Green Day: God’s Favorite Band?

I plan on using punk band Green Day as one of the main case studies in my new book, Broken Hallelujahs. I’ll say more later about why, beside the fact that they are the best-selling punk band ever, and one of the best selling rock bands period. For now I’ll just offer an image from the concert DVD “Bullet in the Bible” filmed at their widely hailed mega-gigs at Milton Keynes Bowl in England where over two days over 130,000 fans saw them play. Just before taking stage , drummer Tre Cool shouts to his bandmates:

“This is a place of worship. The place of rock. This is a holy place.” A fellow band mate, as if on cue, says “Why are their no clouds in the sky?” to which Tre responds “Cause God wants to watch his favorite band again!”

Part of what I hope to accomplish with this book is to show that despite everything one might say to the contrary such a statement might just be right. While some Christians and some punk fans will cringe at that statement, I think it is actually really important to ask what it might mean to answer Tre with a solid, “Yea, maybe you’re right.”

Peace,

Chris

Kings of Leon–Running Away From God (sort of)

Last night I saw them play at Toad’s Place, a famous venue here in New Haven. Lots of the great bands (and lots of so-so bands, too) have played here–including U2 in their early years. I saw KOL in 2005 when they opened for U2 on the Vertigo tour. I’d never heard of them and at the time didn’t know any of their songs. I was impressed by their energy, though, and by their tight pants (read my report on that concert here). According to Jared Followill, the bassist, “I mean [U2] called us KFC instead of KOL ’cause we have chicken legs. But in a funny, cool way. They’re the nicest guys.” I mused at the time about what the influence would be given the maturity of U2 as a band, as spiritual men, and on the road with this young band also with spiritual roots but exploring the tensions of faith and the life-style of rock n’ roll fame. As the story goes, the influence was low-key, and likely more powerful as a result. They showed, rather than told or scolded. KOL, for those who don’t know, grew up traveling with a father who preached revivials in the United Pentecostal Church but after troubles with drinking and finallly a divorce, left the ministry. The experience was dramatic for the boys.

Why Broken Hallelujah? (3): Not “You Carried Me”?

You carried me is a song from the band Building 429. The song is a single off their 2007 release Iris to Iris and is currently topping the contemporary Christian music charts. Building 429, for those who don’t know, are a Christian rock band from North Carolina. They won the Gospel Music Association 2005 “New Artist of the Year” award and have been rising since. Their name points to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” You can take a listen to the song here, and read the lyrics, followed by some comments about why songs like this, written from “a strictly vertical perspective,” can’t bear enough weight to carry the message I’m trying to develop in this blog (and in the book to follow, I hope).

Why Broken Hallelujah? (2)

This song is, one could say, larger than life. It is the kind of song that seems as if it has always been written. Of course that is partly because its main theme, the chorus “hallelujah“, has indeed ‘always’ been written. It is the the ancient Hebrew word ” הַלְלוּיָהּ ” meaning “praise God” and is found over and over in the Psalms. It has also struck a cord because of the interplay of the music and lyrics. I don’t know how many people have done a cover version of this song, but there are a lot of them. The hyperlink on the song title will show the history of covers, and among my favorites are Jeff Buckley, Allison Crowe, Bob Dylan and of course U2. Read through the lyrics and I’ll then make some interpretive comments at the end.

Why Broken Hallelujah? (Part 1)

Ah, so you are curious about the title? Check out the song, first, before I continue. I have to admit that the video seems a bit cheesy in its staging, so you might find yourself closing your eyes.  I do,  or else I just laugh.