How Far the Mighty Have Fallen
April 23, 2008Sometimes I get nostalgic for things- not too often though.
Lately, with new releases from Madonna, Janet Jackson, and Mariah Carey, I’ve listened to what was up with them and longed for their earlier years. What has happened? I think I know- the years of sinful attitudes and of people worshipping the ground they walk upon have taken their toll.
Janet Jackson
I remember watching the show “Good Times” back in the day when a young, innocent Janet Jackson played a sweet character named “Penny.”
And didn’t all us guys have a crush on Janet when she was Willis’ girlfriend in Diff’rent Strokes?
Fast forward 30 or so odd years, Janet’s nipple-pierced breast shocked the nation during a Superbowl halftime.
Fast forward another couple years and Janet releases her new album, “Discipline.” On the album cover, she’s decked out in S&M array, to titilate and shock I suppose.
Before the first single “Feedback” was released, she released a little-known single, “Lesbian” where she says “Pussy” over and over (in the remix I heard, anyway). Why?
Mariah Carey
Crowned as the artist with the most number one singles, Mariah is at the top of the (steaming) heap. I think her first #1 was the lovely, squeaky-clean “Vision of Love“.
The single’s name that put her over the King, Elvis? “Touch My Body.”
I unfortunately caught a couple seconds of the video for that song- I believe she was writhing in bed near a nerdy-looking white guy. Looked like she was struggling to breathe under the weight of her fake bosoms.
Madonna
Though Madonna’s earliest material had much to be desired in terms of morality and Godliness, one couldn’t deny the tunefulness. The 80’s were a period of great musical output from Madonna.
Fast forward 25-30 years, she’s putting out mass produced drivel in the cookie-cutter mold of Justin Timberlake and Timbaland. Is anyone else getting tired of this formula?
Here’s some brilliant lyrics from her new single, “4 Minutes” (lyrics found at http://www.metrolyrics.com):
If you want it
Ya already got it
If you thought it
It better be what you wantIf you feel it
It must be real just
Say the word and
I’ma give you what you want
And the scary, condemning lyrics:
The road to hell is paved with good intentions
Yeah
But if I die tonight at least I can say I did what I wanted to do
Tell me how ’bout you?
All these ladies have “done what they wanted to do.” And in the end (unless they repent and turn to Christ), they will have received their rewards in this life, only to suffer eternal punishment in the next.
In the Bible, Jesus tells a haunting parable:
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
”‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16-31)(NIV)
Don’t let what happened to the rich man happen to you. Just because you’re comfortable, possibly rich, doesn’t mean that it’s time to relax. Examine yourself- are you right with God?
Jesus offers himself for those who desire relief from their life of sin:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
(Matthew 11:28)(NIV)
I’m only 19, so obviously I can’t go back 25-30 years, but the trend doesn’t surprise me. In fact, it’s not altogether beyond the norm, especially today. They’re following the trend of the mass media and a society bent on sex and pleasure, and they’re taking a whole generation along for the ride.
But you’re right – it all went to their head. They – and a huge deal of stars in today’s electrified society – don’t have the value sets and life skills needed in order to handle the lives they lead. But it doesn’t exactly help if they don’t allow God to be hard-wired in their lives, and the consequences are proof.
Britney Spears is a stark example: She had beauty, some talent, and a large portion of popularity, all of which don’t come naturally to a great deal of people. And, as the media has abundantly showed us, it was her downfall. Her influence is certainly having a negative influence on teenage girls (not to mention the Internet celebrity Chris Crocker), and it’s not showing any signs of coming out of the downward spiral – if it ever can, that is.
On another note, it’s not just Timberlake and Timbaland; the cheesy duets being churned out all around are getting tiresome – not only because the music happens to be atrocious, but because the chemistry in each is a non sequitur. It doesn’t work to pair up Madonna with Justin Timberlake, someone with a startlingly effeminate voice. Then you’ve got T-Pain and Yung Joc who had an IQ-dropping #1 hit, and then Santana and Chad Kroeger with their hit. And then there’s the worst – Fall Out Boy and John Mayer performing a backwashed rock ‘n’ roll remix of a Michael Jackson hit! Two words: Enough already!
Sure, there are some highlights in the music scene. Today’s hits have elements of truth, as illustrated above, but the truth itself is encompassed in massive lies.
The next generation of youth is growing up in a time that is more dangerous and critical than ever, in part thanks to modern music. The do-your-own-thing messages are the common denominator in today’s problems and yesterday’s philosophies. It all came from somewhere, and we’re seeing some of the fruits become increasingly bitter for us to digest. It’s not workin’ too well, is it?
Whoa … dude. Three months is a long time without a posting. I had you linked on my site and everything. I liked reading your stuff. How ’bout posting something. Hint, hint. Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge.
It is definitely sad how things have turned out for the 3 of them. Hopefully one day someone will get the chance to share the Gospel with them. I doubt any of them have really heard the truth of the Gospel.