What Commercials Are Teaching Me about Music and My Questions
Hey guys. We're approaching the biggest commercial day in our calendar. The Super Bowl Commercials!!!! The Super Bowl has become as well known for its commercials as it has been it's game and it's parties and after this season I guess that cheaters can win. That's right I said that. But new commercials are getting primed to air and be the talk of the country come Monday morning. You'll also notice that I liked a commercial so much I posted it on the blog a few posts ago. I noticed that a good friend of mine also posted a commercial on his blog. Also we showed a commercial at Crew to illustrate a point a few weeks ago. Commercials and the music/words they play are woven into the fabric of our lives for good or bad. So that got me thinking and asking questions...
Let me write about the influence of hearing and seeing and how shaped we are about the things we see and hear. This isn't profound, but I'll state it anyway. We are deeply and subconsciously affected by what we hear and see. This can be for good, "faith comes through hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10). "Let your light shine among men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5). That's the Bible by the way. Also what we hear and see can have a harmful effect (See endless verses in the bible about the tongue and eyes). So here's the question: What impact are my words having on my culture and sphere of influence? Are people glorifying my father in heaven because of my good deeds? After seing and hearing my drama, sitcom, or commercial of a life are they attracted to what I'm about?
Now let me write about the influence of music, which almost every commercial has and usually love or hate. I think it's doubtful to overestimate the depth of emotion and endurance of impact that music makes on us. There's a reason the Psalms are the most powerful and popular writings in the Bible. They articulate the feelings of our souls. They move us to great things. Music communicates when we're sad, in love, excited, scared, happy, everything. Music is like a soundtrack for our life. We forget speeches and sermons rather easily. But music sticks in our head all week long and for years after they release. When songs comes on the radio they can instantly take us to a time and place where we lose ourselves. Commercials get that. This why there are jingles. And many times commercials are what make the songs possible.
Now let me tie some of this together. There are 3 commercials out there right now that have great music on them. I love these songs now. I'm not going to give you the commercials. Instead I'll give you the music to listen to:
This one is Catch the Wind by Donovan in a GE windpower commercial:
This one is Coffee Shop by Landon Pigg and is on a Zales jewlery commercial:
These next two are Apple commercials. Whoever is doing these things has great taste in music:
Fiest 1234:
Yael Naim, New Soul:
I'm going to go by an air mac now!!!
A few parting questions that are my favorite ones and I love to hear great answers on:
1. Why doesn't the radio play good music? Why do I have to find it in coffee shops, bookstores, indie stations, and commercials?
2. Why do Christians listen to "Christian" music? The lyrics might be fine, but the sound and style is terrible. I'd love for Christians to simply write "great music" in all genres and styles.
3. Why do I like distinct and ecclectic sounding songs by women?!!!! (This one isn't a commericial but it illustrates this question:
"The history of a people is found in its songs." George Jellinek
"I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music." Billy Joel
Let me write about the influence of hearing and seeing and how shaped we are about the things we see and hear. This isn't profound, but I'll state it anyway. We are deeply and subconsciously affected by what we hear and see. This can be for good, "faith comes through hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10). "Let your light shine among men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5). That's the Bible by the way. Also what we hear and see can have a harmful effect (See endless verses in the bible about the tongue and eyes). So here's the question: What impact are my words having on my culture and sphere of influence? Are people glorifying my father in heaven because of my good deeds? After seing and hearing my drama, sitcom, or commercial of a life are they attracted to what I'm about?
Now let me write about the influence of music, which almost every commercial has and usually love or hate. I think it's doubtful to overestimate the depth of emotion and endurance of impact that music makes on us. There's a reason the Psalms are the most powerful and popular writings in the Bible. They articulate the feelings of our souls. They move us to great things. Music communicates when we're sad, in love, excited, scared, happy, everything. Music is like a soundtrack for our life. We forget speeches and sermons rather easily. But music sticks in our head all week long and for years after they release. When songs comes on the radio they can instantly take us to a time and place where we lose ourselves. Commercials get that. This why there are jingles. And many times commercials are what make the songs possible.
