Christian Rock

Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are Christian varies between bands. The band I have chosen has a moral, but nothing particularly Christian. Though the song is trying to tell you to hope, look to the light and have faith, there is nothing in it that actually names the Christian religion. Although the band states it is Christian rock, it also seems to be mixed with an acoustic genre too.

Rock and roll music was not viewed favorably by most traditional Christians when it became popular with young people from the 1950s, even though early rock music was often influenced by country and gospel music. Religious people in many regions of the United States did not want their children exposed to music with unruly, impassioned vocals, loud guitar riffs and jarring, hypnotic rhythms. Often the music was overtly sexual in nature, as in the case of Elvis Presley.



Jars of Clay in concert, 2007



In the 1960’s, the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, the Paris student riots and other events served as catalysts for youth activism and political withdrawal or protest, which became associated with rock bands, whether or not they were openly political. Moreover, many saw the music as promoting a lifestyle of promiscuous "sex, drugs and rock and roll", also reflected in the behavior of many rock stars. However, there was growing recognition of the diverse musical and ideological potential of rock. Countless new bands sprang up in the mid-to-late 1960s, as rock displaced older, smoother pop styles to become the dominant form of pop music, a position it would enjoy almost continuously until the end of the 20th century.



Many Christian bands produce videos with rotation on MTV in mind; however, the images can lead to an ambiguous impression of the portrayal.

I wont be looking to do a video that it purely Christian, or has a strong Christian theme. This is because



·        I myself am not religious

·        The song doesn’t have hugely Christian elements to it

·        I don’t think it would appeal very well to the audience who are most likely to watch it (teenagers who watch music channels)

I may use some elements of Christianity, for example having the singer wear a cross around his neck. This is likely to be the most that I will do however, as it would take the mind too far away from the song otherwise. The genre might be Christian rock but its lyrics don’t show other than the moral that runs through it.