MarkT
"Horror show for the whole family" - Alice Cooper, Christian
Kelsey MunroAugust 29, 2008 - 8:48AM
If you want a barometer of how much popular culture has changed in the past three decades, consider this: now even Alice Cooper considers his act family entertainment. ....
"To me, now, Alice Cooper hasbecome sort of family entertainment," he says. "When we come to town, we'll do state fairs and things like that, and grandma and grandad, mum and dad and the kids all come to see Alice Cooper."
He chuckles. "I think they tell [the kids] up front, 'Well, you know they are going to hang him, and there's going to be a lot of blood up there!' But I don't think any more blood than is in Macbeth or any Shakespeare play."
....
The urbane Cooper, 60, draws the Shakespeare comparison afew times during our conversation about his latest album, Along Came A Spider. These days also known as a family man, golfer, restaurateur, radio DJ and unlikely Christian, Cooper is a complex figure, far removed from his hammy image as a
heritage rock star with a penchant for bleeding eyeliner and boa constrictors. He sees no contradiction between his faith and, say, the storyline of his 25th album. In it, he sings from the perspective of an
imaginary serial killer, an "arachnophobic psychopath" who wraps his victims in silk and souvenirs a leg from each. ("I thought that was a nice touch," he says drily.)
"As human beings we hate real serial killers, we hate the Charles Mansons and people like that," Cooper says. "But we kind of like the fictional ones. We like our Hannibal Lecters and our Jokers and our Jasons, because we know that they can't hurt us."
Cooper says neither his album nor his act is anti-Christian and he avoids satanic themes.
"When I think 'satanic' I think a lot of Shakespeare - Macbeth, having to do with the occult and witches - whereas I never really touch on that stuff," he says. "The stuff I usually touch on is mental illness. I always tried to keep Alice as a character that is not earthly as all, doesn't apply to our rules. He's insane ... but he's not satanic. I don't think there's anything about him that is anti-Christian at all."
These days the Alice Cooperstage show is the wholefamily's business. His wife of 32 years, Sheryl, was theoriginal ballerina on the Welcome To My Nightmare tour in the mid-'70s and still plays roles in the show. Their two daughters, Calico, 27, and Sonora, 15, both ballerinas, are also part of the
show. (His son, Dashiel, 23, is in a band, making their first album with Cooper's record producer.)
"It's fun to tour," Cooper says. "We just leave the house and go out for five months or so. Sheryl says, 'I feel like I ran away and joined the circus."'
....
Along Came A Spider is out now.
from
http://www.smh.com.au/news/music/horror-show-for-the-whole-family/2008/08/29/1219516704509.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
"Larry Norman" by Steve Turner
Larry NormanHe combined the rhythms of Elvis and the words of Christ to create Jesus
Rock
Steve Turner
Wednesday February 27, 2008
The Guardian
Larry Norman, who has died at the age of 61, was a pioneer of what became
known as Jesus Rock, which combined the rhythms of rock'n'roll with the
social and spiritual observations of Christianity. Norman, who was
instinctively an outsider, was resigned to the fact that his music would
cause offence to the church and the music industry, and once summed his
position up as "too secular for the Christians and too Christian for the
secularists".
Yet it was his hybrid that provided the template for the development of the
multimillion dollar contemporary Christian music industry, a genre that now
outsells jazz, classical and new age combined in America.
Norman was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, but moved to San Francisco as a
child. He claimed that he thought of the possibility of Jesus Rock as early
as 1956, when he was as excited by the sound of Elvis Presley as he was by
the words of Jesus Christ. It occurred to him that the two could be
combined; as a boy of nine, he would invent Christian lyrics to fit the
music of Elvis hits.
A decade later, caught up in the mood of the west coast music explosion, he
formed the band People, the name supposedly a jibe at a trend for animal and
insect names. In June 1968, they made a Billboard top 20 hit with their
cover version of the Zombies' I Love You, but broke up shortly after
releasing their debut album for Capitol. Norman had wanted it to be called
We Need a Whole Lot More of Jesus and a Lot Less Rock'n'Roll, but the
executives wanted I Love You. The record company won.
Larry, always uncompromising, saw this as a victory for big business over
artistic vision and for secular pop over spiritual rock. From then on, he
ploughed an often lonely furrow as a solo artist who tried to combine the
thrill of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones with the spiritual insight of
writers such as CS Lewis and GK Chesterton.
He was helped by the emergence of the Jesus movement, for which he became a
figurehead. Not only were American churches taking note of counterculture
complaints, but many hippies were becoming Christians, and rock music was
the natural forum of expression for these changes. Norman's songs, such as I
Wish We'd All Been Ready, Why Don't You Look Into Jesus, The Outlaw, The
Great American Novel, I Am Your Servant and Why Should the Devil Have All
the Good Music, were as vital to this new community as Give Peace a Chance
and Street Fighting Man had been to the counterculture.
His first album, Upon This Rock, was released in 1969 by Capitol, which by
then had surmised that Jesus Rock might be worth investing in. By 1972, he
had transferred to MGM, where he began the most fertile period of his
career. He created a trilogy of albums - Only Visiting This Planet, So Long
Ago the Garden and In Another Land - that told the story of creation, fall
and redemption. During this period, he played to full houses in such venues
as the Royal Albert Hall, London, and Sydney Opera House. His big fan Cliff
Richard later covered his songs and claimed that Norman was proof that
Christian views could merge with rock.
Although never innovative as a musician or singer, he was a mesmerising
performer who knew the value of every word and gesture on stage: he borrowed
the movements of Charlie Chaplin, the pace of Woody Allen's delivery and the
forceful logic of Lenny Bruce to create a stage act that drew the audience
into his world. Usually, he was accompanied only by his acoustic guitar, but
he sometimes toured with pick-up bands.
He was also a powerful lyricist who could turn complex theological ideas
into simple statements. He was well known for songs with a strong and
deliberate sense of propaganda, but was also a master of obliqueness,
preferring to see his songs as threads in a tapestry rather than as
individual pictures of Christian doctrine.
His work in the 1980s and 1990s was uneven, underfunded and derivative of
his earlier material. In 1981, after moving to Oregon, he began to record
exclusively for mail-order albums on his own label, Phydeaux. Records by Bob
Dylan such as Slow Train Coming, Saved and Shot of Love, and the emergence
of U2 in the 1980s, made his splicing of rock and religion less uncommon,
and the Christian music market that he had helped create didn't find him
slick enough, sweet enough or overt enough. As he once noted, he wasn't
there to provide "a comfortable experience".
