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"Evil" Music, Part III
What’s the real problem with the discussion of ‘evil’ music? Brother Nordfelt’s Ensign article is only part of a larger whole. The real problem is the latent and unfounded prejudice Mormons have against ‘heavy metal’ and other forms of aggressive music. I’m sure Brother Nordfelt felt perfectly justified in including ‘heavy metal’ in his warning signs of gang behavior despite no real evidence, because he knew heavy metal is ‘evil’ and surely it would play a part in other evil behavior. 99% of the Church members that read the article probably read over that line and nodded their head in agreement without thinking critically about it because, of course, everyone knows heavy metal is evil and obviously responsible for not only gang behavior, but drug use, abortion, tax fraud, and—what the heck—gay marriage, too.
Church members’ negative opinions of heavy metal are based mostly on ignorance and misunderstanding—plus a reliance on ‘hearsay’ for information (“I heard from someone that there was this article where someone said that heavy metal CDs have backwards messages that encourage you to worship Satan!”), instead of direct experience. People tend to fear things they don’t understand. (Ironically, other Christians’ opinions about Mormons are formed in much the same way…)
Ask any member on the street about heavy metal and they will say it’s ‘evil’ (or ‘satanic’). Yet ask them to actually name a satanic heavy metal band, or any heavy metal band at all, or even a heavy metal song that goes against Church standards, and you’ll get a blank look. Ask if Christian heavy metal bands are included in the condemnation, you’ll also get a blank look, as if “Christian heavy metal band” was an oxymoron.
I can still remember a Sunday school lesson where the teacher gave examples of ‘good’ and ‘evil’ music. Guess what the example of ‘evil’ music happened to be—one of the many (MANY) pop songs on the radio that advocate loose sexual morals and/or casual drug use? Nope—it was Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”. Now, read the lyrics to “Enter Sandman” here if you don’t remember them, and tell me exactly which commandment of God are they encouraging you to violate? (Is the line “Exit light, enter night” some kind of abstract message towards accepting the darkness of the devil over the light of Christ…that’s funny, I thought it was just about going to sleep at night.) This aggravated me to no end, especially considering the number of times I hear Extreme’s “More Than Words” being played in Church talent shows. (Hasn’t anyone seriously looked at the lyrics to that song?)
All right…I don’t want to turn this into a big rant, but the Church membership at large could really use some proper musical education. There is good and bad heavy metal—the same as any other form of music—and Church members can condemn the bad stuff all they like, just stop pretending the good doesn’t exist. Very few things in the world are as black and white as people make them sound. I’m personally tired of hearing ignorant generalizations—which extend into personal criticisms--about music which happens to be fully compliant with the Lord’s commandments and which I happen to like. I’m not trying to encourage more people to listen to heavy metal (saying it is an ‘acquired taste’ is an understatement to say the least), just wish more people would learn about things before they condemn them. [end of rant…]
July 1, 2004 in Religion | Permalink
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Comments
"Enter Sandman" is exactly the song that makes me think of Edgar Allan Poe. It takes you into that dark place of children's fears of the dark... but it's definitely not an evil song.
People often equate bombast, loud volume, graphics of skulls and the like ... with evil.
I think the main problem with rock-n-roll and heavy metal is not the music itself. The real problem seems to be the lifestyle that the artists live. And it's just as bad with soft rock pop princesses as it is with the heavy metal dogs. When I think of Korihor or Nehor ... I don't think their equivalents are in religion as much as they are in our popular culture. It's the artists in our popular culture who are telling us to do whatever we want, that we don't have anything to worry about, etc.
I enjoy rock'n'roll music to this day but I don't go to live shows. I went to a Ramones concert at the Ritz in NYC many years ago, and a band opened up for them called the Dickies. I'm not even going to write the title of the song the Dickies opened up with... but this little group got as offensive as I can imagine as they began to mock the sacrament. I was with a friend who had paid for the tickets, so I didn't leave. But I stood stiff as a board with my arms crossed in front of me for the rest of the show. Somehow the music and the atmosphere in that place were very different from the feeling I had gotten from the records. It wasn't just the Dickies either. The Ramones played their songs way too fast, came across as very doped-up and some of the fans were acting very inappropriately for a public place -- i.e. PDA.
So I'm on the fence with the whole "evil music" isn't evil concept. I know that when I'm listening to loud music in my car, I'm just having a good time. But some people seem to be influenced in ways that serve the purposes of the adversary.
I can look at the lyrics of a particular Metallica song and genuinely understand the argument that there's no problem. At the same time I remember all those pictures of Dave Hetfield holding aloft a bottle of Jack Daniels and snarling into the camera...
That's when Moroni's question of "Does this lead you to Christ" comes to mind.
