Skillet: O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Ekklesian said:
The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. - 1 Corinthians 10:7
Click to expand...

"May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
A loving doe, a graceful deer—
may her breasts satisfy you always,
may you ever be intoxicated with her love." (Prov. 5:18-19)
 
ALAYMAN said:
If I like a song in its original version I rarely like a remake nearly as well as that original. That is one song that breaks that tendency for me.
Click to expand...
i like remakes if they are done really well... ..... but disturbs remake of sound of silence is not really my style - you won;t hear it in my daily play list.... ... but even so it doesn;t bother me nearly as much as a heavy metal or grunge remake of a christian classic does...... ..."music" ..(or noise).. of that type literally sets my nerves on edge......😧 🫨😵‍💫
 
Ransom said:
"May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
A loving doe, a graceful deer—
may her breasts satisfy you always,
may you ever be intoxicated with her love." (Prov. 5:18-19)
Click to expand...
Have you thought of changing your name to Random?
 
ALAYMAN said:
Sure, but purportedly their audience is people that, generally speaking, are not.
Click to expand...

Their audience is also a fan of their genre, and wouldn't have the same trouble making out the lyrics as you apparently do.
 
Ransom said:
Their audience is also a fan of their genre, and wouldn't have the same trouble making out the lyrics as you apparently do.
Click to expand...

Just some comments from fans on the inaudible nature of metal lyrics...
When I listen to metal I think of the lyrics almost as a bonus. The vocals in the song to me are almost like another instrument and then when you look up the lyrics online it's like the song is recreated for you.



Anyway, most hardcore fans don't really care about the lyrics. At least, the ones I know.


it's not about what is being said so much as the attitude when saying it.


Listening to metal for the lyrics is like reading Playboy for the articles.
Click to expand...

And it's commonly understood that the inability to understand metal music and particularly its vocals, is the norm because the genre employs unintelligible harsh vocals, low-pitched registers, and distorted sounds.

There are plenty of other genres that audibility is challenging. Just take giants of the business Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, or Geddy Lee for instance. And we won't even mention the intentional confusion like of songs like Sussudio, lol.

Sure, with sufficient listening, you eventually can make out what's being said. But across the board, and I've listened to scores of genres of music, taking moral bias out of the equation, there is no doubt in my mind that metal is the most difficult to hear what's being said lyrically.

So their stated intention for using their platform to advance the gospel seems at least have some self-inflicted cognitive dissonance or discord.
 
Last edited:
ALAYMAN said:
Just some comments from fans on the inaudible nature of metal lyrics...


And it's commonly understood that the inability to understand metal music and particularly its vocals, is the norm because the genre employs unintelligible harsh vocals, low-pitched registers, and distorted sounds.

There are plenty of other genres that audibility is challenging. Just take giants of the business Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, or Geddy Lee for instance. And we won't even mention the intentional confusion like of songs like Sussudio, lol.

Sure, with sufficient listening, you eventually can make out what's being said. But across the board, and I've listened to scores of genres of music, taking moral bias out of the equation, there is no doubt in my mind that metal is the most difficult to hear what's being said lyrically.

So their stated intention for using their platform to advance the gospel seems at least have some self-inflicted cognitive dissonance or discord.
Click to expand...
my observations from being around some of my friends who are heavy metal fans.... and according to what more than one of them told me..... the allure of the genre is not about the lyrics.... it;s about the angst and emotional rage expressed by the screaming..... plus the knowledge it irritates non-fans of it to distraction....... . ..and very few heavy metal fans have any idea what the lyrics are unless they bought the album and read the back cover.... .
 
ALAYMAN said:
There are plenty of other genres that audibility is challenging. Just take giants of the business Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, or Geddy Lee for instance. And we won't even mention the intentional confusion like of songs like Sussudio, lol.
Click to expand...

Once again, though, I have no difficulty making out the words when Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Geddy Lee, or Phil Collins sing, so your point is lost on me, unless it's to say that being unclear or indistinct is a subjective experience.
 
Ransom said:
So, Skillet is worshipping idols?
Click to expand...
The IFB proof text verse for condemning "boogie woogie" music!

Yeah, its out of context but God knows their heart and it'll preach plus they ain't got no time to be some "dead theologians"! Get out and knock some doors and get some more bus kids dunked!
 
Ransom said:
Is Skillet's rendition of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" committing idolatry?
Click to expand...
I've already given my thoughts on the music, and I didn't use Exodus. But if the demeanor and mood of something matches the demeanor and mood of riotous pagan festivals, they might as well be, 'cuz it ain't Christian.
 
Ransom said:
To loosely paraphrase what someone I follow on Twitter said about it, they've taken a song about Advent anticipation of the Messiah, and turned it into a desperate plea from people in a world that's lost its mind. Which was roughly my thought when I saw the imagery in the video: scenes of sickness and darkness and cold that seem to be looking for someone to set things right.

My only complaint is that the heavy breakdown at the end doesn't really mesh with the verses. Kind of breaks the unity of the composition. I like both styles, I just don't think they work together.

Stylistically, it reminds me somewhat of Disturbed's cover of "The Sound of Silence."
Click to expand...
That's the first thing I thought - "The Sound of Silence" by Disturbed, which I happen to like.

Heavy metal is not my cup of tea. In truth, I've always hated loud electric guitars. I prefer the old hymns, but if this version of Emmanuel helps anyone get in touch with their need for Christ, I'm all for it.
 
Ransom said:
Once again, though, I have no difficulty making out the words when Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Geddy Lee, or Phil Collins sing, so your point is lost on me, unless it's to say that being unclear or indistinct is a subjective experience.
Click to expand...
Yes, of course subjectivity is at the core of what I meant. But it's not just the subjectivity of the hearer, it's also the subjectivity of the composer and composition. If his stated purpose is to clearly get the gospel out, I hardly see how such a muddled mess qualifies as a legitimate, or good effort at that. It would be the same with sloppy theology in a sermon.
 
Ekklesian said:
But if the demeanor and mood of something matches the demeanor and mood of riotous pagan festivals, they might as well be, 'cuz it ain't Christian.
Click to expand...

But the children of Israel weren't just being "riotous," were they? The actual sin was a lot more substantial and serious. But please, go ahead and miss the forest for the trees and complain about the superficial details.
 
In my opinion, it stinks.
Don’t care for it at all. But I don’t care if you do.
Not all that familiar with Skillet but have listened to John Coopers Podcast a few times and tend to basically like and agree with him.
 
Tarheel Baptist said:
In my opinion, it stinks.
Don’t care for it at all. But I don’t care if you do.
Not all that familiar with Skillet but have listened to John Coopers Podcast a few times and tend to basically like and agree with him.
Click to expand...
In your time pastoring, did you have to deal with the cultural wars on stuff like this in your congregation (s)? If so, how did you handle it?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top