Music Archives - Plugged In https://www.pluggedin.com/category/music/ Shining a Light on the World of Popular Entertainment Thu, 13 Jun 2024 15:28:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 https://www.pluggedin.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/plugged-in-menu-icon-updated-96x96.png Music Archives - Plugged In https://www.pluggedin.com/category/music/ 32 32 Episode 237: Our Favorite Summer Blockbusters. Plus, Billie Eilish https://www.pluggedin.com/blog/the-plugged-in-show-episode-237/ https://www.pluggedin.com/blog/the-plugged-in-show-episode-237/#comments Thu, 06 Jun 2024 06:01:00 +0000 https://www.pluggedin.com/?p=31832 What movies does Plugged In remember from yesteryear? And what's up with Billie Eilish's latest album, Hit Me Hard and Soft?

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LISTEN TO THE PLUGGED IN SHOW, EPISODE 237

Back on Episode 233, we talked about the biggest summer blockbusters we can look forward to this year. But this week, we’re doing just the opposite: sharing some of our personal favorite movies released in the summers of yesteryear. If you’ve ever wondered what the Plugged In team enjoys movie-wise when we’re off the clock, this episode will give you a little bit of insight … and give you some ideas for films that might be worth your consideration if Hollywood’s rather thin slate of blockbusters this summer leaves you wanting.

In our second segment, it’s all about Billie Eilish. And we’ll talk about her new album, Hit Me Hard and Soft. It’s the influential 22-year-old singer’s third album, and we think you’re going to want to know some of the ideas and messages she’s sorting through on an album full of angst, heartbreak and same-gender romance.

As always, we’d love to hear from you and engage your thoughts on the topics we cover each week. You can connect with us in several different ways. The comments section below is one method. Or shoot us an email at team@thepluggedinshow.com.

And if you head over to our podcast homepage, thepluggedinshow.com, you’ll find a black ribbon on the right-hand side of the page where you can leave us a voicemail with your thoughts—we might even feature your audio message on a future show. And, of course, Facebook and Instagram are options, too. We’re excited to report that we’ve begun hearing from some of you, and we look forward to adding more voices to the show as you leave us your thoughts here.

And if there’s anything else on your mind when it comes to movies and entertainment, pop culture and technology, we’d love to hear what you’re thinking about. We’ll look forward to connecting with you.

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The Plugged In Show, Episode 223: Beyoncé, the Grammys and Dune: Part Two https://www.pluggedin.com/blog/the-plugged-in-show-episode-223/ https://www.pluggedin.com/blog/the-plugged-in-show-episode-223/#comments Thu, 29 Feb 2024 16:16:56 +0000 https://www.pluggedin.com/?p=31204 Dune: Part Two will be a big deal. But should it be? We'll talk about the movie and discuss this year's hottest musical acts.

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LISTEN TO THE PLUGGED IN SHOW, EPISODE 223

If you look at Beyoncé’s Wikipedia page, it’ll tell you that she’s a “singer, songwriter, producer, director, businesswoman, dancer, actress, philanthropist.” Well, now you can add country music star to the list. Yep, Queen Bey is wearing a cowboy hat these days, notching another No. 1 hit with her song “Texas Hold ‘Em.

But she’s hardly the only woman making waves in the world of music. Look at the list of major Grammy winners, and you’ll find it dominated by divas: Miley Cyrus, SZA, Billie Eilish, Lainey Wilson, Karol G and, oh, someone named Taylor Swift all took home hardware from the February awards show.

Our own musical diva, Kristin Smith, sits down with Adam Holz and Jonathan McKee to talk about Beyoncé, the Grammys and tell you everything you need to know about today’s hottest female performers.

And after you listen to that spicey conversation, we’ll fly to the planet Arrakis and talk about spice of an entirely different sort. That’s right, we’ll be digging into Dune: Part Two—a movie expected to earn upwards of $80 million this weekend in North America. Yep, it’ll be a big deal. But should it be? Adam and I will discuss this sprawling sci-fi story and unearth any problematic content sandworms that might be slithering under the surface.

So don your stillsuit, slap in those earbuds and listen to our own melodious conversation, won’t you? And once you’re done listening, join in. Do you have a favorite musical artist? What musical genre should Beyoncé tackle next? Are you planning to see Dune: Part Two? Tell us in the comments section. Or talk with us on Facebook and Instagram. Send us an email (at team@theplugginshow.com) or even leave us a voicemail on our homepage. Why, you can even sing your favorite Beyoncé song, if you’d like.

