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Sunday Edition



04
May
2005
What can Southern Gospel Music learn from Contemporary Christian Music?  A Lot!


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My wife and I attended a CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) concert this past Saturday (April 30). We saw the final night of Steven Curtis Chapman's “All Things New” Tour featuring SCC along with Chris Tomlin and Casting Crowns. This was the first CCM concert I have attended since around 1989 when I saw Petra on their “On Fire” Tour and Carmen on his “Radically Saved” Tour. My how things have changed! LOL!

I have always liked some CCM music. I have long been a Steven Curtis Chapman fan, and have recently come to love the music by Casting Crowns. I went into this concert somewhat unfamiliar with Chris Tomlin, though come to find out I did know a couple of his songs.

The concert was held at a large amphitheater in Raleigh, North Carolina. I am not a good gauge on how many people were there, but this is a large concert facility and I will attest to the fact there the number of people were in the thousands and the crowd loved every minute of it.

Steven Curtis Chapman started things off by welcoming everybody and with just him and his guitar, sang a few choruses of his hit song, “Much of You” before bringing on Casting Crowns. I have been very impressed with this group from Atlanta, Georgia. Their songs are very deep, and yet are simple enough for young people to enjoy. Even though Steven Curtis was the main attraction, so to speak, I left there remembering more about Casting Crowns than anything else there. They were very ministry minded and seemed very down to earth. They sang several songs including, “If We Are the Body”, “Who am I”, “American Dream”, “Praise You With the Dance” and before singing “ Voice of Truth”, lead singer Mark Hall shared his testimony of being dyslexic and having ADD. (He and Mark Lowry should get together!)

After Casting Crowns, Chapman returned to the stage and did a 5-minute acoustical medley of some of his older songs with his band before bringing on Chris Tomlin. As I said earlier, I was somewhat unfamiliar with Tomlin, but enjoyed his music. Though it mostly falls into the Praise and Worship style (not a favorite of mine), I did enjoy his music as he led the crowd in some great moments of praise.

After a 20-minute intermission, the headliner, Steven Curtis Chapman hits the stage in all his glory. Complete with a massive light show and kickin' band, Chapman sang several songs from his new CD, “All Things New” as well a few older ones like “The Great Adventure”, “Live Out Loud”, “When Love Takes You In”, “Dive”, “Speechless” and others. Excellent stage show all the way around, totaling about an hour and half before Chapman closed the evening with all the 50-some crew members and artists on the tour coming to the stage for a final bow.

It was a great night. I knew I would enjoy it. I am a little more open minded than some people in the Southern Gospel circles, though I can be somewhat of a stubborn, conservative traditionalist as well; it depends on the situation and my mood for that day. LOL! The jeans on stage at the concert didn't bother me, and to be honest, The Crabb Family would have fit right in. I would love to see CCM artists use SG from time to time, though it would be somewhat hard-pressed to find the right mix because you wouldn't exactly put the McKameys on the same bill with say, Avalon or Mercy Me. Some people won't like this comment, but CCM doesn't really need us, we in fact, could use them. Even though I don't advocate wearing worn out jeans and wild haircuts all the time, I think SG could learn quite a bit from CCM. Every CCM concert I have ever been to (which now totals a whopping 3) was put together with the utmost professionalism and I found them to be extremely exciting. Am I saying we should completely over-haul SGM? NO! All I am saying is that I think we could really learn a few things from them. Now, I realize that CCM concerts rely heavily on big theatrics in their shows. I am not saying SGM needs to go to those extremes, because it's just not really conducive to the style we sing, for the most part. But, we could really learn a lot by using lighting, multi-media, etc. to enhance who we are and what our music is all about. Some artists are doing this, and some desperately could use it.

It's a new age, and there are a lot of things vying for people's attention. We need to get a strong hold on people's attention, or this music that we love so dearly could go on a steady decline and no, I am not a doomsday theorist! I just want to see our music become a more accepted form. I won't accept the notion that we can't be. Not an option, in my book.

