Tweet

EMAIL

PRINT

Comments (0)

 1 of 2

Ina recent newsletter, we noted that some Christian artists have been requested by their record labels to include radio-friendly worship songs on their albums—sometimes against the artists' wishes. The whole practice smacked of "worship as an afterthought," and we asked readers for their thoughts on the subject. We received a ton of responses, most of them echoing readers' frustrations with worship music in general. Here's a sampling of those replies.

I love it when there are some worship songs on albums. I don't necessarily think it should be done as an afterthought, and I am against forcing an artist to do it.
Lillie Cottrell

Singing and writing worship songs is something that is put on your heart by God. It can't be forced by the music industry. No wonder they aren't the artist's best songs. They weren't created from the deepest place of worship.
Jessica Griffin

I was musing about howworship bands seemto run out of creative lyrics, but can you blame them?When a band known for worship tunes comes out with yet another worship album, the lyrics tend to gradually come across as fluffy, forced, or superficial.But when a rock band has just one or two worship focused tracks on a rock album, then it can be extraordinary. It's not that worship music has been badlyproduced lately. It's justoften devoid of the Spirit.
Tony Carter

I am appalled that worship songs are added to an album because of pressure from a record label.  One of my hardest trials coming back into the church was because I initially felt I had to be a "cookie cutter Christian," and the thought made me want to run the other way. God's gift to me was allowing me to be myself and even outspoken about my unconventional experiences while coming back to an active faith and relationship with Jesus Christ. Curiously, it brought more people to me who were are also afraid to say anything about their own unconventional Christian experiences (mostly for fear of being judged as "too worldly"). There is a need for authenticity, and room for a variety of styles. I love worship songs, but there are plenty out on the market, and some start to feel homogenized after a while. Why do the record companies assume we all want the same music done in the same way? Any song that can stir my soul toward God and give me pause to appreciate what he did for me is worship music in my mind. 
Laura McBride

I don't think Christian labels should "make" artists put worship songs on their albums. If it were me, I would refuse to put anything on that I didn't create. Music is a form of self-expression, and if it's not you on the CD, then you really have sold out. I also think there is a problem with the Christian radio stations that always seem to play the same songs over and over and over. I tend to stay away from listening to them because of that. I love worship music, but I do want to hear the other things that Christian artists have to offer. Christian artists don't only listen to worship music, so why should we?
Nicholas Martindale

If a record company has to "force" a band to record a worship song to get played on radio, then it isn't much of a worship song.A worship song should bring awe and reverence to a Holy God, not something to accommodate a record company or radio station. I don't think God would be happy or even moved by a song that a record company ordered. It should be something they are led to do, not forced to do.
Faith Illenberg

next page... |  1 of 2