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Guldbamsen View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2010 at 20:06
I´m a fan of music that conveys me to other places where I can´t find my feet - and I feel like I´m stuck in a giant space-see-saw ripping me back and forth - leaving small fields of aroused chicken-nipples on my skin.
If people want to call it religion - beeing touched by the hand of god - or maybe orgasming with the most beautiful woman in the world - whatever you wanna call it, put a bumpersticker on it and call it instant soul release - I only find religion expressed in music dull, when it seeks to educate - rather than tell amazing stories.  
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2010 at 21:35
A simply fascinating thread here that takes twists and turns and goes off topic and discussed everything from the Koran, Muslims, copyright issues, attacking catholicism, Protestantism, Atheism vs Christianity, discussions on homosexuality, lyrics of satanic bands, Neal Morse was targetted, and then lately mentioned Ajalon and this latest post music that releases the soul. It makes for some enlightening and entertaining reading, Someone should publish this in a book; it pretty much sums up the thinking of modern society encompassing values and beliefs from every corner of the globe.
 
One of the best threads I have read.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2010 at 22:00
LOL, debates.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 19 2010 at 04:22
Originally posted by Guldbamsen Guldbamsen wrote:

I´m a fan of music that conveys me to other places where I can´t find my feet - and I feel like I´m stuck in a giant space-see-saw ripping me back and forth - leaving small fields of aroused chicken-nipples on my skin.

If people want to call it religion - beeing touched by the hand of god - or maybe orgasming with the most beautiful woman in the world - whatever you wanna call it, put a bumpersticker on it and call it instant soul release - I only find religion expressed in music dull, when it seeks to educate - rather than tell amazing stories.  

Please explain (or someone else), who she could be, because I don't have slightest idea.

Of course, if you find yourself in this state of mind and body, this is possible. There are also differences between USA/UK/East European or South European thinking about religion and religious songs.


Thank you Scott, this thread makes me a little bit confused, something like: I really started this ? I really participated in it ? :-D

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 19 2010 at 04:47
Originally posted by Marty McFly Marty McFly wrote:

Originally posted by Guldbamsen Guldbamsen wrote:

I´m a fan of music that conveys me to other places where I can´t find my feet - and I feel like I´m stuck in a giant space-see-saw ripping me back and forth - leaving small fields of aroused chicken-nipples on my skin.

If people want to call it religion - beeing touched by the hand of god - or maybe orgasming with the most beautiful woman in the world - whatever you wanna call it, put a bumpersticker on it and call it instant soul release - I only find religion expressed in music dull, when it seeks to educate - rather than tell amazing stories.  

Please explain (or someone else), who she could be, because I don't have slightest idea.

Of course, if you find yourself in this state of mind and body, this is possible. There are also differences between USA/UK/East European or South European thinking about religion and religious songs.


Thank you Scott, this thread makes me a little bit confused, something like: I really started this ? I really participated in it ? :-D

every one knows that Jessica Alba is the most beutifull woman in the world that is just a fact Embarrassed

and back to religous lyricks, Roger Hodgson has twiicked some of those aswell, songs like Babaji, Even in the Quitest Moment, Lord is it Mine, Soapbox Opera, the Meaning and Child of Vision
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 19 2010 at 14:36
I feel like it shouldn't matter.  You're listening to music to hear the artist's expression, not looking for your own.  I listen to hundreds of blues musicians sing about "god" all the time and I absolutely despise organised religion, but it doesn't bother me that much.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 19 2010 at 15:25
Originally posted by AtomicCrimsonRush AtomicCrimsonRush wrote:

A simply fascinating thread here that takes twists and turns and goes off topic and discussed everything from the Koran, Muslims, copyright issues, attacking catholicism, Protestantism, Atheism vs Christianity, discussions on homosexuality, lyrics of satanic bands, Neal Morse was targetted, and then lately mentioned Ajalon and this latest post music that releases the soul. It makes for some enlightening and entertaining reading, Someone should publish this in a book; it pretty much sums up the thinking of modern society encompassing values and beliefs from every corner of the globe.
 
One of the best threads I have read.


Seconded. I've dedicated the last 20-30 minutes reading every post.

I don't have much to contribute here, but it's been a joy to read. Smile

My opinion in short, is that I don't care what lyrics are about. I can enjoy Frank Zappa's crazy sex lyrics, Neal Morse's Christian lyrics, and Morbid Angel's anti-Chrisitian lyrics all the same. I don't really get offended by lyrics (unless they're outwardly offensive, of course), and on the contrary I like hearing what the musicians actually think, rather than a watered-down, G-rated, mass appealing version.

That's partially why I love Pain of Salvation's Scarsick so much, if you've ever heard that album.


Edited by J-Man - June 19 2010 at 15:28

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 19 2010 at 15:44
On that note, Jeff, I think it's interesting how many people ignore the context of lyrics.

I remember a few years back I was playing "Fear of a Blank Planet" while my sister-in-law was visiting.

She became very offended and asked me to turn it off. 

