the musings of a quasi-badass son of a preacher man
**sniff…
sniff…**
Hmmm…yes, I think I know what it is.
That’d be “Teen Spirit.”
All together now:
With the Lights out it’s less dangerous
Here we are now entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now entertain us
A mullato an albino
A mosquito my libido…
**sniff…
sniff…**
Hmmm…yes, I think I know what it is.
That’d be “Teen Spirit.”
All together now:
With the Lights out it’s less dangerous
Here we are now entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now entertain us
A mullato an albino
A mosquito my libido…
Ouch! That used to be me. (In the audience, not on stage, though that was an early dream.) Not knowing the band, I first thought they were named Limited (from the lights in the back of the stage). But there are two bands, so I assume that it’s the name of the concert. Regardless, I was hoping that this was a reference to the middle (and most unfortunate (largely b/c it was heavily indebted to nascent capitalism instead of, you know, the Bible)) consonant of TULIP. Wouldn’t it be great to do a separate festival/concert based on all of TULIP. Perseverance would, of course, last forever (or at least feel like it). Irresistable would feature only hot young artists which nevertheless the young lads and lasses will avoid lusting over. Unconditional lets any band who wants to take the stage, talent completely optional. Limited, I presume, refers to the very limited audiences who might find such a festival enjoyable (only certifiably saved and very committed youth group officers need apply). Oh wait! These all refer to the same concet/festival! I guess if people want an alternative, they can go to Total Depravity, also known as MTV Spring Break.
[…] I found a post on badchristian.com that got me to thinking about how we can educate the young of our church in vital aspects of theology that have heretofore been quite ignored: let’s name our concerts after key ideas from the history of theology. Here’s the main idea that I started in the comments at Brandon’s page, in response to a youtube clip of very excited Christian Rock concert-goers: […]
As they say in Congress, I’ve revised and extended my remearks at my newish blog, ilikethequiet.wordpress.com/.
This is 97% off topic…so please read on if you’re looking for discussion of the post.
However - my roommate and I recently discovered (about a year after it came out) a hilarious recording from Paul Anka where he redoes pop songs in the big band/rat pack style. Click here to listen to them, including Smells Like Teen Spirit…
You know? I don’t know who this (these?) band(s) is (are), but I gotta say, the music is actually quite catchy, and they seem talented. But something about the frenetic clips of uber-excited teens and the wide shots of the whole crowd jumping up and down as if they’re one giant convulsing wave kinda made my stomach turn.
I think it has something to do with the fact that they’re singing about giving praise to God, and Lord knows they believe in their own sincerety (I was once among them), but in reality, it’s a bunch of warm fuzzies and endorphins that Xians of that stripe have been conditioned to interpret as “God” from an obviously early age. It also is a highly individualistic experience, despite the fact that the crowd *appears* to have the likeness of a massive worship service. Something about priviledged teens singing arduously about “taking a stand for what we believe” and knowing there’s a lot of persecution complex inherent in the perceived and speculated outcome of what that might entail (oh no! people may not take us seriously or otherwise find us uncool!) just seems a little wretched to me now. As if having to put up with those dirty, filthy non-Christian teens and their wild partying and cussing behavior is such a tribulation.
But like I said, it has the *appearance* of looking communal, but in the end, it’s really an individual experience, and the community aspect of the gathering is lost once the lights go down and everyone goes home. And did the world really become a better place because of it, or did they all just *feel* like it did, because they got a spiritual fix?
God rest Kurt Cobain’s poor sick soul.
I really did like that song though.
“A mullato an albino
A mosquito my libido”
I never was sure exactly what he was saying there, I thought he said something about a lobotomy, which maybe would’ve helped the poor dude. ….
Personally when I saw the title of your post I thought of an old Lynryrd Skyrnd song “Ooh that smell, can’t you smell that smell, ooh that smell, the smell of death surrounds you”. How encouraging right! Oh well, I loved that tune as well. Shalom & stuff….and keep on rockin’ in the free world!
