further seems forever
5. Newsboys

However the best song lyrically that I have heard was written by Laura Story earlier this year called blessings. She's not rock, but the lyrics are good.

ThatWhichIsnt · Jun 29, 2011

My favorite worship band is still Hillsong United. Are they reformed? No, not to my knowledge. Doesn't mean they can't put out amazing music though. Jesus Culture as well makes great music. David Crowder is good.

The Outlier · Jul 17, 2011

The thing about Christian music is its no different than any other music. There is no quality difference or style difference. But depending on where you live, its very easy to overlook good Christian bands because only certain places sell their music and even with the internet, there is no really good network to learn about Christian music. Obviously there are good websites to go to though. Radiou.com and firestream.freeforums.org are two of them. Firestream is more metal and radiou is more rock. K-Love is also a national radio station that plays CCM music. But in answer to your original question Christian music is no different than any other music. You also have to remember that there are more secular bands than Christian bands so its no wonder that mnore secular bands are famous for being good. There was a myth going around a few years ago that Christian bands don't try to be talented, and while there were a few bands like that, they didn't constitute the norm. Most bands try to be good. Also the idea that Christian bands just copy other bands is a myth. Every band, every artist, and every designer copies a bit from their environment. Its not just a Christian music thing.

VCViking · Jul 20, 2011

Erinwilcox said:
The people who wrote the hymnals many times took secular songs of the day and put wonderful words to them--and now Christians seem to think that those are the only songs worth listening to today since they are fully "Christian" when in fact the roots of the music itself were often secular.

Which ones?

The Outlier · Jul 20, 2011

It also depends on what you like. Many good Christian bands have been overlooked in the past. If you like, say, alternative, try these. All of these bands got overlooked in the 90's. Since the early 70's there has been Christian rock.:

‪Poor Old Lu - Sit & Stare - 10 - Sickly‬&rlm; - YouTube

‪Reflescent Tide - Leaving‬&rlm; - YouTube

‪Grammatrain - I Believe‬&rlm; - YouTube

vivz4u · Jul 22, 2011

Music is always music.. what makes it different are its lyrics.. if the words of a song glorify GOD no matter being any genre of music it is good to be heard.. there are songs sung with a positive attitude n good lines but if those lyrics speak to you about God then its good music.. u cant categorize music by telling metal music is devilish n worship songs are good.. in everything you do have the discernment of GOD (spirit of peace) he will guide you to listen to what must be heard.. God speaks always!!!

WannaWitness · Jan 14, 2012

I know I have posted my own thoughts in this thread before, but getting right down to the question of the OP:

"Is there such a thing as decent contemporary Christian music?"

Okay... well, I know some people (and a few of them might have posted here) don't think any music is decent if it happens to be in contemporary or jazzy styles. Yet I also understand that this could be an honest conviction for some of these people. That's just it, though: it's simply a matter of conviction. So, if anyone feels any conviction against CCM (or anything, for that matter), then it's better for such a person to stay away from it. However, that doesn't mean that it would wrong for someone else. Everyone is moved in different ways, and I personally have found some powerful messages in some songs -- yes, even some that aren't necessarily marked as a strictly "Christian" song and doesn't have theology all through it, and have not been recorded by "Christian" artists, seeing as though it's basically the same as TV programs of the same nature (like The Brady Bunch or any Shirley Temple film, for instance). I know some might disagree, at this point, but like I said, that's how we all see things differently.

VCViking · Jan 14, 2012

WannaWitness said:
I know I have posted my own thoughts in this thread before, but getting right down to the question of the OP:

"Is there such a thing as decent contemporary Christian music?"

Okay... well, I know some people (and a few of them might have posted here) don't think any music is decent if it happens to be in contemporary or jazzy styles. Yet I also understand that this could be an honest conviction for some of these people. That's just it, though: it's simply a matter of conviction. So, if anyone feels any conviction against CCM (or anything, for that matter), then it's better for such a person to stay away from it. However, that doesn't mean that it would wrong for someone else. Everyone is moved in different ways, and I personally have found some powerful messages in some songs -- yes, even some that aren't necessarily marked as a strictly "Christian" song and doesn't have theology all through it, and have not been recorded by "Christian" artists, seeing as though it's basically the same as TV programs of the same nature (like The Brady Bunch or any Shirley Temple film, for instance). I know some might disagree, at this point, but like I said, that's how we all see things differently.

I agree. I personally do not care for CCM. I used to but not anymore. My wife likes hymns, some CCM and Jazz. I prefer hymns and some praise and worship. There are too many reason to list as to why not to listen to CCM but I do not feel fighting that fight. To each his own and if someone asks me personally why, I try ans explain. Too many IFB churches/ministries really crucify those that listen to CCM and that is wrong.

Iosias · May 17, 2013

I enjoy The Rend Collective Experiment

desmalia · May 17, 2013

Wow it was fun to go back through this thread a couple of years later!

I did end up buying a couple of Sons of Korah albums. My only real complaint is that they use the NIV. But otherwise, what a cool way to memorize Scripture effortlessly. My husband doesn't like them at all. They're way too mellow for him and he doesn't like that style of music. On the plus side, he actually switched it to some Shai Lynne a few times in the car. So I think I'm wearing him down so that he'll tolerate some rap from time to time.

I've also been listening to a lot more Getty/Townend hymns. The music is more contemporary and the lyrics are solid and have some depth. We sing a lot of their music at church these days, so I started buying some of the songs so I would know them already for church, lol. I'm an alto, so extra prep is always needed to figure out how to hit all the notes on Sunday mornings. Plus, my husband doesn't mind listening to them a little bit from time to time.

I've also been listening to Page CXVI. They've done a nice job of updating quite a few hymns. I took advantage of a limited special last year when they offered a free download of a couple of their albums. They still offer some downloads for free here: Download B-Sides From PageCXVI
It is still too mellow for my husband, but I'm not sure we'll ever really find anything much for both of us to listen to at the same time!

Iosias · May 18, 2013

There is also Emu Music US | Home page US

Is there such a thing as decent contemporary Christian music?

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