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Last Published: 7/19/2008 8:50:41 PM
Questions about secular music
Asked by:
Doug on
August 18, 2007 at
2:46PM EST
Specifically, Evanescence. I'll get through that first. I love the way Amy Lee's, the lead singer, voice sounds, the eerieness to the music (or at least most of the songs), the crunching guitar, the infusion of strings and piano into the rock/metal music, and the occasional choral lines. My question is; Is it alright to listen to it, me being a Christian? Some of her lyrics are confusing, others deprecating.
For an example of her confusing lyrics, take Tourniquet from the CD Fallen. In it, at the end, she says: "My wounds cry for the grave, My soul cries for deliverance. Will I be denied Christ, tourniquet, my suicide." While in the chorus she sings "My God, my tourniquet, return to me salvation." Now, it sounds like it could be from a curious atheist wondering if they are too far lost to be saved, which we know they aren't. Ever. But was irks me is the "tourniquet, my suicide" part. What is she saying here? What does "her suicide" have to do with Jesus?
For a deprecating example, take Good Enough from The Open Door. Again, at the end of the song, she says "And I'm still waiting for the rain to fall. Pour real life down on me. 'Cause I can't hold on to anything this (possibly should be "that's") good enough. Am I good enough for you to love me too?" This makes it sound like she is saying that she finds herself incapable of being good enough for a relationship with a person she truly loves. Though Good Enough sounds like one of the songs where happiness comes through the songs that usually explore/deal with pain or escaping possibly abusive situations like in Going Under (from Fallen). I really need to discuss this with people.
What are your thoughts? I'll have more to add later, with other songs, I promise.
(5) Answers
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Answered by: Matt Hyde on August 19, 2007 5:58PM EST
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I listen to Evanscence some times. They have some good songs that I love listening to.
I'm sure you didn't know that in the song called Bring Me To Life it features a Christian band called 12 Stones that you can check out at www.myspace.com/12stones as the lead singer of the band called 12 Stones did the singing and yelling parts in Bring Me To Life. You learn something new everyday.
I also agree with what Matt said in his answer as you have to think would Jesus want you listening to Secular music.
I know I only listen to Secular music some times but I find Christian music to be positive and encouraging music that can bring me closer to God. Anyways that is my long answer for you. I hope it helped.
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Hmm...You totally read my mind. I'm totally curious about this band. They are amazing, and I love them, but they are a giant question mark in my life. Some of the songs give me a clearly Christian message, while others leave me thinking that they are giving an opposite message.
I have been wondering for quite some time whether or not the band is, in fact, a Christian band thriving in mainstream, like Underoath and the Almost. I heard from someone that Amy was a Christian singer before Evanescence came about. From another source I heard that the band hates being called a Christian band, and is quite atheist. (Then again, you can never base an opinion on words based from gossip. lol)
Hmm....idk. lol. I probably asked more questions than answered, but I'm glad to know I'm not the only one wondering.
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Answered by: Doug on August 24, 2007 8:48PM EST
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I've struggled with this, too. I was a huge Evanescence fan, and still am. I know that as Christians we are suppossed to be happy, but obviously that's not always the case. I found that I could relate to Evanescence's music, and that drew me to them.
It was thoroughly disapointed, however, when I saw that Amy Lee absolutely hates being called a Christian band. Unfortunantly, with John and Rocky, the two original Christians in the band, I'm afraid that there is no other Christians to positively influence Amy. Hopefully Flyleaf will.
About Tourniquet. (im sure i spelled that wrong!) That is one of my favorites. I think that Amy is expressing her longing for redemption-in my opinion, she is not meaning suicide as in actually physically killing herself. She is using it to explain how she wants to erase what wrong she has done and start over clean. She wants to rid herself of her hurt and suffering and be happy again, 'killing' the bad inside of her.
That's just my opinion. And by the way, about 'Good Enough.' All of The Open Door is about Shaun from Seether, her ex-boyfriend whom she broke up with. I myself am not a huge fan of the album-it's a little too whiney for my taste,especially since she is the one who broke up with him. Fallen is more about mental, spiritual, and emotional struggles, while The Open Door is simply whining about how SHE broke up with him.
BUt enough of my worthless opinion. I think that they are okay for you to listen to-especially Fallen. As a Christian, take the music from a Christian view and you'll be fine.
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