OK, I’m a country music fan - no big surprise there. And you know, I realize that the vast majority of country western performers out there are proudly Christian. It’s just about required that every album have one, perhaps two explicitly Christian-themed cuts, and I’ve come to accept that (and subsequently skip those tracks). And every once in a while one of them is released as a single, so I have to listen to it when I’m in the car, or change the station, or whatever. But this latest one just absolutely burns me up - it’s “The Little Girl” by John Michael Montgomery from his new album “Brand New Me”:
There is so much wrong with this song:
[ul][li]Mommy and Daddy are negligent and drunks and druggies and fight because they are non-believers, and, of course, they die - violently (ostensibly getting what they deserved). They are bad. “What a sad little life.”[/li][li]Her new Mommy and Daddy, who are still alive (presumably because they are, rightfully, saved) are good - they take the little girl to church. They give her kisses and hugs[/li][li]Really, deep down, everybody knows who Jesus is, even if they’ve never heard of him in their lives. He is everywhere. He puts Santa to shame.[/li][li]Happy endings involve conversion.[/li][li]Really, can these lyrics get any more insipid?[/ul][/li]
From the “notes” about the song:
What, retching? Proselytize much? How sad this comes from an artist I generally like otherwise. Sadly, he’s not the only one.
Basically, sing what you feel and believe - I’m all for that. But I don’t listen to country music to listen to the Gospel, so I’d rather you took it elsewhere - like, maybe a Christian rock station. Yes, I’ll be changing the channel, but it still irks me nonetheless.
And the sad thing is…he could have done a good song on domestic violence WITHOUT the damn Christian message. Garth Brooks did, for crying out loud. Sheesh.
I’m sorry, but at Gay Agenda International™, we had to tear up all of your princess points and revoke your one-trick-pony status for an open declaration of country music appreciation. Until you begin to listen to disco and melancholy torch songs, we will not be able to readmit you.
Yeah, I’m a fan of country music (some of it), and I’m a Christian and I don’t like that song either. But then I hate blatant attempts to tug on my heart-strings – like if the emotion is subtle then people just won’t get it because we’re not very bright.
BUT – I have recent CDs by Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Lee Ann Womack, Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, and the Dixie Chicks, and I don’t think there’s a religious song on any of 'em.
A few years ago, though . . . There was this song that was sort of popular for about six minutes (thank goodness no longer) about this girl who’s daddy died (sniff) and she had to be raised up without him (sniff) and then on her wedding day there was this bow-kay of roses for her waiting at the church, with a note from her daddy (sob) saying he wished he could be there and he would always love her (boohoo). God, I loathed that song. I hate that Hallmark hit-you-over-the-head-with-sentiment crap.
Hey Esprix - you ought to come to the Gay Rodeo in Houston (pun clearly intended). Miles and miles of men all decked out in jeans, boots, hats, and fabulous big belt buckles.
According to the Snope’s site for the song, the writer got the glurge in his e-mail box and just couldn’t help but spew this one out.
What frightens me is the fact that the transparently manipulative crap like this actually can move someone. I wonder which ring of Hell is set aside for the idiots who sit home at night and dream up these “helpful” little stories.
I don’t understand why people hold any music about the artist’s spiritual background to some different level as other music. People will listen to Eminem sing about beating his wife, stuffing her in his trunk and then killing her and and not bat an eye, but as soon as a song comes on the radio that mentions “Jesus”, they’re fumbling to change the station. I’m agnostic and I listen to several Christian groups, like DC Talk and Jars of Clay, simply because they make good music. I couldn’t care less what their message is about. Lyrics mean nothing. Yesterday by the Beatles has some of the most trite and simple lyrics I have ever heard in a song in my life, yet it’s one of the most popular and the most remade songs of all time. I’m obviously not implicating you in the Eminem analogy, Esprix, rather society in general, but if you’ve already determined John Michael Montgomery is a valid artist, why does the concept of a purely secular, non-religious song mean so much to you?
