Jesus Take the Wheel (So I Can Key My Ex’s Car)

BuddyO | Posted on July 25th, 2008 in Christianity, Culture, Emergent, Music.

Jesus, take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can’t do this all my own
I’m letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I’m on

I dug my key into the side of his pretty little suped up 4 wheel drive,
carved my name into his leather seat…
I took a Louisville slugger to both head lights,
slashed a hole in all 4 tires…
And maybe next time he’ll think before he cheats.

Lyrics from two songs off of Carrie Underwood’s debut CD… I love that about Country Music, artists can just be real. They can be free to write about their reliance and love of the Lord and on the same album sing about the realities of being human. Reminds me of David… Why can’t ‘Christian Artists’ figure this out? Wait… why is there a whole genre set aside for ‘Christian Artists’ anyway??? When was the last time you heard Mercy Me sing about how pissed they are with Congress, or how attractive they think their wives are, or what a blast they had on the tour bus or how frustrating it is they can’t sell any CDs in the mainstream… or ANYTHING except God.

Now there’s absolutely nothing wrong with singing about God. As a matter of fact, He deserves for us to ‘bring Him more than a song’… But why must artist segregate themselves from the mainstream into the ‘Christian Music’ genre? MONEY that’s why. Not that it’s necessarily the artists fault. They probably all start out with good intentions, till they sign with a ‘Christian Label’. Why doesn’t some Christian Artist write a song about Jesus and the Money Changers… dohhh… I have a problem with the mass marketing of Jesus for profit.

Now worship music is a different animal. As a musician myself, I’ve always been opposed to the ‘open source’ movement in the music industry. The idea of just giving away music. But in the case of worship music, I think it’s a good idea. After all, if we’re “Coming back to the heart of worship and it’s all about Him” then why do we need to make money on it? If we are giving back to God what He gave us as artists, why do we need to market CD’s, tours, T-Shirts and lunchboxes to fund it?

Christian artists need to take a cue from Country music. People will buy music that you write from the heart about God if you’re real about it. Seems like Switchfoot, POD, U2 etc has figured it out.

 

30 replies

  1. ckrobothNo Gravatar says:

    Added on July 25th, 2008 at 11:49 am

    Buddy… Do you listen to Derek Webb. At one point he was banned from Lifeway I think for using the word Whore in his lyrics. He is one artist that does everything to be real, but because of the segregation… Well you know the story.

    Any who… thanks for being real.

    ckroboths last blog post..The Point in Time

  2. BuddyONo Gravatar (blog author) says:

    Added on July 25th, 2008 at 11:55 am

    LOVE Derek Webb.

    We actually had him perform at my old church. It was outside rainy and only about 30 people showed up.

    He’s one that should market mainstream… He has a lot to say about a lot. He’s the one that started me thinking about Simple/Organic Church. Rather than do the whole “tour” thing he was going around doing “living room” tours… literally. Coming to folks home’s and singing, talking, just being church…

  3. Christian BeyerNo Gravatar says:

    Added on July 25th, 2008 at 1:01 pm

    GREAT post!

    How about Bruce Cockburn? I’m not a great fan myself (don’own any of his albums) but he is a ‘mainstream’ artist that is explicitly Christian. (He’s also explicitly to the “left of center” which is not something I hear a lot of with “Christian” music). He’s been criticized for dropping the F-bomb in some of his songs but the one where he sings about what he would do if he had a rocket launcher reminded me of that second stanza above.

  4. BuddyONo Gravatar (blog author) says:

    Added on July 25th, 2008 at 1:38 pm

    I had to Google Bruce Cockburn… :D

    Yeah, it seems as if he would qualify…

    Then there’s others that sing about their struggle finding God that don’t really acknowledge him. I think of Dave Matthews:

    I think there’s quite a few folks that look at the dichotomous lyrics of those two songs I quoted and question Carrie Underwood’s faith… “she needs to get herself right with the Lord before she starts singing about Him”… or some garbage like that.

  5. Christian BeyerNo Gravatar says:

    Added on July 25th, 2008 at 2:55 pm

    Dave Matthews is a great example. Of course there’s creed and then there’s Sting, Springsteen, Leonard Cohen, John Lennon, Dylan – plenty of folks out there singing about God, or finding God. Even Genesis.

    I think it’s interesting thought, that when CT attempts to address the same subject, in what I am sure they think is a bold move, they can only find a few artists that fit the bill:

    http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/features/glimpses.html#h

  6. BuddyONo Gravatar (blog author) says:

    Added on July 25th, 2008 at 3:47 pm

    That’s a pretty lame list…

  7. Christian BeyerNo Gravatar says:

    Added on July 25th, 2008 at 8:33 pm

    Yeah. Can you imagine if that was the total selection on MP3 playlist? What a snooze.