I don’t use videos as a frame of reference for whether a song is good or not. I like all of Hillsongs recordings that I’ve heard. Nevertheless, I remember the Nirvana video for “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” and there is some similarity between that and this Hillsong United videoclip.
While your observation has a lot of credibility, keep in mind that Kurt Cobain did commit suicide, while I doubt that any of these musicians will do the same thing.
” I doubt that any of these musicians will do the same thing.”
What a pity…..
Maybe with a wee bit of heroin they’d sound better. Although I must admit that with the Kurt Cobain haircut, I was almost convinced that they sounded cool, but then thbe vapid lyrics brought me back to the realization that it’s just ccm pablum. Just my humble opinion.
Aw, it ain’t the style, the music, the lyrics….but do you ultimately become less self-conscious? “He that speaks of himself, seeks his own glory..” John 7:18
Bridgier: Regarding your saying “what a pity…” about the praise band, why do you want them to die? Do you spit on everyone you don’t like in the same way?
No more or less than others, I would imagine.
hi bridgier.
yeah, I’ve done the same thing. It can be tough to have a right attitude towards others. I think I did that very thing to you unfortunately. It’s amazing what a little irritation can do to someone.
Perhaps that was a little obtuse, so let me rephrase that.
I found your tone regarding the tragic death of Mr. Cobain to be flippant and smug, and responded in kind.
If I’m going to be spitting on people, it might as well as be upon the healthy and the living, as opposed to the mentally ill and dead.
Brigdier:
In my previous response to you, I said that I did not have a right attitude at the time I wrote. Having stumbled in a poor judgment, I’ll try to avoid doing so again in the future.
Have fun.
Damn, you’re one noble dude, Jeff M.!
Indecisive said,
August 10, 2006 at 11:19 am
Ouch! That used to be me. (In the audience, not on stage, though that was an early dream.) Not knowing the band, I first thought they were named Limited (from the lights in the back of the stage). But there are two bands, so I assume that it’s the name of the concert. Regardless, I was hoping that this was a reference to the middle (and most unfortunate (largely b/c it was heavily indebted to nascent capitalism instead of, you know, the Bible)) consonant of TULIP. Wouldn’t it be great to do a separate festival/concert based on all of TULIP. Perseverance would, of course, last forever (or at least feel like it). Irresistable would feature only hot young artists which nevertheless the young lads and lasses will avoid lusting over. Unconditional lets any band who wants to take the stage, talent completely optional. Limited, I presume, refers to the very limited audiences who might find such a festival enjoyable (only certifiably saved and very committed youth group officers need apply). Oh wait! These all refer to the same concet/festival! I guess if people want an alternative, they can go to Total Depravity, also known as MTV Spring Break.
I Like the Quiet » Fun with Calvinism and other oxymorons said,
August 10, 2006 at 12:58 pm
[…] I found a post on badchristian.com that got me to thinking about how we can educate the young of our church in vital aspects of theology that have heretofore been quite ignored: let’s name our concerts after key ideas from the history of theology. Here’s the main idea that I started in the comments at Brandon’s page, in response to a youtube clip of very excited Christian Rock concert-goers: […]
Indecisive said,
August 10, 2006 at 1:19 pm
As they say in Congress, I’ve revised and extended my remearks at my newish blog, ilikethequiet.wordpress.com/.
Maria said,
August 10, 2006 at 3:35 pm
This is 97% off topic…so please read on if you’re looking for discussion of the post.
However - my roommate and I recently discovered (about a year after it came out) a hilarious recording from Paul Anka where he redoes pop songs in the big band/rat pack style. Click here to listen to them, including Smells Like Teen Spirit…
ninjanun said,
August 11, 2006 at 12:18 am
You know? I don’t know who this (these?) band(s) is (are), but I gotta say, the music is actually quite catchy, and they seem talented. But something about the frenetic clips of uber-excited teens and the wide shots of the whole crowd jumping up and down as if they’re one giant convulsing wave kinda made my stomach turn.
