Christian Rock
By Ken Hurley
There are moments when I yearn for the days before there was Christian rock. When Elvis was King and analysis of the leitmotifs regarding the tonal significance of what the bassoon was saying at the New York Philharmonic was a fun Sunday afternoon.
The churchy charlatans of the days when rock ‘n’ roll began still live amongst us. If not them, certainly their offspring. (They breed.) These pulpit pabalum spewing chuckleheads decided that rock ‘n’ roll must go because Satan was behind it all. Their hatred of rock ‘n’ roll as a savage jungle display of human vulgarity was rooted in their sense of self-supremacy.
Apparently, the Supreme Devil himself could jive tap his foot to The Andrews Sisters, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, but shouldn’t act allTutti Frutti or wiggle a toe in Blue Suede Shoes.
Yet it was the “holy spirit” that moved so many Christians to gyrate with uncontrollable jackhammer intensity at their Southern Baptist church services. The preachers thought wiggling to Little Richard was blasphemy but shaking to the spirit of the Lord during church by someone who looked afflicted with an epileptic seizure was God in glorious action.
Elvis (anagram: Evils) when asked to explain what he did on stage when it was seen as scandalously licentious said, “I just sing like they do back home.”
Ray Charles deserves a whole lotta lovin’ for intentionally merging “sacred” and secular music. He modified gospel songs into R&B wonders. He changed a few words, went upbeat, added a touch of human sensuality and turnedTalkin’ ’Bout Jesus into Talkin’ ’Bout You; This Little Light of Mine became This Little Girl of Mine; It Must Be Jesus became I’ve Got a Woman.
Yet rock music owes some of its success to the Christian faith even though later the Christian faith co-oped the musical style as another way to appeal to believers who might also add a few shekels to their coffers.
It’s the drumbeat! “A backbeat you can’t lose it . . .” as Chuck Berry sang. Many of the rhythmic notations began in Africa; became work songs, blues, gospel, rock, then Christian Rock. Eventually, most of the fearmongering from the pulpits regarding the evil demons of rock ‘n’ roll subsided.
The hippie craze helped inspire the “Jesus movement,” where Christ was portrayed as a bearded, long-haired, sandal wearing, tie-died, peace and love, activist dude, who wanted to be your personal savior. Jesus Christ became a Superstar. And, just like that, lots of Christian congregations were rocking and rolling. Even Bob Dylan became born again.
Like a ship at sea named Beauty Rest, rocking and rolling is still good. As Duke Ellington wrote, “Music is My Mistress.” And, as MC Hammer sang, “It’s all good”.
So what was all the fuss about?