I will admit, I am one who doesn't enjoy change. Inside, I wish we could go back to the 1960s and 1970s and I know there are some who want to go back to the 1950s, but it just can't be, though we can enjoy and appreciate that era (which I do immensely). There will be some artists who need to stay the way they are. They are what they are, and it's because of that, they have the fan base that they currently enjoy. It's not always a matter of not wanting to grow; it's okay to be happy with the way you do things. If it works for you and your fans, wonderful! Some groups are purely traditional and their fans enjoy that. If that's you, don't change. We need to keep the traditional ways alive, but at the same time, we need to welcome fresh new individuals with innovative ideas and unique styles. We need people who will look ahead and find ways to enhance and push our music to the masses. It's the day that we live in; some people need more than just good singing and good music to enjoy it. They need something more to keep their attention, and if we work at it, we can provide that. I don't claim to have the answers; this is just me thinking out loud (as JD would say). I honestly don't think it's the style of music that has made CCM such a hot commodity, it's that they have used all the available outlets to get their music and their message out. Are we doing the same?


Reader Comments

Great article. I agree 110%!


Commented by On 05/05/2005
This is a great article. John and I have been discussing some of the very things you have mentioned here. Reading this article re-enforces some of the marketing ideas we have been toying with for Yielded. (Not that it will have a big impact on SGM if we use these ideas, but God can use even a regional group to help make a change in things)

I for one, have never been to a CCM concert, but I did attend "An Evening With Joel O'Steen" recently and it sounds as if some of the same "production" I saw there, is used in CCM concerts. I loved it. It was very attractive, enjoyable and captured my attention.

This is a great article and although I don't necessarily agree with every single opinon expressed here, over all, it's wonderful that you are willing to step out and speak up in something that may not be the most "popular" opinion. Especially knowing that though you are young, you are from the "Old School" of SGM.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts James!


Commented by KAREN GHORMLEY On 05/05/2005
Nice job on the article, James! Don¡¦t worry, I think out loud quite often myself and before long I¡¦m being scolded by my wife. ƒº I was at the Steven Curtis Chapman concert when they were in Cleveland and I thought it was fantastic! You shouldn¡¦t be surprised though because I grew up listening to CCM and still do. Until I started dating my wife about 5 or 6 six years ago, the only Southern Gospel music I was familiar with was that of Bill Gaither because of his videos and the Homecomings. I didn¡¦t really listen to it but I knew who he was. I always thought it was neat how he incorporated all styles of music into his Homecoming videos and extending the invitation to Michael W. Smith, Avalon, and other CCM artists to attend.
I must say though, I have grown to appreciate Southern Gospel music! Of course it doesn¡¦t hurt that my wife is a member of an ensemble that sings Southern Gospel or a variation of it anyways. SG isn¡¦t quite as flashy as CCM but they do have a lot to offer. Plain and simple, CCM has more money to spend or they just spend more money. For me it¡¦s not a ¡§one or the other¡¨ situation. I enjoy music, period! I¡¦m familiar w/ SG artists & CCM artists. There are those artists that have been successful in both industries. I think you¡¦re right, CCM doesn¡¦t need SG but SG should look take note of what CCM is doing. Both worlds should be moving closer together as they have same objective (at least the groups who are truly following what God has called them to do): edifying the church & reaching souls! Entertainment is just a tool to do those things. I would love to see them collide!!!!!!! Imagine a 4 day long festival featuring: Third Day, The Crabbs, Lordsong, Avalon, Michael W. Smith, Mark Lowry, Gaither Vocal Band, Steven Curtis Chapman, EH & Signature Sound, the Newsboys, Natalie Grant, the McRaes, and many more! That would be fun, we could call it ¡§When Worlds Collide Festival¡¨! Maybe we¡¦ll have to talk to Billy Graham about that, he does a good job with that on his television specials! ƒº


Commented by On 05/06/2005
Sorry it was hard to read, I copied and pasted from Microsoft Word!:)


Commented by On 05/06/2005
I'll start by saying that I am a staunch SG fan and performer. My wife on the otherhand likes CCM.
I will never understand why gospel music of any kind needs to be loosely associated to anything of the world. With the exception of the words that these groups sing, I hear nothing musically different than when I used to listen to Boston, Chicago or any other group of the 80's-90's. Even the radio station here in Dallas plays remake songs from some of the most ungodly perverse groups that ever recorded a song where the song is the same but the words are changed. They call it "radio for the whole family". My Bible says to be in the world but not of the world.
I will say this though. The demographic age group of SG is vastly different from CCM.
I don't see anything we in southern gospel music want from CCM. Except maybe some of the money they throw around. Which by the way is passed on to the consumer by way of a $35.00 admission fee. I don't need to be worked into a frenzy to worship God and be ministered to.
I know most will not agree with me but I'm sorry if I offend you with the truth.


