What is there to explore, you may be wondering.
For the Anglican Church of Canada, plenty: David Bowie is bisexual, an atheist manqué, and a mocker of Christianity; he fits right in.
From here:
Mike Daley, assistant music director at Church of the Redeemer, has been staging “Rock Eucharist” church services monthly. This Sunday will feature the works of David Bowie.
Mike Daley has a delicate task — selecting the most appropriate David Bowie songs to play during an Anglican church service this Sunday.
[…..]
He has to strike the right balance between songs that people will know and that represent the artist, and pieces of music that are appropriate in a church setting and speak to the Bible readings that day.’
I’m a bit of a record-ologist and I can attest after nigh all these many years, I never ‘got’ him or his music. It almost seemed that ‘the performance’ was more important. I can’t think of one lyric written by him that stuck with me……….ever.
Ya just gotta change the lyrics a bit and away ya go:
“Ziggy played guitar, jammin good with Reverend Gillies,
And the Vicars from Mars, he played it left hand,
But he went out too far,
And became the special man, back in the Holy land.
Ziggy played guitar. ”
Ah — Drugs, Diversity and Rock and Roll.-
Bring on Ozzie and Black Sabbath on the Sabbath.
In orthodox Anglican circles the name “Michael Daley” certainly rings some bells. He was the original Anglican blogger CANNET, and he was the originator of Anglican Planet. I even sent him a bit of money to support this. But the there is evidence that he may have a long history as a scam artist.
I wonder if it is the same person?
No, a different Michael Daley.
I did enjoy the music of David Bowie in my teens. But that was about it. Sometimes I hear one of his old hits on the radio and it takes me back to that time. I never imagined that his music would be even the slightest bit appropriate for a Worship service. The very idea smacks of “fitting in” with secular society. No surprise there, after all that is exactly what the AcoC is all about these days. They seem to think it more important to play music entertainment rather than offer a musical expression of our love for the LORD God.
Oh man. We’re going after Bowie now? What’s next, Johnny Cash? 🙁
What’s next you ask. That depends on the AcoC. Perhaps Madonna and her songs Material Girl and Like a Virgin.
Good suggestion! Cash understood sin and salvation.
Church of the Redeemer has in fact done a Johnny Cash eucharist. More than once I believe.
I love love love Johnny Cash. He was a Baptist of sorts, wasn’t he? Explains why he was obsessed with the End Times.
Anyway, I worshipped at Church of the Redeemer several times. It’s where I go when I’m in Toronto, I have friends in the congregation. Lovely church, very dynamic, very involved, very helpful. Also good musicians. One of the best Agnus Dei I’ve ever heard.
Johnny Cash has a ‘canon of work’ worth pursuing. Particularly toward the end of his years he with producer Rick Rubin explored the ‘human condition’. The material was recorded ‘on the fly’ and offers insight as to his own personal spiritual journey. Rick Rubin compiled a ‘best of’ release although each individually is worth a listen.
Just a thought.
I’m a huge Johnny Cash geek. 🙂