And as always, thanks for listening.

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The Plugged In Show, Episode 219: ‘The Finals’ and Other Online Shooting Games https://www.pluggedin.com/blog/the-plugged-in-show-episode-219/ Thu, 01 Feb 2024 07:01:00 +0000 https://www.pluggedin.com/?p=30970 Why are folks drawn to shooter games like 'The Finals' and 'Fortnite'? And is Gracie Abrams' music right for your family?

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LISTEN TO THE PLUGGED IN SHOW, EPISODE 219

Sometimes, there’s nothing quite as relaxing as stealing stuff and engaging in high-powered shootouts.

Or, at least, so would say fans of the online shooter The Finals.

The Finals is the latest in a string of online shooters where gamers pick up virtual weapons and fire virtual rounds at their virtual competition. The Finals adds a bit of burglary to the action, though: Gamers are asked (as part of a televised game show, the story tells us) to steal vaults and transport them to cash out points. But other contestants are trying to steal the very same vaults—and they can steal from you as easily as you can steal from them. This invariably leads to the real draw of the game—the shootouts. And not only can you shoot each other but you can blow up pretty much every bit of scenery you see, too.

We’ll use that game to launch (pardon the expression) into a wider conversation about online shooters such as Fortnite. Why are these games so popular? Are they cathartic, or could they lead to some real-world issues? Just how much should parents be wringing their hands over these Fortnite-style shooters? Adam Holz will talk to Kennedy Unthank, Jonathan McKee and our very own gaming expert Bob Hoose on these issues and more.

And once we’ve fired off enough conversation in that direction, we’ll turn our attention to Gracie Abrams, a relatively new name in the world of music. Kristin Smith will tell us about this up-and-coming musical star (and daughter of Hollywood director J.J. Abrams) and let us know whether the “I Know It Won’t Work” singer will work for parents.

And then, when we’re done with this episode’s fun and games, we’d love for you to join in the conversation. Do you play Fortnite-style shooters? What do you think of Gracie Abrams? Let us know in the comments below. Fire off a missive or two via Facebook or Instagram. Shoot us an email at team@thepluggedinshow.com. Or pull the trigger on our new voicemail option, which can be found on our podcast homepage, thepluggedinshow.com.

And, as always, we look forward to your company again soon on The Plugged In Show.

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Musical Musings 2023: Plugged In’s Year-End Picks https://www.pluggedin.com/blog/musical-musings-2023/ Wed, 06 Dec 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.pluggedin.com/?p=30525 Every December, we take a look at the best stuff that’s come across our desks—or, in this case, through our ear buds—in the last year.

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Every December, we take a look at the best stuff that’s come across our desks—or, in this case, through our ear buds—in the last year. I have to confess, some years, just coming up with five tracks or albums to commend to you was challenging. This year, however, there was no shortage of contenders.

Perhaps nothing is more fragmented these days than the music world, where so many artists and bands vie for our fleeting attention. We only review a small fraction of what’s out there each year. But I’m happy to say that our list this year is infectious and eclectic, spanning a variety of genres and styles. And they’re not just fun to listen to. Most are paired with insightful and encouraging messages as well.

So with no further ado, I present to you 2023’s year-end pics in the realm of music!

The Arcadian Wild, “Dopamine

When our brains like something, they emit a bit of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Sounds like something you’d read about in, say, Psychology Today. Or maybe even hear our team talk about on The Plugged In Show. But earlier this year, the Nashville-based progressive bluegrass and folk quartet known as The Arcadian Wild tackled this topic, too, with rapid-fire lyrics that hold up a mirror to our addictive, dopamine-dependent relationship with smartphones. “Hit ’em with a little bit of dopamine to keep ’em lookin’/Every second, they’ll be second-guessing, trying to meet the/Expectation of the age of information, the simulation/Will be so convincing, they’ll forget that they’re alive.” The song’s dense lyrics pack a lot of commentary—and quite musically so!—into an insightful take on one our era’s most pressing problems.

Lauren Daigle, “These Are the Days

This exceptionally catchy track sounds like Adele and Gnarls Barkley teamed up to brainstorm an unlikely collaboration. Daigle’s neo-soul vibe here pairs perfectly with piano riffs, an infectious bass line and gospel-style backing vocals. There’s just a tiny hint of Motown lurking in this one. Daigle encourages her listeners to “turn your cries into loud hallelujahs” and to “leave your worries behind.” And the Christian singer admonishes further, “You’ll see heaven inhabit our praises/This is what we came here for/ … Believing the Good News is alive.” Simply a terrific track that you’ll likely want to put on repeat after a listen or two.

