Rock Unveiled

ROCK UNVEILED

by Mike King

The universal language of teenagers today is rock music. Like most other teenagers, I was hooked on rock. I loved it! As an athlete, I depended on rock to psych me up to compete. We’d drive around in the car with the stereo cranked full blast and we’d actually get high off the music. I did my homework by it and even piped it into my brain via headphones as I slept.

As a senior in high school, I turned my life over to Jesus Christ. My life began to change drastically. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new Creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Corinthians 5:17).

I began to re-evaluate everything in my life. For the first time, something seemed different about my music. I began to think about the lyrical content of the songs I listened to and I came to the conclusion that the music didn’t glorify God. Should I continue to listen to this music that many times openly mocked God or find music that truly glorified Jesus Christ? I Corinthians 10;31 says, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” I decided to glorify Jesus Christ in all things — even my music.

What is rock music saying today? Many people say the only harmful effect of rock is the lyrics, but the beat cannot be overlooked. Rock is body music, produced to literally physically affect the flesh. David Bowie, a famous English rock star, said, “Rock music has always been the devil’s music. It lets in the baser elements.” Frank Zappa, another rock performer, said, “Rock music is sex. The big beat matches the body rhythms.” Andrew Oldham, who is the recording manager of the Rolling Stones, said, “Rock music is sex and you have to hit them in the face with it.”

The Bible says in Romans 13:14, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lust thereof.” I believe the beat is the most damaging aspect of rock music and the reason it is considered the number one sound today. But what about the lyrics and the lifestyles of the rock stars? With the beat they have access to a powerful tool in which to preach their gospel of perversion. Let’s review the top songs of the last few years! This will show that illicit sex as a topic is not foreign to the rock lyrics.

In 1977, BILLBOARD MAGAZINE had a nationwide TV special awarding the top songs of the year. Rod Stewart appeared on the show in tight silk clothes, a fancy hairdo, an earring in his ear and excessive makeup. He received the award for the number one song of the year, “Tonight’s the Night.” “Tonight’s the night, virgin child. Let inhibitions run wild.” He called his lover an angel and said “Spread your wings, let me come inside.”

The ROLLING STONES magazine didn’t agree with BILLBOARD. They gave the number one single of 1977 to Bob Seger for a song called, “Night Moves.” “She was a dark haired beauty with big dark eyes… out past the cornfield where the woods got heavy, out in the back of my old ’60 Chevy, we were working on mysteries without any clues.” The philosophy of the song continues with the hedonistic idea of practicing sex with someone you don’t love to become more experienced.

The number one album of 1978 was “Some Girls,” by the Rolling Stones. There was a hit single on the album by the same title, “Some Girls.” The ROLLING STONE magazine said that the single probably would have been the number one single of 1978 except that it was a little too “controversial.” Controversial, I guess! “Some Girls” talks about black women as only wanting to have sex all night long and the song even uses the four-letter word for fornication!

The big hit single of 1979 was “Bad Girls” by Donna Summers. “See them out on the street at night, walking, picking up all kinds of strangers if the price was right. You can’t score if your pocket’s tight.” The album is dedicated to teenage prostitution. “Hey mister, have you got a dime, want to spend some time. I’ve got what you want, you’ve got what I need.”

Queen produced the top album in 1980. “Another One Bites the Dust,” off their album, “The Game.” Queen is steeped In homosexual overtones. On the front of the album the group appears dressed in homosexual leathers. The name “Queen” also refers to the male in the homosexual relationship that takes on himself the role of the female. The male role is called the “Duke.” They also wrote a big hit song that many “gay rights” groups have adopted as their theme song, “We are the Champions,” “We are the Champions, my friend and we’ll keep on fighting till the end” (till we get our gay rights).

In 1981 it was Kim Carnes singing “Bette Davis Eyes” that swept the nation. “She’ll let you take her home. It whets her appetite. She’ll lay you on her throne. She’ll take a tumble on you. Roll you like dice. Until you come up blue. She’s got Bette Davis eyes.”

Olivia Newton John’s single, “Physical,” became one of only ten hits in the rock era to withstand nine consecutive weeks as the nation’s number one hit. “I got to handle you just right you know what I mean. I took you to an intimate restaurant then to a suggestive movie. There’s nothing left to talk about, let’s get horizontally. Let’s get physical. I want to get physical. Let me hear your body talk.” Consequently it was the number one single of 1982.

“Centerfold” by J. Geils Band is a song about a man looking through a pornographic magazine and he’s surprised to find the centerfold picture is an old high school girlfriend. “I hope that when this issue’s gone I’ll see you when your clothes are on. We’ll take your car and drive It. We’ll take it to a motel room and take’em off in private.”

Perhaps Michael Jackson best sums up the overriding message of the rock stars today, to teenagers, in his song, “Off the Wall,” “Do what you want to do. There ain’t no rules it’s up to you… Gotta hide your inhibitions. Gotta let that fool loose deep inside your soul.” Do what you want, where you want, when you want. If it feels good, DO IT. It’s your life, just live it up. This is what the rock stars are saying to teenagers. And it’s a powerful message coming from the teen heroes of today.

If you’re hooked on rock and it’s philosophy, realize that it is a deception that leads, many times, to ultimate destruction. Don’t dedicate your life on the altar of lust. Most rock stars don’t give a rip about the lives of teenagers who are blindly following them. In Galatians 6:7 the Bible says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: For whatsoever a man soweth. that shall he also reap. AC/DC’s song, “Highways to Hell,” makes it clear where those who live the rock lifestyle are headed. Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” John 10:10.

We are not to fill our minds with the senseless corruption of this world but with “whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely things of virtue and praise” Philippians 4:8. Then the lifestyle of Christ will be manifest through your life. Teenager, “Let no man despise thy youth: but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” I Timothy 4:12.

Choose this day whom ye shall serve either rock and roll or the Lord Jesus Christ!

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