I have to believe that the music in heaven will somehow incorporate all that is good in every kind of music -- whether it's classical, pop, reggae, heavy metal, etc. But I haven't heard that music before and can't really imagine what it would be like. I doubt that all the music in heaven will be "unplugged" so to speak. I'm sure Heavenly Father will really show us what a "power chord" means once we get over to the other side. I sometimes laugh when I hear people say that Heavenly Father and Jesus know all things, because in my mind that includes a perfect knowledge of "how to play the electric guitar." I can't wait to hear it.
Posted by: danithew | Jul 1, 2004 2:28:48 PM
Let me just add to this that after all the "Clapton is God" graffiti that was thrown up in the 60's, I'm sure the Almighty will want to show His pre-eminence in this particular arena ... lest there continue to be any confusion. :)
Posted by: danithew | Jul 1, 2004 2:32:27 PM
Amen ... and Amen! What gets me, is those same people who would probably tell you heavy metal is the spawn of satan, all seem to have no problem with their kids listening to Brittany Spears and looking up to her as a role model.
I think this all stems from the fact that people let their guard down when it comes to what they discern as being "evil". Music that is abrasive sounding is automatically assumed to be evil. Meanwhile, the sugar coated teedy bop music is viewed as "fun" and lighthearted. However, if you really looked at half of the lyrics of these so-called "good" pop songs, you'd find they often talk about various things such as pre-marital sex, drug use, and social unrest.
I'm not really even saying heavy metal is or isn't ok. I'm just saying its amazing that parents are perfectly happy with their daughters idolizing today's pop stars (Brittany Spears, Madonna etc.) who promote promiscuity openly. But if those same parents heard a teenage kid drive by with heavy metal blaring from his car, the assumption would most likely be that the music coming from his car was bad.
Posted by: Kevin | Jul 2, 2004 2:37:52 PM
Mom: Billy, what are you listening to on those headphones?
Billy: It's not heavy metal or gangsta, mom.
Mom: Oh ok. At least you're not involved with any of those evil gangs.
Billy: *resumes listening*
Does this mom really know whether or not Billy is listening to something inappropriate? He could be listening to anything from the 1812 Overture to Madonna's "Like a Virgin" to the Beastie Boys. But since it's not either of the types listed in the Ensign, it must be ok.
It bugs me how quickly some want to pack everything in convenient little boxes. Know what your kids are listening to and be aware, not stereotypical!
Now, as for me, I haven't seen my wife all week because of shift work, and wouldn't you know I can't get Ravel's Bolero out of my head (sorry lyle). Thank heavens it's Friday!
Posted by: Chad too | Jul 2, 2004 3:01:10 PM
"This aggravated me to no end, especially considering the number of times I hear Extreme’s “More Than Words” being played in Church talent shows."
Paula Abdul's "Rush" was a popular one at my youth dances.
Posted by: Kim Siever | Jul 4, 2004 10:09:46 PM
Another thought on music and context:
Stanford's radio station circa 1990 ran a program on Friday evenings that featured thrash/noise bands. It was called "The Zamfir Pan Flute Extravaganza." The dj would play a set of 3-5 songs and then Zamfir. When I first tuned in, I thought, "heh, that's a good joke" and expected the dj to break in after 30 seconds or so and announce the next set of thrash. But he didn't. He played Zamfir for 3, 4 even 5 minutes before moving on to the next set. And he followed the same pattern throughout the entire show. At first it annoyed me. And then I saw it as an over-extended joke [and maybe it was].
But the longer I listened, the more it made sense. And with time Zamfir became to sound more edgy and less schlocky and the thrash songs sounded more kitschy and became more closely tied into the dominant tradition in Western music for the past two centuries -- Romantic with its emphasis on melody.
It was a strange phenomenon. The contexts of the two styles of music bled into and informed each other. And each was the better for it -- or at least in my ears it was. And most of all it was a reminder that although fanatics try to create these hard edges and categories and stereotypes for music genres [both appreciators and detractors], the beauty of music and musicians who are true artists is that they are always mixing up and broadening the 'contexts' that we try to create for music.
----
Baron:
How about a primer on heavy metal that doesn't suck and isn't 'offensive' [meaning -- would offend Bro. Nordfelt but wouldn't offend an active LDS who is open to the genre]? I don't know heavy metal very well. I like crunchy, power guitar sounds though and am a fan of industrial and gothic. What would you suggest for someone who is in to such bands as Joy Division, Front 242, Soundgarden, the Sisters of Mercy, etc.?
Posted by: William Morris | Jul 6, 2004 12:19:43 PM
Baron,
Well, yes and no. Granted, Enter Sandman is pretty innocuous. On the other hand, it's not like everything Metallica has recorded is devoid of problematic messages (think Fade to Black, not to mention Last Caress, etc).