JJ Heller, “Look for Miracles

Sometimes our world can feel pretty discouraging. JJ Heller knows it. And this thoroughly delightful song from the Christian folk singer might be just the antidote you’re looking for on a down day. Backed by a simple acoustic guitar and bass, Heller begins, “There’s always something to be scared of.” Anyone who struggles with anxiety of any kind is probably nodding in agreement. But Heller gently challenges us to remember that while “there’s no hiding from misfortune/ … There’s always room for hope.” And miracles? Well, if you’re paying attention, “You’ll see ‘em every day.” This is a lovely, hope-filled song, but one that includes lines like this, too: “Tell your worry to be quiet/So your heart can hear the song.” Love that.

NF, “Hope

In the realm of rap, Nate Feuerstein, better known as NF, has carved out an influential niche exploring  the intersection between his Christian faith and the deep struggles he’s endured in life. The result has been gritty, confessional and authentic, and it’s earned him a huge following. Trauma, depression and mental health issues have often taken center stage in NF’s music. On this song, though, he sings and raps about his determination not to give those struggles the last word. He talks about how turning 30 and becoming a father have given him new determination and perspective: “Wake up every day and pick my son up, hold him in my arms and let him know he’s loved.” Different parts of the song have a call-and-response element to them, in which NF tells an alter-ego that he’s not going to submit to being shamed and belittled any more: “(You’ll never evolve) I know I can change/(We are not enough) We are not the same/ … I’m taking the reins.”

Voices of Fire feat. Pharrell Williams, “Joy (Unspeakable)

What happens when you combine a top-flight gospel choir with the vocal talents of Pharrell Williams? You get a song that’s practically exploding with hope, a track with one foot in traditional gospel and the other firmly planted in contemporary R&B. Plugged In’s Kristin Smith writes, “The hope in this song emphasizes that no matter what is going on in life, God has the last say (‘The last word doesn’t come from the doctor’). So don’t cave in defeat even when things feel impossible (‘Just keep praying beyond the last hour’).” This collaborative gospel doesn’t promise that we’ll never suffer. Instead, Voices of Fire and guest Pharell Williams powerfully proclaim, “If you want it you can have it (Joy!)/If you need it you can have it (Joy!)/Love, peace, joy, joy (Joy!)

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The Plugged In Show, Episode 204: The Devil’s in the Entertainment Details. Plus, Taylor Swift’s Eras. https://www.pluggedin.com/blog/the-plugged-in-show-episode-204/ https://www.pluggedin.com/blog/the-plugged-in-show-episode-204/#comments Thu, 19 Oct 2023 06:01:00 +0000 https://www.pluggedin.com/?p=30198 LISTEN TO THE PLUGGED IN SHOW, EPISODE 204 It’s the middle of October, and we’re knee-deep in the scary movie season. By my count, five of the weekend’s top 10 films are horror flicks—six, if you’re particularly scared by animated superhero dogs. And two of them involve outright possession. Pollsters tell us that the United […]

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LISTEN TO THE PLUGGED IN SHOW, EPISODE 204

It’s the middle of October, and we’re knee-deep in the scary movie season. By my count, five of the weekend’s top 10 films are horror flicks—six, if you’re particularly scared by animated superhero dogs. And two of them involve outright possession. Pollsters tell us that the United States is growing more secular with each passing year. But man, our skeptical culture still loves its nasty little devils.

Why?

That’s the question we’re asking ourselves (and, by extension, you) on this episode of The Plugged In Show. We chat about the curious history of demons in entertainment (and it goes back literally hundreds of years) and what our fascination reveals about them, about us, and maybe even about God.

After that, I sit down with Adam Holz and discuss another pop culture phenomenon: Taylor Swift. She set the box office aflame with her concert film, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour. And for you Swifties out there (or for those concerned with her influence), this conversation is Taylor-made for you.

And once we’re finished gabbing, why don’t you chime in with your own thoughts. Do you love Taylor Swift? And if so, just how many times are you going to see The Eras Tour? Do you like supernatural horror movies? Or do you avoid them like Dracula avoids garlic? Let us know on Facebook or Instagram. Write us an email at team@thepluggedinshow.com. Or leave us a voicemail on our Plugged In Show Homepage. Sing us a Taylor Swift song, if you want.