"He just called his mother a bitch!" she objected.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 20 2010 at 03:56
Originally posted by Ivan_Melgar_M Ivan_Melgar_M wrote:

Originally posted by Epignosis Epignosis wrote:



Context, Ivan, context.

Most evangelistic Christians are not (or would not be) happy with the idea of selling indulgences.  Which is partly what Sola Scripture is about.
 
OK, but he's preaching.
 
I'm not happy with Jehova Witnesses leaving people die because they refuse transfusions, but I don't go attacking them, much less with some radical Christian Scientists refusing medical attention, it's  their choice if they are adults.
 
Plus the Church doesn't sell indulgences since centuries ago, and they always use this excuse to attack.
 
Iván


The problem is that these religious beliefs always affect children, too, and perhaps much more so than adults. And even if an adult religious person dies or suffers needlessly because her religious belief forbids treatment, you can still see it as a problem that originates in childhood, when that particular religion was "installed" by the parents. That's why I would always call religious indoctrination of children "child abuse", regardless how good the intentions of the parents may be.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 20 2010 at 04:38
Originally posted by Epignosis Epignosis wrote:

On that note, Jeff, I think it's interesting how many people ignore the context of lyrics.

I remember a few years back I was playing "Fear of a Blank Planet" while my sister-in-law was visiting.

She became very offended and asked me to turn it off. 

"He just called his mother a bitch!" she objected.
It is all too easy to forget the lyrics and be desensitised by the songs over a period of time and we can forget that these lyrics can connect with certain groups or be offensive on occasion depending on the experience we bring to the music. It is like reading a novel where we bring our experiences to the novel and thus changing the way the novel connects.
 
We connect with music the same way, if we are easily offended we are going to hate some of POS Scarsick, if we are atheist we may be offended by Neal Morse's Testimony, if we are a Christian we will be appalled at Morbid Angels 'Blasphemy of the Holy Ghost' - it all comes down to the values and beliefs we have that will determine how we respond to the music. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 20 2010 at 16:13
Originally posted by himtroy himtroy wrote:

I feel like it shouldn't matter.  You're listening to music to hear the artist's expression, not looking for your own.  I listen to hundreds of blues musicians sing about "god" all the time and I absolutely despise organised religion, but it doesn't bother me that much.

Well said. I'm a pretty vehement antitheist but even I can appreciate something like Neal Morse's Testimony, which (in my mind, at least) is simply a story, with God as the main plot device. I don't feel like this album in particular is trying to convert me or influence me; merely tell me what he, as the songwriter, feels. I don't believe in God but I can appreciate the story that Neal is telling, even if I cannot relate to it on a personal level. 

Now, that said, someone posted some lyrics from (I assume) Sola Scriptura earlier and that seemed a little sketchier, but I haven't heard the album so I can't comment. Strictly evangelical records would be a different story for me, because they go beyond simply expressing emotion and try to tell the listener how to feel, but I don't think prog generally falls into that category so it's not a problem. 
"The meaning of life is to give life meaning."-Arjen Lucassen
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 20 2010 at 16:37

Few words about issue of religious lyrics. What about Prog artists ? We mostly seek MUSIC more than LYRICS. Therefore, when I'm listening something extremely preachy, I'm trying to overlook these lyrics so I can enjoy music. And music mostly means Symphonic Prog, which is something I like a lot. I'm therefore not listening this music (Neal Morse for example) because of lyrics, but because of music. For him, maybe it's just music accompanying message he wants to pass on, but for me, it's the music what matters in these cases.

Originally posted by Originally posted by himtroy Originally posted by himtroy wrote:



I feel like it shouldn't matter. You're listening to music to hear the artist's expression, not looking for your own.

I'm looking for artists expression, but not for those I cannot stand and know it. But this won't stop me from listening such music, I'm not that picky.

There's a point where "avant-garde" and "experimental" becomes "terrible" and "pointless,"

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 21 2010 at 01:04
Originally posted by Marty McFly Marty McFly wrote:

Originally posted by Guldbamsen Guldbamsen wrote:

I´m a fan of music that conveys me to other places where I can´t find my feet - and I feel like I´m stuck in a giant space-see-saw ripping me back and forth - leaving small fields of aroused chicken-nipples on my skin.

If people want to call it religion - beeing touched by the hand of god - or maybe orgasming with the most beautiful woman in the world - whatever you wanna call it, put a bumpersticker on it and call it instant soul release - I only find religion expressed in music dull, when it seeks to educate - rather than tell amazing stories.  

Please explain (or someone else), who she could be, because I don't have slightest idea.

Of course, if you find yourself in this state of mind and body, this is possible. There are also differences between USA/UK/East European or South European thinking about religion and religious songs.


Thank you Scott, this thread makes me a little bit confused, something like: I really started this ? I really participated in it ? :-D



What I mean to say is more in the vein of: people find different channels of enlightenment - things that make you go: This is what I love most about life!!! - things that sets your heart on fire and drives you forth... - we (well the majority of folks around this site I´d gather)  just find and seek it in music - whereas others might find it in Paintings, Books, Nature, S/M Bondage, Diving with sharks, Flying a rocket straight towards the sun - whatever floats your boat, everything goes, different strokes for different folks, some like it hot! and others trap themselves in a giant ice cube for a couple of days...

