What are some decent secular groups/artists?

[Salsa_1960]

I bought my soon-to-be 10yo a portable CD player for Christmas. I bought her a Christian contemporary CD, a praise/worship CD, (she likes praise songs; I hear her singing them around the house), and a children's Christian songs CD.

I want to get her something besides Christian music. I want to get her decent music, but I don't know where to start. Can anyone head me in a few directions?

~Sandy

 

[Axver]

Knowing what genre she likes would be a help, but I'm going to do what everyone would expect me to do and recommend the following because they're (in my opinion) the best band ever;

U2. My picks from studio releases are Best Of 1980-1990, The Joshua Tree, Under A Blood Red Sky (live), The Unforgettable Fire, and All That You Can't Leave Behind, though I think a better idea is knocking up a compilation. On a side note, 3 of the 4 band members are Christians and Bono routinely inserts Christian themes into his lyrics; they're what I classify as a Christian secular band.

 

[Matt Weston]

*tries to remember the name of the U2 song that most definitely wasn't Christian lyrics-wise*

*fails*

R.E.M. are cool, say "Automatic for the People". That's a quality album. Similar genre to U2 (AOR - Adult-Oriented Rock, or soft rock as it's often called).

Or go for someone less well known in the States like Coldplay. At least I assume they're less well-known, being British.

 

[Axver]

What do you mean by "Christian"? Many U2 songs have both a Christian and a secular interpretation (indeed, usually there's a good deal of legitimate multiple interpretations). They've done a good few that simply do not contain religious/Christian themes (for example, Love Is Blindness is simply about the situation in Northern Ireland, Red Hill Mining Town is about a miner's strike that occurred in Britain, and Running To Stand Still is about the evils of drug addiction), but heaps that do (Gloria, Tomorrow, With Or Without You, Mysterious Ways, et cetera).

I agree with the recommendation of REM. Fantastic band, and two of their members once teamed up with two of U2's members to form the group Automatic Baby (a combination of the names of their two most recent albums at the time, Achtung Baby and I'd assume Automatic For The People).

Coldplay's another brilliant band, I'm hoping to get their CDs for Christmas. I also quite enjoy Jimmy Eat World's music, especially the song Sweetness.

 

[Salsa_1960]

I'm just looking for some decent music out there to buy my STB 10yo daughter. I've already bought her some Contemporary Christian music for Christmas but thought she would want some variety. Thanks for your ideas.

~Sandy

 

[Matt Weston]

What do you mean by "Christian"?

Well, I just remember one song that I was played by someone who had gone off U2 which had lyrics that contradicted the gospel message. I can't remember it though, I may be imagining things.

Hmm... maybe something like Enya? My problem is, my music tastes are mainly bands like Radiohead, who are not the most appropriate for pre-teens (and not the most accessible either).

 

[Judilyn]

I rec Cold Play and Creed. Those are 2 secular gropus that I do not mind my kids listening to.

 

[Salsa_1960]

Well, I just remember one song that I was played by someone who had gone off U2 which had lyrics that contradicted the gospel message. I can't remember it though, I may be imagining things.

Hmm... maybe something like Enya? My problem is, my music tastes are mainly bands like Radiohead, who are not the most appropriate for pre-teens (and not the most accessible either).

That's like my tastes. For example, I really enjoy Simon & Garfunkel. (I'm showing my age). Most of their songs are pretty decent, (songs like "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "The Sound of Silence"), but then there are a few like "Mrs. Robinson" that would be hard to try to explain to a 9½ year old.

Just the same, she is wanting to listen to the music that is out there and I would like help in discerning what is OK and what is not OK. There is just too much out there for me to listen to it all.

 

[Matt Weston]

Interested seeing Simon + Garfunkel compared to Radiohead...

I love Simon + Garfunkel, they're brilliant

Edit: It's hard to find appropriate stuff for kids in the secular scene often as so much of it is about sex etc.

Bands like R.E.M. and U2 are usually good as they're what's classed as "AOR", Adult-Oriented Rock. This doesn't mean it's aimed at adults per se, it technically means stuff that isn't so rebellious or sex-driven - in other words, suitable for a post-teenager who's grown out of all that, supposedly.

My knowledge of appropriate music for kids is limited though, as I only got into music other than my parents taste aged about 14.

 

[Stryper]

iron maiden

 

[wgjones3]

Without knowing what genre, I'd be taking a stab in the dark. But, here goes:

The NOW That's What I Call Music and Totally Hits CDs are basically compliations of songs that made it big on the radio. My girlfreind gets every one that comes out. They're content edited (at least the ones she has, and she gets hers at Wal Mart, which doesn't sell any explicit lyrics CDs). I brigh this up because when her school-age cousin got a CD player for Christmas last year, she got 3 of those CDs.

If you want to say focusd on just one artist (like a whole album by one group), I'd recommend Three Doors Down. I spent several months listening to their Away from the Sun CD. There's mild profanity in it (the "d" word in the opening song) but overall it's a very good CD. You've probably heard the songs "When I'm Gone" and "Here Without You" if you listen to much pop radio. Not sure if a teenage girl would like them too much though.