And join us for The Plugged In Show Aftercast, every Friday at 4 p.m. Mountain Time. Always on Instagram. Maybe on Facebook. We’ll laugh and talk about the big movies coming next week.

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Movie Monday: ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ Pops to Victory https://www.pluggedin.com/blog/movie-monday-10-16-23/ https://www.pluggedin.com/blog/movie-monday-10-16-23/#comments Mon, 16 Oct 2023 14:19:14 +0000 https://www.pluggedin.com/?p=30179 Taylor Swift is no stranger to No. 1, of course. Now she can add another trophy to her mantel: The top movie of the weekend.

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Taylor Swift is no stranger to No. 1. Her songs have topped Billboard’s Hot 100 chart nine times. She’s recorded a dozen No. 1 albums—the third most of any artist in history (behind the Beatles and their 19 chart-toppers and Jay-Z’s 14).

Well, Swift can add another trophy to her mantel now: To absolutely no one’s surprise, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour is the weekend’s No. 1 movie, slipping into that top spot as if it was a nice, warm cardigan.

Could this cinematic love story have gone any other way? Perhaps not. When Swift announced that she’d be rolling the concert film onto 3,855 screens, other new releases knew that’d be trouble. So they scrambled to get out of her way. The Eras Tour was the only real ticket to ride this weekend. And what a ride it was.

Swift’s concert film raked in an estimated $96 million in North America alone. While that’s significantly less than the $130 million-plus that some prognosticators had been prognosticating, it was more than enough to become the highest-grossing concert film of all time (beating Justin Bieber’s Never Say Never, released in 2011). Swift’s film earned another $32 million overseas, bringing its overall earnings to a quite healthy $128 million.  And that’s, naturally, on top of the billions (estimates vary) that the Eras Tour itself is raking in.

You know what else had a nice weekend? Movies with colons in them. The top three films all boasted that odd little punctuation mark, and dashes and semicolons could only look on in envy.

The Exorcist: Believer wasn’t nearly as scary as Swift this weekend, but it still managed to possess another $11 million stateside. That was good enough for second place, and it pushes it’s the horror sequel’s total domestic gross to nearly $45 million. Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie proved it still had some bark itself, scratching its way to $7 million and a third-place finish. In three weeks of work, Paw Patrol has earned $49.9 million.

Also in its third week, Saw X carved out another $5.7 million, increasing its own total earnings to $41.4 million. That’s pretty decent for an inexpensive horror flick, but killer John Kramer may still have to hold off on buying those diamond-encrusted manacles for the next sequel.

The Creator closed out the top five with $4.3 million, for a three-week domestic tally to $32.4 million.

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That Magical Mystery Thing Called Music https://www.pluggedin.com/blog/that-magical-mystery-thing-called-music/ https://www.pluggedin.com/blog/that-magical-mystery-thing-called-music/#comments Wed, 20 Sep 2023 20:03:00 +0000 https://www.pluggedin.com/?p=29983 Music can lesson our stress, heighten our senses, cause our heart to change its rhythm and generally make our lives better.

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The ancient Greek philosopher Plato once said, “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.”

That’s a well thought-through way of saying that music has an almost magical impact on us. It can lesson our stress, heighten our senses, cause our heart to change its rhythm and generally make our lives better. And I don’t care what style, genre or era of music leaps to mind for you. It all has a pretty similar effect on our brains.

But why?

Why does music help us push through a workout and gear up for a sporting event? How does it cause your toe to tap and your knotted up shoulders to relax? What is that sense of pleasure we feel when we hear a great musical hook or a perfect meld of instruments?  

Well, to a certain extent, that’s still a mystery. But we do know some things. First, there’s something special about all the pieces in the mix.

When you stop to think about it, music is this interesting concoction of sound, mathematical rhythms, melody and harmony. There’s structure, repetition, timbre and dynamics in there, too. It’s a pretty complicated construct. And our brains enjoy the chance of, well, absorbing all those different pieces, much like a kid relishes gobbling Oreo cookies dipped in a glass of milk. In fact, that’s a more apt description than you might imagine.

A relatively recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences helped support the long-held idea that music causes our brain to release something called dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with our reward and pleasure centers. Music prompts the brain to produce opioids as well. That chemical combination causes the sudden rush we feel. It’s the same kind of pleasure sensations we get from food and sex.

