Controversial Songs

Thought this would be an interesting discussion. What are some songs that have caused Christian artists a lot of controversy?

A few that I know of:

"I Blew Up The Clinic Real Good" by Steve Taylor - an ice-cream man decides to blow up the local abortion clinic because, as he puts it, "if we run out of kids, I'm out of a job". Unfortunately, many people really didn't understand Steve's sarcastic style apparently (I was too young to know who he was when this came out).

"Isn't Sex A Wonderful Thing" by Mad at the World - A song that was way ahead of its time. I first heard this on Tri-Rock Radio a few weeks ago and was extremely surprised to find that it came out almost 20 years ago. The song is a great description of how people have ruined God's gift - a guy dumping his wife for someone younger ("Husband and wife together all their lives, 'til he chose her instead
'cause she's eighteen, sexy, and so good in bed."), an innocent girl being raped by her father (second verse) and even gender identity issues ("And is anybody even sure what gender they should be?"). Apparently the title alone caused many Christian bookstores to not carry the album.

"Our State Flag Sucks" by Squad Five-O - A song calling the then-current Georgia state flag a "banner of hate" due to its likeness with the Confederate flag. For some reason, this caused Christian bookstores to pull the album from their shelves (come on - is it really that bad?).

What else is there?

Jesus Sucks - by KidzX was (according to them) quite controversial when they used to sing it. I actually thought the song was quite good fun....... it goes......


Jesus sucks
the sin out of my soul
Jesus takes
this ???? and makes it whole
No matter where I'm going to
No matter where I've been
Jesus looks at me
and says I'm clean.


Good song

Fundy

What about Larry Norman? Did he ever cause any controversy with "Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music"? I remember seeing a site blasting him for this song (they didn't like him comparing hymns to funeral marches, and were taking the meaning of "all" quite literally), but this might also have been the same site that claims the KJV is the only valid translation of the Bible...

A lot of those songs I have never heard (just heard of).

I don't doubt that Mad at the World took flack over that "Isn't Sex a Wonderful Thing" song, It took me aback for a minute when I first heard it. I had to actually go check the lyrics just to see what it was about.

Oldiesmann wrote:

..... but this might also have been the same site that claims the KJV is the only valid translation of the Bible...

What do you mean!? I thought the KJV was the "only" valid translation of the Bible!

Legion by Saviour Machine

.That KJV site is basically....... "I'm right, you're wrong". That's all they do! Hardly shows alot of love, does it!

In this dark hour, of death and dismay,
The spirit of man is black to this day.
Whilst all the angels cry out from above,
Where is the love?



Fundy

Interestingly enough, Wikipedia has a short list of albums banned by Christian bookstores, mostly for cover art or lyrical content.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_albums_censored_by_Christian_bookstores

Funniest item on the list has to be Fourth From The Last by The W's - apparently Lifeway pulled the album because they used "suck" and "butt" in their lyrics

Fundy, this is the site I'm talking about: http://www.av1611.org

Quote :

We are a King James Bible believing ministry presenting the truth and exposing error with the Word of God. We provide informational tracts on the King James Bible, exposes of corrupt Bible versions, false teachings, Christian music,
rock music, youth issues, prophecy and current events.

Yes, that's the site. One of the saddest things about that site is how negative it is. If you went to each page and marked it for being a negative (something you shouldn't be doing) or positive (something good and praiseworthy) it would come out so tilted in favour of dogma and blinkered vision that it's hardly an uplifting read. Whoever writes that site is passionate, but unfortunately he goes into overdrive and is nasty with it.

Fundy

Michael W. Smith's album, Change Your World, has 2819 words — Jesus occurs — ZERO!
Michael W. Smith's album, I’ll Lead You Home, has 2046 words — Jesus occurs — ZERO!
Michael W. Smith's album, Live the Life, has over 1100 words — Jesus occurs — you guessed it — ZERO!
There is NOTHING CHRISTian about Michael W. Smith's music!


Correct me if I'm wrong, but MWS has done more than 3 albums. Why has he listed only 3?!?!?!

This ain't Christian?

