From: low%ewsvax.decnet@mdcgwy.mdc.com (Jerry Low)
Subject: Re: Amy Grant is NOT a dirty word!
Organization: MDSSC
Followup-To: rec.music.christian
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 17:41:25 GMT
X-Posted-From: l32282.mdc.com
X-Posted-Through: sol.ctr.columbia.edu

In article <1992Jul20.124738.26253@kingston.ac.uk>, rock@Kingston.AC.UK
(Paul Rock) wrote:
> 
> In article <63710@hydra.gatech.EDU>  writes:
> >  Which could mean that was why it was in the charts? Nah. Could it be that
> >  the "lost" would rather listen to music that isn't as preachy, taking in
> >  a little bit at a time, coming to Christ that way? Nah. People are more
> >  impressed by lunatics shouting "Repent!!" at the top of their lungs as
> >  they cruise the local mall, who also has teenage kids who are "Witnessing"
> >  who think all they need to do is shove a pamphlet at each passerby. Could
> >  this be the real way of reaching the "lost"? NOT!!!
> >
> >  I might be just a bit wrong in this, but CCM ought to be renamed CMC
> >  (Contemprary Music for Christians). When are the artists in CCM 
> >  going to realize they need to get off of their butts and out of that
> >  comfortable niche of CCM, and into the world. It may already be starting
> >  with Amy, Micheal W. Smith, Sam/Leslie Phillips, Steve Taylor, Dave Perkins,
> >  The Call, and a few others. I'm guilty of it too, I like CMC, and I have
> >  over 100 CMC cd's. I just think if the true purpose of CCM/CMC is to
> >  reach people, then it might be more successful if it were in a more
> >  public medium. It's just a question of what CCM/CMC is trying to do.
> 
> 	Hurrah,
> 
> 	Couldn't agree more!!!

Now that all you Amy fans have finished agreeing with one another, thought
I'd throw my ten cents in (inflation).  

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?

I'm not really as down on her as it sounds.  It's just that I'm tired of
hearing people make excuses for a watered down message, and no real clear
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?

Jerry Low
MDSSC 
low%ewsvax.decnet@mdcgwy.mdc.com
"The comments made here do not reflect the views of MDSSC"