Commented by On 05/06/2005
Excellent post!! I work for a company that mostly deals with SG music and artists, my wife with one that deals mostly with CCM, and one of the great concerts that she attended last year was LifeLightFest in South Dakota last Labor Day. Believe it or not, they had a SG/Country stage, a Hard/Alternative stage as well as venues for CCM and Praise music. We are not as far apart as we think, at least those who are in this business for minstry. I've had the privilege of conversing with Jason from the Crabb Family, and with Mark Hall of Casting Crowns, and they both share a heart for ministry. It's my belief that the success of their respective ministries is not because or in spite of their musical style, but because of their HEART for MINISTRY. I'm sure that they both have honed their craft as a way to reach more people for Christ, and that is as it should be. I think if we're honest before God, He'll direct us in what we should sing, say, wear, etc.

Praying that in all things, Christ's name will be lifted up and that we keep our focus on Him


Commented by On 05/06/2005
Loved the article. I agree whole-heartedly. At one time I said I didn't like CCm, but the truth is I never gave it a chance until the only Christian station I could pick up on the radio was CCM. I would listen everyday and I began to really enjoy a lot of what they had on there. I attended Winterfest 2005. I was in awe...I have been to a hundred SG concerts but this was MIND BLOWING! The music really touched me and I'm 28 yrs old not the typical 15 yr old they were trying to touch! I goes back to being open minded! And again I loved the article!


Commented by Jamie Rebekkah Carter On 05/10/2005
I understand your angle. I'm 24 and over the last several years have begun listening to more contemporary music than southern gospel. (Actually, my gospel taste leans more toward country gospel than the traditional southern sound.)

Two of my sisters and I have sang together for years and will be laying music tracks for our first album at Harvest Gospel Studio in Huntington, WV, in less than a month. My biggest challenge at this point is melding the country/traditional gospel sound we've had for years singing other groups' music with the musical edge of contemporary Christian music that appeals to our age group (they're 26 and 34). I want to reach people of all ages with the gospel; and, frankly, my experiences singing and attending concerts of the traditional flavor have poor youth and not-so-good middle attendance.

I firmly believe in lyrical sincerity, strength, and conviction and am unwilling to compromise the message of Jesus. I also don't want the people in the car next to me at a stoplight who can hear the music in my CD player but not the lyrics to think I'm listening to hard rock, heavy metal, bar room country or any other sound that could damage the witness of a Christian or cause a brother to stumble. (Before anyone misunderstands me, I'm not purporting that certain styles of music are unacceptable to God when set to God-glorifying lyrics; but I do think the message should be easily and clearly discernable and not concealed or drowned by slurred speech or blaring instrumentation.)

When this project is complete, I want it to witness to every soul who hears it of the love and mercy and holiness of God. I just haven't figured out how to produce a sound that will appeal to every person. I have a business degree so I understand marketing, segments, customer bases and all that jazz. But I have a hope and a prayer for a project that will cross the age gaps and the boundaries of personal preference, whether it's the gaps and preferences in the communities we live in or across the world.

God bless you.


Commented by On 05/11/2005
I wanted to clarify that the parenthetical phrase in my previous comment "(they're 26 and 34)" referred to the ages of my sisters. Thank you!


Commented by On 05/11/2005
James Hales's avatar My thoughts within this article was not solely geared towards musical purposes. In fact, I was moreso talking about using some of the tools CCM uses to promote it's music than changing what SGM is musically. One has to realize, that there will be some people who just will not like our music, but they must respect it. We need to earn that respect and keeping our eyes and minds closed to differing ways to present this music will not help, but hinder that.


Commented by On 05/11/2005
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