Can you enjoy Kirk Hammett's guitar on Fade to Black without being influenced by the problematic lyrics? (Sure, just listen to the instumental version! :) ). I'm not sure.
Yes, there is overreaction by church members. But there are also problematic lyrics in many songs.
Posted by: Kaimi | Jul 6, 2004 12:22:33 PM
Well...'Last Caress' is a Glenn Danzig and The Misfits song which Metallica happened to re-record for fun in between albums, so I don't think that really counts...
And I would argue 'Fade to Black' as well. ('Fade to Black', for those not in the know, is a 1984 song about contemplating suicide, and one kid in the 80's who committed suicide was famously found to have the lyrics to 'FTB' in his hand. Of course, there are many other documented testimonies of people saying they were contemplating suicide themselves and 'FTB' is one of the songs that helped them get out of it, but the one was enough to cause the big controversy at the time--and which shows up again from time to time.) 'FTB' is an exploration of the feelings of someone considering suicide, without expressly encouraging nor discouraging it. Whether that's still 'offensive' or 'problematic' depends entirely on how you want to interpret it. I personally don't consider being 'about' something as the same as being 'for' something, any more than a movie than has a person committing suicide in it makes it inherently 'evil'.
Metallica certainly has 'problematic' lyrics inasmuch as a handful of songs over the past 20 years have profanity in them, but assuming you (a) skip over the vulgar songs or (b) listen to clean versions, does the existence of, say, 'Damage Inc.' mean that a proper person with high standards should (1) not listen to ANY Metallica songs since one of them is bad, or (2) not listen to ANY heavy metal songs since "Damage Inc." is a heavy metal song. That doesn't follow logically. "Master of Puppets", "Creeping Death", "Harvester of Sorrow", "Wasting My Hate" among others are Metallica songs that actually support Church doctrine, and many others (like "Enter Sandman") are doctrinally neutral. What objective standards would you be able to use to conclude that listening to any of the above is still 'wrong'?
Posted by: The Baron | Jul 6, 2004 1:28:25 PM
For those still convinced that Metallica is evil, all I can say is: They are!! And I want to help you overcome your addiction to their filth!!
To that end, please send me your old Metallica CDs, as I'm anxious to take them off your hands. FYI, I already have "Ride the Lightning," "And Justice For All" and the Black album. I still need "Kill 'Em All" and "Master of Puppets."
Just email me, and I'll be glad to give you my address. I do what I can.
Aaron B
Posted by: Aaron Brown | Jul 9, 2004 1:03:58 AM
I like Apocalyptica's stuff- Metallica done on 4 cellos. It's...different. I never you you could get distortion on a cello...
Posted by: Ben S. | Jul 9, 2004 3:11:24 PM
Man, this discussion sure takes me back. I remember an Ensign article years ago by Brother Lex (De Azevedo, composer of "Saturday's Warrior"), where he said that we shouldn't condemn one form of music over another because there is good and bad in all forms... bla bla bla...
Then he went on to crucify rock anyway...
I personally agree with so much of what's been said.
I guess that while I like the heavy stuff, I'm probably not what would be considered "Heavy Metal" in today's terms. When I was growing up, however, Metal included bands like Van Halen, Cheap Trick and Rush, as well as Metallica, Anthrax, and Megadeth.
These days I would probably just be considered a hard rocker. There are a lot of Christian rock bands, many of whom are quite heavy. That's the stuff that I listen to the most, because not only do I not have to worry about them getting offensive, but they support my values.
Someday, there'll be more LDS rockers... like myself.
MRKH
Posted by: Mark | Sep 23, 2004 11:04:43 AM
I'm curious about the article where "Brother Lex" bashes rock music. Do you happen to have a reference? We are often quick to condemn the condemners. Can't see the double-standard there? The old "beam vs mote" issue comes to mind.
I happen to know that Brother Lex raised his own children in such a way as to let them make there own decisions about music. While Julie is known for her contributions to LDS pop music, Lex Jr. is very well known for his DJ talents and he is partial to songs of the secular modern/alternative rock genre (note, NOT the garbage like Nirvana, but more like New Order, for those of you in the know).
Personally, I listen to most everything (though I don't like classical very much). However, I admit that I am partial to heavy metal. I avoid listening to music that has profanity or allusions to evil, and there is a lot of metal out there that falls into this realm of acceptability.
Even though I don't believe that any music is inherently evil, I try not to bash people who hold those perceptions. Even President Hinckley seems to have some misgivings about the harder music out there, but look at his experience. Any reason why he wouldn't feel the way he does? That said, I don't really care to make it a personal mission to convince anyone that metal is OK either. There are more important things for most people to concentrate on (like reading their Scriptures).