Listening to or playing music also increases blood flow to the brain’s limbic system for some reason, which is involved in processing emotions and controlling memory. So that’s why hearing a favorite tune from long ago can instantly bring back memories and emotions from that time. In fact, there have even been documented cases of people who have suffered brain injuries and lost their ability to distinguish musical melodies, but who still connect with the emotions they used to feel when they heard a certain song. Even though they couldn’t recognize the tune, they could still recognize its importance to them.

I recently read an NPR article that spoke of the awe that music can produce in a listener. The article’s author, Rob Stein, discussed the topic with some experts in the field of brain science. And one thing they suggested is that music actually helps us connect and get along better with others when we hear the same music.

“Neurons in the brain even fire with the beat of the music, which helps people feel connected to one another by literally synchronizing their brain waves when they listen to the same song,” Stein noted.

“What we used to say in the ’60s is, ‘Hey, I’m on the same wavelength as you man,'” Daniel Levitin, a neuroscientist at McGill University, added. “But it’s literally true—your brain waves are synchronized listening to music.”

Stein went on to talk about the fact that music also has the effect of slowing our heart rate, deepening our breathing and lowering stress hormones through the body’s release of cortisone. Researchers at Shanghai University conducted a study in 2015 that revealed that relaxing music significantly reduced fatigue while also maintaining muscle endurance.

Phew! Music is some powerful stuff. And here you thought you were just jiving to your favorite band.

Sure, that power can make music kind of bad, too. If a song’s communicating unhealthy habits or unsafe practices, it just makes sense that you’d want to be cautious about injecting it into your brain. But turns out, good music can be good for you.

OK, so here’s another why for you: Why am I lauding all these benefits of a great tune? Well, because music is cool, of course. But there’s another reason as well. We live in a time and place when loneliness and social isolation are pretty big problems for teens and adults alike. From social media connections to TikTok clips to video games, there are lots of things that encourage everyone to stay locked away on their own.

And yep, music can help with that, too.

There have been a number of studies, including this one, that suggest that shared musical interests can strengthen social connections and reduce loneliness. And even way back in the pre-solitary days of COVID, people were praising the idea of getting out with others and lifting your voices with some favorite tunes. You know, just jump into a choir and let those dopamine-fueled joys, uh, sing. Consider it.

I mean, music! It’s good for you.

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The Plugged In Show, Episode 198: ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ & Olivia Rodrigo’s “Bad Idea Right?” https://www.pluggedin.com/blog/the-plugged-in-show-episode-198/ https://www.pluggedin.com/blog/the-plugged-in-show-episode-198/#comments Thu, 07 Sep 2023 06:01:00 +0000 https://www.pluggedin.com/?p=29906 LISTEN TO THE PLUGGED IN SHOW, EPISODE 198 We spend plenty of time at Plugged In reviewing and talking about movies, which might be what we’re best known for. But we also keep our finger on the pulse of many other pop culture and entertainment “beats,” as we call them. And this week we’re focusing […]

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LISTEN TO THE PLUGGED IN SHOW, EPISODE 198

We spend plenty of time at Plugged In reviewing and talking about movies, which might be what we’re best known for. But we also keep our finger on the pulse of many other pop culture and entertainment “beats,” as we call them. And this week we’re focusing on a new video game and a song on The Plugged In Show.

The M-rated fantasy role-playing video game Baldur’s Gate 3 takes place in a popular Dungeons & Dragons setting. And plenty of fans of that table-top gaming franchise have said this new game is among the best digital D&D experiences ever created. Its game mechanics will feel very familiar to anyone who has ever rolled a 20-sided die.

Unfortunately, that M-rating means it has a ton of content to navigate, too, depending on which settings you use for the game. But if you’ve got teen gamers chomping at the bit to dive into this digital D&D world, you’ll want to listen to what our resident game experts Bob Hoose and Kennedy Unthank have to say about it first.

Speaking of listening, we did some of that in our review of Olivia Rodrigo’s new song “Bad Idea Right?” Though she’s talking about a toxic romance, the question she asks in this song’s title might apply equally to young fans putting this popular track on repeat. Kristin Smith tells us everything parents need to know about this 20-year-old singer’s worldview.

Beyond those topics, we’d love to hear your thoughts about both Plugged In and our weekly podcast, The Plugged In Show. What would you like us to cover? How have our resources impacted you and your family? Tell us! We’d love to hear from you, and we might even feature your comments or stories in a future episode.