His personal life was erratic. He tended to alienate even his closest
friends, had a reputation for stubbornness and unreliability, and was dogged
by ill health. He suffered a head injury during a bad plane landing at Los
Angeles and claimed to have been poisoned by the KGB during a tour of Russia
in 1988. In 1992 he had a heart attack and from then on he was a frequent
hospital patient. He recently lost the sight in his right eye.
By choosing to work outside both the church and the music industry, Norman
limited his audience. However, in 1995 he was the subject of a tribute
album, One Way: The Songs of Larry Norman, and in 2001 he was inducted into
the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. For a concert in his home town of Salem,
Oregon, in 2005, he was joined on stage by Black Francis of the Pixies, a
longtime fan.
· Larry David Norman, musician, born April 8 1947; died February 24 2008
From http://music.guardian.co.uk:80/obituaries/story/0,,2260140,00.html
"Who Am I?" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Dietrich Bonhöffer, a young theologian of great promise, was martyred by the
Nazis for his participation in a plot against the life of Adolf Hitler. His
writings have greatly influenced recent theological thought. This article
appeared in the Journal Christianity and Crisis, March 4, 1946. Used by
permission. This article was prepared for Religion Online by Ted & Winnie
Brock.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who am I? They often tell me
I stepped from my cell's confinement
Calmly, cheerfully, firmly,
Like a squire from his country-house.
Who am I? They often tell me
I used to speak to my warders
Freely and friendly and clearly,
As though it were mine to command.
Who am I? They also tell me
I bore the days of misfortune
Equally, smilingly, proudly,
Like one accustomed to win.
Am I then really all that which other men tell of?
Or am I only what I myself know of myself?
Restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage,
Struggling for breath, as though hands were
compressing my throat,
Yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds,
Thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness,
Tossing in expectation of great events,
Powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance,
Weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making,
Faint, and ready to say farewell to it all?
Who am I? This or the other?
Am I one person today and tomorrow another?
Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,
And before myself a contemptibly woebegone weakling?
Or is something within me still like a beaten army,
Fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?
Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.
Whoever I am, Thou knowest, 0 God, I am Thine!
March 4,1946
Project for CCM industry - A REAL PSALM!
"Ken Smith" wrote:
{Rowland Croucher wrote}
>> Agree about the Psalms... one of my aims in a 'professional' capacity is to encourage folks >> in happy clappy churches to (a) compose songs from these imprecatory psalms and (b} >> never ever to allow a song-leader to say 'C'mon everyone let's be happy'... Aren't we >> allowed to feel sad/angry like the psalmists sometimes?
>
> I'd like to see a song written by one of them about blessing those who go around dashing
> out children's brains on a rock.
Now there's a project for the CCM industry. ;-)
"CHRISTIAN STRAITJACKET" - Ishmael
(from the BANNED Christian album "The Charge of The Light Brigade"1977)CH
I'm sorry I didn't bring along my Christian type Straitjacket
But I thought we'd need some liberty here so I clean forgot to pack it
I'm sorry I can't restrain myself excuse me while I let a
Hallelujah!
Out of my mouth. Boy, that feels better!
It's a shame the way some Christians play today
They're sober in every possible way
In fact you'd even doubt if they were alive
They look like they gained eternity and lost a measly fiver
It's a shame to hear some Christians sing today
The organist seems to prefer to sleep than play
The most morbid sound that I've ever heard
Why do they play their 45s at 33 and a third?
It's a shame to hear some Christians pray today
While some strive on, others snore away <"Zzzzzz!">
Each one takes their turn kinda automatic
Hats on, heads down, eyes shut and please no racket <"Shhhhhh!">
NEW JESUS JINGLES!!!!!! Make your own!
>>> You are my concubine,>>> My 100 and first concubine.
>>> You make me happy
>>> when skies are blue.
>>> You'll never know, dear,
>>> how much I love you.
>>> Please don't take my
>>> concubine away!
>>
>> I luv it! :-)
>
> It is sung to the tune of "You are my sunshine." :) lol
I'm going to do a whole lot of spoof Jesus Jingles such as ....
"Oh How I luv Bible
Oh How I luv Bible
Oh How I luv Bible
Because it first luvved me
To me it is so wonderful
To me it is so wonderful
To me it is so wonderful
Because It first luvved me"
"If you're Kristyun and you know it
Kill your brain
If you're Kristyun and you know it
Kill your brain
If you're Kristyun and you know it
Then you really ought to DOH! it
If you're Kristyun and you know it
Kill your brain"
"Dumb is the flag flown high from the castle of my heart
From the castle of my heart
From the castle of my heart
Dumb is the flag flown high from the castle of my heart
when the zing is in residence there
Let it fly
Let it fly
Let a big fart fly
Let a big fart fly
Let a big fart fly
Let it fly
Let it fly
Let a big fart fly
'Cause the zing is in residence there"
"Tragedy
A major tragedy
I can't sing it once more
I'm surely so bored
Show me the door
Tragedy
A major tragedy
Rhymes all the time
And sickens my mind
I can't take no more
So rise up and crucify
This kitchy jingle
This song is all all wrong
Bound for a gong
Gone on too long
Tragedy
A major tragedy
I can't sing it once more
I'm surely so bored" .... (to the tune of Majesty)
Many more to come!
"Christian" USA - bringing peace to the world?
....
you are far across the ocean
in a war that's not your own
and while you're winning theirs
you're gonna lose the one at home
do you really think the only way
to bring about the peace
is to sacrifice your children
and kill all your enemies
the politicians all make speeches
while the news men all take notes
and they exagerate the issues
as they shove them down our throats
is it really up to them
whether this country sinks or floats
well i wonder who would lead us
if none of us would vote
....
you say all men are equal all men are brothers
then why are the rich more equal than others
AN UNAUTHORIZED POSTSCRIPT to "Open Letter to Worship Songwriters"
My comments in *[...]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
by John Mortensen
...
First of all, can we agree to a ten-year ban on rhyming "adore you" with "before you"? Thanks.
*[Amen!]
...
If we wish to rise above the greeting-card level of poetry, we may need to thumb through the dictionary and make long lists of words that rhyme.
*[Why? Song lyrics don't have to rhyme. Think outside the box.]
....
Most worship songs are written as imitation, not composition. That is, few writers are making the effort to think thr through all the ingredients that make music. (More about ingredients later.) Instead we are hearing an endless round of the same half-dozen shrink-wrapped clichés. Most non-musicians are surprised to learn that the vast majority of popular tunes
consist of three chords. That's why most songs sound the same.