OK, not to fall back on stereotypes, but that is SO not gay. I like a little country myself, and yeah, the Christian theme is an important one in this genre.
But what are you gonna do? Sure, it’s ignorant, and full of stereotypes. So is Bodycount’s Cop Killer. But I still crank the car radio up whenever that is on (it’s not illegal here). Even though I COMPLETELY disagree with the lyrics.
Hell, some of Neil Pearts (Rush) Ayn Rand-inspired lyrics tick me off as well. But that doesn’t affect me as long as the Boys from Toronto keep rocking hard!
If it’s the Faith Hill Breathe CD, there is at least one song that I think is quite religious. I also think it’s a fabuluous song. There will come a day. There are others I think of as religious songs, but that are not necessarily. I just think of them that way because of the context in which I’ve heard them. Unfortunately, after today, my brain isn’t working well enough at the moment to think of them.
But, as a Christian and a country fan, I have to say that I despise that John Michael Montgomery song. I shudder and change the station whenever I hear it.
Hastur, does it help that I two-step with boys and hit on cowboys? Plus I look fabulous in one of those little cowgirl outfits with all the fringe?
Opengrave, I’ve been to the DC rodeo many times, and I’m looking forward to the San Diego rodeo next October. Just wish there were a little more ethnic diversity in that particular community, but one learns how to get by…
Would you please go see my “Spell my fucking name right,” please? Thank you.
“you’re loss!”
And while you’re at it, buy a spellchecker.
Chief Crunch, you’re getting me wrong - I don’t care that he’s Christian, and I don’t care that he sings Christian songs. I do care that he’s preaching the Gospel at me on a non-religious radio station. It annoys me. Plus, lyrics do mean a great deal to me, in context with a song especially, as I’m a musician - particularly when it comes to male singers, because they perform songs that I could actually perform as well. If trite lyrics are performed with amazing accompaniment and astouding vocals, they transcend their mundanity. As it is, JMM has released a sub-par, syrupy, ludicrously preachy song that is, IMHO, below him. It just surprised me he’d sick to such musical depths for his faith. Wynonna always does some faith-based songs on her albums, and although I don’t care for them, I will admit they’re good songs.
Coldfire, obviously you know little about the entirety of the gay community - here there be cowboys (and cops and masters and slaves and drag queens and twinkies and club kids and… well, you get the idea). So, yes, Auntie, I’m quite gay, thank you very much.
Oh, and jmullaney, what was that crapola song you linked to? I couldn’t understand any of it, except to gather that these gents hated their landlord and were calling him a cocksmoker. I’m not exactly sure what relevance that has… well, to anything, really.
I am an agnostic and a country music fan. I also consider myself culturally Christian – I was raised Christian and still have an emotional response to much of Christian mythology. I like many ‘Christian’ country music songs. Good ones, that is. One of my favorite classics is Will the Circle Be Unbroken? Another one that never fails to move me is He’s Alive. Both of these are wonderful songs. The Sad Little Girl, however, is a BAD song. Manipulative, contrived and stupid. I am not at all surprised to hear that it originated as glurge.
Opal, I partake in more of a lurker status here on the SDMB and for the most part, I’d often find myself agreeing with your posts, so I won’t reply in kind, but rather try to clear up what I was trying to say. As far as I can remember, I have never started liking a song because of its lyrics. Perhaps, after the music itself drew me in, I’d appreciate them, but lyrics, at least to me, are more or less an afterthought as a part of popular music. If I wanted to experience profound verse, I’d rather pick up a book of poems by A.E. Housman or Sylvia Plath. I’ve always found most lyrics to be almost random words and phrases written simply for the purpose of fitting the stucture of the music itself. Your milage may vary.
You are really struggling with the pervasion of Christianity in our culture Esprix. Why did you bother to memorize the song? The only time I bother to pay attention to the lyrics is when I enjoy the song.