  8. RobertNo Gravatar says:

    Added on July 27th, 2008 at 7:14 am

    I have always been fascinated by U2’s music…

    Been a big fan since the early 80’s.

    IMHO I think “Achtung Baby” is by FAR their best work.

    From my own listening “One” seems like an indictment and an abandonment of Catholicism…

    Which I completely resonate with… but that’s the beauty of music. it can mean different things to different people.

    R.

    Roberts last blog post..Lavender….

  9. mandythompsonNo Gravatar says:

    Added on July 28th, 2008 at 10:51 am

    i’m sure this won’t surprise you, but i’m a HUH-YOOOOOGE Carrie Underwood fan.

    i’m also a big listener of U2, etc.

    and, i would also love it if worship were free, in some way. but how can we change the music industry to make allowances for that? and how can we cut down on recording fees, production fees, and distribution fees so that artists really can offer their music to us?

    it’s a vicious cycle, i think.

    mandythompsons last blog post..what makes a worship service “good”?

  10. BuddyONo Gravatar (blog author) says:

    Added on July 28th, 2008 at 11:50 am

    We have to subvert the ‘Industry’. With the advent of ProTools, Reason, Ableton, etc, etc the composer can create exceptional quality recordings without huge studio fees. With the internet, MySpace, iTunes, blogs etc distribution is a breeze.

    The reason it’s not happening is because Worship Artists, want to make a career out of it… sell CD’s concert tickets, T-Shirts, Books about worship, etc, etc. I would say we shift the paradigm. I’m all for a Music career, but lets be real about it. Market the stuff you want to make money off of in the mainstream and give away the stuff you write for God. Forget the whole ‘Christian Music’ garbage.

    Here’s and example of real, authentic music that combines the realities fo being a broken human with the need for God… This album should be all over the (secular) radio… but of course the choice to market it as ‘Christian Music’ by some exec has kept it under a barrel. Waterdeep took a break and now is self marketing.

  11. BuddyONo Gravatar (blog author) says:

    Added on July 28th, 2008 at 12:11 pm

    I gotta admit when “Before He Cheats” hit the radio I was one of those people who thought she had compromised her credibility as a mainstream ‘Christian Role Model’ (whatever that is…). But then after further reflection I began to think that this juxtaposition of faith and humanity was pretty realistic and pretty cool. My 10 year old daughter is a big fan, and I think this provides a good lesson in how to live out your faith authentically.

  12. badguyNo Gravatar says:

    Added on July 29th, 2008 at 10:24 am

    I was in Hot Topic with my daughters the other day, and while they were trying on the hot pink, skin tight pants, I was marveling at how many bands that I know are really “Christian” have their t-shirts, Cds, etc. plastered throughout the store. Pretty cool, actually.

    My favorite secular band that is really Christian (and leaning left at the same time) by far is EXTREME. (They’re playing RamsHead in Baltimore on Saturday – and I’m taking the whole family!)

    There are many Christian artists that have decided to do their thing outside of the CCM mold throughout the years. They cover all sorts of genre of music as well.

    David Wilcox is a folk singer that happens to be Christian. He has a song entitled, “After your orgasm”…(I guess I should share that on tam’s blog, though). tee hee

    badguys last blog post..What year is this? oh yeah, 2008…

  13. brent(inWorship)No Gravatar says:

    Added on July 29th, 2008 at 3:03 pm

    You’ve hit the biggest issue for me and one I hope to address. “Christian” vs “Secular”. That makes no sense to me.

    I have to have honesty in music. Otherwise it just isn’t real to me. It’s planned and probably was only written for hype or cash…

    brent(inWorship)s last blog post..What Do You Think?

  14. BuddyONo Gravatar (blog author) says:

    Added on July 29th, 2008 at 3:03 pm

    I love Extreme. I saw them a bunch of years ago opening for David Lee Roth and Cinderella. Extreme and Cinderella were awesome (they were why we went) DLR… not so much…

    Didn’t realize that Nuno and the boys were Christian… didn’t really matter, I guess.

    Enjoy getting the funk out…

  15. brent(inWorship)No Gravatar says:

    Added on July 29th, 2008 at 3:05 pm

    Hey, my Luv is working :)

    brent(inWorship)s last blog post..What Do You Think?

  16. BuddyONo Gravatar (blog author) says:

    Added on July 29th, 2008 at 3:06 pm

    Brent,
    Sorry about the troll. I felt bad after I left it…

    The whole ‘Christian [Fill in the blank]‘ industry just seems so wrong… and sorry dude, but I often wonder about those permanent salaried ministry positions as well…

  17. brent(inWorship)No Gravatar says:

    Added on July 29th, 2008 at 3:16 pm

    The troll thing was funny. You know me. I’m a little harder to offend and you aren’t one that has ever offended :)

    I hear ya on the money issue. We’ve talked before. I will address that a little. I think there are some lines that are crossed, and there are definite thoughts on Pastoral/Ministry positions. But I don’t think those lines should exist in the entertainment category. I also don’t think the separation of Christian and Secular should exist in entertainment.

    brent(inWorship)s last blog post..What Do You Think?