You can do that a couple of different ways. The comments section below is one way. Or, shoot us an email at team@thepluggedinshow.com. And if you head over to our podcast homepage, thepluggedinshow.com, you’ll also find a black ribbon on the right-hand side of the page where you can leave us a voicemail with your thoughts. Of course, Facebook and Instagram are options, too.

Finally, join us for our weekly Plugged In Show Aftercast live on Instagram at 3:00 pm MT every Monday. We’ll answer your questions, talk about this past week’s podcast episode and box office results and also give you a preview of what’s to come on the next episode of The Plugged In Show.

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Flamy Grant, CCM & the Gospel https://www.pluggedin.com/blog/flamy-grant-ccm-and-the-gospel/ https://www.pluggedin.com/blog/flamy-grant-ccm-and-the-gospel/#comments Tue, 01 Aug 2023 22:02:55 +0000 https://www.pluggedin.com/?p=29646 The Gospel is an invitation to walk with Jesus and let Him transform every aspect of our lives: what we eat, buy, value, how we treat others. And, yes, how we think, feel and behave sexually.

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Christian parents have grappled with how to help their kids navigate popular culture for generations. By the time I was growing up in the 1980s, the emergence of a parallel music world that came to be called CCM, or, contemporary Christian music, made that job a bit easier.

As a young fan of heavy metal, for instance, I discovered faith-based alternatives to the metal bands of the day that offered a similar sound and a more redemptive message. If you were a fan of Ratt, for instance, there was White Cross. AC/DC? How about some X-Sinner. Bon Jovi? White Heart offered something similar. And, of course, you had bigger artists like Amy Grant, DC Talk and Stryper enjoying honest-to-goodness crossover success.

By the early 1990s, Christian music had begun to move away from being well-crafted soundalikes to forging an independent, more aesthetically independent identity. I still remember hearing Jars of Clay’s “Flood” on the local modern rock channel and feeling exhilarated that Christian acts weren’t merely imitating the sounds of the day, but crafting something new, different and sonically excellent. As the last millennium wound down and new one began, more and more artists of faith—some of whom weren’t particularly interested in the CCM label—continued to gain traction in various genres, from Switchfoot and Skillet, to (more recently) Lecrae and Lauren Daigle.

One hallmark of the genre, though, was that CCM artists and the songs they created faithfully cohered to a biblically orthodox worldview. Sure, there were examples to the contrary here and there. But generally speaking, if we were talking about CCM, we could make some assumptions about what to expect theologically.

But just as once-trusted mainstream entertainment outlets have increasingly embraced social activism and politically progressive messaging—Disney, of course, comes to mind—so we’re now seeing a parallel phenomenon under the broad umbrella of CCM.

This week, former worship leader Matthew Blake briefly hit the top of iTunes’ singles chart and album charts in his drag alter ego, Flamy Grant. The single features Derek Webb (formerly of the band Caedmon’s Call), who has in recent years become an outspoken ally of the LGBT movement. (Webb’s most recent solo work includes the song “Boys Will Be Girls.” In the song’s video, Flamy Grant gives Webb a drag makeover.)

Flamy Grant isn’t the first LGBT singer to top the Christian charts. (That happened in September 2021 with Semler’s album The Preacher’s Kid.) But, just as we’ve seen in the mainstream, the number of artists embracing both faith and a pro-LGBT worldview is growing, including Jon Foreman of Switchfoot, Dan Haseltine of Jars of Clay and Tiffany Arbuckle of Plumb, among others.

The conversation—or, at times, something closer to a social media shouting match—revolves around LGBT-sympathetic artists who want to proclaim affirmation on one side and those defending a traditional understanding of biblical sexuality on the other.

Webb has said, “If you claim to be someone’s ally, but aren’t getting hit by the stones thrown at them, you’re not standing close enough.” Blake, on Flamy Grant’s Instagram page, is more profanely blunt: “A community of people who wholeheartedly and full-throatedly reject the notion that Christian faith has to look like the fearful, petty, weak evangelicalism that demonizes so many people and dominates too much of life in the US. … F— that. You belong here, if here’s where you want to be. I love you.”

I quote these two voices to give you a sense of what they’re arguing, where they’re coming from and how they’re convinced that embracing Jesus and embracing an LGBT identity and behavior are compatible.

