What makes a song or band great?

[CtC]

I know the members of a band that is just starting out. They recently recorded some songs at the studio; and are working on putting together a CD.

There are so many bands these days, it makes me wonder, what is it that makes a band or song Good... or even Great?

Do the lyrics play a big role in that?
Is it just the talent of the musicians?
Does the Holy Sirit make a difference?

--------

The band mentioned above is christian based:
http://switchedsentence.com

 

[Idicious]

That they bring something new to a genre, or define a new genre by itself. Real musical talent and effort put into it, for the sake of making music and expression, not money, passionate lyrics written from the heart, and imo about emotions, things the artist is dealing with himself, good vocalist(s), originality (but that's sort of covered under the first point)

A good mix of all that, and some luck, is what in my opinion makes an musician/band great, and I can't think of any christian band at the moment that has all that

Some bands that did this:

Metallica
Iron Maiden
Black Sabbath
Dream Theather
Pink Floyed
Hendriks
Dissection
Emperor

 

[anathema]

If they arent in CCM, they are automatically good. Not great, but good.. but it can only go uphill from there..

 

[CtC]

That they bring something new to a genre, or define a new genre by itself. Real musical talent and effort put into it, for the sake of making music and expression, not money, passionate lyrics written from the heart, and imo about emotions, things the artist is dealing with himself, good vocalist(s), originality (but that's sort of covered under the first point)

A good mix of all that, and some luck, is what in my opinion makes an musician/band great, and I can't think of any christian band at the moment that has all that

It is rather unfortunate that none of the christian bands made your list. I think there have been some innovative bands with talent and passion.

For example:
Tree63
Third Day
Disciple
Rebecca St. James

Sure, Rebecca St. James may not be as innovative overall, but I think she really put a new sound together with Transform.

 

[Idicious]

Many of them make many/some of the criteria, but to be truely great, to really stick out above everything else they have to beat all imo.

 

[absolutely_lost_86]

That they bring something new to a genre, or define a new genre by itself. Real musical talent and effort put into it, for the sake of making music and expression, not money, passionate lyrics written from the heart, and imo about emotions, things the artist is dealing with himself, good vocalist(s), originality (but that's sort of covered under the first point)

A good mix of all that, and some luck, is what in my opinion makes an musician/band great, and I can't think of any christian band at the moment that has all that

Some bands that did this:

Metallica
Iron Maiden
Black Sabbath
Dream Theather
Pink Floyed
Hendriks
Dissection
Emperor

some awesome bands listed here. i think for me lyrics and style and sound, play a role for me, wen deciding wht makes a good band, i dont like bands tht do and sound like every1 else

 

[flipper1]

Er..

U could say that the 6/7 line-up for Alton Towers, 22 May - www.theultimateevent.org.uk - may well be the "great & the good"

Likewise for the Space tour in May - www.visitspace.net - see you @ Liverpool Empire 6 May? Or Manchester Apollo, 7th?

All I know who went to their past events said they were..

er...

"Great!"

£4 for 5 top bands sure sounds greatly good to me!!

http://www.visitspace.net/news.cfm?id=15

 

[WintarNaht]

Definently the music itself. Then come well written lyrics.

 

[talitha]

This is kind of a question of personal preference, as "great" is an undefined term. For me, the Holy Spirit has a lot to do with it, so one performance of a song could be great and another just marginal. Musicians need to have some talent, but that's not enough. Lyrics are important -- I mean, there are some songs that play on CCM stations that are okay musically but are lame lyrically and even some that aren't Christian songs per se at all, like "homeschool girl" --- it's funny, but.....

Obviously I am speaking in purely Christian terms here, as for me "great" includes spiritual impact. I think these are great:

Keith Green
John Michael Talbot
Rich Mullins
1000 Portraits and Waterdeep - the "Enter the Worship Circle" series is awesome
JoAnn McFatter

blessings
tal

Do the lyrics play a big role in that?
Is it just the talent of the musicians?
Does the Holy Sirit make a difference?

 

[olgravyrecords]

Consider this~

Musical taste is no different than taste in food. If we're eating dinner together and I say "agh...this spinach is terrible" and you say "no way, this spinach is great" are we both not speaking the truth?

What makes a great band to me? A band that inspires me to move in some way. Radiohead, Pavement, the jon spencer blues explosion, mewithoutyou, don caballero, ben folds, beck, sparta, bjork, AVEC. the bad plus.......the list can go on and on....you there is a 100 percent chance that the bands on your list will be different than the bands on my list...and that my friend is the beauty of music all together. because we all like music, yet we love different styles.

