Here is the thing.
I love ALL music.
I can find at least one (and sometimes ONLY one) example of every genre of music out there that I not just like, but LOVE.
And yes, this can include some selections that cause people I love that are so much cooler than I am to physically wince in pain. (Air Supply rules, I don’t care what you say.)
However, there is one kind of music I kind of thought would be the exception to the rule:
Religious pop music.
(As an aside, if you weren’t aware, the Mormons are EXCELLENT at this genre of music and I have always loathed it. But this might have something to do with my twin sister listening to Janice Kapp Perry’s “I Walk by Faith” tape every single freaking night of our 12th year in our bedroom until she broke the damn thing.)
But.
There have been a few posts, Tweets, and status updates that have alluded to the fact that I have exactly ONE song on my play list that I fondly call “Jesus Rock”. (Or “Christian Rock” as “The Twitter” tells me is its more accurate name.)
Yup.
This heathen, inactive Mormon girl loves a Jesus Rock tune.
Loves it so much she has been repeatedly caught twirling around her kitchen to it by her totally mocking spouse.
It will likely be the ONLY one I like, but like it I do.
I’ve probably been asked a hundred time which song it is.
And today I’m going to just get over feeling embarrassed about it and tell you why and what it is.
“I can only imagine” by Mercy Me.
As for the why?
Well…this is the video I saw about 4 years ago when I first heard it.
I probably cried for an hour that such a man exists.
Watch it and tell me that you don’t feel anything and I will call you a liar.
So?
Now you know.
P.S. This is not an anti-religion post.
P.P.S. Nor is it an anti-Jesus post.
P.P.P.S. This is an anti-cheesy-music post.
P.P.P.P.P.S. And also a friendly reminder that sometimes it feels good to just eat a big ole slice of cheese with a liberal glob of saccharine goo on top.
P.P.P.P.P.P.P.S. I KNOW you have at least ONE tune on YOUR playlist that is top-secret-out-of-shame. (Even the coolest of you.)
P.P.P.P.P.P.P.P.S. And you’re more than welcome to spill what that is, ya know.
P.P.P.P.P.P.P.P.P.S. :)
Filed under: 
That’s one of my favorite “Jesus rock” songs. One of the first that I heard and felt a connection to. Had not seen the video before now. That’s incredible.
He will dance…and Jesus will dance with him.
Yep, he absolutely will.
I LOVE this song. It ALWAYS makes me cry. It is one of my all time faves, and I do like Christian music, as well as just about any bubble gum pop record you can think of. I love country, rock, blues, classical, and Josh Groban is just dreamy, even if I am forty years old. But, my heart belongs to Christian music. And folk. And the 60s music my folks played. John Denver anyone? I love him. Barry Manilow, too! See, Loralee, nothing to be embarrassed about!
John Denver! Two mentions in the last week, I must find him and listen again. (My brother posted on fb the other day the first three lines to ‘Leaving on a jet plane’ prior to flying to the US. Have had JD in my head ever since.
I have watched friend after friend succumb to the physical ravages of the cancer which lives within my body right now. I find solace in the idea that whether it is “with Jesus”, or through “enlightenment” or whatever spiritual realm may exist, that they/we will once again dance, laugh and love the way they/we did when our painful journey began. I hope each day that I will dance here with my loved ones, but for those that have lost, I hope they are dancing wherever they are.
Thanks for the look at the video.
XXOO
I ONLY like cheesy music.
Ok, I would have said that there was not a “Jesus rock” song that I could stand, much less like, but I had forgotten about this video. I saw it a few years ago for the first time and I still cry. :-) Thanks for the eye irrigation!
Rather like being an ABBA fan. Who wants to admit that?
Um.
I love ABBA.
This just isn’t my day, is it? ;)
I love ABBA.
I’m told I should refer to it as my shame spiral, but I have no shame about it. I like The Monkees too. No shame spiral there either.
Awww! I love Mercy Me! Well, actually I really LOVE christian rock ~ period. Not the Michael Mclean stuff, though it has it’s place, but the toe tapping stuff with a cool beat! In fact, my last workout mix I made was completely made of Christian Rocks songs ~ there’s some really good ones out there dude! :D
Christian Rock – rocks. MercyMe, Casting Crowns – those are 2 of my faves.
I’ll just say 2 more words: Barry Manilow. :-)
“HER NAME WAS LOLA! SHE WAS A SHOW GIRL! WITH YELLOW FEATHERS IN HER HAIR AND HER DRESS CUT DOWN TO THERE..”
(I really need to quit while I’m ahead…
I am beginning to suspect I have no business defining “cheesy”.
I’m okay with this as long as you don’t try to play any Jesus rock on our wedding night. ;-P
I love this song, too. Hadn’t seen the video, which also rocked.
Don’t be ashamed, Loralee! Embrace the cheese! Without cheese, there would be no pizza, after all! ;)
xoxo
Nice video. But, sorry, suckey music. To me most contemporary Christian music is about as inspiring as cold, unseasoned cornmeal mush. Don’t get me wrong, for content it is better than a lot of stuff out there. And most of the scores are at least listenable. But I just can’t get behind it the way some of you do. Maybe I’m just too much of a traditionalist.