I'd also recommend Evanscene's Fallen CD. It's got a goth-rock sound, but was initially distributed as a Christian CD until the band expressed consturnation at being labled as Christian, so you don't have to worry about the lyrics.

Though I haven't heard the CDs, I hear that Kelly Clarkson, Clay Akin, and Ruben Studdard are all really popular right now, so you might go with one of the American Idol CDs.

I'd also think that any of Miriah Carey's early works would be appropriate.

 

[Axver]

I personally would advise against ANYTHING that is pop, hence contradicting the recommendation of anything from Idol. The last thing the world needs is another person who likes pop. Whatever you do, avoid rubbish like Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, Idol, any form of rap, et cetera. A lot of that has content I wouldn't want a ten year old listening to anyway.

I would recommend Linkin Park but I'm not quite sure if you'd want to go with them either. Evanescence is very good, I believe Christian themes can be found in at least one song on Fallen (which I don't have ... YET) ... hmm, I'm not sure what else. A lot of what I like, I don't know if a ten year old would like or if it's appropriate (Dire Straits, Tool, Pink Floyd, et cetera).

Well, I just remember one song that I was played by someone who had gone off U2 which had lyrics that contradicted the gospel message. I can't remember it though, I may be imagining things.

Hmm ... well, I don't know what song you're talking about, though it could possibly be a misinterpretation of Until The End Of The World or Wake Up Dead Man, most likely the latter (too many people twist that one the wrong way).

To the original poster, if you are considering U2 and want to avoid swearing, then do not get the Pop CD (U2 is like me and agree that swearing is not always sinful or bad). Zooropa is said to be the one CD to avoid when introducing someone to U2, The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby are regarded as their classics, my favourites are Boy and The Unforgettable Fire, and October could almost be classified as a Christian CD, though many feel it is a weak CD. I got The Best Of 1980-1990 when I was ten (it was my first U2 CD), and I absolutely loved it. I think it's worth it just for the first seven tracks alone. Both of the Best Ofs (the other being 1990-2000) are very good, actually, though I do think 1980-1990 would be better. All That You Can't Leave Behind is their most recent (from 2000; we're expecting a new album in the coming months) and contains the brilliant Beautiful Day and Walk On but I feel the rest is weak (apart from Kite, though I didn't appreciate that song until this year).

 

[Uzi_4_U]

You might try some Elvis. If you don't know who Elvis is just ask. His music is pretty good.

Also, I have not heard any profanity in a Creedence Clearwater Revival song.

Brooks and Dunn, Red Dirt Road might be a pretty good choice too...that is if you like country.

 

[Matt Weston]

n/m

 

[Axver]

Elvis? He's more over-rated than The Beatles.

 

[Matt Weston]

The Beatles are pretty cool though

 

[Salsa_1960]

You might try some Elvis. If you don't know who Elvis is just ask. His music is pretty good.

Also, I have not heard any profanity in a Creedence Clearwater Revival song.

Brooks and Dunn, Red Dirt Road might be a pretty good choice too...that is if you like country.

I like Brooks and Dunn. I like "Red Dirt Road" too. Though it's not a Christian song, per se, it talks aboout finding Jesus. I read where one of them (I forget which) was going to seminary school before becoming a music artist.

The other country singer I like (though not as popular) is Buddy Jewell. I emailed him a few months ago about a song of his-- "Help Pour Out the Rain." It's a song about a child and her impression of what Heaven will be like. It really struck me because my oldest daughter died a little over a year ago. I thought I'd share our correspondence with you here on the board.

~Sandy

Buddy,
I have to be honest with you and tell you that until last week, I'd never heard of you. About all I knew of modern country music was Ricky Skaggs (and that's because I enjoy bluegrass). Thursday or Friday, I had the TV on CMT and your song "Help Pour Out the Rain" came up. I usually just listen to it while I'm doing other things but the words of your song caught my interest right away.

The reason is that I lost my 10 year old daughter (Jennifer) in September of last year. She was killed in a traffic accident. Your song really hit close to home. I picture Jennifer in heaven listening to my grandmother tell her the stories she told me when I was a little girl.

Thank You.

Sandy



Dear Sandy,
Thank you so much for taking time to write to me. I am so sorry to hear of your sweet daughter's passing. I pray that God has given you grace, strength and peace in your time of sorrow. I am deeply humbled that my music has been a source of comfort and healing to you.

In His Love,
Buddy Jewell :")
​

 

[theFijian]

Considering your daughter is to be only 10 years old you been getting some rather odd suggestions on this thread (Iron Maiden, Creed etc) so if you want something that's not going to give her nightmares but thats got a good tune, interesting (yet inoffensive) lyrics and a good rythm I'd recommend the scottish band Belle and Sebastian http://www.belleandsebastian.com. The singer Stuart Murdoch is a christian too

seasons greetings!
Andy

 

[Axver]

Why is Creed an odd suggestion?

 

[theFijian]

Why is Creed an odd suggestion?

Because she's only a wee girl if you remember the original request and pompous nu-metal outfits like Creed et al can wait till she's 13. Why not expose her to something youthful and winsome in her early years?

Andy