In case you’re living on another planet, there’s a phenomenon sweeping the tween culture, and it’s growing at a rate far bigger than any other squeaky clean pop fad since The Beatles.
Can we talk about The Jonas Brothers, for just a minute? No screaming or crying?
I caught “Camp Rock” this past weekend on television, starring Joe Jonas, the middle brother of the pop trio, and newcomer Demi Lovato. Other brothers Nick and Kevin made brief appearances as well.
Maybe because it’s been more than a decade since I’ve had a tween living in my house (back then is was non-stop Hanson) I can’t say I loved almost three hours of teen dramedy, but I have to give it to Disney. They know how to tap into the heart of the 12-year-old girl, even if she is in her 40s. When my husband asked me halfway through if we could switch the Olympic trials, I told him no, because I had to find out if Tess stole Mitchie’s song and if Shane found the girl who was singing in the dining hall. (He checked my head to make sure I wasn’t delirious with fever.)
I’ve been told Hollywood Records is actively looking to sign other Christian bands with tween appeal, hoping to capitalize on the popularity of The Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus, and it sounds like they’re going a step further. If they can’t find the band, they’ll at least teach them how to write the songs.
Andy Dodd and Adam Watts, two of the hottest songwriters in the business and the guys who penned “Camp Rock”‘s “Gotta Find You” and “This Is Me,” will be at GMA’s Music in the Rockies in Estes Park, Colo. from August 3-9, 2008. The event is “the music community’s premier talent competition and training experience for Christian artists, songwriters, and worship leaders” and has been the launch pad for artists like American Idol’s Jordin Sparks and Chris Sligh and a host of other artists.
Dodd and Watts will offer their experiences and perspectives during several classes at GMA Music in the Rockies, including “Hollywood as a Mission Field.” They will also teach a class on songwriting, participate in networking roundtables, and serve as judges during the Song of 2008 National Finals Competition.
I joke about the madness surrounding The Jonas Brothers, but the reality is that clean pop music from kids who aren’t afraid to talk about their faith is a God-send (literally) to today’s pop culture. Over on the Idol Chatter blog, Donna Freitas talked about the recent New York Times article profiling the guys and their purity rings, for example.
The danger, of course, is that the brothers will burn out or succumb to the pressure of the industry, so it’s important that the Church pray for these young missionaries to the world.
And be on the watch for more scream-inducing tween music, coming your way, courtesy of Disney.
For more information about GMA’s Music in the Rockies, visit www.musicintherockies.com.
posted June 26, 2008 at 1:50 pm
“TWEENIES” ??? My 3 1/2 yr old was watching “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” last week ,and a commercial for “camp Rock” came on.
She looks at me and says “The Jonas Brothers are Hot” in her matter of fact we talk about guys all the time voice. After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I said “what does their Hot mean Emily?”. She says -”you know mom…that their cute and youd want them to be your boyfriend”…whos is this person???? Who has snuck in my house and replaced my little toddler with hormone full chick??? I could understand if she is around tweens or teens but she is not…she has a 15 month old little brother and one babysitter ….no other influences. Hot is not an adjective I use….How do they get so influenced during 1 hour of Disney Channel….That is it the dish is out of here….!!:) but I guess if she is gonna think any band is full of hotties atleast it is the ones with a moral foundation.
I am thinking maybe it is just genetics…her mother spent a few years with guitar players, drummers and singers…must just be in the blood!
speaking of? any news on the boys of LPF? Havent come acrossed much!
posted June 28, 2008 at 9:52 pm
hey this is allyssa i dont like hannah montanna do you
posted June 29, 2008 at 9:07 am
Hi:
My name is Mickey.I have a comment about the Jonas brothers and all other teens that are being lead in the wrong direction.My mesage
is short but to the point. I feel that the parents of these teens are not leading them in the right direction. The bible says to bring up a child in the ways it should go and when it is older it will not depart from it.There is coming a time when every parent will have to answer to God for the way they raise their children.We are put on this earth to praise God and glorify Him and to be His witnesses.The bible says ( love not the world neither the things that are in the world for whosoever loveth the world the love of the Father(GOD)is not in him.You need to read and teach the Bible to your children.Some day you will have to answer to God.There’s coming a judgement day soon.
Mickey Rogers
rmickeyr@bellsouth.net
posted July 9, 2008 at 11:18 am
Hi, Allyssa! I like Hannah Montana about as much as I can like any tween pop music, LOL. I admit that I don’t understand why people are in a frenzy over her. What don’t you like about her? And who do you like instead?
Joanne
posted July 9, 2008 at 11:27 am
LOL, Vanessa! I’m amazed at what comes out of the mouths of kids these days. How do they know Jonas Brothers are “hot?” I was surfing around the Disney Incubator list of artists the other day and saw quite a few who started in the Christian industry. And yet, the whole site looks like a pre-tween MTV.
Do you miss the whole Christian music scene?
Joanne
posted August 1, 2008 at 10:54 am
I do miss it…..but no time with the little ones. It is just sad to see so many talented bands …just stop. but everyone grows up.
vanessa
posted August 1, 2008 at 11:49 am
Vanessa, you have to check out Mission Six. They are a new tween Christian pop punk band and my first thought was: LPF before they reached puberty.
Here’s my review:
http://blog.beliefnet.com/gospelsoundcheck/2008/08/tween-sensation-mission-six-re.html
SO cute, and on Radio Disney.
Joanne
posted September 1, 2008 at 10:06 am
Well…i know that the Jonas Brothers are christians…nick even has a Song for christmas…And If you do go on youtube, there are so MUCH songs that the jonas brothers sang in church about god….so im not sure what YOUR SAYING micky rogers…
RANDOM
Thats the waY I ROLL
posted September 17, 2008 at 1:15 am
sorry but i am a teen and the jonas brothers are hot so you can think agian and i love nick jonas