t h e s c e n e by Kurt Morris I hate the "Christian" music scene. Yes, I work in it and it's how I get my paycheck, but I hate it. And yes, I know it must seem terribly ironic for me to be saying this, but nevertheless, let me continue and explain. The first reason that I hate the "Christian" music scene, is because of the spineless, weak leaches that run it and think they know something, but don't. These people seem to all live in Nashville for some unknown reason and out of this little Mecca they run their little made-up empire of "Christian" (please show me the verse in the Bible where it describes how CDs and cassettes receive salvation) music that they think serves some purpose. And year after year, these people once again show us how stupid they are for two reasons. 1) They not only have so little originality as that they have to rely on xeroxed copies of one main band (MXPX, Supertones) but then these turn into trends and 2) these trends aren't even original. These trends are behind the "secular" (note: I use all these terms in quotes, because these aren't my terms, I use them for the sake of clarity. I personally despise such terms, but do realize that they exist, so I quote them for the sake of understanding) trends which are pathetic in and of themselves. Let's take these two points, though, and expand upon them. The first deals with how the "CCM" market takes a band such as the Supertones and then finds a billion other bands that sound like them and sign them all right away, hoping that they all have at least some sort of loose sounding connection to the Supertones so that mindless maggot kids will buy this crap. Now I'm not blaming the bands, I'm blaming spineless individuals for this. People who are furious right now from reading this are the problem, because I'm speaking to you specifically. People like you were probably listening to Nirvana a few years ago, got saved, then suddenly had a "revelation from God" that you had to listen to only "Christian" music for some unknown reason and therefore decided to listen to MXPX, because they're "punk rawk". Then, you "found out" about ska and now that's currently your favorite genre of music. And to you I say, "grow up!" Quit being so spineless and find out who you really are. I was once like you. I listened to punk and hardcore because that's what my friends listened to and that's all I knew. But then I found emo music and I love it. And yes, I still listen to other types of music including some punk and hardcore, but for so long I was only listening to punk or hardcore, because I wanted to be accepted and cool. Hey, guess what? It's all a joke. Be yourself and tell everyone else to shut up. Now I'm gonna move on into the second point I brought up, and that's how the "CCM" industry copies everything from the "secular" industry. Ever notice that Green Day was big, and THEN MXPX was big? Or notice how Nirvana was big and THEN Grammatrain and Sometime Sunday got noticed? Or how Mighty Mighty Bosstones were big and now suddenly the Supertones are just the biggest craze that we could've cared less about, but the kids dig it so who gives a rip? See where I'm going with this? The "CCM" industry is so unoriginal. I don't mean this against any of the bands, because frankly, it's the morons in Nashville that do this. But more so, it's the mindless fans. Gosh you people make me sick. I'm gonna go puke right now...okay, I'm back. The unfortunate thing is that when there IS an original "Christian" band such as Jetenderpaul or Roadside Monument, the "CCM" industry doesn't care, because they don't sell. Mark my words kids, and mark them well. The next trend in the "secular" music business will be electronic music, with Prodigy, Chemical Brothers and more leading the way and a year or two later the "CCM" industry will catch up and realize, "Well, I'll be darned! That stuff we didn't care about sold in the 'secular' business, so let's find a cleaner, more Christ-like version and get it out to those kids so that we can make some money!" Yup, that's the world we live in. I'm not stupid, though. I know that it always has been and will always be about money, but for some reason, the people in Nashville seem to want people to think it's about "ministry". What the heck is up with that? "Ministry"? Good Lord! Labels don't minister...bands do! And not even many of them do that anymore, but that's another editorial, one that I most likely will never write since all of you will be bitter and hateful at me for writing this one. Anyway, the point is, don't be fooled, the people in "Nashvegas" (that's what I refer to it as...remember: Money) are in it for the cash. All they see is green. Maybe at one time someone back in the 60s or early 70s said, "Man, I want someone to hear this good music that the Ressurection Band, Larry Norman, or Petra are putting out so that it can minister to them." Unfortunately, as soon as someone paid money for that vinyl record of Petra or whoever, that's when the "Christian" music industry ceased to be a ministry and started as a business. And that's where we are today. So what does this all mean to us? Well, for one, I propose that each of us read Francis Schaeffer's book, "Art & The Bible". That is a good place to start because Schaeffer is a genius at clearing away a lot of the crap that modern society throws at us and getting us back to the bible and it's truth in this modern, humanistic world. I would also suggest that we pray for clear minds and a ministering spirit before we read such a book. That way, God can open our minds to His truth through His servant. After that, I suggest that we do all we can to see music as just what it is...a medium to minister and to influence, but when it comes down to the heart of the matter, it's about money. Never forget that and don't be fooled by people that say otherwise. Money makes the world go around. And there's really nothing wrong with that. I can already see red flags flying up and people whining, "but Kurt! The bible says..." Well kids, let me tell you what the Bible DOES say concerning money. It says, "The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." There's nothing wrong with money in and of itself, just loving it and putting it before God. There, I'm glad that we got that cleared up. :-) In conclusion I say to you, find out what you really like (don't follow some trend) and then go buy it whether it be "Christian" or "secular" and enjoy it and tell people who rip on you to shut up. [Kurt's opinions do not necessarily reflect those of (whirl)...well, actually, yeah, they do. That's all.] |