Music – Kallos

Christian music became my idol

Kallos Team — Sun, 31 Jul 2022 16:00:00 +0000

Growing up in a family of musicians, I have always been a music nerd. But as I immerse myself in music, not all of it is entirely godly. Some of these songs feature explicit lyrics, or cover dark themes. As a result, I once decided to challenge myself to only listen to Christian music and no secular songs for two months. I did this because I wanted to centre myself in godliness and honour God with the songs I consume.

The first few weeks of the challenge started out great. I was so inspired by God and His word that I wrote two songs in a span of two weeks! However, something happened in school that made me feel discouraged and hopeless. To get through that difficult time, I used Christian music to make me feel better.

Weirdly, as much as the songs I listened to encouraged and assured me that God is with me, I felt far from God. It was ironic that the more I tried to fill my mind with godly songs to hear God’s words and truth, the less I could hear Him speaking into my life.

The challenge backfired because I realised that each time I went through difficulty, I turned to music instead of turning to the One who holds all things together (Col 1:17). Instead of taking my worries to God, I depended on the song lyrics and ‘feels’ of the song to lift my spirit. It took a while for me to realise that Christian music had started to become an idol in my life.

Christian and worship music can build faith, and is a way to praise and glorify God. But I learned that it can’t be my go-to in times of need.

To overcome this, I simply tried to lessen my music intake. I swapped my usual evening runs with music to evening prayer walks in the park without music. While on public transport, I spent time talking to God instead of being distracted by music. Finally, once again, I knew God was lifting my troubles off my shoulders each time I surrendered them to Him in prayer. I used to think of music as my transportation and workout companion, but the real fact is that I was never alone. God watches over me every day.

To all reading this, I thank God that Christian music has helped many of us to shift our focus to God and speak the word of God into our hearts. But let us not forget that He alone is the One we should run to for our every need!

Jonathan Ogden: Singing For the Audience of One

Quek Shiwei — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 11:41:00 +0000

I got to hear snippets of Liane’s story through a mutual friend a couple of months ago and was inspired by how she truly loved God and wanted to live her life for Him. Despite exceling in school and working as a successful lawyer, Liane put on no airs. She was down-to-earth and personal during our conversation together. While others may look at her accolades and label her a “success,” Liane is more interested in how she lives her life for God and uses her gifts to serve others!

You may have heard of the band Rivers & Robots, but do you know the man behind the music? DOROTHEA WONG speaks with frontman Jonathan Ogden to find out how his bedroom recording project led him on a journey of becoming a singer-songwriter for Jesus.

I have been a long-time fan of Rivers & Robots and Jonathan Ogden’s solo music, so I must admit that I was thrilled to speak with him for this interview! Rivers & Robots is known as a band who writes songs about Jesus with a creative and unique sound, breaking the boundaries of what worship music can sound like. Marrying Scripture with dreamy electronic beats, the band has since led worship at churches, festivals and even clubs! However, with the hiatus of the band due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Ogden is relishing this season to write and produce music from home.

Who were some of your musical influences growing up?

I live in Manchester — a very big music city in the United Kingdom, so I grew up listening to a lot of live music. That infl uenced me to start writing songs because I noticed how creative and diverse every artist was, how every concert sounded different and used different instruments.

How did you know that God was leading you to write songs and worship Him with music and creativity?

I’ve always enjoyed creative things even since I was a little kid — I even used to make short films! Music was something I toyed around with; I used to make remixes of songs and little goofy things.

When I was turning 17, I started to take my faith more seriously. I decided, “I really want to own my faith and not just come to church with my parents.” I went for a Christian conference and right in the middle of worship, I felt something in me telling me that I was supposed to do worship as a way of serving God.

EVEN IF I LEAD WORSHIP AND IT GOES TERRIBLY, GOD STILL LOVES ME.

What were some faith-defining moments you had as a teen?
When I started taking my faith seriously, I really wanted to read the Bible for myself. There was this moment when the more I read the Word, the more it started to come alive to me in a new way; it wasn’t merely reading words on a page. I realised I could speak to the Person who inspired these words, and I could turn these words into conversation with God.

What gave you the courage to become a full-time musician?

People encouraged me to do it. One of the worship leaders at my church was always asking me to lead worship but I kept saying no. But deep down, I knew it was what God wanted me to do so I obliged. Over time, I was still really nervous but stepping out and doing it gave me the courage to keep continuing.

Did you start out making music intentionally to further the gospel and reach out, or was it something that happened along the way?

It happened along the way. It was almost a surprise to me when I felt God speaking to me about using music for Him and I realised that all this while, He had already put that desire and joy in me to make music.

It did feel different to create music with purpose attached to it. Previously, I was just curious about music and how to make songs. But now I know that the music I create can help me and other people connect with God too. Once I discovered the purpose of what I was doing, it took on a whole new level of passion and enjoyment.

