The 1980’s were a musical decade chock full of synthesizer driven pop thanks to the Yamaha DX-7 keyboard. An instrument heard on almost every track from Van Halen’s Jump to Amy Grant’s Find a Way. Looking back at the decade of my late teens; most of the eras top 40 or as it became known then contemporary hit radio (CHR) songs had that signature sound. Today’s post isn’t really about keyboards. It chronicles my youth obsession with Contemporary Christian Music and particularly Amy Grant.
I eventually graduated from pop culture to more mature fare listening to the Blues, Classical, Jazz, Oldies, Talk, and of course Gospel. All the time I have been simply a lover of music. These days I do not understand why I found certain songs appealing. Chalk it all up to maturity.
Amy grant was a promoters dream. She was, as her concert commercial noted, a phenomenon. I never before or since have seen a bigger star in Christian music. By 1985 she had become such a success in CCM that the secular record label, A&M had signed her allowing her to retain her Word Records affiliation as she was now promoted as singing, “music with meaning.” Her then current hit, Find a Way was popular on both secular and Christian radio. Her Unguarded album was sold with two different covers: one on the Word label of her pictured dancing, harmlessly, and the A&M cover with her dancing in a more sensual pose. The dual covers stirred up quite a controversy in the Christian press and Gospel radio circles.
I attended an October 1985 concert by Amy and saw her perform a couple more times by the late 80’s. The first show was at the Savannah Civic Center Arena and I remember how awkward I felt dipping and swaying to the beat of Everywhere I Go. I was no dancer. Screaming teen girls rushed the stage like any other rock star show. Theatrical smoke and lighting effects prevailed along with high decibel ear splitting sound. It seemed that it was more of a cult of personality instead of an exposition of God’s plan of salvation. The show was, however, positively reviewed the following day in the local paper and was described as “Rock that even mom’ll love.”
The Grant era ushered in Christian radio that was extra light on the plan of salvation and heavy on entertainment. As I scan the Atlanta radio dial these days the two biggest Christian FM’s promote themselves as family friendly or positive music, Christ has been put aside for the sake of the almighty dollar. Most of the music they play is so bland, vaguely Christian, that secular radio is more preferable when I listen to radio at all. Do not misunderstand, I am not a critic of any particular Christian artist. Secular promoters and corporations have no business in the the Lord’s work period. Watering down the Gospel is not an option. There are hard rockers that are Christian to the core with an obvious message prevalent in their music. On the other hand there are singers who happen to be Christian who sing secular music. I have no problem with them living within their own convictions. Please, whatever you sing; pop or rock, just don’t call it Gospel if it has no ministry content. Download the commercial here or press play below.
May the Good News go with you. Stay tuned.
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