I agree that 99% of current pop songs will not be heard 30 years from now.
I had a worship music professor who observed a similar trend in worship music where close to 20,000 hymns/worship songs are published yearly and only 1-2 have a lasting quality that see them used ten, fifty, or hundreds of years after they were written.
That leaves us with the 1% of popular music from 2018 that can have an immediate and lasting impact on culture.
I think parents and leaders of children and youth can play an active role in the discernment of music through exploration and discussion. We can have conversations about what we think will be the "1%" songs and why. We can also use the "99%" songs to have fruitful conversations that explore meaningful topics, even if we suspect the song will not last.
When I speak at schools or youth groups, students will sometimes pick a song for us to discuss that I hope is part of the 99% and won’t be remembered. Either because of what I perceive a lack of musical quality or because I find the theme of the song distorts the Biblical story and is unhelpful for those trying to follow Jesus. Yet, I still find our conversations about these (99%) songs valuable because the students can see more clearly the disconnect between their faith and the song. And I find that I appreciate the nuances and themes of current music that I never would have seen without the insight of the students.
A parent asked me to create a list of "1%" songs that they could introduce to their teenagers to spark conversation so I made a list at www.micahvandijk.com/top-ten-songs Looking at the list, I’m aware that I wouldn't have known about most of these songs, without the help and suggestions by youth.
Unfortunately, the problem you raise is not a new one to this generation. But I do think there is opportunity to have meaningful discussions that shape faith and identity with both the 1% and the 99% of current music that youth are listening to.
Posted in: Why Do My Kids Like Bad Music?
Hello Kent
You raise some good points!
I agree that 99% of current pop songs will not be heard 30 years from now.
I had a worship music professor who observed a similar trend in worship music where close to 20,000 hymns/worship songs are published yearly and only 1-2 have a lasting quality that see them used ten, fifty, or hundreds of years after they were written.
That leaves us with the 1% of popular music from 2018 that can have an immediate and lasting impact on culture.
I think parents and leaders of children and youth can play an active role in the discernment of music through exploration and discussion. We can have conversations about what we think will be the "1%" songs and why. We can also use the "99%" songs to have fruitful conversations that explore meaningful topics, even if we suspect the song will not last.
When I speak at schools or youth groups, students will sometimes pick a song for us to discuss that I hope is part of the 99% and won’t be remembered. Either because of what I perceive a lack of musical quality or because I find the theme of the song distorts the Biblical story and is unhelpful for those trying to follow Jesus. Yet, I still find our conversations about these (99%) songs valuable because the students can see more clearly the disconnect between their faith and the song. And I find that I appreciate the nuances and themes of current music that I never would have seen without the insight of the students.
A parent asked me to create a list of "1%" songs that they could introduce to their teenagers to spark conversation so I made a list at www.micahvandijk.com/top-ten-songs Looking at the list, I’m aware that I wouldn't have known about most of these songs, without the help and suggestions by youth.
Unfortunately, the problem you raise is not a new one to this generation. But I do think there is opportunity to have meaningful discussions that shape faith and identity with both the 1% and the 99% of current music that youth are listening to.
Micah van Dijk