*[Jesus Jingles all sound the same because they are all copied from the mass produced God Ad Agencies like "Hillthong" with Brian & Booby Houthon - awethome! Secondly, Jesus Jingle Hacks think their work is "inspired by God" and therefore beyond criticism. Crap! Rock and roll is totally based around a few chords. So what? That's the style! Some music can be a vamp on ONE chord. Get used to it. John Mortensen has his own agenda on where
"Trew Kristyunised Muzak" should go. Art is art is art. Let the Christian artist be free to create as he / she wishes. ]
....
The single greatest obstacle to writing a good song is creating a good melody.
*[Crap! Think outside the box - Rap. Think also about the Christian musician Bob Dylan ... and his dreadful voice - better than any pretty little Jesus Jingle. Songs and composed of multiple items wedded together. Some will emphasise different aspects of the combination. Rap is more about rythm than melody. So? Big deal! Get used to it.]
....
Many are noticing that contemporary praise music seems increasi increasingly lifeless and artificial. It may be possible to work toward a more authentic expression of worship but it will co come at the cost of mu me much creative effort. The noisy products of masspopcult need to be shushed so that writers from within the community might have a voice.
*[But that may be the very style most suited to that artist!!! There are NO rules in art ... except those imposed upon Christian artists from the church hierarchy ... and they should be ignored. Free the Christian artist to create GOOD art. That is the aim. Stop the Fundamentalist Dark Age Trooth that there is some mythical beast that is "Trew Kristyun" and unaffected by the rest of the real world. ]
from http://www.brianmclaren.net/archives/AnUnauthorizedPostscript.pdf
Brian McLaren's "Open Letter to Worship Songwriters"
My comments in *[ ...]###############################################
... One hears a lot of complaints about lame music, trite lyrics, theological shallowness, etc., etc., in the world of contemporary Christian music.
*[Often by Christian musicians like moi. This is what I refer to as "Jesus Jingles".]
....
In the postmodern world, many of us believe that the theologians will have to leave the library more often and mix with the rest of us. And the best of them will join hands and hearts with the poets, musicians, filmmakers, actors, architects, interior and landscape designers, dancers, sculptors, painters, novelists, photographers, web designers, and every other artistic brother and sister possible.
...
Too many of our lyrics are embarrassingly personalistic, about Jesus and me. .... listen next time you're singing in worship.
*[Most church goers NEVER reflect on the lyrics. If they did they would never sing them. THINK about what you are singing. If you don't agree with the lyric then DON'T sing it.]
It's about how Jesus forgives me, embraces me, makes me feel his presence, strengthens me, forgives me, holds me close, touches me, revives me, etc., etc. Now this is all fine. But if an extraterrestrial outsider from Mars were to observe us, I think he would say either a) that these people are all mildly dysfunctional and need a lot of hug therapy (which is ironic, because they are among the most affluent in the world, having been blessed in every way more than any group in history), or b) that they don't give a rip about the rest of the world, that their religion/spirituality makes them as selfish as any nonChristian, but just in spiritual things rather than material ones.
....
1. You'll be surprised to hear me say "eschatology" first ... By eschatology (which means study of the end or goal towards which the universe moves), I mean the Biblical vision of God's future which is pulling us toward itself. .... it bathes itself in the Biblical poetry of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Revelation.poetry which, when it enters us, plants in us a vision of a world very much different from and better than ours. And when this hope grows and takes root in us, we become agents of it.What joy I can imagine being expressed in songs that capture the spirit of Isaiah 9:2-7, 25:6-9, 35:1-10, 58:5-14! Who will write those songs?
They need to be written, because people need hope.They need a vision of a good future.They need to have in their imaginations images of the celebration, peace, justice, and wholeness towards which our dismal, conflicted, polluted, and fragmented world must move.This is much, much bigger than songs about me being in heaven. It's not about clouds and ethereal, other-worldly imagery. Dig into those passages, songwriters.and let your heart be inspired to write songs of hope, songs of vision, songs that lodge in our hearts a dream of the future that has been too long forgotten.the dream of God's kingdom coming, and God's will being done on earth as it is in heaven.
2.You may be equally surprised to hear me suggest that we need songs of mission. ....
For many of us, the world exists for the church. It is like a strip mine, and people are mined out of it to build the church, which is what really matters. In the new emerging postmodern theology and spirituality, that image is terrible. It mirrors the raping and plundering of the environment by our modern industrial enterprises. In it, the church is another industry, taking and taking for its own profit. How different is the image of the church as the apostolic community, sent into the world as Christ's hands, feet, eyes, smile, heart.We need songs that celebrate this missional dimension-good songs, and many!
For inspiration, we have to again go back to Scripture, and read the prophets, and the gospels, and engage their heart for the poor, the needy, the broken.
...
As I write, I am struck by this thought: perhaps we have so over-emphasized the role of songs in worship-to the exclusion of many other liturgical options (poetry, historic prayers, silence, meditative reading, etc.)- that we have forgotten the role of song in teaching.
*[Art is a very POOR medium for pedagogy. A song is not meant to teach. It is meant to EXPRESS.]
...
4. You will likely be less surprised to hear me say that we need songs that are simply about God.songs giving God the spotlight, so to speak, for God as God, God's character, God's glory, not just for the great job God is doing at making me feel good. And similarly, we need songs that celebrate what God does for the world-the whole world- not just for me, or us. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, read the Psalms, because they love to celebrate
what the Lord does for the whole earth, not just the people of Israel. Many of the songs we need will also celebrate God as Creator.an important theme in Scripture, but not for most of our churches.We have lacked a good creation theology in the modern era, and we need songwriters/artists and theologians to join together in the emerging culture to celebrate God as God of creation, not only 15 billion years ago (or whenever) but today, now.the God who knows the sparrows that fall, whose glory still flashes in the lightning bolt, whose kindness still
falls like the morning dew, whose mysteries are still imaged in the depths of the ocean and the vast expanse of the night sky.
5. I should also mention songs of lament.The Bible is full of songs that wail, the blues but even bluer, songs that feel the agonizing distance between what we hope for and what we have, what we could be and what we are, what we believe and what we see and feel.The honesty is disturbing, and the songs of lament don't always end with a happy Hallmark-Card-Precious-Moments cliché to try to fix the pain.
Sometimes I think we're too happy: the only way to become happier is to become sadder, by feeling the pain of the chronically ill, the desperately poor, the mentally ill, the lonely, the aged and forgotten, the oppressed minority, the widow and orphan.This pain should find its way into song, and these songs should find their way into our churches.
