- Apr 17, 2022
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- Non-Denom
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- Single
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- US-Libertarian
So I have been delving into the world of CCM recently; I've been putting on my local station in the background as I paint my miniatures lately. Aside from my wanting them to play more of a variety of music and artists, because they tend to play the same songs over and over? The one thing other than that which makes me turn it off after 60-90 minutes or so, saying "OK, I'm good," is that these songs all tend to sound alike. They also bludgeon you over the head in the lyrical realm, and even my thick Irish skull can only take so much of that. Though I do admit to enjoying "In Jesus Name (God of Possible)" because Katy Nichole sings that with so much feeling and conviction. (And sue me, but it doesn't hurt that she's a beauty)
Seriously, it's as though they all use the same few chord progressions, the same musical arrangements, and did I mention they all but beat you over the head with endless repetitions of lines like "There is power in the Name of Jesus/There is power, power in His name." Yes, I get that. I'm well aware of that. But to me--and I know for a fact I'm not the only one who thinks this--it all sounds the same and it becomes trite, sappy, and cliched in no time flat. Where can I find good Christian music that doesn't fall into the traps I mentioned, here?
CCM means well, but it doesn't do well most of the time, is my ultimate take away so far. It's as though certain people out there need to be constantly affirmed that they've made the right choice in life and CCM reflects that desire to always be reminded you Did The Right Thing and that you need to Shout It Out To The World. Only problem is, it's preaching to the choir, I think. Why not reach out to the rest of the world and find a way to bring in the Good News without alienating others outside the flock, as it were? As in not making non-Christians wince and say "Aw, man, quit preaching at me!" I have never appreciated being preached at and having things shoved in my face, so I can relate to how they feel. To me, if you can get their attention and pull them in with something interesting that gets their attention and then try to hold it when you reveal the workings of said "something interesting", that's a more rewarding thing.
Because if you insult people's intelligence and simply say "Do as I say, not as I do," that's when you lose them. Get them thinking and sometimes that will work. If it does, great! If it doesn't, it doesn't. Credit people with some intelligence (difficult to do at times, I know) and you get better results. CCM is not so good at that, I find, and that's why it only has a limited audience; it only reaches out to that select audience as opposed to the world. There's got to be a better way, right? Until that better way is found, then it will continue to be an extremely niche audience. What do y'all think?
Seriously, it's as though they all use the same few chord progressions, the same musical arrangements, and did I mention they all but beat you over the head with endless repetitions of lines like "There is power in the Name of Jesus/There is power, power in His name." Yes, I get that. I'm well aware of that. But to me--and I know for a fact I'm not the only one who thinks this--it all sounds the same and it becomes trite, sappy, and cliched in no time flat. Where can I find good Christian music that doesn't fall into the traps I mentioned, here?
CCM means well, but it doesn't do well most of the time, is my ultimate take away so far. It's as though certain people out there need to be constantly affirmed that they've made the right choice in life and CCM reflects that desire to always be reminded you Did The Right Thing and that you need to Shout It Out To The World. Only problem is, it's preaching to the choir, I think. Why not reach out to the rest of the world and find a way to bring in the Good News without alienating others outside the flock, as it were? As in not making non-Christians wince and say "Aw, man, quit preaching at me!" I have never appreciated being preached at and having things shoved in my face, so I can relate to how they feel. To me, if you can get their attention and pull them in with something interesting that gets their attention and then try to hold it when you reveal the workings of said "something interesting", that's a more rewarding thing.
Because if you insult people's intelligence and simply say "Do as I say, not as I do," that's when you lose them. Get them thinking and sometimes that will work. If it does, great! If it doesn't, it doesn't. Credit people with some intelligence (difficult to do at times, I know) and you get better results. CCM is not so good at that, I find, and that's why it only has a limited audience; it only reaches out to that select audience as opposed to the world. There's got to be a better way, right? Until that better way is found, then it will continue to be an extremely niche audience. What do y'all think?