May 19, 2024
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Hello. It's been almost two years since I first posted about Christian Rock music, so I'm gonna go ahead and talk more about that. (Some of this will be basically the same, just with some updated information.) (@dp-marvel94 if you have any to add, I know you know some more than me.)
In case any of y'all didn't know, I am a Christian. I grew up in the church and still go regularly. (If you want specifics, I'm Non-Denominational.) Growing up, I listened to a lot of Christian Rock, because that's what my parents (especially my Dad) like.
Christian Rock is a fairly new thing. And honestly, it's only recently getting on par with a lot of the secular stuff. Mainly because back in the 60s-90s it was seen as "the Devil's music." But there were bands even back then that had really good (on par with the secular stuff of the day) music. Some examples include:
Resurrection Band/Rez Band/Rez. Some of the biggest pioneers of modern Christian metal and hard rock. They were a band in the 70s through the 90s. More blues rock than metal in my personal opinion, but still not bad. (They had two different music videos on MTV in the 80s. Which is a pretty big deal.)
Petra. I mentioned them in my first post, I grew up hearing some of their stuff, very 70s rock. Not bad if you like that kind of music.
Larry Norman. Another artist I mentioned in my first post. He was definitely one that called out a lot of Church culture for being not-so-Christlike. (Ex. "The Great American Novel.")
Those guys are just a few of the artists that really made modern Christian Rock possible. Without them, we wouldn't really have any others. I linked one song from each of them that I think really showcase their talent. (Excepting Larry Norman who got two linked songs.) The 90s is I think where Christian rock really started to meet up with Secular rock.
One Bad Pig, for example, is very 90s metal. Loud disruptive and very hard. (They got the name "One Bad Pig" after seeing the mascot for the St. Louis radio station KSHE95 which is a pig. Apparently upon seeing it, one of the band members said, "That is One Bad Pig!" And they liked that for a band name.) I will warn though, that they do scream and have a generally more...metal feel than some of the others.
There's also dc Talk. (Which you may recognise as the band that started TobyMac's career.) A mix of rap, and rock, they had a style that was really popular with the youths of the time. (Fun fact: the senior pastor at my church was a backup dancer for them in the "Nu Thang" era.)
'I love God and I follow Jesus but I just don't have much affinity for the organized folderol of the churches in the Western World.' -Larry Norman | Visit Jar of Quotes for more image quotes.
I saw a post recently (I think it was from @floralflowerpower) about songs and how they can have deeper meanings than we sometimes realize. And at one point Christian rock was mentioned, and as a Christian myself, I feel qualified to talk about that. (This post is long, and kinda rambly. It also ended up being me just fangirling over bands the whole time. Be warned.) (There are song recommendations though. But I'm unsure of how to link them all. There's a lot.)
Christian rock is most definitely a more recently accepted thing. Because older generations saw rock as the devil's music. It was evil. Any band that played it was evil.
Which brings me to the first artist I want to talk about, Larry Norman. He was in some ways, the first Christian rock artist. He challenged the view of "the devil's music" with songs like 'Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music' (I know, kinda on the nose there😅) 'The Great American Novel' is one of my personal favorites by him, because he uses the song to not only call out the problems with Christian culture, but also American culture. He was a pioneer for some of the other artists I want to talk aboqut, and definitely deserves mentioning.
Next I want to talk about Disciple. They're a lot more recent than Larry Norman. And as such, much more modern rock. Songs like 'Dear X' and 'Invisible' built my teenage years a lot. 'Dear X' is about how your past sins and mistakes don't own you as a person anymore. Shame and Pain and Hate can't take you back. 'Invisible' is more about how God can reach anyone. No one is too broken, too lost, too hurt, that He can't help. It's amazing.
Another band I want to talk about is Demon Hunter. They're probably the hardest rock group I'll talk about here. I personally don't listen to them much, because they are more of a screamy band at times, and I'm not into that. But still, songs like 'Dead Flowers' are much softer, it has a melody and is my favorite by them.
