Re: Evanescence

Date: Thu, 08 May 2003 21:47:45 GMT
Newsgroups: rec.music.christian
Size: 2,671 bytes

"-MIKE-" wrote:
> He says that in
> the UK, the Christian artists are just lumped into the music genre
> in which they fit.
snip
> Christians are called to be a witness for Christ in our everyday
> lives, whether we are singers or sewer worker, musician or
> maintenance man. If an artist decides to move into a different
> market, it doesn't mean they are distancing themselves from their
> faith. If a famous Christian author decided to write a book about
> baseball, I wonder if he would catch the same flack.
Just jumping in to say I agree with that mindset. I should first say that I
don't mind the fact that here in the U.S. we have a seperate genre called
"Christian" music, and "Christian" radio stations - I even work for one.
Overall, I see it as useful. It's great for marketing and radio, etc. In
general, people know that if they listen to a Christian radio station or
enter a Christian bookstore, they'll find music with a "Christian" message.
However, I don't like how it has caused so many people to forget (or never
even think about it in the first place) that music doesn't have to have a
"Christian message" just because a Christian sings the lyrics. The
Christian life is about much more than "the Christian message." As you say,
a Christian can write a book about baseball or even watch or play in a
baseball game without it being necessary to give the gospel message while
doing so. And a Christian can sing a song without it having anything to do
with the gospel message.
I feel sad for Christians who are in bands which market to a general
audience when they get flack from the Christian community for not being
"Christian" enough. Whether they're creating art for art's sake or trying
to be salt and light, or whatever, I say more power to them.
I admittedly don't know much about Evanescence. I actually never heard of
them before I saw the first "Evanescence" post here in rmc. Well actually I
knew one of their songs and had seen their video but their name never
registered in my mind until I saw the first long thread here in rmc. I've
seen varying accounts here about how they've marketed themselves, and I
truthfully haven't taken the time to sort through it all. What I've
gathered is that by their actions they marketed themselves to a Christian
audience but then by their words they said "we never really wanted you in
the first place." As I said, I don't know the truth to that - I've just
gathered that from reading here. If it's true, I'm not so keen on it. But
if it's simply a matter of Christians (or non-Christians) who want to sing
about whatever they want to sing about, that's fine and dandy by me.
-Breezy