Now let me tie some of this together. There are 3 commercials out there right now that have great music on them. I love these songs now. I'm not going to give you the commercials. Instead I'll give you the music to listen to:
This one is Catch the Wind by Donovan in a GE windpower commercial:
This one is Coffee Shop by Landon Pigg and is on a Zales jewlery commercial:
These next two are Apple commercials. Whoever is doing these things has great taste in music:
Fiest 1234:
Yael Naim, New Soul:
I'm going to go by an air mac now!!!
A few parting questions that are my favorite ones and I love to hear great answers on:
1. Why doesn't the radio play good music? Why do I have to find it in coffee shops, bookstores, indie stations, and commercials?
2. Why do Christians listen to "Christian" music? The lyrics might be fine, but the sound and style is terrible. I'd love for Christians to simply write "great music" in all genres and styles.
3. Why do I like distinct and ecclectic sounding songs by women?!!!! (This one isn't a commericial but it illustrates this question:
"The history of a people is found in its songs." George Jellinek
"I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music." Billy Joel
posted by Josh Perry at
8:37 AM
5 Comments:
man, i have to agree with fact that most "mainstream" Christian music has anything but musicians and talent in their bands... i can still enjoy some of it because the words are normally accurate Biblically..
i struggle finding my taste in Christian music too because I'm a breaking benjamin kinda guy.. Red is the closest thing to them (they are amazing by the way).. but it seems that groups that are close to secular groups in talent have lyrics that aren't straight-forward "Christian" lyrics.. maybe that's a good thing though.. they reach a broader audience with a positive message..
(oh and if you've never heard of shane and shane they seem like they'd be down ur alley in music style.. amazing guitarists and chilled out music.. try em out.. they are my mellow music after rockin out with groups like Red lol)
no shout out for me and jaybles? tisk tisk jp
1st.) the radio tries to market what is popular..when a certain "sound" is found..then the airwaves are saturated..a billion copycats fly out..and overrun the airwaves...to the point of nausea..but it's popular
and it's cookie cutter
thank God for indie music
2.) when i was in 8th grade i was introduced to the world of Christian music..i loved it..i didn't know why i loved it..my relationship with God had no weight to me..but i thought that it seemed like a "good" thing to listen to...i went to the Christian music festivals..i listened to all the new Christian music...i broke my secular albums..and then i thought..wow this sucks..as i listened to Christian music..i realized that every song said the same thing..gone were thought provoking lyrics..gone were unique music and time changes..in came mercyme..the copycat counterparts casting crowns...the similar crap known as third day..and here we are..it's sad that i hate Christian music..but i do not find the originality that i find in bands such as Radiohead..in artists such as Bob Dylan..and i don't think we will in this lifetime..because the Christian music industry is built on that beautiful selling mechanism also..so let the cookiecutter crap continue.
3.) i'm not sexist..i just don't like many girl singers
except for amy winehouse
but they tried to make her go to rehab
i'm pretty sure they should try to make her go again.
Mark
Alright, I will comment.
1. When I have to listen to the radio, I choose the oldies.
2. I have never been into Christian music either. I used to enjoy a band from South Carolina but they broke-up. I like Derek Webb, sometimes, and I also like Shane and Shane.
3. I will stand-up for female singers. There have been some great ones. I hate country music but I think its better by a woman, with the exception of Shania Twain and anyone else made famous after the 90s. Feist is a current favorite along with Rilo Kiley and Fiona Apple.
Even though I enjoy women artists, their cds don't make it into my player as often as the men do. I think I could keep going about this but I'm going to stop.
The real reason for my comment was to let you all know that Red, mentioned in Jonathans comment is playing in Huntington, the beginning of March, at Club Echo. Maybe you all should go.
holla
amy
I've never heard of red and it's been dropped twice. I'm checking it out now. thanks ya'll
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