Dissenting Voices

I recently read a blog post online that opposed listening to Christian music on the radio. The author liked the idea of listening to the Christian radio but also found it to go in boring cycles of predictable styles. I enjoyed the blog itself and all it had to say but did disagree with it on a few points. I did agree that the music did seem to go in cycles but I also find the Christian radio is somewhat keeping up with its time. The Christian radio often chooses the less edgy songs that we are more used to listening to on mainstream radio, but I do not hesitate to point out the mainstreams radio similar cycle of music styles. If you listen to the Michael Jackson mix of the yesteryear it sounds oddly similar to the pop mixes of today. Radio itself, Christian or not, does tend to find a certain “sound” for their station and stick to it. The author said that listening to Christian music was a good reminder on reflecting on God but she said she listens to it for the creativity because it is hugely lacking in that area. I disagree; I find a lot of creativity amongst Christian artist maybe the station she chose to listen to stick with a certain “sound” but that does not reflect all that is available in the Christian realm of music. She then goes on to say that the radio often takes a great song originally and plays myriads of varying versions of it which in turn takes away from the overall effect and beauty of the original song. In fact, I find quite the opposite to be true, I find different versions of the same song only enhances the original, its quality and effectiveness to reach new audiences in different ways. I do agree a song can get overplayed which is a danger many radios face. Her argument about the varying versions suggests that it sends the message that people worship better to a certain group or musicians voice and misses the whole message of the song itself. Just because there are many artists doing the same song by no means that it sends the message one is better or more worshipful. She said this also indicates artist’s lack of ability to write new songs when really it reflects the artistic-ness in the original song. Although I do somewhat agree that it does show a bit of lack of originality it certainly does not make the song or artist useless or pointless. I also agree that from a musician’s standpoint most Christian radio songs do follow the same note and rhythmic pattern. But in all honesty so do all the modern day pop songs on any mainstream radio station so if you find yourself so opposed to the monotony of radio then pop a CD in or become an artist!