Mourner, wherever you are
Wherever you are at the cross there is room
Tell your burdened heart
Your burdened heart at the cross there is room
Tell it in the Savior's ear
Cast away your every fear
Only speak and He will hear

Chorus:
Hallelujah, everyone
Everyone can come to the cross
It doesn't matter what you've done
Everyone can come to the cross

Sinner, come today
Come today, at the cross there is room
Blessed thought for everyone
For everyone can come to the cross
Now a living fountain, see
Open there for you and me
For rich and poor, for bond and free

Chorus:

Music Interlude

Tell it in the Savior's ear
Cast away your every fear
Only speak and He will hear

Chorus


Fundy

[Says with much sarcasm] Nope that's definitely not Christian, Fundy lol

Ok guys I hope you know I was only kidding about the King James Onlyist deal. I actually have some good friends that are King James Onlyists. They tried to convince us to become ones as well. And I must say I spent several weeks doing research regarding the issue......and came to the conclusion that I will keep my NIV, NASB and KJV bibles despite their "minor differences".

Oh yes and as for MWS, I don't care if he's a Christian or not......FRIENDS DON"T LET FRIENDS LISTEN TO MICHAEL W SMITH!!!!
(soundz like it might be time for an intervention)

NIV - Nearly Inspired Version
RSV - Reviled Substandard Version
NASB - Never Accurate Silly Bible

Oh, we have names for them all.

Fundy wrote:

Michael W. Smith's album, Change Your World, has 2819 words — Jesus occurs — ZERO!
Michael W. Smith's album, I’ll Lead You Home, has 2046 words — Jesus occurs — ZERO!
Michael W. Smith's album, Live the Life, has over 1100 words — Jesus occurs — you guessed it — ZERO!
There is NOTHING CHRISTian about Michael W. Smith's music!


Correct me if I'm wrong, but MWS has done more than 3 albums. Why has he listed only 3?!?!?!


Fundy

Maybe, because it seems like "Friends Are Friends Forever" is on every album, or at least it used to.

Fundy wrote:

NIV - Nearly Inspired Version
RSV - Reviled Substandard Version
NASB - Never Accurate Silly Bible

Oh, we have names for them all.

I'm just curious, which one do you prefer Fundy? Personally, I use the NASB the most, although I've been known to jump around from time to time. My New Testament professor told us that it's the closest translation to the earliest known texts. I'm not sure if that's true or not since I'm not a Greek/Hebrew scholar, but I like the way it's worded as compared to the KJV.

Staybrite wrote:

Oh yes and as for MWS, I don't care if he's a Christian or not......FRIENDS DON"T LET FRIENDS LISTEN TO MICHAEL W SMITH!!!!
(soundz like it might be time for an intervention)

I love MWS! I just made a comp CD of his songs this morning! LOL!

"Legion" by Saviour Machine was definitely controversial. I still don't know what that song is truly about, but the lyrics are disturbing. I enjoy the music and the words don't keep me from liking the song, but oy.

And my opinion is that no Christian band has any sense making a song with the title "Jesus Sucks". That is just stupid. I don't care what the rest of the chorus says. They were hoping for a visceral reaction, and they got it. I hope they never complained about it.

Not necessarily controversial, but this could easily be taken the wrong way by someone who fails to understand the true meaning of the song...

"C M Superstar" by Rick Altizer:

Quote :

I'm a Christian dude with an attitude,
Ain't gonna preach at you, just gonna sing and dance now,
Wiggle my pants now,
Yeah, I entertain in Jesus' name,
The girls go insane,
Forget altar calls - my product's down the hall.

This is like some dream, but something's bugging me,
Well, I can't stop to think about it, no.

Christian music superstar,
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
Started out with good intentions, that was before my grand ascension,
It's too late to turn back now.

The record company man - well, he's in heaven again,
I'm number one in Japan,
Honey, got to go now, and do a hundred shows now.

They don't understand a word I say,
Some things never change,
I can't stop to think about it, no.

Christian music superstar,
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
Started out with good intentions,
Look at the money I've been spending,
It's too late to turn back now.

Everybody's looking at me tonight,
Something about it's not feeling right, but I can't stop to think about it, no.

I'm a Christian music superstar,
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
Hey, you got some money I can borrow?
That's the way it goes when you're a Christian music superstar,
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
Started out with good intentions, that was before my grand ascension,
You know who they used to see, but now everybody's looking at me,
Man, I love all this flattery, and it's too late to turn back now.

I'm a Christian music superstar,
A Christian music superstar,
A Christian music superstar,
Has anybody seen the keys to my car?

I remember lot's of Christian bands being "controversial" back in the late 70's/early 80's. Jimmy Swaggart and others were masters of taking quotes out of context.

"Jesus Is For Losers" by Steve Taylor is another one that's been slagged. "Jesus Junk" by Atomic Opera has been taken out of context.