The bitter will make the sweet all the sweeter; without the bitter, the sweet can become cloying, and too many of our churches feel, I think, like Candyland. Is it too much to ask that we be more honest? Since doubt is part of our lives, since pain and waiting and as-yet unresolved disappointment are part of our lives, can't these things be reflected in the songs of our communities? Doesn't endless singing about celebration lose its vitality
(and even its credibility) if we don't also sing about the struggle?
* [This type of song is never found in church but is very widespread in art. Think about the blues. Listen to BB King's spirituals as an opener.]
...
First, may I suggest that we fully and finally get over King James English in our new lyrics, even if we choose to retain it in our old?
...
Second, may I suggest that we be careful about using gratuitous Biblical language-Zion, Israel, go forth, on high, etc., etc.? If there is a good reason to use such language-in other words, if we are using it intentionally, not just for a "spiritual feel," then fine. Otherwise, if we can find contemporary language and imagery that would communicate more crisply, poignantly, immediately, and deeply to people who don't already have a lot of pew time.then let's use it, in the spirit of I Corinthians 14, where intelligibility to the spiritual seeker is a gospel virtue.
Third, may I suggest that in an era of Columbines and Islamic fundamentalism, we be careful about the language of jihad and holy war? I suppose there is a time and place for that, but I don't think this is it.We all need a strong dose of Anabaptist peace right about now, in my opinion.
Fourth, musically, am I the only one wishing for more rhythmic variety? Why is it that I am being blessed so much by creative drummers and percussionists wherever I go?
*[Drummers have always been criticised by clergy who like nice quiet Jesus Jingles. A drummer cannot functionally operate under a certain level. The reason is that the skins must be hit in a rythm that involves some type of force. Deadening the sound with blankets etc kills the quality. Rather than silence the drummer bring up the rest of the band to the drummers'
level. Supply the oldies with ear plugs.]
Fifth, can our worship leaders enrich the musical experience by reading Scripture, great prayers of the historic church, creeds, confessions, and poems over musical backgrounds? You may not like rap music, but it's trying to tell us something about the abiding power of the spoken word, the well-chosen spoken word that is. (We have far too many less-than-well-chosen spoken words already, I think you'll agree.)
And finally, can our lyricists start reading more good poetry, good prose, so they can be sensitized to the powers of language, the grace of a well-turned phrase, the delight of a freshly discovered image, the prick or punch or caress or jolt that is possible if we wrestle a little harder and stretch a little farther for the word that really wants to be said from deep within us? Sadly, while many of our songs have better and better music, but the lyrics still feel like "cliché train"-one linked to another, with a sickening recycling of plastic language and paper triteness.
....
*[Christian art does not HAVE to mention God or Jesus. The above article is useful as a guide ONLY for music within a WORSHIP setting. Christians as a whole have to produced better art and VALUE art. Listen to music of U2 and Bob Dylan for Christians at the cutting edge in this area.]
From http://www.brianmclaren.net/archives/lettertosongwriters.pdf
My Favourite Father Ted Quotes
Father Ted (1995-1998) was a television situation comedy set on the extremely remote fictional Craggy Island off the west coast of Ireland. The main characters were Father Ted, Mrs Doyle (the housekeeper), the simple-minded Father Dougal and the permanently drunk Father Jack.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Father Dougal: God, I've heard about those cults Ted. People dressing up in black and saying Our Lord's going to come back and save us all.
Father Ted: No, Dougal, that's us. That's Catholicism.
Father Dougal: Oh right.
Father Dougal: Come on, Ted. Sure it's no more peculiar than all that stuff we learned in the seminary, you know, Heaven and Hell and everlasting life and all that type of thing. You're not meant to take it seriously, Ted!
Father Dougal: That's nearly as mad as that thing you told me about the loaves and the fishes.
Father Dougal: So, if God has existed forever...you know, what did he do in his spare time, like, before he made the Earth and everything?
Father Dougal: Sorry Ted. I was concentrating too hard on looking holy.
Father Dougal: Hello there Len.
Bishop Brennan: Don't call me Len, you prick. Refer to me as 'Bishop Brennan'!
Father Dougal: Ah right you are there Len.
Bishop Brennan: You will address me by my proper title, you little bollocks!
Father Ted: I was just thinking about my next parish. Bishop Brennan is always threatening to send me somewhere unpleasant, and this time I think he just might go through with it. You see...I'm going to kick him up the arse.
Mrs Doyle: It doesn't matter what day it is, Father. There is always time for a nice cup of tea! Sure didn't our Lord himself on the cross pause for a nice cup of tea before giving himself up for the world?
Father Jack: I love my brick!
Father Jack: I love my brick!
Father Ted: Ah, that's nice. Perhaps we're seeing a new side to Father
Jack? A more caring, considerate...
Jack suddenly hurls the brick at Ted, knocking him out
Father Jack: Ah, feck it! Fed up with brick!
Father Ted: What was it [Jack] used to say about the needy? He had a term for them.
Father Dougal: A shower of bastards.
Father Ted: I'm not a fascist. I'm a priest. Fascists dress up in black and tell people what to do. Whereas priests...
...More drink!
Father Dougal: (trying to pray) Hail Mary who art in heaven.......
Father Ted: Hallowed.
Father Dougal: Oh yeah. Hallowed Be....
Father Ted: Thy Name...
Father Dougal: Papa Don't Preach........
Father Ted: So there he is. Risen from the dead. Like that feller.... E.T.
Father Ted: Dougal, you know you can praise the lord with sleep.
Father Dougal: Really Ted? You can praise him in lots of ways, like that time you said that I could praise him just by leaving the room.
Father Ted: Yes, that was a good one !
Father Dougal: As if magic, I can create a big crowd of invisible ducks.
Mrs Doyle: Now come on Father, what would you say to a nice cup of tea?
Father Jack: FECK OFF CUP!!!!!!
Father Ted: I think we'd all like to make a little sacrifice.
Father Jack: SACRIFICE? ARSE!
Father Jack: Feck! Nuns! Reverse! Reverse!
Father Dougal: God I've never seen a clock at 5 a.m. before!
Father Ted: Dougal, how did you get into the church in the first place? Was it, like, 'collect 12 crisp packets and become a priest?'
Mrs Doyle: They were a bit obsessed with the old...S-E-X. God I'm glad I never think of that type of thing Father. That whole sexual world. God, when you think of it it's a dirty, filthy thing, isn't it Father? Can you imagine Father? Can you imagine Father, looking up at your husband, and him standing over you with his lad in his hand, wanting you to degrade yourself? God almighty can you imagine that Father? Can you picture it there Father? Oh get a good mental picture of it. Can you see him there? Ready to do the business?