Saints are human and humans not only make mistakes, but make them often. Truth is, that music is like anything else... it has both good and evil to it. Where Saints get into trouble is not recognizing what is good and what isn't. So the Prophet offers the counsel to avoid it because MOST Saints probably can't handle the temptation and cross the line.
BTW for anyone curious, the new Megadeth album, The System Has Failed," very much reflects the long struggle Dave Mustaine (the lead singer/songwriter) has had with overcoming addiction and other sinful behavior. While the CD is not Christian, it lyrically deals with the woes of a sinner and how society is negatively affected by that. There's even a song on the CD which is a reading of Psalm 23 set to metal. Sacrilegious? Blasphemous? Maybe, but God was happier with the repentant tax-collector than the self-deceived pious Pharisee. Dave's come a long way and this new CD will help others start that journey themselves.
Posted by: Joe | Sep 24, 2004 8:37:02 PM
Did you know that when you " Exit Light" backwards in " Enter Sandman" Its
"Yeah, I love Satan" But this song still rocks
Posted by: Wade | Dec 18, 2004 6:54:54 PM
Sorry I ment when you play exit light backwards in entersand man he says Yeah, I love Satan.
Posted by: Wade | Dec 18, 2004 6:56:16 PM
These thoughts are very right on. As a rock drummer for many years (not to give a number as to divulge my age), I really get tired of the ignorance of music by members, who just categorize it as bad if someone says so. No, Metallica did not backward mask "I love Satan", AC/DC does NOT mean "Anti-Christ, Devil's Child," etc. etc. The story about "More Than Words" is funny; I always have a desire to play "Get The Funk Out" by the same band and claim what's good for the goose is good for the gander.
Those who denounce lyrics would be shocked to hear these at a stake dance:
"It's quarter to two,
And I've still got you on my mind, oh baby.
I'm just a prisoner,
trapped in the chains of your love.
It cuts like a knife, imagining life without you,
oh darling.
I'm up to the challenge, and I'm willing to fight.
I'd do anything to have you with me tonight...
Oh baby..."
Have her with him TONIGHT? Why, they are talking about sex! What an evil influence!
Yeah, it's the song "My love is a Fire" by Donny Osmond, the patron saint of Church approved music.
Posted by: George | Feb 23, 2005 2:31:02 PM
Wow, Gina's right. I'm 17 and i live for metal too. Its only music, we're not the ones walking around shooting people up. Thats the ghetto kids. And we're not responsible for gangs, its Rap and Hip Hop...not metal. You really should do more research before you go ahead and point at a type of music you dont listen to. Just because metal isn't all "Tra-la-la, Jesus is good...and God awesome...blahhh", doesn't mean music can't have a good meaning. Look at the lyrics to "End Of Heartache" By Killswitch Engage::
Seek me
Call me
I'll be waiting
This distance
This disillusion
I cling to memories
While falling
Sleep brings release
And the hope of a new day
Waking the misery
Of being without you
Surrender
I give in
Another moment is another eternity
Seek me for comfort
Call me for solace
I'll be waiting
For the end of my broken heart
Completion
I'll be waiting
For the end of my broken heart
You know me
You know me all to well
My only desire
Is to bridge our division
In sorrow
I speak your name
And my voice mirrors..mirrors my torment
Am I breathing?
My strength fails me
Your picture
A bitter memory
now where is the evil in that? Oh right, THERE IS NONE. I seem to remember Bob Dylan singing "Everybody Must Get Stoned" and Blue Oyster Cult's infamous "Don't Fear The Reaper" is ALL about the 'glory' of suicide. Its not metals fault, its people and the strict society you have us in.
Posted by: Daryl | Aug 5, 2005 4:08:14 PM
some ppl are realy dumb thinking heavy metal or games are "evil". the people that commit suicide becaus a so calld "song" told them to are retards becaus they dont have to do what somethin says i mean if some one says kill your self are u going to do it. and "enter sandman" from the black album is about a childs fears whats so bad about that show me one word in that song that says kill yourself,kill some one els,do drugs and/or join a gang i mean how stupid can u be. i listen to "heavy metal" daily and still atend church and read the bible. so if some one says they love the devil becaus a song theyr a retard
Posted by: keith buck | May 5, 2006 2:53:56 PM
Fair post, indeed. The main point here is dont generalised the heavy metalist because it does not mean that if you love metal you are a slave of a demon or you already believe with satan.
Posted by: metal_sucker | Jun 22, 2007 12:31:17 AM
I've done a report on the effects of music, and i found that some music effects people diiferently. Heavy metal isn't bad. It's just not pop, so according to chirtians, EVIL
Posted by: Avetown | Nov 14, 2007 7:03:52 PM
