Christian Music's Year in Review

Controversial stories, and topping the list: Katy Perry

I can't recap the past six months I've spent writing this blog without starting with Katy Perry, and hopefully setting the record straight. In June, I was still trying to figure out what I was doing when I wrote a post about how the pop singer once released a Christian album under her real name, Katy Hudson. Relating some of Perry's own quotes to magazines about her rebellious behavior as a teen, I asked readers to consider whether we can expect 16-year-old artists to really know who they are or what they believe, and asked perhaps if the Christian industry looked the other way on her behavior back then. My intent was to start a discussion about the Christian music industry's criteria for labeling an artist "Christian," so imagine my surprise when readers jumped on the fact that Katy's hit mainstream song was about kissing a girl and the conversation veered immediately off to a discussion about homosexuality.

Within days of posting the story, I got calls from major mainstream media outlets looking for my thoughts on Katy Perry, and to be honest, I was totally freaked out. One outlet caught me off guard and I made a very vague comment, but for the others? I really didn't want to say anything that would give the Christian community any reason to point a finger at her and I didn't want to assume anything about her faith, since I don't even know her. Remember, I was using her story to launch a discussion about the Christian music industry. (I have tried to connect with Katy Perry via some mutual friends and acquaintances, and eventually her publicist, to no avail.)

A month or so later, I did another post, linking to a story from a UK paper that quoted her mom commenting on Katy's song and behavior. I was shocked again to get a comment from her mom saying she had been misquoted in the UK paper. I would never have reported that story if I'd had any inkling the paper had misrepresented Katy's parents.

In the end, all I can say is that I've never intended to judge Katy Perry, her family or her faith, and I wish her the best. As a mom, I admit I would like to take her to lunch and kind of see where she's coming from at this stage in her life, and ask her how her faith has changed from a teen to an adult. But honestly, I wish her well.

Katy Perry wasn't the only reader hot button I pushed on the issue of homosexuality. In September, Ray Boltz came out of the closet, and my admission that I was conflicted about how to approach the issue touched off a firestorm. When I used the phrase "gay Christian music artists" it only poured gasoline on the inferno.

I was really impressed, though, by the vast majority of readers who chimed in with their thoughts; for the most part, they stood their ground lovingly. That includes Christian music artist Brian Bates, who wrote a very thoughtful piece about his own experience with homosexuality and how he left it behind. There were a few folks who said they were going to burn Boltz's CDs, a stance I still find absurd, but for the most part, it was a very polite, albeit clearly divided and passionate, discussion.

If I didn't anger readers with homosexuality, I certainly ticked off teens with my post "5 things I hate about the Jonas Brothers." I made the point right off the bat that I don't hate the Jonas Brothers, but I do hate the commercial empire the record industry has built on their backs. But I guess if you're 12 years old, it's tough to understand the distinction. I was inundated with hate mail from fresh-faced (and occasionally foul-mouthed) teenaged girls, and was left with only one thought: If Christian teens loved their Jesus as much as they loved their JoBros, the world would be a better place.

Another hot story was the revelation by worship artist Michael Guglielmucci that he'd been faking cancer for two years to cover up a porn addiction. The former Planetshaker songwriter was most recently involved with Hillsong, and had taken the ruse so far that he'd even performed with an oxygen tank for a concert that was recorded live for Hillsong's "This Is Our God" CD/DVD. Hillsong pulled the CD/DVD to remove a video clip of Guglielmucci discussing his cancer diagnosis and treatment, as well as the popular song, "Healer," which he had penned. The story bothered and angered me, because I've been increasingly disgusted with the commercialization of Christianity, and I vented several times about the mega church mentality and the celebritiy-ism of Christian music. In the end, it was never my intent to bash Hillsong. They were just the story that launched the discussion about the subject, one I'm sure I'll come back to again and again next year.

Less controversial but definitely generating some chatter, fans of the video games Rock Band and Guitar Hero debated the merits of Christian-themed alternative products, like Heavenly Harmony karaoke and Guitar Praise. Readers were split on whether we need alternative products in a parallel universe or whether Christian music should be infiltrating mainstream games. Both sides have valid points, and hopefully with the rise of Christian music in mainstream and Christian game companies putting out quality products, fans can have both.

Christian music in mainstream

Dozens of Christian music artists showed their stuff to mainstream music fans with their music on televisions shows, from Robbie Seay Band on "One Tree Hill" to The Afters music on "Dr. Phil", "Rachel Ray," "Secret Millionare," "Grey's Anatomy," and "Army Wives" to Kutless being included in video games like Rock Band 2. There were so many Christian artists with music being used on TV, movies and video games, including Krystal Meyers, whose song "Make Some Noise" was the theme song for the fall NBC lineup, that it's almost too hard to keep track of them all.