We’re certainly familiar with LGBT affirmation in mainstream entertainment. But, increasingly, this example shows us how a similar conversation is emerging somewhere we might once have considered a safe harbor in the cultural storm: the world of contemporary Christian music.

That harbor, it turns out, is churning and roiling with the waves and currents of this controversy. As with so many other forms of entertainment these days, CCM is a realm that requires wisdom and discernment with regard to the messages and worldviews being communicated. Parents can’t simply assume that a CCM artist will conform to their own understanding of Scripture.

In his song “Boys Will Be Girls,” Webb sings, “I heard Jesus loved and spent his life with those who/Were abandoned by proud and fearful men/So if a church won’t celebrate and love you/They’re believing lies that can’t save you or them/Cause you’re so beautiful by any name.” 

Those lyrics might, superficially, sound compassionate. But when we look closely at what Jesus called people to do when He invited them to follow Him, we see truly radical compassion paired with an equally radical call to repentance from our self-absorption.

In Matthew 9:36, we read this description of Jesus: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus came “to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10). He did, in fact, love those who “were abandoned by proud and fearful men,” as Webb sings.

But Jesus did not abandon them to their sin in the name of affirmation and love, nor did He celebrate it. Instead, He called those who would follow Him to relinquish their worldly ways (“Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish,” Luke 13:5), to renounce their sin (“Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more,” John 8:11) and to live a life of sacrificial service, taking up our cross just as He did for us: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:24-25).

Jesus invites us to receive His forgiveness, His grace, His love, His acceptance and affirmation. Fully. Completely. Utterly. But we must never forget that the awesome gift He offers was paid for with His blood. He died to cleanse and free us from a life enslaved to our self-focused appetites, our determination to find pleasure and satisfaction and meaning on our own terms.

I believe—deeply—that Jesus has compassion on those who’ve struggled with a heavy burden of shame, isolation, fear and weariness. But the antidote to those struggles isn’t celebrating and affirming whatever we might think is right. Instead, the Gospel is an invitation to walk with Him, to let Jesus transform every aspect of our lives: what we eat, what we buy, what we value, how we treat others. And, yes, how we think, feel and behave sexually.

That Gospel is so much bigger—and so much more abundant—than the false, seemingly compassionate gospel of sexual inclusivity.

I close with Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of Jesus’ own invitation to relationship with Him: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly” (Matthew 11:28-30, The Message).

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The Plugged In Show, Episode 184: Focus on Filters: What’s the Big Deal? Plus, Jonas Bros.’ ‘The Album’ https://www.pluggedin.com/blog/the-plugged-in-show-episode-184/ Thu, 01 Jun 2023 06:01:00 +0000 https://www.pluggedin.com/?p=29139 Social media filters can be fun or potentially damaging. The Plugged In team breaks them down. Then we discuss Jonas Bros.' The Album.

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LISTEN TO THE PLUGGED IN SHOW, EPISODE 184

“Be yourself,” our parents told us. “Don’t ever change,” our friends told us. “Do not let your adorning be external,” the Bible tells us (1 Peter 3:3).

But our social media services tell us something different.

Social media platforms have long encouraged us to look at how we look—and we listen. We take selfies by the barrel to get that perfect shot. We curate our experiences for the most like-worthy posts. And, of course, many social media networks give us filters that allow us to change our appearance completely. Some of these filters can be pretty goofy: If you’ve ever wondered what you’d look like with a unicorn horn or dog’s ears, a filter can help you find out. But some filters merely make us look like us, but “better.”

That said, what the filter says might make you look “better” might be pretty bothersome indeed. (Just check out our video below to see what we mean.)

In our first segment, we discuss the pros and cons of social media filters—how they can be entertaining and how they can be harmful.

Then we’ll have an unfiltered conversation about the Jonas Brothers’ new album, wherein Kevin, Joe and Nick sing about how much they love their wives. Sounds great, right? Well, not so fast. The album—literally called The Album—has some problems associated with it, too.

After you’ve listened to us, feel free to talk with us. If you were going to use an animal filter, what animal would you choose? Are you happy the Jonas Bros. are back? Let us know on Facebook and Instagram. Send us a note at team@thepluggedinshow.com. Or leave us a voicemail at www.ThePluggedInShow.com (look for the black tab to the right).

And thanks, as always, for listening.

The post The Plugged In Show, Episode 184: Focus on Filters: What’s the Big Deal? Plus, Jonas Bros.’ ‘The Album’ appeared first on Plugged In.

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