I love this song too. And like you, I am NOT a big fan of Christian rock/pop/whatever you want to call it. I certainly don’t LOATHE it, but after a while… all the songs start sounding the same and I want to scream “COULD WE GET SOME ORIGINALITY HERE, PEOPLE??!!”
LOVE THAT SONG (and it is the only Christian Rock one I like, too)
Me loves it too! ;D
Mercy Me is great – and that is one of their best. What you might not know is the story behind the two people featured in that video – Dick Hoyt and his son Richard: http://cjcphoto.com/can/ and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flRvsO8m_KI
Divine am I in nature by inheritance.
That’s all I’m going to say.
Summertime (of our lives) by a1. Actually ALL their music would count, and I love it all lol. Cheesy boy band music.
Do you even like death metal? I cant find a single death metal song I like but I like every other genre.
Cheesy is as cheesy does. I have little patience for people who want to argue about subjective tastes, especially in things like art, music and cheeseburgers (5 Guys RULEZ!). In my part of the world I hear a *lot* of Christian rock, most of the churches I’ve been around in the last five years or so use it as praise music these days. I’m with Joe on this, it doesn’t exactly set up a worshipful environment in that setting for me, but it may for others so I don’t really have a huge problem with that. I do like it in the car, and there are good, innovative C-R bands that don’t get a lot of exposure, some of them gather together every year (or so) for the Passion Conference. Once example, Matt Redman, “Shine”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=026YlRFUfkQ
Another example, one of the very best, although sadly now disbanded C-R bands, Delirious?, “Investigate”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cShZwbz42mY
Another, electronic rock example, Hillsong London, “Where the Love Lasts Forever”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7H_2-FxfxU
I like these, but for worship music, nothing can beat this genre for me, it’s spiritual home is where my family came from:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHUfHNEZDPc
Thanks – I really like the shape note music.
For worship, my tastes run even older and more tradional.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEHJY0T9RsQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P5FZkqWBuU&feature=related
And one that St. John Chrysostom called “ancient”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZjgVKWVkXc&feature=related
I don’t cry easily, but that? Tears are streaming. Thank you.
We had that at my mother-in-law’s funeral about 6.5 years ago. Still find it hard to listen to sometimes. But it is good. I also love a lot of Christian music, but probably the more obscure, less radio-played stuff more.
My fave is probably my girlfriend and her stuff which is not run-of-the-mill christian music
http://www.myspace.com/reneerutherfurd
Wow. The song is good, but the video? Totally and utterly inspiring. As the runner carried him, I thought of the “Footprints” poem about Jesus carrying a man in his weakest hour.
hey, there’s nothing wrong with a little Jesus Rock. being from the south, it’s practically more popular than country. shoot, bill gaither made his first fortune on traditional gospel, and his second on the contemporary gospel version. he may be old, but he can pick out some talented people to surround himself with and mentor into some writing some great stuff.
ernie haase and signature sound is a group that captured my heart and sense of humor with some of their antics. jeff and sheri easter are another couple who are pretty good. but they’re more like the country version of what you’re referring too.
not bad!
OK, along the same vein, and as you know, I too listen to EVERYTHING. But, lately, the hymn, Trust and Obey has crept its way into my playlist. It makes me cry everytime too, Nostalgia? not sure, it was my favourite when I was a wee thing…..
I confess. I love ABBA. Quietly, in a closet, with the lights off. And no one else at home. Then I hear the drums Fernando. Honey, Honey, (Reminds me always of Faith Morgan, a 7th grade crush).
I like Barry Manilow. “Mandy” was a great song.
Enough, My soul is naked.
hi,
jew girl here, chiming in. i love the song “god danced the day you were born” by andrew lawrence for the welcome to the world times and “the other side” by don conoscenti for those that leave us. neither are jesus songs, but they sure are very spritual if not downright religiousy. (it is too a word :-P)
bonnie
p.s. i can’t access youtube to post links, but both are worth checking out.
p.p.s. i don’t have anything else, but i couldn’t use just a single p.s. on loralee’s blog.
p.p.p.s. still nothing, but it just looked wrong.
p.p.p.p.s. ok, i’m done now.
Um, I kind of hate you a little bit right now. I’ve heard about them, watched a documentary, but this stupid video was much more. I don’t need to cry today. I cried yesterday watching Toy Story 3. I’ve met my quota for the week. :D It was amazing and I can’t even fathom this father’s strength and how much he’s doing with and for his son. It breaks my heart and strengthens it at the same time. Thank you.
If they make any comments, then your response should be – you have learnt from every assignment that you have done, on this occasion you learnt that you must manage your time better in order to keep up to your usual standard.
Don’t worry about it too much
So nice to have you back.
I’m so glad you are back!!! And I’m so glad we are friends! You sounded beautiful in your recording, by the way.
xoxo
Allison