Join us tonight on the Darkstream for a Booster Patrol-powered Christmas listen!
Song List (MP3 downloads)
Song List (videos)
Tag: music
The Shadow Mocks
There is literally nothing the petty wicked of the world will not eventually seek to subvert, not even Handel’s Messiah:
Messiah Queered — that’s the title of a reimagining of Handel’s classic oratorio performed through an LGBTTQ+ lens.
The oratorio, a staple at Christmas time for many people, will be performed by the Rainbow Harmony Project choir, together with soloists and a 16-piece orchestra made up of professional and amateur players at Holy Trinity Anglican Church Friday at 7:30 p.m.
The idea for the performance came up during a conversation between Nathan Poole, a local violin and piano teacher, and Sandra Bender, music director at Holy Trinity Church. Bender, who is bisexual and the soprano soloist in the performance, thought it would be a great oratorio for LGBTTQ+ people.
“It’s the story of a transient who hung out with marginalized people, who offered love and self-sacrifice and who experienced rejection and betrayal — something LGBTTQ+ people understand in all too real a way,” she said.
Kathleen Murphy, a student and choir director for Rainbow Harmony Project and the mezzo-soprano in the performance, said doing the Messiah through an LGBTTQ+ lens is “a way to push back expectations.”
The Churchians who have reduced the image of Jesus Christ to a saccharine figure who is about nothing but love, tolerance, and acceptance not only have a lot for which to answer, they are going to be in for a tremendous surprise when the King of Kings returns, riding through the blood of the wicked on a white horse.
Christ on a White Horse
I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Usually, one prays for mercy. Sometimes, though, one really hopes for justice.
The World Has No Chance
Babymetal isn’t just back with a vengeance. I mean, yes, Moa has proven that she can hold her own in the absence of Yui, Momo has won over me and the rest of The One with her enthusiasm, Su’s voice is maturing beautifully, and Monochrome is a serious candidate for their best-ever song as well as one of the best compositions and productions I’ve ever heard by anyone, but now they’re multiplying.
I have to admit, my thoughts almost precisely echoed one commenter’s observation.
When the Metalverse girl started singing I was like, “wow, she’s good. Maybe even give Su a run for her money.” Then Su started singing and I was like, “nope, not even close.”
Su’s voice was always great, but the strength, the length, and most of all, the ease with which she holds that high note on the last “hajire” is simply breathtaking. Not that she ever lacked confidence on stage, but now she practically radiates it. And it’s fun to see how she still loves singing a relatively silly early song like Iine.
While I like the way they’re extending the instrumental breakdown here and increasing the contrast with the heavier parts, nothing will replace the way they got the whole audience involved on this one in some of the smaller venues back in their first European tour days.
As a bonus, check out what can only be described as their triumphant Road of Resistance performance at the same Japanese arena earlier this month.
UPDATE: Okay, now they’re just showing off. It’s a mirrored performance that comes out of nowhere. Wait until 2:22.
All Ur Yule Are Belong to Him
I always found the idea that Christian art was in any way inferior to secular art to be mysterious, the Boomer schlock of Christian Rock and the Amish romances of the Christian Bookstore Association notwithstanding. As much as I might like Silver Bells and White Christmas, they absolutely pale before the triumphant majesty of The Messiah and Adeste Fideles. And no one who has ever stood before a grand cathedral in Italy is likely to be impressed by the childish brutalism of modern block architecture today.
But forget the grand compendium of the art of Christendom, this pair of tweets prove that Christians can meme with the best of #GamerGate and even /pol/ itself.
“Easter was actually originally a pagan holiday!”
Keep complaining and we’ll take Toyotathon and make it a Christian holiday too.
“But we-“
You just lost Shark Week.
“That’s not-“
SHARK WEEK IS A WEEK-LONG CHRISTIAN FESTIVAL NOW
The Material Side of the Spiritual War
Boyzone singer Shane Lynch testifies to the way the pop music industry is as openly and knowingly Satanic as the 80’s metal hair bands aspired to be:
The [music] industry is destructive – let me take it straight to God and to the spiritual world. We have the Holy Spirit that guides us and protects us in the name of Christ, but the demonic side of the music industry is very real too. That’s how I came to God; through understanding the demonic side.
I was certainly interested in being mysterious; it gave me a character, it gave me some substance that I could hold on to. Why I portrayed myself in those ways I don’t know – maybe I was trying to prove something. But it intrigued me, the darker side of the world. Ouija boards, séances, tarot card reading, all that kind of spiritual stuff really got hold of me. That all came from our very first album launch; it was a Halloween party in a big mansion, but that was super demonic. We were just young kids, [and we thought]: It’s a bit of fun. All the record company and the journalists are there, and here we go. Not all music is bad, but the majority of it is [designed] to take you away from Christ, 100 per cent.
Do you mean in terms of the lyrics or the big players in the industry?
Both. Lyrically and big players. I’ve been in rooms – at the top of the top – where albums are prayed over demonically. Music is prayed over demonically that goes out to the radio stations, to the public. When you see that stuff, it’s frightening.
What do you mean by “prayed over demonically”?
Rituals, ceremonies, everything to give light to the devil, to Satan. It’s a satanic music industry.
Do you mean figuratively, or literally?
Literally. Yes.
The ticket takers don’t just have sympathy for the Devil. They know what they are doing and they are actively serving him. From Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger to Lady Gaga, Beyonce, and Doja Cat, they are literal servants of Satan.
That’s why the pop stars all hate, fear, and mock Christians.
It’s why I tend to prefer listening to classical music, much of which was written in the active service of Jesus Christ. There are few negative moods that a Bach concerto can’t cure.
Confirmation
Mick Jagger had sympathy for the Devil because he took the ticket.
Mick Jagger: My 8 kids ‘don’t need’ my $500 million fortune
In other words, Mr. Jagger’s success was manufactured, his money isn’t his, and now the time to pay the infernal piper is rapidly approaching, despite his best efforts. I wonder if he still thinks it was worth it, or if he now regrets the deal he made?
Never envy the rich and famous. Their money isn’t theirs and the fame rapidly fades away. And the ticket has been on offer for a long, long time. The picture below shows the Rolling Stones circa 1966.
Literally Taking the Ticket
ITEM: He is one of the most sought after artists in the agency world and now he finally has major a booking team behind him. Oliver Anthony has signed with UTA for exclusive worldwide representation in all areas.
ITEM: United Talent Agency is a global talent agency based in Beverly Hills, California. Established in 1991, it represents artists and other professionals across the entertainment industry. As of 2021, the company has more than 1,400 global employees.
Let’s see your shocked faces, everyone.
Rage Against the Babymetal
I don’t think anyone saw this one coming. I definitely did not. It’s not anthemic like Monochrome or The Legend, but Metali is very high energy and it rocks. Su looks like she’s having a blast, the use of the traditional instruments is cool, and Momo is definitely coming out of the shadow of Yui and into her own.
Manufactured
RIP Steve Harwell
Steve Harwell, the lead singer of 90s rockers Smash Mouth, has died at the age of 56.
Smashmouth wasn’t technically a one-hit wonder, but what a great hit it was. “All-Star” was one of the definitive songs for the Millennial generation but it was GenX to the core; musically it was very simple, but lyrically it was of a philosophical bent. Marcus Aurelius would have approved of it.
“Get your game on. Go play.”