 

[LITB]

That they bring something new to a genre, or define a new genre by itself. Real musical talent and effort put into it, for the sake of making music and expression, not money, passionate lyrics written from the heart, and imo about emotions, things the artist is dealing with himself, good vocalist(s), originality (but that's sort of covered under the first point)

A good mix of all that, and some luck, is what in my opinion makes an musician/band great, and I can't think of any christian band at the moment that has all that

Some bands that did this:

Metallica
Iron Maiden
Black Sabbath
Dream Theather
Pink Floyed
Hendriks
Dissection
Emperor

I can't wait for the day when we see christian bands rank as well as these...though I have to say they are getting better and better all the time (there was a time when there was hardly any Christian rock at all - they were lean times!) I think that day is getting closer, and there are truly some amazing christian bands about...

 

[CtC]

I can't wait for the day when we see christian bands rank as well as these...though I have to say they are getting better and better all the time (there was a time when there was hardly any Christian rock at all - they were lean times!) I think that day is getting closer, and there are truly some amazing christian bands about...

I agree.

I guess it is easy to say a band or song is good or even great, but can anyone pinpoint why?

Or, maybe to make it a bit easier, can you name a Christian band or song and state how you think it could be improved so it would be considered Great?

 

[LondonsBurning]

Consider this~

Musical taste is no different than taste in food. If we're eating dinner together and I say "agh...this spinach is terrible" and you say "no way, this spinach is great" are we both not speaking the truth?

What makes a great band to me? A band that inspires me to move in some way. Radiohead, Pavement, the jon spencer blues explosion, mewithoutyou, don caballero, ben folds, beck, sparta, bjork, AVEC. the bad plus.......the list can go on and on....you there is a 100 percent chance that the bands on your list will be different than the bands on my list...and that my friend is the beauty of music all together. because we all like music, yet we love different styles.

but that's the thing. Noone could say...in terms of influence as it applies to greatness, that say...Relient K is as great as the rolling stones. Greatness applies to what the music is going to mean 50 years from now, how it impacted people's lives.

 

[Voice of Thunder]

Usually for a "Christian" band to stand out usually means they are very dedicated to God in prayer and consecration and in obedience. Anyone can hear the tightness of the music, the God-centered lyrics, and their discipline to their craft. A band that is dedicated to God, solely are not concerned with selling or being "popular." When it is God-centered, it will not be squashed by man.

 

[Tangi]

Band: their lifestyle

Song: the words, the beats

 

[CtC]

Band: their lifestyle

Song: the words, the beats

Interesting that you brought up lifestyle. It has been said in this thread that "closeness to God" is important. I see these two subjects "lifestyle" and "closeness to God" as separate but related.

It seems to me that eventually, closeness to God will bring about changes in ones lifestyle... and visa versa... ones lifestyle will bring about changes in ones closeness to God.

Let's hope the former prevails over the latter.

 

[Idicious]

I see music as an artvorm in which the artist expresses their experiences/how they've come to see the world through all things that have happened to them throughout their lives. It is NOT our place to judge anyone on their lyrical themes because they are personal to the person who wrote and it's really no-one elses bussynes besides his own (even though it can touch you ofcourse) so I don't really mind if it's christian or not, it's a piece of mind or someone, and jesus himself says not to judge others.

 

[deep_thought_generator]

to answer the original question...

annointing, following the Holy Spirit and letting Him guide every word and movement, a truly annointed worship band just plays whatever God gives to them. with that in mind...there is no qestion whether or not the words or music is good, because He made it. afterall, it isn't about us anyway....when i worship band(and the people who are listening too!!!) remember this key principle of worship...nothing else matters.

to the person with the list of bands on the 2nd post.

when i gave my life to Christ...thats exactly what I did. i choose to no longer associate myself with secular music in any way. i used to listen to Tool, A Perfect Circle, Dream Theater, and so on like religion. But when I changed...I changed. In my opinion none of those bands listed are good in any way. If music does not accomplish what the Creator (God) intended, then it is not good music.

not trying to offend you, just trying to get you to think.

faith comes by hearing...what does that tell you about how important to not allow some things to come into your ears. whatever comes into your ears, whether you realize it or not, can affect your spirit in ways that are hard to imagine.

 

[Idicious]

It doesn't make the MUSIC good though.... You can have terrible music that has a very good message, the lyrics could be 'bad' but have very good MUSIC to it. See my post above yours to see what I think about lyrical themes etc. And about Dream Theater, read the lyrics to 'The spirit caries on', I could almost only give a christian interpretation to those lyrics:

I used to be frightened of dying
I used to think death was the end
But that was before
I`m not scared anymore
I know that my soul will transcend

I may never find all the answers
I may never understand why
I may never prove
What I know to be true
But I know that I still have to try

If I die tomorrow
I`d be allright
Because I believe
That after we`re gone
The spirit carries on

 

[Cozmo]

What makes a song or band great?
Being who they say they are and their music really reflecting that. There's nothing I can't stand more than to listen to a Christian band and not being able to figure out whether they're a Christian band or a secular band and their kyrics don't point me either way. When that happens, I generally switch the channel or change tracks.




God bless!