November 2005 WUGGIE'S MUSIC, MEDIA AND MORE!
WUGGIE'S MUSIC, MEDIA AND MORE!
Ratings System:
++ Christian - made specifically by Christians for Christians
+ Secular - but contains nothing offensive to most Christians, probably made by Christians trying to exert influence in secular media.
M Mature content. Not necessarily offensive, but parents should be careful before allowing exposure to children and pre-teens.
X Mature content. For mature teens, firm in their convictions and morals, who have received much parental guidance.
XX Contains very mature, problematic content. Parents should seriously consider restricting exposure to teens.
XXX Completely offensive. Not only should teens be restricted, but adults may want to question their own exposure.
Remember, my reviews are strictly my opinion, and no substitute for your good judgment
Please send me an Email (Mwuggazer@RedeemerBirmingham.org) or call me (248-644-4010) with requests for reviews!!
WUGGIE'S MUSIC, MEDIA AND MORE!
Ratings System:
++ Christian - made specifically by Christians for Christians
+ Secular - but contains nothing offensive to most Christians, probably made by Christians trying to exert influence in secular media.
M Mature content. Not necessarily offensive, but parents should be careful before allowing exposure to children and pre-teens.
X Mature content. For mature teens, firm in their convictions and morals, who have received much parental guidance.
XX Contains very mature, problematic content. Parents should seriously consider restricting exposure to teens.
XXX Completely offensive. Not only should teens be restricted, but adults may want to question their own exposure.
Remember, my reviews are strictly my opinion, and no substitute for your good judgment
Please send me an Email (Mwuggazer@RedeemerBirmingham.org) or call me (248-644-4010) with requests for reviews!!
Goo Goo Dolls / Better Days / ++
Stop the Presses! Time out! The new CD isn't out yet (review next moth), but the new single, 'Better Days', is hot and incredibly relevant. Between now and Christmas, this song is going to get tons of airplay because it is, get ready for this, Gulp, a Christian song from a hugely successful secular band. I almost drove off the road when I first heard it. Its good news, with an asterisk. First I give you the good news. Ladies and gentlemen, lyrics please:
And you ask me what I want this year And I try to make this kind and clear Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings And desire and love and empty things Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days So take these words And sing out loud Cuz everyone is forgiven now Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again And it's someplace simple where we could live And something only you can give And that's faith and trust and peace while we're alive And the one poor child that saved this world
The Newsboys and DC Talk couldn't do better if they collaborated with King David and Moses. I LOVE that the Goo Goo Dolls will be filling our teen's heads with the idea that materialism and Christmas hype is empty, and that true satisfaction is found only in the free gift of forgiveness brought by the Christ child. We need a song like this in 2005. Praise the Lord!
Now, the bad news. More lyrics:
And the one poor child that saved this world And there's 10 million more who probably could If we all just stopped and said a prayer for them
Oops. The Goo Goo Dolls believe in the "cleaned-up, washed out, sanitized and secularized" Jesus. The one who has been reduced from God-Savior to Perfect-example-man. "Ten million more who could save the world?" As in, all we have to do is say a prayer and then maybe humans could rise up and be just like Christ? Sorry, folks, that's works-righteousness, the idea that we can through our own merit, our own good conduct; save the world, or ourselves, or be like Jesus. OK, maybe I'm being too critical. Maybe the Goos are challenging today's teens to rely on Jesus's forgiveness and be filled with him alone, such that Christ does amazing things through them. They just don't say that. So, you bet I'm using this song as the centerpiece of my Christmas Youth Service (Christmas Heart of Worship) and you bet I'm telling everyone to love this song. I'm just making it very clear to interpret that one line the right way.
I can't wait until the CD comes out, and I can review the whole thing.
Black Eyed Peas / Monkey Business / XXX
I don't believe in evolution, but I do believe in the moral decay of a sin-stained creation. My proof is this CD, "Monkey Business." The lyrics, values, and morals contained herein are significantly worse than the Peas' previous release. Plus, each single that is released is worse than the last. The current hit, "My Humps" is full of vulgar, 'in your face ' lyrics that paint graphic images in the mind of the listener. The lyrics are not difficult to understand, and they are not buried in the music mix. Even the 'clean' radio version still paints the pictures. The iTunes download is crazy full of the worst four letter words and subjects. The Peas' must think they are onto something, taking a step back in morality to level of animals.
Nickelback / All the Right Reasons / X
I love Nickleback's music. Their image is one of hard edged bad boy rocker, the kind of guy who thumbs his nose at authority and conformity. There are no four letter words, but some mature situations.
Gretchen Wilson, All Jacked Up / X
"Country female singer" used to mean squeaky clean, but a new breed of artists like Gretchen are starting to push the envelope. Don't get me wrong, they still have a long way to go before I compare Gretchen to Black Eyed Peas. Still, the title track is an aggressive tale of a woman who drinks too much and gets into a bar fight. The disc is pretty darn clean, but I just can't endorse a song that glorifies drinking.
Sheryl Crow / Wildflower / M
Ain't nothing wrong with Sheryl Crow. Great new disc from her.
INXS / Pretty Vegas / M
Welcome back INXS! If you'll allow me to brag a bit, when I worked in the music biz I once promoted an INXS concert at (then) Pine Knob. It was supposed to be the big comeback for the band after more than 5 years without a new album. Unfortunately, Michael Hutchence committed suicide 3 days after that show. It was their second to last. Now the band has a new lead vocalist, a new album, and they are trying the comeback again. The new song is pretty good, and lyrically acceptable too. Can't wait to hear the rest of the disc.
Relient K / Be My Escape (From MMHMM) / +
I've reviewed this CD from this Christian band previously (You can read 3 years of past reviews on hundreds of artists at RedeemeerBirmingham.org) but their new song deserves some attention. Their record company is promoting the band aggressively to secular radio, complete with a video on heavy rotation on MTV. Initially, we all thought this was going to be nothing short of a breakthrough. While I still think it's awesome that Relient K is finding a mainstream audience and influencing pop culture positively, I have to agree with some of my students who are disappointed at an apparent missed opportunity. The song is called "Be My Escape". Apparently I've taught the students well enough that the first reaction was, "The song is about Jesus being my escape from the empty sinful world." Problem is that in the video, the "escape" is the singer's girlfriend. Oops. Maybe a little too mainstream for the hoped for positive influence. Still, the band , the song and the disc are squeaky clean.
David Crowder Band / A Collision Or (3+4=7) / ++
David Crowder is one of my all time favorite artists, and I'm really excited about his new disc. It's all out and out Praise music, every song about Jesus. And great musicianship as well. Buy this disc. Christmas is coming!
Quote of the month:
"I was personally shocked at how casually young people treat oral sex and how its considered much less intimate than intercourse. I think society is so sexualized from the time these kids are small, they're quite comfortable." - Today Show host, Katie Couric, commenting on her NBC special, "The 411: Teens and Sex."
2004 Music Sales
2004 CD album sales: 651.1 mil
Change from 2003 sales: +2.3%
(2003 was the third consecutive year of declining sales)
The number of legally downloaded tracks in:
2003: 20 million
2004: 140 million