  18. badguyNo Gravatar says:

    Added on July 29th, 2008 at 3:26 pm

    “Great music is written by people who are either running toward or away from God.” – Bono

    badguys last blog post..What year is this? oh yeah, 2008…

  19. BuddyONo Gravatar (blog author) says:

    Added on July 29th, 2008 at 4:08 pm

    Now that’s an awesome quote… and I think very true.

  20. RicNo Gravatar says:

    Added on July 29th, 2008 at 7:48 pm

    I don’t mind trolls… Here’s a good one:

    “Christian” Media Editing Art

    Labels enforcing market demands on artist is the norm. Editors do the same with authors. The troll above relays a case where a Christian label edited a song writer singer. The opposite has been true as well. They made Paul Simon change Bridge Over Troubled Water be adding the 3rd verse. Simon had planned for it to be a hymn-like song but the label manager wanted a romantic love song. Simon has stated that ANYONE can tell there are 2 songs in that song.

    Rics last blog post..What are my options here?

  21. BuddyONo Gravatar (blog author) says:

    Added on July 29th, 2008 at 9:04 pm

    trolls are always welcome. Ogres are a different story.

    The labels better figure out quickly that their an outdated paradigm. Artists too for that matter. I spent 20 year “waiting to be signed”. True artist today have much more control over their fate.

  22. brent(inWorship)No Gravatar says:

    Added on July 29th, 2008 at 11:30 pm

    That Bono quote speaks to my heart and what I believe. Every gift is from God. every talent and ability. we either praise Him with it, or ourselves.

    brent(inWorship)s last blog post..What Do You Think?

  23. Christian BeyerNo Gravatar says:

    Added on July 30th, 2008 at 2:32 pm

    When you hear Johnny Cash sing “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” you just know the song is about Christ. The same thing goes for that old Sam and Dave song “Hold on, I’m Coming” (which I wanted Buddy to do in church with the band but he lacked the necessary masculine accoutrements. ;) )

    Christian Beyers last blog post..The Return of the Black Jesus

  24. Christian BeyerNo Gravatar says:

    Added on July 30th, 2008 at 4:01 pm

    Hey you have officially just outranked me with Technorati. All that trolling paid off.

    Christian Beyers last blog post..The Return of the Black Jesus

  25. BuddyONo Gravatar (blog author) says:

    Added on July 31st, 2008 at 1:35 pm

    That’s pretty hard to believe… I don’t really even know how they do those rankings, I’ve never really spent any time figuring out technorati. Besides, 90% of my traffic comes from you…

  26. DebsNo Gravatar says:

    Added on July 31st, 2008 at 2:38 pm

    “When you hear Johnny Cash sing “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” you just know the song is about Christ.”

    Excellent….I wish Christians could just be real in every aspect of life, including worship. I can’t figure out if we’re the ones who have put ourselves on such a high pedestal, or society, but it’s impossible to live up to….

    Debss last blog post..In 13 or so days….

  27. BuddyONo Gravatar (blog author) says:

    Added on July 31st, 2008 at 3:03 pm

    Yeah, we did it. The rest of society doesn’t have us on any pedestal… just ask Robert.

    Your right though… it’s time for a revolution.

    You know we’re havin’ good days
    And we hope they’re gonna last
    Our future still looks brighter than our past
    We feel no need to worry
    No reason to be sad
    Our mem’ries remind us, maybe road life’s not so bad.

    [On my current top 10 right now]

  28. Christian BeyerNo Gravatar says:

    Added on August 1st, 2008 at 8:04 pm

    Ah, Techonorati. I don’t really pay much attention to it (especially since I slipped from 54 to 24 in the past six months ;) ) It’s based on how many new people have linked to your site in a six month period. You’re on a roll kemosabe. Just remember, the higher the pedestal, the harder the fall.

    But I don’t recognize the lyrics. What are they?

    Christian Beyers last blog post..The Return of the Black Jesus

  29. BuddyONo Gravatar (blog author) says:

    Added on August 2nd, 2008 at 4:13 pm

    Making Memories – Rush (Fly By Night Album)

  30. Christian BeyerNo Gravatar says:

    Added on August 2nd, 2008 at 5:21 pm

    Ah that’s why I don’t know it. I don’t have any Rush albums. Getty Lee (sic?) sings at a frequency I can’t hear.

    Christian Beyers last blog post..The Chilling Reality of Crunchy Health Care: No Deductibles for Suicide

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