Spiritual Journeys: How Faith Has Influenced Twelve Music Icons

by Jason Boyett, Scott Marshall, Denise Washington

What’s the deal with Lauryn Hill and God? What’s with the outlaw preacher persona of Johnny Cash? What about Moby’s shout-outs to Jesus? Nowhere else do faith and art intermingle so fluidly than in the ever-changing stream of popular music. For today’s music-lovers, the influence of traditional religion is waning. The institutional church is fighting to remain RELEVANT. But personal spirituality and faith, particularly the kind espoused by our cultural icons are as respected and interesting as ever. In the cultural conscience, pop stars replaced preachers. SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS looks deeper into the issue by exploring the spiritual lives of a dozen of the most intriguing members of our entertainment culture. From Bono to Beyonce, P. Diddy to T-Bone, it surveys the fasinating intersection of faith and art, from the fresh perspective of a new generation of spiritual seekers.

Genres: Music

212 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2003

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of essays regarding 12 musicians from different backgrounds and their relationship to faith - specifically Christian faith. I've had this book a number of years and just now getting around the reading it and upon starting it I realzed the publisher is one that specializes in "Christian" literature. I found all the artists profiles interesting. Most drew on previous press releases and a handful also included interviews with the authors. I found the essays on Johnny Cash, Al Green, Lauryn Hill and T-Bone Burnett the most interesting. In the Johnny Cash article, in discussing his later work produced by Rick Rubin, who said "I spoke to Bono and he compared what Johnny is doing ow it what Elvis Presley did in the 1950's. Then, Elvis represented a new youth culture and it shocked and terrified everyone because culture wasn't about youth before him. Now we live in a youth culture and Jonny Cash is showing the experience of a much lder generation. It's just as radical." In the Al Green essay, "Elvis Costello was asked if he had ever had a religious experience, he responded: 'No, but I have heard Al Green.'" And just a short while later there is a reference to Al Jazeera - and the writer interjects that it refers to the "infamous Middle Eastern television network" I thought only someone from the USA would say or write that. But my favourite essay was with Mr Burnett, one of my favourite artists. At one point in declaiming his faith and beliefs, he criticizes Pat Robertson, referring to him "as power-mad a religious figure as anyone since Rasputin." Later saying that Mr Roberson is the modern day equivalent of the money changers that Christ through out of the Temple. And Mr Burnett laments "that anyone who disagrees with Robertson and company were, in certain Christian circles, unfairly dismissed as radicals." As with any book of this type there will be highs and lows. It was a worthy read