“I am a child of God”
December 12th, 2011 by Vader
It warms my heart to see members rising to meet the 1977 challenge by President Kimball to Mormon artists in this manner.
I have long believed that most of the best Mormon music of the last fifty years was written for Primary children. While there has been some outstanding adult music, like Mack Wilberg’s arrangement of Come Thou Font of Every Blessing, it has tended to either be derivative or to not be performed nearly as much as it deserves (or both in Wilberg’s case.) However, “I am a child of God” has never been one of my favorites. Which leaves me pondering: Is it still kitsch if it’s translated to Klingonese?
Comments (3)
Filed under: Deseret Review,There are monkeyboys in the compound | Tags: kitsch, Klingonese, LDS
Filed under: Deseret Review,There are monkeyboys in the compound | Tags: kitsch, Klingonese, LDS
December 12th, 2011 09:04:37
Adam G.
December 12, 2011
I take it you are not in Primary? Because, if not, I would suggest that Primary music looks good for the same reason that stuff from a hundred years ago looks good–only the good stuff has made it to you.
In fact there has been some amazing bad songs in Primary. The Article of Faith songs come to mind.
Vader
December 12, 2011
Actually, I’ve taught both three-year-olds and ten-year-olds. The three-year-olds didn’t know enough to be scared of me; the heavy breathing was just white noise to them, while they loved it when it was time to “roar like a lion”.
The ten-year-olds, by contrast, needed the intimidation.
There is some truth to what you say. I kind of disliked Scripture Power. Well, actually, I hated it with a white-hot passion. But I love Follow the Prophet.
Adam G.
December 12, 2011
Follow the Prophet? Pretty clever of the Church to defuse the stereotype that we’re mindless, chanting robots by embracing it.
To add insult to injury, I hear Salt Lake is refusing to pay royalties to Ed Decker for the song.