I think it has something to do with the fact that they’re singing about giving praise to God, and Lord knows they believe in their own sincerety (I was once among them), but in reality, it’s a bunch of warm fuzzies and endorphins that Xians of that stripe have been conditioned to interpret as “God” from an obviously early age. It also is a highly individualistic experience, despite the fact that the crowd *appears* to have the likeness of a massive worship service. Something about priviledged teens singing arduously about “taking a stand for what we believe” and knowing there’s a lot of persecution complex inherent in the perceived and speculated outcome of what that might entail (oh no! people may not take us seriously or otherwise find us uncool!) just seems a little wretched to me now. As if having to put up with those dirty, filthy non-Christian teens and their wild partying and cussing behavior is such a tribulation.
But like I said, it has the *appearance* of looking communal, but in the end, it’s really an individual experience, and the community aspect of the gathering is lost once the lights go down and everyone goes home. And did the world really become a better place because of it, or did they all just *feel* like it did, because they got a spiritual fix?
Nancy da Joo from SA said,
August 11, 2006 at 12:07 pm
God rest Kurt Cobain’s poor sick soul.
I really did like that song though.
“A mullato an albino
A mosquito my libido”
I never was sure exactly what he was saying there, I thought he said something about a lobotomy, which maybe would’ve helped the poor dude. ….
Personally when I saw the title of your post I thought of an old Lynryrd Skyrnd song “Ooh that smell, can’t you smell that smell, ooh that smell, the smell of death surrounds you”. How encouraging right! Oh well, I loved that tune as well. Shalom & stuff….and keep on rockin’ in the free world!
jeff m said,
August 11, 2006 at 7:32 pm
I don’t use videos as a frame of reference for whether a song is good or not. I like all of Hillsongs recordings that I’ve heard. Nevertheless, I remember the Nirvana video for “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” and there is some similarity between that and this Hillsong United videoclip.
While your observation has a lot of credibility, keep in mind that Kurt Cobain did commit suicide, while I doubt that any of these musicians will do the same thing.
Bridgier said,
August 12, 2006 at 11:12 am
” I doubt that any of these musicians will do the same thing.”
What a pity…..
Sarcastic Lutheran said,
August 12, 2006 at 3:32 pm
Maybe with a wee bit of heroin they’d sound better. Although I must admit that with the Kurt Cobain haircut, I was almost convinced that they sounded cool, but then thbe vapid lyrics brought me back to the realization that it’s just ccm pablum. Just my humble opinion.
sufferingthrureligion said,
August 12, 2006 at 4:14 pm
Aw, it ain’t the style, the music, the lyrics….but do you ultimately become less self-conscious? “He that speaks of himself, seeks his own glory..” John 7:18
jeff m said,
August 13, 2006 at 12:29 am
Bridgier: Regarding your saying “what a pity…” about the praise band, why do you want them to die? Do you spit on everyone you don’t like in the same way?
Bridgier said,
August 13, 2006 at 11:13 pm
No more or less than others, I would imagine.
jeff m said,
August 13, 2006 at 11:19 pm
hi bridgier.
yeah, I’ve done the same thing. It can be tough to have a right attitude towards others. I think I did that very thing to you unfortunately. It’s amazing what a little irritation can do to someone.
Bridgier said,
August 13, 2006 at 11:27 pm
Perhaps that was a little obtuse, so let me rephrase that.
I found your tone regarding the tragic death of Mr. Cobain to be flippant and smug, and responded in kind.
If I’m going to be spitting on people, it might as well as be upon the healthy and the living, as opposed to the mentally ill and dead.
jeff m said,
August 14, 2006 at 8:15 pm
Brigdier:
In my previous response to you, I said that I did not have a right attitude at the time I wrote. Having stumbled in a poor judgment, I’ll try to avoid doing so again in the future.
Xeyro said,
August 21, 2006 at 10:13 pm
Have fun.
http://www.wrestlingforjesus.org/home.html
duck said,
August 25, 2006 at 1:09 am
Damn, you’re one noble dude, Jeff M.!