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From unknown
This is my first post, but just posing the question...
hi there,
welcome to the boards!
we've had a lot of posts like this recently, it might help to read through some other ones as the same kind of thoughts have already been given on this subject.
for me i think it could be argued that any style of music out there has become generic and formulaic.
is pop music any less generic/formulaic? or rock? or classical?
God bless,
Gav.
Hello,
You have to be a little careful with your definitions, but if you mean generic and formulaic as in boring, lacking creativity, pastiche etc, then that is a matter of opinion which needs to be backed up by evidence. Given that music has an extremely rich history in different cultures, backgrounds, churches and traditions, it will be hard to prove because 'worship music' as a stylistic genre has many connotations (other than for praising God).
If you think worship music is generic and formulaic, I'd encourage you to broaden your aural horizons!
David
P.S. It might be good to start a new thread with different music people are listening to. Spotify / iTunes playlists for example.
Unfortunately, in most churches and here in the states "Christian" radio is totally predictable. Most of it sounds like a mix between U2 and soft rock. There are some bastions of hope though. People like John Mark McMillan, Misty Edwards, and Brian and Jen Johnston are doing some cool things with worship music.
hi ebenezerfound,
just wandering if 'country' or 'rock' or 'pop' or 'punk' etc radio is equally predictable in the states?
God bless,
gav.
Gavinball,
Absolutely! There are always songs in most genres that are equally predictable. The best ones, in my opinion, break the mold and give me something different. I find the problem being that their seems to be more of the "equally predictable songs" being played on popular American Christian radio than the "break the mold" songs.
http://sojournmusic.bandcamp.com
http://sojournmusic.bandcamp.com
Worship music only becomes generic when people make it. I know of a few churches who try to emulate Soul Survivor almost to the note from the CD. That I don't find healthy at all.
There's such a wealth of stuff out there that there really isn't any excuses for becoming formulaic.
You can mix in elements of other songs (i.e. riff of Bloc Party's "I Still Remember" into "My hope is built on nothing less", the Cranberries' "Zombie" into Vicky Beeching's "Awesome God" or riff from Michael Jackson's "Will You Be There" into "I'm Forgiven/Amazing Love")
You can try songs in a different musical style - i.e. Reggae (works better with kids songs), Folk (Townend songs or hymns), Trip Hop (i.e. samples, beats and bass but with a melody - great for "Spirit Break Out", Tomlin's "Wonderful Cross", etc), Punk (short sharp and spiky versions - Tomin's "Awesome is the Lord" or "Forever", "Jesus hope of the nations", etc), Post rock (i.e. chiming guitars, echo and space "At the foot of the cross", "In the glory of your presence"), New Orleans jazz (When the saints go in, Ishmael's "Lord you put a tongue in my mouth") as well as usual Christian rock style, organ, gospel, choirs - that's at 10 styles right there. Try things differently!
And failing that, just try using children's toy instruments like David Crowder.
Thanks,
Alex
I'm going to do that really irritating thing and answer a question with a question.
If worship has become formulaic and generic, does it matter? If the body are still entering into worship, communing with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; receiving the gifts of the spirit, being healed, and so on and so forth; does it matter that we're playing the same song in the same style that we have for the past 6 weeks? I would answer with a resounding NO!
However (there's always a however) if something about the worship is acting as a hinderance to all these things described above, then something must be done; and it is up to all of us as worshipers to identify these things (whether they are corporate or personal) and get back to God.
There's a little cheeky monkey inside of me who wants to stand up on a Sunday morning, read Psalm 94v4 and bang two dustbin lids together for 10 minutes...
Tim.
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not in our church!
we like to mix it up and have a file of about 300 songs to dip into.
we have never retired a song because it is too OLD.........
we do rock, folk, country, even a bit of Jazz here & there.