Mrs Doyle: Won't you have some cake, Father? It's got cocaine in it. Oh no, hang on, it's not cocaine, is it. What do I mean now? - the little things... Raisins!
Frank: Fup off, you grasshole!
Father Ted: Once again Dougal, you've made me look like a complete fool in front of real people. Thanks very much.
Upon meeting Richard Wilson, a.k.a. Victor Meldrew
Father Ted: (yells loudly) I don't believe it!
Wilson violently assaults Ted, and has to be restrained
Richard Wilson: I'll bloody well kill you!
The Pause of Mr Claus - Arlo Guthrie
Why do you sit there so strange?Is it because you are beautiful?
You must think you are deranged
Why do police guys beat on peace guys?
You must think Santa Clause weird
He has long hair and a beard
Giving his presents for free
Why do police guys mess with peace guys?
Let's get Santa Clause 'cause;
Santa Clause has a red suit
He's a communist
And a beard, and long hair
Must be a pacifist
What's in the pipe that he's smoking?
Mister Clause sneaks in your home at night.
He must be a dope fiend, to put you up tight
Why do police guys beat on peace guys?
©1968,1969 Appleseed Music Inc. (ASCAP)
Holidays In Hell - Christian Bookstores
"You'd better not frown,
You'd better not cry,
You'd better not pout,
I'm telling you why,
Jesus Christ is coming real soon."
and Delilah as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver. "Comes seductively dressed" read the sell copy on Delilah's bubble pack. Here was a shopper's hell indeed.
Jesus Jingles & South Park
Rowland Croucher wrote:> Review: Songs 4 Worship
Oh boy! Jesus Jingles!!!!
Why are all the Psalms in the Bible addressed to Yahweh (the Father) and never to Jesus of Nazareth (Yahweh's human Messiah)???
Why are Jesus Jingles mostly addressed to Jesus of Nazareth, Yahweh's Christ, and NOT Yahweh the Father?????
This fact is also picked up by South Park (See excerpt below) where all the "Christian songs" are sung to Jesus not Yahweh.
What worship songs did Jesus of Nazareth use? Were they addressed to himself?
Jesus and his apostles went to the Jerusalem Temple to worship the One God Yahweh. They never went to the Jeruslaem Temple to worship Jesus of Nazareth. Why?
Why can no-one answer these questions????
> if you're after hymns/songs which will not offend the musical or literary
> tastes of people who have a modicum of sophistication, this 2-CD set not >
> your choice.
Amen! ;-)
> the lyrics have a 'Jesus is My Boyfriend' feel to them.
You've been watching South Park's "Faith Plus One".
A MUST read!!!!
http://www.imsdb.com/transcripts/South-Park-Christian-Rock-Hard.html
(See excerpts at the end of this post.)
> (Who's going to ask intelligent people to sing 'I have made you too small
> > in my eyes'???)
Your local pastor!!!!
> Where are the committed contemporary poets who are in love with Jesus >
> who can write hymns/ songs which do not insult our musical or literary
> intelligence?
They ran away from the church because they were told art is of the devil and
only kitsch which mentions Jesus fifty times in every song is acceptable.
My poem (from your website http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/12708.htm ) that
was later set to music by moi and available for free at
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=431516
##############################################
"Your Jesus Jingles Make Me Puke"
(Mark Tindall)
Chorus
Your Jesus Jingles make me puke / I'm sick of hearing crap
Your Jesus Jingles make me puke / Shut your bloody trap
Hallelujah please the hordes Bless the Lord One Way
Glory to God you speak in tongues and speak in trite cliches
You mention Jesus fifty times in every silly song
Christianese reigns, you win the Golden Gong
You're feeling edified by hearing Kristyun Kitsch
Propaganda scratches the Rabid Fundy Itch
You think I'm a pagan stepping on your toes
I don't like waffly goo nor your Pharisee Show
You play rock songs backwards, no wonder they sound bad
You're obsessed with hidden messages and your conspiracy fads
You'll ban this song just like the rest, you'll crucify me yet
Drag me before the Sanhedrin and crawling things you've met
Bloody hell! I'm so bloody bored, so bored bored bored bored
You lunatic antics have even bored the Lord
Your Jesus Jingle crap is so utterly inane
Your Jesus Jingle crap is fecking up my brain
Middle (simultaneously)
Hallelujah!
Hell-lay-loo-yar!
Have a rhubarb!
(©Mark Tindall)
##################################################
from http://www.imsdb.com/transcripts/South-Park-Christian-Rock-Hard.html
"SOUTH PARK" Episode 709 "CHRISTIAN ROCK HARD"
Written by Trey Parker
....
CARTAMN
Our band should play Christian rock!
KYLE
Christian rock?!
CARTMAN
Think about it! It's the easiest crappiest music in the world, right? If we just play songs about how much we love Jesus, all the Christiand will buy our crap!
....
STAN
I don't wanna be in a stupid Christian rock band!
CARTMAN
You just start that way, Stan, then you cross over. It's genious!
.....
CARTMAN
Gentlemen, we are about to embark on the most amazing, life-affirming, financially-windfalling experiences of our young lives.
BUTTERS
Wow!
CARTMAN
We are going to start... a Christian rock band.
BUTTERS
Awww.
TOKEN
I'm out.
CARTMAN
Wait! Walk out that door, Token, and you'll regret it the rest of your life!Christians have a built-in audience of over one hundred and eighty million Americans! If each one of them buys just one of our albums at twelve dollars and ninety-five cents that would be-
BUTTERS
Two billion, three hundred and thirty one million dollars.
.....
CARTMAN
All right, guys, this is gonna be so easy. All we have to do to make Christian songs is take regular old songs and add Jesus stuff to them. See? All we have to do is cross out words like "baby" and "Darling" and replace them with Jesus.
...
CARTMAN
All right. Nice, fellas. Nice.
I need you in my life, Jesus.
I can't live without you, Jesus
And I just want to feel you deep inside me, Jesus.
.........
TOKEN
Why the hell did you tell us to dress nice to take us out here?
CARTMAN
Because, Token, we have to take pictures for our album cover. The key to a hot-selling Christian album is a flashy inspirational album cover.
....
CARTMAN
... All right, guys, stand over there and look wholesome and cool.
....
Don't ever leave me, Jesus. I couldn't stand to see you go.
My heart would simply snap, my Lord, if you walked on out that door.
I promise I'll be good to you, and keep you warm at night.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, why don't we just... shut off the lights.
