Does Christian music offend you?
 

I’m researching a dissertation into the Christian record industry and in doing so i need to know what the more mainstream non-Christian consumer thinks of Christian music.
1.Do you listen to or purchase any known Christian artists? Who?



2.This question is designed to show how a non-Christian would react to Faith based lyrics. Some being more obvious than others. Place a ‘0’ in one box for each lyric.

1.“He is, He is the song on my lips. He is, He is the one who makes me live” (with obvious reference to God and the Christian faith).

Would not offend you or put you off a song or album [ ]
Would find it hard to relate to and probably skip this particular song [ ]
The lyric would put you off an album or artist all together [ ]

2.“I feel this love, I found this piece. I found out what it means to live. Best of all it comes for free”
(Quite obvious connotation of salvation but no reference to God or Jesus)

Would not offend you or put you off a song or album [ ]
Would find it hard to relate to and probably skip this particular song [ ]
The lyric would put you off an album or artist all together [ ]


3.“I left my life somewhere behind me, not that it was life completely”
(not so obvious Christian influence and no reference to God or jesus).

Would not offend you or put you off a song or album [ ]
Would find it hard to relate to and probably skip this particular song [ ]
The lyric would put you off an album or artist all together [ ]



3.Would you say that there is an assumption that Christian artists provide “fluffy” music, in the sense that the quality of music is generally not as good as more secular artists?

4.Feel free to write any of your own or other possible assumption that are made over music.





(If you have time, the next section involves checking out tracks found at myspace.com/boydoodie. This is because my dissertation is alongside a practical project album.)

5. Ignoring your own bias to certain genres, would you say that any of the tracks could have a place in the mainstream market and would you say the album as whole could still be appreciated by non-Christians? Why?



6. Rate each of these elements of this track out of 10. 10 being very high, 1 being very low. For instance, if you think the lyrics sucked, put a 1 in the ‘lyrical content’ box.

Lyrical content [ ]
Musicianship [ ]
Overall sound of the track (production) [ ]
Melody and musical structure [ ]
Cover art work and packaging [ ]
Creativity of the music [ ]


Thanks for participating!
Dan

1.Do you listen to or purchase any known Christian artists? Who?

Sufjan Stevens is the only artist I can think of, but I don't really like or dislike him anymore because he's Christian.

2.This question is designed to show how a non-Christian would react to Faith based lyrics. Some being more obvious than others. Place a ‘0’ in one box for each lyric.

1.“He is, He is the song on my lips. He is, He is the one who makes me live” (with obvious reference to God and the Christian faith).

Would not offend you or put you off a song or album [0]
Would find it hard to relate to and probably skip this particular song [ ]
The lyric would put you off an album or artist all together [ ]

2.“I feel this love, I found this piece. I found out what it means to live. Best of all it comes for free”
(Quite obvious connotation of salvation but no reference to God or Jesus)

Would not offend you or put you off a song or album [0]
Would find it hard to relate to and probably skip this particular song [ ]
The lyric would put you off an album or artist all together [ ]


3.“I left my life somewhere behind me, not that it was life completely”
(not so obvious Christian influence and no reference to God or jesus).

Would not offend you or put you off a song or album [0]
Would find it hard to relate to and probably skip this particular song [ ]
The lyric would put you off an album or artist all together [ ]

3.Would you say that there is an assumption that Christian artists provide “fluffy” music, in the sense that the quality of music is generally not as good as more secular artists?

Yes, most people I know, including myself, would probably be immediately turned off by the idea of listening to Christian music. It doesn't really offend me, but as an Atheist I can't say I'd really enjoy listening to an entire album of Christian references. Although, like I said, I don't really mind it in Stevens' music or in less obvious references.


I didn't listen to the music on your Myspace because I have no speakers right now, but I'd be happy to when I get the chance.

^ Sufjan Stevens is Christian, but doesn't write explicitly Christian music. "I don't think music media is the real forum for theological discussions."