I think no one spoke more eloquently about these matters than the Beat-generation - authors like Kerouac, Ginsberg and Burroughs to name a few - certainly Kerouac´s wonderful depiction of "It!" intertwined in jazzy dreamlike sentences of mad men who scream back at the bopping saxophone wails,- truly put into words what I had been thinking for years - transforming my theories into butterflies.

The most beautiful woman in the world is in the making and actually under construction as we speak - Please post your orders here - I give no refunds - only thrills   
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 21 2010 at 01:28
As a devout Christian, I sometimes wonder about the lyrical content of progressive rock (or any music for that matter) and how it helps me spiritually. That being said, I don't mind bands with extreme Christian or extreme anti-Christian overtones, as long as that's not ALL the band is about. I find that bands with only one subject of lyrics to be quite bland, regardless of the nature of the lyrics. Black metal tends to get old for me just as fast as Christian metal does (and both are horrifically contrived and cheesy in their own way). However, prog isn't as guilty of overt "preachyness" or "anti-preachiness" as, say, gospel or punk, respectively.

However, if you want to listen to some great Christian rock/metal that's not over the top preachy with some good music, I recommend Narnia (basically Yngwie Malmsteen with Christian overtones) and Antestor (just...dark stuff. Definitely not your stereotypical Christian band). Plus, you can't go wrong with some good old fashioned sacred music (which is by nature overtly preachy).
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 21 2010 at 14:32
Lyrics have to talk about something, but it's much preferable when they do so subtly and indirectly rather than saying something straight in the face.
 
I don't mind religious-oriented lyrics when they are embedded in a context or storyline (such as Neal Morse's One, ?, or Sola Scriptura, or Jesus Christ Superstar) or when they are cryptical (The Lamb was probably not intentionally religious but there's no question that the story has a lot of religious references, albeit in a delightful surrealistic twist).
 
But straight-in-the-face evangelical lyrics such as in the short ballads of Morse's Lifeline have very little interest to me and can really put me off.
 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 23 2010 at 11:21
Too much to read too little time. In regards to religious lyrics I am turned off by them unless I find the psychology behind them fascinating (Bob Dylan) or head-shakeworthy (Peter Gabriel).

You'll find most singers and bands don't have the balls to come out with their religious spiel. They'll forego religion usually, though most in the West believe in God, or they'll stir around in vague generalizations, not mentioning specific religious subjects.

What I do find irritating is when smart, agnostic or atheist singers use devices such as "God Knows" like Atheist Greg Lake does on the ELPowell album, if I remember.

As for the seriously religious stances, the ones we should take seriously that is, such as Bob Dylan's Slow Train Coming, they are important as documents of human desperation and alienation. As John Lennon says: "God is a concept by which we measure our pain."
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 23 2010 at 11:30
When did Peter Gabriel ever write religious lyrics?  Some Genesis have biblical references, but some lines say quite the opposite.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 23 2010 at 12:28
Well with music as an art form you can express your self in anyway and normally when writing you write about things that are important in your life now see if I was Peter Gabriel and I was a very good follower of whatever it is that god says then yeah I would be influenced to write a song about him or Christianity as a whole.  That would be like if I wrote a song about my drumset and you were turned off by the idea because you much prefer a ddrum than a pearl drum.  If that was to any clarity to you im just trying to say that people who are large in what they believe are going to continue to write things that are dealing with them religion being a major part.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 23 2010 at 12:32
Originally posted by AtomicCrimsonRush AtomicCrimsonRush wrote:

A simply fascinating thread here that takes twists and turns and goes off topic and discussed everything from the Koran, Muslims, copyright issues, attacking catholicism, Protestantism, Atheism vs Christianity, discussions on homosexuality, lyrics of satanic bands, Neal Morse was targetted, and then lately mentioned Ajalon and this latest post music that releases the soul. It makes for some enlightening and entertaining reading, Someone should publish this in a book; it pretty much sums up the thinking of modern society encompassing values and beliefs from every corner of the globe.
 
One of the best threads I have read.

Nicely put ACR nicely put what I was trying to say is just let people write what they want and if you have a problem simply stop listening
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 23 2010 at 12:36
 
Originally posted by AtomicCrimsonRush AtomicCrimsonRush wrote:

A simply fascinating thread here that takes twists and turns and goes off topic and discussed everything from the Koran, Muslims, copyright issues, attacking catholicism, Protestantism, Atheism vs Christianity, discussions on homosexuality, lyrics of satanic bands, Neal Morse was targetted, and then lately mentioned Ajalon and this latest post music that releases the soul. It makes for some enlightening and entertaining reading, Someone should publish this in a book; it pretty much sums up the thinking of modern society encompassing values and beliefs from every corner of the globe.
 
One of the best threads I have read.

This thread has almost as many twists and turns as a prog song itself
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