....
STAN
Yeah, you don't even know anything about Christianity.
CARTMAN
I know enough to exploit it. ...
....
T-SHIRT VENDOR
Psalm T-Shirts! Get a T-Shirt with your favorite psalm!
BIBLE VENDOR
Leather-bound bibles. Show your faith.
....
ELDERLY WOMAN
Oh, this will be great for my grandchildren.They need hip cool music, but with inspirational lyrics.
CARTMAN
I think that's what the whole world needs, praise Christ.
BUTTERS
Huh we're not really Christians, we're just pretendin' we are.
CARTMAN
Butters, remind me later to cut your balls off.
....
CARTMAN
You know, Jesus? I've been thinking a lot about you lately and, well, that's why I wrote this song.
I love you, Jesus. I want you to walk with me
[the fans sway back and forth]
I'll take good care of you baby. Call you my baby, baby!
You died for my sins, and you know that I would die for you, right?
What's the matter, baby? You tremble at Jesus, baby!
Your love... is my life! You know when I'm without you, there's a black hole in my life! Oo-ohhh!
I wanna believe. It's all right, 'cause I get lonely in the night and it's up to you to
Save me! Jee...sus...bay-by!
....
[Faith Records. Doves fly across the view. The building is bathed in bright sunlight]
CEO
Guys, we here at Faith Records were very moved by your performance at Christfest. You're one of the most talented Christian rock bands we've ever heard!
CARTMAN
Thank you so much. Christ has really blessed us with talent.
BUTTERS
Heeheeheeyeah.
EXECUTIVE 1
We just have one question, though. We were looking over some of your lyrics, uh... "I want to walk hand-in-hand with Jesus on a private beach for two./I want him to nibble on my ear and say 'I'm here for you.'" Ih it seems you really love Christ.
CARTMAN
Yes, we sure do.
EXECUTIVE 1
Eh no but ih it appears you are actually... in love with Christ.
CARTMAN
Well what are you saying? That, that you don't really love Christ??
EXECUTIVE 1
Well uh of course I do. I mean I just-
CARTMAN
Well what's the difference?! You love Christ, you're in love with Christ, I mean, uh, what the heck is this??
EXECUTIVE 1
Uh, we'd just like to make sure the bands we sign are in it for God, and not for the money.
CARTMAN
I resent that, sir! I have never in my life done anything just for the money! If I'm lying may the Lord strike me down right now.
BUTTERS
Uhm, oh.
....
[Commercial. A partly-cloudy sky is shown]
ANNOUNCER
K-tal Records presents the most inspirational Christian rock band in the world! Faith + 1, featuring the very best in good, wholesome Christian music.
CARTMAN
Oh Lord you are my Savior! You know I miss you so much when you are gone.
ANNOUNCER
With great inspirational songs like "I Wasn't Born Again Yesterday," ""
CARTMAN
Yes I may be born again, but I was wasn't born again yesterday. I wanna get down on my knees and start pleasing Jesus! I wanna feel his salvation all over my face!
ANNOUNCER
The CD is filled with instant classics. Who doesn't remember...
CARTMAN
The Body of Christ! Sleek swimmer's body, all muscled up and toned!
The Body of Christ! O, Lord Almighty, I wish I could call it my own! You're one time, two times, three times my Savior... Whenever I see Jesus up on that Cross I can't help but think that he looks kinda hot...
....
A FAN
We like to praise Christ!
CARTMAN
Yes, yes, thank you thank you. Praise Him. I think we're ready to start now.
.....
MICHAEL COLLINS
Boys, in recognition for over one million records sold, the Christian Recording Industry is please to present you with this Myrrh album.
CARTMAN
Thank you very uh- wah? Myrrh album?
STAN
I thought albums win either gold or platinum.
MICHAEL COLLINS
Nono, in Christian rock, our albums go gold and frankincense and myrrh. Congratulations!
....
CARTMAN
You mean to tell me I could never get a platinum album with a Christian rock band?!
MICHAEL COLLINS
No, but you can go double myrrh.
CARTMAN
GOD DAMNIT!!
MICHAEL COLLINS
Oh, please don't take the Lord's Name in vain.
CARTMAN
Who cares?! I can never win my bet because you stupid assholes don't give out platinum albums!
MICHAEL COLLINS
But you spread the Word of the Lord. You've brought faith in Jesus.
CARTMAN
OH, FUCK JESUS!!
BUTTERS
Eric, I-I'm pretty sure you shouldn't say the F-word about-uh Jesus.
TOKEN
Yeah. You're gonna hurt the band.
CARTMAN
Who fuckin' cares, Token?! I could never beat Kyle now! I'll say it again! Fuck Jesus!
A MAN
My ears are bleeding!
TOKEN
Good job, dickhead! You lost the entire audience!
CARTMAN
Ah, fuck you, Token! You black asshole!
....
"Faces In The Street" - Henry Lawson (1888)
They lie, the men who tell us in a loud decisive toneThat want is here a stranger, and that misery's unknown;
... I sorrow for the owners of those faces in the street. ...
I wonder would the apathy of wealthy men endure
Were all their windows level with the faces of the Poor?
Ah! Mammon's slaves, your knees shall knock, your hearts in terror beat,
When God demands a reason for the sorrows of the street,
The wrong things and the bad things
And the sad things that we meet
In the filthy lane and alley, and the cruel, heartless street. ...
What if the Beach Boys had played exclusively fundamentalist Christian rock?
What if . . .The rock-and-roll band The Beach Boys had played exclusively fundamentalist
Christian rock?
Well, they might have written song lyrics a little something like these . .
.
SAVIN' CRUSADE
("Surfin' Safari")
Let's go savin' souls, a Christian nation is our goal,
Come on a crusade with me
Early in September we'll be startin' out
Our campus leader's comin' along
We're goin' door to door with our pamphlets and tracts
Gonna show those other faiths that they're wrong
Come on babe, let's make the scene, yeah, I'm gonna take you witnessing
Come on babe, let's make the scene, yeah, I'm gonna take you witnessing
Let's go savin' souls, a Christian nation is our goal,
Come on a crusade with me
It's our divine mission to spread the good news
The commission we've been given's just great
Come join our crusade now, you got nothin' to lose
Unless you accept Jesus too late
Hey there, have you heard of the Four Spiritual Laws?
Is it heaven that you hope to achieve?
Well, now that you know all about the salvation scheme
You're accountable for what you believe
........
