The song "Personal Jesus"

[Catholicon]

Do people consider the song "Personal Jesus" by Depache Mode (also covered by Marilyn Manson) as a particularly Christian song, or quite the opposite?

 

[flicka]

I'm not sure but that song rocks LIVE! They had the entire audience shouting "reach out and touch me"

 

[The Nihilist]

flicka! Never say anything good about depeche mode ever again!

 

[tulc]

and then there's this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQcNiD0Z3MU
tulc(come on, who can top THAT one?)

 

[Paulos23]

I admit I had to look up the lyrics, and it can go both ways if you don't look to deep.

But I don't think it is meant as a Christian song, there is something more there...

 

[Catholicon]

flicka! Never say anything good about depeche mode ever again!

You don't like Teh 'Mode? Heresy!


I didn't know Johnny Cash did a cover too... I'm not that fond of his version after just listening to it, though.

 

[sidhe]

"Personal Jesus" rocks my socks, but I'm not sure I'd say it's Christian. Actually, I'm pretty sure it's about something else entirely.

 

[Blayz]

I'm not sure but that song rocks LIVE! They had the entire audience shouting "reach out and touch me"

Seconded.

 

[CaDan]

Johnny Cash swiped it and sanctified it.

 

[Catholicon]

He certainly did something to it...

 

[ttreg]

I love this song and I love Depeche Mode.
I dont think this is a Christian song and I dont think it is ment to be any way antichristian either.

 

[Beanieboy]

It says, "take second best, put me to the test"

It's used as a euphemism for putting someone you love in the place of Saviour, which many people do.

Personally, I question the Christian "Personal Lord and Saviour", which far more often means Personal Servant:
Jesus: Get me this job
Jesus: Help us win the game

It's more like having a genie, than servitude.

Depeche Mode has some jaded opinions of Christianity.

In one song, they sing, "Everybody's waiting for the Judgement Day, so they can go, "told you so!"

Depeche Mode, in Blasphemus Rumors about a girl who tries to kill herself, finds Jesus and falls in love at 18, only to get hit by a car and wind up on life support:

I don't want to start
Any blasphemous rumours
But I think that God's
Got a sick sense of humour
And when I die
I expect to find Him laughing

I do like to serve "your own personal cheeses" at parties

 

[WarEagle]

I've never heard of Depeche Mode and I've heard of Marilyn Manson but can't tell you anything she sings, but if it's the same "Personal Jesus" as the one Johnny Cash sings, it's a good song. I never considered it to be Christian or anti-Christian.

I think I heard him say somewhere that it's about hypocrisy in the church.

 

[Robbie_James_Francis]

I've never heard of Depeche Mode and I've heard of Marilyn Manson but can't tell you anything she sings, but if it's the same "Personal Jesus" as the one Johnny Cash sings, it's a good song. I never considered it to be Christian or anti-Christian.

I think I heard him say somewhere that it's about hypocrisy in the church.

Marilyn Manson's a guy. And I don't think even he meant the song to be specifically about attacking Jesus and Christianity, despite his obvious views on those things given songs like 'Cruci-fiction in Space'.

 

[IzzyPop]

Arrrggghhh!!!! Now I'm going to have Blasphemous Rumors stuck in my head for the next week or so. Thanks, Beanie. Thanks a lot.

 

[selfinflikted]

Marilyn Manson's a guy. And I don't think even he meant the song to be specifically about attacking Jesus and Christianity, despite his obvious views on those things given songs like 'Cruci-fiction in Space'.

Meh. Marilyn Manson went the way of "Satanist" (note the quotes) simply for media attention and to draw in new audiences. Their best work, imo, is to be found of their first Album Portrait of an American Family. There's some great rock n roll songs on there, and a little insight into some "truths" about American society. It's really a brilliant record, it's just a shame that that particular one is the least known.

 

[JGG]

I was always under the impression that it was about television evangelists, and others who use faith to get money and power.

 

[violetchick]

Surprisingly enough it's inspired by Pricilla Presley.

Martin Gore from Depeche Mode:

"Personal Jesus" is based on Pricilla Presley's idolatry of her King in her book Elvis & Me. "It's a song about being a Jesus for somebody else, someone to give you hope and care. It's about how Elvis was her man and her mentor and how often that happens in love relationships; how everybody's heart is like a god in some way. We play these god-like parts for people but no one is perfect, and that's not a very balanced view of someone is it?"

Source: http://www.tuug.utu.fi/~jaakko/dm/spinmode.html

As an aside - I'm off to see Marilyn Manson next Thursday myself. Looking forward to it, although I'm not really a fan - he's more my other half's hero.

 

[JGG]

Surprisingly enough it's inspired by Pricilla Presley.

Martin Gore from Depeche Mode:

"Personal Jesus" is based on Pricilla Presley's idolatry of her King in her book Elvis & Me. "It's a song about being a Jesus for somebody else, someone to give you hope and care. It's about how Elvis was her man and her mentor and how often that happens in love relationships; how everybody's heart is like a god in some way. We play these god-like parts for people but no one is perfect, and that's not a very balanced view of someone is it?"

Source: http://www.tuug.utu.fi/~jaakko/dm/spinmode.html

As an aside - I'm off to see Marilyn Manson next Thursday myself. Looking forward to it, although I'm not really a fan - he's more my other half's hero.

Just found the same quote. Hmmm...too slow.

 

[selfinflikted]

As an aside - I'm off to see Marilyn Manson next Thursday myself. Looking forward to it, although I'm not really a fan - he's more my other half's hero.

Rawr. One of the best stage shows you will ever see.