living3368

The local Christian radio station went almost 24/7 with Christmas music right around Thanksgiving. A few non-Christmas songs are played now and again. I don’t listen to it much, but this is what I have learned/would suggest/can’t stand. Please understand that it isn’t all bad. These are just the things that make me cringe or force me to hit the button to the alternative public radio station.

1. The Twelve Days of Christmas, no matter what its historical meaning, is (aside from the barking Jingle Bells) the single most repetitive, annoying Christmas song ever. We certainly don’t need a new version with all the same consumerism and an allusion to Jesus. See the lyrics here.

2. For the love of everything beautiful, creative and holy, please, CCM artist, select Christmas carols that are in your vocal range … and sing it in key.

3.  Speaking of creativity, I do enjoy new arrangements of old carols (i.e. Jars of Clay’s O Little Town of Bethlehem) so … rock on with that. Caution is needed, however, as there is no need to make sure the arrangement fits the CCM stereotype of verse, chorus, verse, chorus, soaring bridge, chorus.

4. What is up with The Little Drummer Boy? It is listed 12 times within the last 500 songs played!

5. Maybe I’m just picky (theologically, Scripturally, take your pick), but the birth of Christ did not mean the defeat of darkness and evil as some lyrics of newer songs (and maybe older ones, too) suggest. Sure, it was the beginning of the end. Sure, it means the defeat is all but certain. But the defeat came at the cross when the Son of God cried out, “It is finished ” and emerged from the tomb three days later.

I don’t mean to sound like the Scrooge who ate the Grinch for breakfast, but I tend to take music and art and creativity in various forms seriously (perhaps too much so). It just seems to me that during this time of year when it is arguably the easiest time of the year to talk openly about Jesus … after all, even non-Christians are singing Silent Night and nominal Christians will be showing up at church on Christmas Eve … we could be casting a greater light into the world’s darkness by offering thoughtful, sound lyrics presented in creative, fresh ways.