As for me, I have listened to Christian music in the past (most notably Five Iron Frenzy) and it doesn't bother me. It's not a question of whether I'm offended by it or not, just whether the music appeals to me. That, I feel, is what ostracizes so many listeners, is that Christian musicians sometimes feel that it's the ONLY topic they can sing about, and do so in a way that invites poor songwriting and terrible musicianship.

I do know that Stryper are shit.

1.Do you listen to or purchase any known Christian artists? Who?
Mortification, Vomitorial Corpulence's first album had Christian themes, and sometimes Bruce Springsteen comes off as being Christian themed though I'm not sure if thats intentional or not.

2.This question is designed to show how a non-Christian would react to Faith based lyrics. Some being more obvious than others. Place a ‘0’ in one box for each lyric.

1.“He is, He is the song on my lips. He is, He is the one who makes me live” (with obvious reference to God and the Christian faith).

Would not offend you or put you off a song or album [0]
Would find it hard to relate to and probably skip this particular song [ ]
The lyric would put you off an album or artist all together [ ]

2.“I feel this love, I found this piece. I found out what it means to live. Best of all it comes for free”
(Quite obvious connotation of salvation but no reference to God or Jesus)

Would not offend you or put you off a song or album [0]
Would find it hard to relate to and probably skip this particular song [ ]
The lyric would put you off an album or artist all together [ ]


3.“I left my life somewhere behind me, not that it was life completely”
(not so obvious Christian influence and no reference to God or jesus).

Would not offend you or put you off a song or album [0]
Would find it hard to relate to and probably skip this particular song [ ]
The lyric would put you off an album or artist all together [ ]



3.Would you say that there is an assumption that Christian artists provide “fluffy” music, in the sense that the quality of music is generally not as good as more secular artists?
To some extent. The mainstream Christian artists do seem to come off that way so at a glance I'd understand that. By mainstream Christian I mean of course Christian artists who are popular by standards of Christian bands so stuff like Relient K and Superchic.

4.Feel free to write any of your own or other possible assumption that are made over music.
I try not to assume too much.

(If you have time, the next section involves checking out tracks found at myspace.com/boydoodie. This is because my dissertation is alongside a practical project album.)

5. Ignoring your own bias to certain genres, would you say that any of the tracks could have a place in the mainstream market and would you say the album as whole could still be appreciated by non-Christians? Why?

No, the 90s died.

6. Rate each of these elements of this track out of 10. 10 being very high, 1 being very low. For instance, if you think the lyrics sucked, put a 1 in the ‘lyrical content’ box.

Lyrical content [1]
Musicianship [3]
Overall sound of the track (production) [7]
Melody and musical structure [3 and 5]
Cover art work and packaging [I don't really care]
Creativity of the music [2]

Contrary to what he seems to believe, many of his songs make explicit references to God and Christianity. Or maybe he made that comment after he released all his albums?

Swan Songs is often noted for Christian themes (and rightly so), but his more recognized folk albums (Michigan, Illinois) are almost devoid of any religious expression.

Maybe you should listen more closely? I haven't listened to Illinois in a while, but I remember he makes several blatant references to Christianity on "Casimir Pulaski Day" (referencing Bible Study, Church, etc.) and "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us" ("Oh the glory that the Lord has made, etc.") as well as some other thinly veiled references throughout the album.

agnosticism ftw!!!

Disliking a band simply because of their religious beliefs (or lack thereof) is fairly closed-minded, IMO.

However, as with any simple, easily-attained inspiration (see --> love), this catalyst inspires many people who should not be making music to do so; hence the markets being flooded with bad Christian Rock bands. Personally, it annoys me when the lyrics to a Christian song are so superficial that the song's origins are completely transparent, but then again, I would get annoyed over any old song that did that.

A Christian song, in my opinion, could be just as listenable, brilliant, or carefully-constructed as a non-Christian one. The artist, not the theme, is almost always the deciding factor for me.