From: crawford@ben.dev.upenn.edu (Lauren L. Crawford)
Newsgroups: rec.music.christian
Subject: Re: Amy Grant is NOT a dirty word!
Date: 22 Jul 92 17:57:53 GMT
Organization: University of Pennsylvania

In article <low-220792102128@l32282.mdc.com> low%ewsvax.decnet@mdcgwy.mdc.com (Jerry Low) writes:
>
>I too used to listen to Amy and was a big fan until she started to make the
>big crossover.  I think the last album I have of hers is "Lead Me One",
>I've listened to it, maybe twice.  I think most people's criticisms of her
>(or at least mine) is that her music doesn't reach me anymore.  I don't
>think it really says anything really (I mean, come on, what's the most
>profound thing about "Baby, Baby"?).  From a Christian standpoint, I think
>her best work was "Age to Age" (still a classic), and "Straight Ahead".  I
>think the problem comes when the artist starts thinking they are bigger
>than the message (again, my opinion, but did she really have to put those
>posters and cutesy pictures in the "Straight Ahead" album?)  I know she's
>trying to appeal to a greater market, but does that mean that an artist
>must "mass-market" themselves, which means creating some sort of image?
>
>As to the message the the "lost" are receiving, what exactly is the
>message?  From song to song, even on her last album, is there really a
>clear message that a non-believer can get?
>
>direction (at least not a perceived one).  She's an okay artist, but from a
>pop standpoint is she any better than Mariah Carey or Debbie Gibson or
>anyone else?  Would you listen to her even if she wasn't a pop-artist who
>happens to be a Christian too?
>
Funny, but I've found I like her latest album better than any of the
others.  True, I haven't been a follower of her music; I heard "Lead
Me On" and her greatest hits, many of which I don't care for.  For more
worshipful music, I turn to Twyla Paris, Michael Card, Rich Mullins,
J. Michael Talbot, 2nd Chapter of Acts, Bob Bennett.  

But I've really been impressed with "Heart In Motion."  It's good pop
music (which immediately puts it a cut above Debbie Gibson!); that's
clear.  But I was impressed by the maturity of the love songs.  Instead
of the pap you get from most top-40, i.e. love is gone so I'm leaving,
or this love is perfect and so are you, there are lines like "That's
what love is for; to round off the edges, talk us down from the ledges,
give us strength to try once more."  It's not Shakespeare, but it's
real.  Love _does_ round off our edges, which is painful and not fun!
Then there's the song about a friend of hers who suffered sexual abuse
as a child -- how many artists are covering _that_ topic, Christian
or otherwise? -- and she asks (and answers!) the question "Where was
God in the middle of her shame?"  

And the last song, which repeats the refrain "If there's anything good
that happens in life, it's from Jesus."  

I find it encouraging, even exhilarating, that this album has not been
ghettoized into the Christian subculture but is instead being listened
to across the board.  Christian music that leads us Christians to
worship and praise God is a wonderful thing; Christian music (and art
of all types) that reaches out to non-Christians is rare.  

--Lauren