TRUE SALVATION
("Good Vibrations")
Ah I love the way He rose when He was killed
And the way His blood absolved me of my guilt
I see the truth in His Holy Word
And believe it all *because* it is absurd
I've finally found true salvation
He's given me exculpation
I've finally found true salvation
He's given me exculpation
True, true, true, true salvation
True, true, true, true salvation
I close my mind my faith is firmer now
I know I can't allow myself to doubt
Else I'll burn forevermore
That's why reason is the devil's whore
My, my, my, my, true salvation
John 3:16 says my slate is clean
My, my, my, my, temptation
My, my, my, Christian nation
Gotta spread the Good News that salvation's offered to everyone
Gotta spread the Good News that salvation's offered to everyone
....
WOULDN'T IT BE NICE
Wouldn't it be nice to demonstrate that everything revolved around the
Earth?
And we could prove that the Red Sea was parted, and Jesus really had a
virgin birth?
You know, that just might keep the skeptics quiet
And the Bible no one would deny it
Wouldn't it be nice if evolution was revealed to be just one big fraud?
Then instead of children learning science, they could spend the time in
prayer to God
Then there would not be any quarrels
For we'd all have just one set of morals
Wouldn't it be nice?
Maybe if we support the Christian Coalition it might come true
We would rid the U.S.A. of all atheists and Jews
We'd have family values, and no single parents
Wouldn't it be nice?
....
from http://www.infidels.org/misc/humor/beach.html
Christians, Zombies and Nudists!!!!
"Nudist Colony of the Dead" (1991)Directed and written by Mark Pirro
Judge Rhinehole orders the Sunny Buttocks Nudist Camp closed down as an affront to the community - a group of old Bible thumpers. The nudists are so ashamed and outraged by this act that they commit mass suicide but vow to return for vengeance. Five years later, they return as zombies to the site -- now a church summer camp renamed Camp CutchaGuzzOut . A group of Christian teenage campers go there on a retreat and argue with each other about religion and sing big production numbers. The nudists return as zombies determined to kill every last zealot.
Songs include "I Don't Care" and "Inky Dinky Doo Dah Morning" and other obscene lyrics and vulgar parodies of religious fundamentalists.
QUOTES:
Reverend Ritz: Remember, the children can't praise the Lord if they've got genitals in their mouths.
Fanny Wype: We're Christians! We're not supposed to think!
Miss Stucco: This is a religious retreat, which has nothing to do with fun! Do you think Jesus was having fun when he was being nailed on the cross? Do you think Noah had fun when he watched all his neighbors drowning? Do you think Cecil B. DeMille had fun when he parted the Red Sea and sent his crew into golden overtime?
Ms. Luger: Listen, sister. Nudity didn't work for Adam and Eve and it's not gonna work for you. If God had wanted us to walk around naked he wouldn't have made little animals for us to cut up and make fur coats out of.
Miss Stucco: Your rights stop where Jesus says they do, and Jesus didn't like nudity.
Mrs. Druple: Well, Jesus must love hemorrhoids because he sure got a lot of assholes behind him.
Mrs. Druple: Your assholes are so tight you need a crowbar to help you shit.
Should Art Societies have integrity and follow the law?
A follow-up to my post ....
Are artists always sensible?{ 11:28 AM, 29/5/2006 }
An unidentified "society of [f]artists" still thinks thinks they do not need their State's guidelines Best Practice Guidelines For Charitable Organisations http://www.dgr.nsw.gov.au/pdfs/char_fund_bpg.pdf - Department of Gaming and Racing, 4th Ed. December 2002) nor to follow their Constitution.!!!!! Their excuse is that the art society is only a small group .. and even smaller now that a few of their members are not going to renew their membership from 1st July 2006 onwards.
Small groups still have to obey the law of the land. Terrorists have small groups but their illegal activities are not condoned just because they are a small group. Such a defence is absurd!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BUCKEYE -
Any kitsch which is painted in oil and produced for the mass market, characterized by sloppy yet facile rendition, and stereotyped, flamboyant, or sentimental treatment of subject matter, typically landscape. Although most commonly used to refer to such work produced during the second half of the nineteenth century, since the production of such painting has never ceased, the term might be applied to later examples as well. ...
bibliomania.net/Glossary.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is not just their bad art that matters.
If an art society's president claims to have the local art gallery director "wrapped around her little finger" (a quote!) and "expects rewards for her volunteer work at the gallery in terms of favours for her art society" (another quote!), what is that called?
... besides stupidity .... the art gallery director is much smarter than she assumes ... and he has much more integrity than the whole art society combined ...
If an art society puts out a membership form that says that ALL members have to obey the constitution of that society, and the committee of that society repeatedly fail to obey their own constitiution, what is it called?
Hypocrisy!
If an art society advertises that they have certain activities avalable but, in fact, none of those activities are actually available to any member, what is that called?
False advertising!
"FAITH + 1" - South Park Episode & "Saved!" the movie
Two items on the Fundamentalist Dark Age related to Christian Music and Christian schools. Both comment on the problems of exploitation and exclusion that are ingrained in fundamentalist endeavours.
Having worked in both areas (Christian music and Christian Schools) I can relate to the characters and their false piety. Kidnapped for excorcism, the bible used as a weapon, pinching secular tunes for God, $$$ money $$$$ for ministry (SIMONY), over emphasis on others' sexual sinbs to the exclusion of their own greed and hypocrisy, Jesus Jingles, God Ads, - it's all there!
The emblem in for the Saved movie's high school (American Eagle Christian High School) contains two faces on the wings of the eagle - "two faced". A nice logo that says a lot!
