(photo: unknown)
I can normally detect Christian Rock a mile away (the songs are so, well, happy. A little too happy for my tastes). But last week this song slipped past my radar and now it’s stuck in my head. Damn you, Jon McLaughlin. I didn’t even pick up on the whole narrative about God “beating [Jon's] heart” until I really listened to the lyrics. He tricked me! Goddamn crossover radio-friendly trickery! Well played, Jon McLaughlin. Well played. I was this close to checking Ticketmaster for the nearest Amy Grant concert. And from there I’d be only one or two Michael W. Smiths away from swearing off Keno and alcohol.
Anyway, it’s on my iPod now.
I like his shirt.
July 8th, 2008 at 4:07 am
That makes me feel good. A while ago, I got tricked into liking this song before I found out that Relient K is a “Christian Punk band.” After I heard how densely holy their other stuff was, I went back and listened to this song over and over, determined to hate it for the hidden message, but really couldn’t immediately connect it to the cause. So I still like this song.
It’s interesting that you find Christian rock to be “happy.” Most of what I’ve heard is full of the same guilt-ridden rhetoric one might hear in a service. (Not Christian bashing, I just don’t jive with those elements that reinforce Almighty love with an intense sense of debt and guilt.)
Don’t worry. We’d stage an intervention before we allowed you to give up Keno and alcohol. Because we care that much.
July 8th, 2008 at 4:14 am
I’m not sure if you know this but Jon McLaughlin is my boyfriend.
Also, I really like Switchfoot and they’re totally a Christian Rock band. Every time they use the word “you” they really mean “Jesus” but I just pretend they really mean “Craig”.
July 8th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Ah yes, the non-specific use of “you”. Oldest trick in the book.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Prefer The Hidden Cameras (gay, ‘churchy’, folksy).
July 8th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
I like the song, too. And his shirt. I also liked Amy Grant.
July 8th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Craig…ummmm…this is going to be sort of uncomfortable… because Jon McLaughlin is actually my boyfriend… he’s converted me in every sense of the word…
July 8th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Wait a second… this guy isn’t Christian Rock… What Christian rock group do you know of that’s collborated with Tricky?? No where on his website that I can see does it say he’s a christian rocker… where did you read this Ryan?
July 8th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Check this out. It’s the oldest trick in the industry: how to be viewed as a Christian artist without being labeled a Christian artist. The answer: be vague.
July 9th, 2008 at 6:18 am
Sure. UhHuh…. I like his “shirt” too!
July 20th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I actually like MxPx, so I know what you mean…