Kutless. I just have so much love for them. They're a group that does actual worship songs (as in albums,) and they do hard rock songs too. 'Million Dollar Man' 'Hearts of The Innocent' and their cover of 'Take Me In' are some of my top favorites. (Legitimately though, I could probably talk forever about them. I'm cutting myself short here.)
I'm going back in time to the 70s for a sec to talk Petra! 'Take Me In' is originally theirs, (although I prefer the Kutless version) and they also have gems like 'The Coloring Song.' I don't listen to them a lot either, because they're more old school rock, which isn't my thing. But 'The Coloring Song' IS my childhood.
Skillet is a Christian rock band, that I think is at least somewhat popular in secular groups too. The entire 'Awake and Alive' album is just amazing. They don't shy away from their faith, but not every song is explicitly Christian either. I can't recommend them enough.
Thousand Foot Krutch is one of my boyfriend's favorite bands. And yes. They have great music. 'Fly on The Wall' is amazing. 'Phenomenon' is....(don't say it don't say it don't sa-) phenomenal. They are a harder group sometimes, but still to notch.
Okay, last one for now. And probably my absolute favorite on this list I've made, is Red. I just can't say enough. They have harder songs like 'Infidel' 'Release The Panic' and 'Feed The Machine.' And they also have softer songs like 'Hold Me Now,' which I personally love. Songs like 'Glass House' 'Perfect Life' 'Cauterize' 'Only Fight' 'The Darkest Part' and 'The Evening Hate' are soo well done. And don't get started on their music videos. They have an entire storyline going through a bunch of them, leading into the video for 'The Evening Hate' which is literally 14 minutes long. I love them a lot.
TL;DR Christian Rock has a lot of variety, and is really good. (And also not evil devil music.) Thank you.
Feel free to ask me about any of these artists or songs. I might not be the most knowledgeable, but I'll do my best🙂🙂🙂
'I love God and I follow Jesus but I just don't have much affinity for the organized folderol of the churches in the Western World.' -Larry Norman | Go to Sendable Quotes to view more motivational quotes and inspirational images.
Upon This Rock (Larry Norman)
Format: Vinyl Record
Released in 1969 by Impact Records
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT: LONG BEFORE LARRY NORMAN ("THE FATHER OF CHRISTIAN ROCK") THERE WAS SISTER ROSETTA THARPE "THE GODMOTHER OF ROCK & ROLL"
Decades before Larry Norman, Sister Rosetta Tharpe laid the groundwork for both rock and roll and Christian music. via The Christian Metal Group, Facebook
Sister Rosetta Tharpe: The True Pioneer
Often dubbed the "Godmother of Rock and Roll," Tharpe took the spiritual lyrics and fervor of Pentecostal gospel and fused them with the heavy driving rhythms of blues, boogie-woogie, and jazz. (1)The Sound: As early as the 1930s and 40s, she pioneered the use of heavy distortion on her electric guitar, creating heavy, roaring riffs. (2)Crossover Hits: Her 1944 gospel track "Strange Things Happening Every Day" is widely considered by historians to be the first true rock and roll record. It was also the first gospel song to cross over into the Billboard R&B charts. (3)The Legacy: Pioneers like Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Johnny Cash, and Chuck Berry all credit her electrifying stage presence and guitar techniques as foundational to their own music. Tharpe brought sacred themes out of the church loft and directly onto the dance floor.
Sources: Picturing Black History, The Christian Metal Group/Facebook, Smithsonian Institute & Teach Rock
Chuck Berry, Keith Richards and Elvis Presley were Rock and Rollers who were there at the very beginning. But each legend can all point to one woman as an influence who came first and she lived right here in Richmond, Virginia. In my “I Have a Story” I will show you how Sister Rosetta Tharpe blazed a trail with a booming voice and mastery of the guitar. Rosetta Tharpe is considered the Godmother of Rock and Roll. Tharpe began her singing in church in her native Arkansas. Her music found a huge following across America and the UK. Tharpe’s talents and stage presence were undeniable. Tharpe’s performances influenced generations of artists from Eric Clapton and Tina Turner to Bonnie Raitt. This Rock and Roll legend called Richmond home for about a decade during the 1950s. Fifty three years after her death her fans say Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s legacy is worth embracing. via WTVR-TV YouTube