To promote their new album, Third Day appeared on "The Tonight Show" and "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," and 33 Miles' Jason Barton and his wife Jennifer were featured in a Redbook magazine story on marriage.

Thousand Foot Krutch and Fireflight were two of the top three winners in Taco Bell's Feed The Beat contest (Underoath was in the top six), and both will work with Taco Bell to identify and hire a well-known producer to record a single for them and then receive help in promotion by Taco Bell in the Spring of 2009.

And this is a big one: MIchael W Smith was tapped for Sean Hannity's Freedom Concerts 2009. Despite my repeated posts already, I'll just reiterate again that tickets are not yet on sale, outside of the collectors' Christmas gift packs. If you need more info, you'll have to take it up with Sean Hannity.

Passings

The Gospel Soundcheck debuted in June with the tragic news that Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest adopted daughter Maria had been killed in an accident in the family's driveway. I hated having to write that story, especially because just a month earlier I'd interviewed Chapman and he told me the story about how they came to adopt Maria.

Then on July 4th came the news that gospel artist Rev. Timothy Wright was involved in a fatal car accident that took the lives of his wife Betty and their grandson, DJ. Rev. Wright continues to recover from a C4 spinal cord injury, and was able to go home for the holidays. The outpouring of sympathy and prayers for the Wright family was staggering.

There were lesser-publicized stories - Nicol Sponberg and her husband Greg lost their two month old son to SIDS and Chris Laurie, son of preacher Greg Laurie, was killed in a car accident - and the Christian community joined together in prayer and support for all of the families.

Line up changes

In an unusual but bold move, Haste The Day asked guitarist Jason Barnes to step down from the band after Barnes renounced his Christian faith. Writing on their MySpace blog, the band said, "We would call ourselves a Christian band and for that reason, we felt we couldn't have someone in the band who didn't agree with the band's foundational drive." I think the way they approached the decision was done lovingly and I hope Barnes remains close to his former band mates.

Pillar drummer Lester Estelle left the band and not long after, bassist Michael "Kalel" Wittig followed. The two formed a pop/rock band, Stars Go Dim, with Joey Avalos (who played with Pillar for a year from 2006-2007) and vocalist Chris Cleveland. Despite the loss, longtime Pillar members Rob Beckley and Noah Henson are still at the helm and the band continues without a hitch.

In July, Heather Payne announced that she was leaving Point of Grace, citing the overwhelming pressure to juggle the roles of "super-wife, super-mommy and super-singer." Payne admited feeling like she wasn't being successful in any of them and needed to focus on her family. I completely understand. I don't know how music artists balance work and family, when they're on the road so much.

What's next?

One thing I want to say in closing is that I'm extremely thankful for all of you who read the Gospel Soundcheck, and who take the time to comment, even if you're disagreeing with me. Especially if you're disagreeing with me, actually. Because faith can't grown without being challenged, and we can't learn if we don't take time to consider how someone else thinks and feels. In the end, I go back to the Bible for guidance, but even then there are sometimes gray areas where an open, honest, and loving discussion can be beneficial - whether we're talking about Ray Boltz's future in Christian music or how Guitar Praise measures up to Guitar Hero.

I'm looking forward to the next six months and seeing what Christian music surprises 2009 has in store!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Visit Beliefnet's Christian music blog, Gospel Soundcheck, daily for the latest news on your favorite Christian music artists as well as mainstream artists with ties to Christian music.

RELATED POSTS
Christian music's memorable moments from 2008
Katy Perry, Christian recording artist?
CCM veteran Ray Boltz comes out of the closet and confesses he's gay
Christian artist Brian Bates shares his thoughts on how to respond to Ray Boltz, Clay Aiken coming out of the closet
5 things I hate about the Jonas Brothers
Michael Guglielmucci admits porn addiction, faking cancer
Christian interactive Guitar Praise game debuts this fall - is that a good thing?
Robbie Seay Band on One Tree Hill
The Afters music on TV
Kutless' "The Feeling" featured on Rock Band 2; you can win entertainment package
Krystal Meyers' Make Some Noise is the theme song for NBC's fall line up
Third Day's Revelation releases today, band appears tonight on The Tonight Show
Catch Third Day tomorrow on "The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson"
33 Miles' lead singer Jason Barton and his wife featured in Redbook
Thousand Foot Krutch, Fireflight win Taco Bell Feed the Beat contest
Tooth and Nail teams up with Make A Wish foundation to help aspiring musician's dream come true
Michael W. Smith joins Sean Hannity's 2009 Freedom Concerts
Chapman Family Suffers Tragic Loss
Rev. Timothy Wright and family involved in tragic car crash
Sponberg Family Loses Son to SIDS
Christopher Laurie, son of preacher Greg Laurie, killed in car accident
Haste The Day guitarist asked to leave the band
Pillar bassist Michael Kalel Wittig leaves the band
No changes for Pillar, despite line up changes
Heather Payne leaves Point of Grace