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Re: Opinions, references, and quotes (more of the same ol' me)



> I don't know why now, but this new tide of christian vs secular lyrics
> reminded me of a quote I heard on the radio around the turn of the
> decade.  It was George Michael and he was talking about his new
> single--I believe it was _Praying for Time_.  He said one of the things
> that made this song so popular was the way he paid close attention to
> the words when he wrote it.  He said he wanted a song that was both
> powerful and ambigous--one that would appeal to numerous people and be
> open to diverse interpretation.

I remember hearing about that too.

> This type of emotive ambiguity isn't too far removed from Linford's
> pen.  I for one (being a christian) can see christian images in Linfords
> lyrics--also being a human being I can see lots of other images too:  I
> see religious possibilities in _Someday_, _Cast me Away_, Gentle
> Wounds_, If I'm Drowning_, and Paul and Virginia_ and that's just off
> the first album (and going from memory).  I also see love songs, _P&V_,
> _Should_, _Guilty_, _Rhapsodie_, Grey Monologue_, _June_, _Falling
> (DoaT)_.  I think of abortion when I hear _Sleep Baby Jane_.  I feel
> embittered anger laced with confusion and pain followed with a yearning
> for acceptance when I hear _Daddy Untwisted_.  And then there's GDBD
> (thr) which is just as diverse for me.  I hear religion, sex, love,
> hope, melancholy, remorse and epiphany.  All in all the songs of OtR (to
> me) are not primarily christian.  I see Linford as trying to touch upon
> something more powerful than he is--something that stirs the soul--the
> human condition if you will.  I see him as a great writer--one that is a
> product of his environment.  Linford is not as opaque as I once believed
> him to be.  He writes from his heart, and he writes to fullfil a
> purpose.  That purpose is to make great music.  If it just so happens to
> be tinged with christian faith, or latent sexual desires so be it.  I
> wouldn't have it any other way.  

I agree.  This is a fabulous synopsis of what I think Linford actually
feels.  I attended a panel discussion with Linford, Ric, Bill Mallonee
(whose wife is the coolest, she's so energetic it's great), and Jan Krist.
This is pretty much what all the musicians said.  They want to examine
their emotions and soul, and if their faith comes through in their music,
then so be it.  It's a part of them, and i don't think you can separate
the two, faith and artist,

> Let's not jump to anymore conclusions.  Just because someone states that
> they see a certain image in a song doesn't mean that's the only image
> they see.  When people descirbe something that's emotionally close they
> don't always couch it with a disclaimer.  We mention what is powerful to
> us and why--not what's powerful and why someone else may see something
> different.  Believe me there's plenty of room in these songs for optimal
> interpretation by all.

Thanks.  People sometimes have trouble expressing their opinions as
opinions, rather than as fact. 

Steve
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