You gotta see both of these movies if you've ever known any fundamentalist!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"FAITH + 1" - South Park Episode
from
http://www.southparkstudios.com/show/display_episode.php?season=7&id1=709&id2=108
The boys have a band called "Moop," but decide that they need some inspiration and direction for their music. Cartman suggests that become a Christian Rock band. Kyle responds by throwing him out of the band. Cartman bets Kyle $10 that he will get a platinum album before he does. Cartman then sets out to put together a band; he gets Butters (on drums) and Token (on bass). Kyle asks his father for $300 so that he can buy CDs to help his band find their sound. When his dad refuses to give him the money it turns out it doesn't matter anyway, Kenny tells them they can download music for free. The boys start downloading music for free until the FBI swoops in and arrests them, meanwhile Cartman, Butters and Token work on their music. The FBI agent takes Kyle, Stan and Kenny and shows them what the impact of their downloading music for free has done. Recording artists are going to be
doomed to a life of semi-luxury. Cartman takes Token and Butters to a beach where he shoots the cover for the first album cover for FAITH + 1. The parents come to collect their children from the FBI. The boys decide that even if they got their band going again, everyone would begin to download their music for free; instead they decide to go on strike and refuse to play. Cartman stops by their protest to report that he has sold 13 copies and is well on his way to getting his platinum album. Kyle reminds him that he needs to 1,000,000 copies. Cartman plans on selling his album at "Christ-Fest". At the festival Cartman realizes that to boost his sales, he is going to have to get their band on stage. He tricks one of the performing
bands and FAITH + 1 takes their place on stage and they play to a packed house. Back in South Park, Metallica and other artists join Moop in their strike against music downloading. A big record company agrees to promote and sell FAITH + 1's album. Still on strike, Moop receives word that Cartman has achieved his goal; he has sold 1,000,000 copies of his album and they are invited to the platinum album ceremony. Kyle realizes they were so wrapped up in trying to protect their music they forgot to just play. Real artists play for the love of music, not the money. Moop ends their strike; the other artists that joined them confess that they are only in it for the money. Cartman has spent all of FAITH + 1's money on the awards ceremony. Kyle tries to give Cartman his $10 bet, but Cartman gets the proceedings underway. The record company comes out and presents Cartman with FAITH + 1's first myrrh album. It seems Christian rock albums are awarded in gold, frankincense and myrrh. When Cartman realizes that he can never get a platinum album with a Christian rock band (and never win his bet with Kyle) he takes the Lord's name in vain and then some.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
QUOTES:
.....
Butters: "We're not Christian we just pretend to be."
Cartman: "Remind me to cut your balls off when we get back..."
Cartman: (Singing) Whenever I see Jesus up on that cross/I can't help
but think that he looks kinda hot.
Cartman: "Believe me, I never did anything just for the money and if I
lie the Lord shall strike me down right now."
(Butters and Token slowly step away from Cartman.)
Cartman: Christians have a built in audience of over 180 million
Americans, and if each one of them just buys one of our albums for 12 dllars
and 95 cents that would be...
*Points to Butters*
Butters: 2 billion 331 million dollars
Cartman: Still want to leave Token?
Stan: You don't even know anything about Christianity!
Cartman: I know enough to exploit it...
....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saved! an United Artists movie
The plot:
Mary, a senior at the American Eagle Christian High School somewhere in the U.S. has a boyfriend who suspects that he may be be gay. She survives a swimming accident and has a hallucination which she interprets as a vision of Jesus. She thinks that Jesus tells her "to do everything she can do to help him." Mary assumes that she should try to convert him to
heterosexuality through sexual intercourse. She ends up pregnant and is ostracized by the social elite at the school. She begins to find friends among the other pariahs in the school: a parapalegic, the only Jew among the student body, and a student rebel.
....
Comments by the producers and writers:
Producer Michael Stipe: "I thought it was one of the funnier and more
absolutely audacious, subversive scripts I had seen in some time. I just
fell in love with the characters and the story immediately."
Writer/director Brian Dannelly: "As a kid I went to Catholic elementary
school, Christian high school, and a Jewish summer camp. The biggest lesson
I learned from my experiences became a line in the script: 'They can't all
be wrong and they can't all be right.' I wanted to write a movie based on
that....In my high school, we weren't allowed to dance. Everybody had to be
at least six inches away from the opposite sex at all times. We had record
burnings, and the entertainment at my senior prom was a puppet show. It
wasn't very exciting."
Co-writer Michael Urban: "I grew up in a traditional Baptist home in
the South. Where I went to college in Tallahassee, Florida, I regularly saw
people who lived in this metaphysical world with punishment and demons and
things I had a hard time understanding. Sometimes things are twisted and
exploited in the name of religion or God. I wanted to explore that."
....
from http://www.religioustolerance.org/savmovie.htm
3 Musicians, 3 Books - Stevie Wright, Bono, Bob Dylan
a "must read" for any Aussie involved in music.
1. "Glenn Goldsmith with Stevie Wright - "Hard Road": the life and times of Stevie Wright". One of Australia's potentially greatest artists whose addiction problems ruined a great career. The lead singer and front man for Australia's Easybeats. I saw Stevie perform at a Larry Norman concert in Sydney after he declared he had become a Christian. A few weeks later he was arrested for burglary to feed his heroin addiction. His life has been
one huge struggle.
2. "Bono On Bono - Conversations with Michka Assayas" A Christian who bares his should in his art. Front man for U2 - my favourite band since the Beatles. Adam Clayton has become a Christian. U2 is the voice of the best rock performed by any group of Christians.
3. Bob Dylan - "Chronicles - Volume 1". Dylan is the master lyric writer who has inspired many other artists. Dylan doesn't claim to be spokesperson for anything. He doesn't need to. Dylan's music speaks for itself. He remains a Messianic Jew.
It is one's lifetime body of work that speaks most effectively. Each of these artists has expressed themselves in the art they produce. No single song defines the person. Each artist a mixture of good and bad and many contradictions. That's life. Get used to it.
Are artists always sensible?
It would seem not. An unidentified "society of [f]artists" thinks they do not need their State's guidelines Best Practice Guidelines For Charitable Organisations http://www.dgr.nsw.gov.au/pdfs/char_fund_bpg.pdf - Department of Gaming and Racing, 4th Ed. December 2002) nor to follow their Constitution.!!!!! (I kid you not!)
At their 2006 Annual General Meeting this "society of [f]artists" offered me the role of President three meetings after I joined and then, when I declined that position, offered me the position of Publicity Officer.
Only 15 of the 75 members of the "society of [f]artists" (at the most) ever help in any of their work. Most of the [f]artists are over 50 yet are unconcerned that no young person is joining their group.
Furthermore publicity is to "Sell the sizzle - not the steak." (Elmer Wheeler). That means one does not publicise the features of a "society of artists" (i.e. we meet 10 times a year) but rather the help to the individual that membership of the "society of [f]artists" brings (i.e. What’s in it for them. ) The only benefit of the particular "society of artsists" in question seems to be that to attend the 10 meetings a year one pays $2.50 a meeting but (if one follows their Consitution) you only pay $1.70 a meeting for 14 meetings if you are a Committee Member who must meet "at leat once every 3 months outside the General Meeting". (Note that no Committee meeting has ever taken place in the last 8 years!) Hey, that should get people joining ............... NOT!!!!
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Amy-Jill Levine - "From Jewish Sect To Gentile Church"Swap orthodoxy for orthopraxis
Jesus himself is not the proper object of faith
Definitive Proof Of God's Non-Existence
C S LEWIS'S "LIAR, LUNATIC, LORD" NONSENSE REFUTED
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