I remember when Larry Norman recorded the first Christian Rock record to be released in 1970. It was a major start in the Christian Rock genre that helped push along a Baby Boom revival. The song, “I wish we’d all been ready,” was also a representation of the eschatologically-inclined generation.
I recall the new rockers being refused entrance into churches of the time because of appearance and sound. But the churches that did embrace them grew. The new sound drove much of the impact of the “Jesus People” movement. Every revival has its own sound and rock was the sound of the Baby Boomers following Jesus in a new way.
Over the years the ‘70’s sound evolved into contemporary worship music. It has the mellow folk rock base of the Larry Norman era. The lyrics and hooks are simple. They are actually more like the chorus to a good song. Hence they are called choruses. Contemporary worship can now be heard in the majority of American churches to one degree or another.
As is usually the case, new paradigms are soon normalized. And inevitably new paradigms emerge to face new opportunities. And these new paradigms clash with the existing ones. Why? It really doesn’t matter. They just do clash and often cannot co-exist.
Now the generation that once was harangued for its penchant for rock is facing its own challenge. The new rock worship is coming. This music is more lyrical and much more predisposed to a soloist type sound. It is rock worship with a lead singer. The chorus is there all right but the song has lyrics. So, it is less accommodating to group sing along. And it is louder.
This trend has exposed the under belly of the Boomer Generation. They wanted to be innovators but no one else dare innovate on their dime. I am a little surprised by the degree of negative feedback from my generation with regard to the new sound. The following generation really doesn’t care for our sound any longer. It’s not fresh or biting to them. I think we have to first admit that the contemporary worship sound is tired and just about to become like the old hymn culture of our grandparents.
I think we should all adjust to what we know is a sound those most disenfranchised are looking for. This would be now younger Baby Busters and Gen Xers. I am a believer that we probably need multiple services in every church to accommodate the music tastes of those within and without the church. But, come on my boomer friends, you are sounding old and worn out. We are the generation that will change the world and stay young long into our eighties or are we?
I say embrace the sound. Look for the good in it. Remember some one should have accommodated your tastes and didn’t for too long. You will survive. Zip the lip and enjoy a new paradigm.
I remember when I was ushering in “modern” worship music at our church. I went slowly. I successfully mixed styles and created some new/old fussion. Some older people were not happy. However, others had a great attitude: I remember one dear saint coming up to me and saying, “I don’t like the new style, but I like the fact that younger people are being touched, saved and are worshiping.” May I have the same attitude!
FYI – let’s not forget that Mick Jagger turned 63 this year – seniors can rock!
Great!
MP
Amazing that you are saying what I have been saying since the grunge movement of the 90s, and yet I find myself uncomfortably resistant to the change myself. I was one of those given the “left foot of fellowship” by the established church for my rock and roll appearance and styling and never quite forgot about it!
I like the idea of multiple services to accommodate different musical taste and have advocated that too for many years already; however that paradigm doesn’t work with 90% of American churches because they have an attendance of less than 100 people, making the availability of music leaders as well as attendees to the diverse services sparse to nil.
My biggest fear is that one day the whole church will embrace “rap” as a form of worship in my declining years and I will be one of the prune faced oldsters looking down my wrinkled nose and saying, “If the song Why Does The Devil Have All The Good Music was good enough for John the Baptist, it should be good enough for everyone!”
Nice read, Doug!
Blessings
Kevin CTK-PM Burlington
Hi Doug,
I was personally challenged and enlighten by your statement, “we should all adjust to what we know is a sound
those most disenfranchised are looking for.” I’m way older than boomers and now find myself in a church (Eastlake)
with music that will knock your socks off. Thanks for helping me understand how worship music has evolved and where we are currantly in a culture very disenfranchised. At first I did my share of whining and now realize
“it’s not about me”….it’s about tons of young folks showing up and finding a place with music similar to what they
hear at concerts etc.
I’m adjusting
Doug,
In my years of being a musician and a music leader, I’ve watched the average American become less engaged in the actual playing of an instrument or singing along with the songs. It’s more and more a spectator society. There are many reasons for that that I won’t go into.
Unfortunately, some churches (maybe unintentionally)are catering to that trend.
I grew up listening to the earlier “new” Christian music and observed a distinct difference between performance songs and sing-along choruses. What may not be clear in your writing is that there are those songs that the church family listens to and hopefully, is ministered to through the listening. The other songs/choruses are meant to encourage the listener to no longer be just a listener, but take the words and melody and direct it to the Lord as it is described so many times in the Holy Scriptures.
There are churches in our area now that have little to no music that strives to include the church family and it has a great deal to do with the style of songs being presented. They aren’t sing-along friendly. And lest you think it’s just me getting old, I’ve simply looked around at the crowd and nobody is singing. This is not a knock on the music or the “new” sound. It simply is not making a place for inclusiveness other than listening. Is that a good thing? Is it OK that we no longer know how to praise with one voice in some churches?
The U2 choruses wore thin for me a couple of years ago and we need to be creative with new sounds, but hopefully not at the expense of singing together when we gather.
Troy