Alejandro Nava, professor of Religious Studies at the University of Arizona, says he is unsure if it was hip-hop or a curiosity for religious questions that first prompted his interest in human rights and social justice. Hip-hop has almost always prioritised the knowledge, experience and artistic expressions of the poor and disenfranchised, he says. Read Read more
Posts Tagged ‘pop music’
Deng, China’s Taylor Swift inspired by her Christian faith
Thursday, August 25th, 2022Deng Ziqi, whose Chinese name is G.E.M. 邓紫棋 is “China’s Taylor Swift.” She is one of China’s most popular and successful female singers. She is a Christian. Deng says that the inspiration for the new album Revelation came from a supernatural experience she encountered. Read more
Lindsay Lohan uses Pope Francis to promote new song
Monday, September 2nd, 2019Lindsay Lohan posted a meme which shows an altered image of Pope Francis holding up a copy of her debut album “Speak”. She captioned it, “Blessed Be The Fruit”. Read more
Catholic pop music group conquers Africa
Thursday, November 22nd, 2018Master Just and Barabas, both Catholics musicians, credit “God’s plan” for the success of their musical duo, Toofan. The Toofan story started in Togo in 2005 when the two football- and music-loving adolescents hired out a small studio with little more than a microphone and a computer to record their first hit, “Eperviers.” Continue reading
Paul McCartney saw God during drug trip
Monday, September 17th, 2018Former Beatle Paul McCartney believes he once saw God during a drug trip. In an interview with the UK, Sunday Times 76-year-old star said he was “humbled” by the experience. Read more
Why does U2 irk so many people? Their struggle for pop hits and social justice
Monday, July 24th, 2017
“They only want you to be the one thing,” Mick Jagger once told the novelist William Gibson. He was referring to his own acting career. It is odd to imagine a celebrity icon millionaire presumably so close to the heart of rock and roll speaking so wistfully of thwarted ambition, as if he once had Read more
Can you tell your pop lyrics from the wisdom of the theologians?
Monday, May 15th, 2017Some people are offended when pop music is played in the liturgy. But how good are you at telling the difference between pop song lyrics and theological gems? Take the test
The provocative faith of Lady Gaga
Friday, February 10th, 2017
Today’s Super Bowl halftime show will undoubtedly be a provocative spectacle, but it will also be a form of religious devotion for some. Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta will step on the world’s biggest stage as Lady Gaga, the Catholic schoolgirl turned chart-topper. Along with the electropop and theatricality, she will deliver an overt, yet often Read more
Ray Columbus’ career began in church
Friday, December 9th, 2016Five years ago, Ray Columbus was interviewed by RNZ host Chris Laidlaw, and spoke of mods, family, Christopher Columbus and how the band’s style started in church. As a young man, Ray had wanted to be a priest. He said he thought he had a strong moral conviction, but it was also the way they Read more
Mumford & Sons — hootenanny for the soul
Tuesday, July 23rd, 2013
“Listen to the words,” the young woman behind me stage-whispered to her chatty date. “Are you listening?” He wasn’t. But I was and so was most of the rapt, standing-room-only crowd that crammed the Greek Theatre at University of California, Berkeley, for the second of three sold-out Mumford & Sons concerts in late May. This Read more