What are some setbacks you’ve experienced as a musician?

There were definitely times when I got discouraged by people’s comments about the music I release online. I remember the second album that I made from home. The day it was released, one person bought it. It was my friend who sat next to me in my office! But I was okay with that as I realised that I wasn’t making music to get millions of plays but to create music and give to the Lord.

I LOVE SINGING THE BIBLE AS MANY CHRISTIANS CAN UNITE AROUND THE WORD.

How did your perspective of success change after becoming a Christian?
I became a Christian in the midst of my working years. Over time, listening to sermons and reading the Bible caused me to ask myself, “Why am I doing all the things I am doing?” The things that gave me status as an advantage over people was rendered useless in the kingdom of God.

Interestingly, things started changing at my workplace; my boss had resources to hire more people so work became more balanced amongst the employees. I started to have more time to pursue my own interests, and I realised that life is more than just work.

What really set me free was my struggle with a spending problem and I prayed for God to help me overcome it. I read Crazy Love by Francis Chan and I was convicted to only spend a fixed amount and give the rest away. That season opened my eyes to realise that there is more to life than working tirelessly to earn more money. Of course, no matter how much or little you have, you should still have a heart of service to bless others. Being freed from excessive working and money as my identity was a huge breakthrough.

What do you think distinguishes striving and working hard for grades versus obsessing over them?
Ideally, nothing should fill the void in your heart except God. You should be so secure in your identity that good or bad grades will not make you feel any less loved and complete. The problem is that sometimes, you have an idol that is co-existing with God. I can have a good relationship with God, and still have an idol. Let’s say my idol is good grades. I achieve good grades and I do love God. But I need to ask myself honestly if I am working hard because I love God and want to be excellent in what I do, or if I am doing it because I am looking to good grades to define me.

WHEN IT IS CONSUMING OTHER IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE, YOU OUGHT TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK.

What is your creative process like? Do you intentionally use Scripture as lyrics, or do tunes come into your mind as you read the Bible?
I always like to write songs that mean something to me or about something that’s already stirring in my heart. I’ll usually start off by creating loops and melodies. But as soon as I get to the lyrics, I ask, “What is God speaking about this week?”

I also love singing the Bible as many Christians can unite around the Word. The Bible contains deep truths that is way beyond something could come up with; it’s God speaking to us. Sometimes I’d literally just open the Psalms, grab my guitar, sing the Bible while reading, and see if I can get any ideas from that.

If you could change anything about the
music industry, what would it be?
I wrestle with the fact that we (as Christian artistes) often produce and release music like the world does. I believe worship music is unique and not the same as just releasing an album. When things grew with the band, I found myself in a lot of conversations that involved promoting our albums and talking to labels.

Many times, I came out of those meetings thinking, “I just want to sing songs to Jesus” more than talking about how to market a product, because I don’t see it as a product to be marketed. I see it as my expression of worship. I would love to see more of that kind of heart, where music returns to the purity of why we worship and why we make these songs.

Ask A Songwriter!

Kallos Team — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 10:44:00 +0000

ETHEL YAP

Yio Chu Kang Chapel

What is your songwriting process like?

If I begin the songwriting process from a lyrical point, it usually comes from mulling over an idea, theme, or experience that I have been processing recently. Usually, key words or phrases will come to mind, and I’ll try to expand and deepen the ideas from there such that the lyrics bring the listener on a journey. I also try to ensure that the lyrics adhere to some kind of rhyming and
rhythmic structure or metre. Once I have a rough skeleton of the lyrics, then I put the ‘meat’ on it by composing a suitable melody around the words. If I begin writing from a melodic point, then I’ll start by recording down chord progressions or guitar riff s that I’ve been playing around with. Depending on the mood of the sound, I’ll think of lyrics that match the feel of the music and work from there.

FAITH PANG

Songwriting Mentor with Awaken Generation

How do you know when a song is ‘complete’?

To me, the most important element of a song is the theme of the song. It’s the overarching idea and concept that allows listeners to understand the message that a musician is trying to convey. During my process of songwriting, these are several questions that I will ask myself:
1. Does every section of the song translate to a clear theme and play a part in
storytelling? Is the theme of the song well supported?
2. Is the song catchy enough to captivate the attention of listeners and compel them to
sing along?
3. Does the melody match the mood and theme of the song?
4. Do the lyrics convey the main message or theme of the song?
5. Do the lyrics sound poetic? Are there any other ways to tell the story in a fresh way?

JIA HAO

Fireplace Collective

Where does your inspiration usually come from?

My inspiration typically stems from the moments when I’m experimenting with melodies. It could be while I’m playing a guitar or when I’m out walking around. I would simply hum different melodies aloud or in my mind, and if I find something that I like, I’ll record it on my phone.

JEAN TAN

Yio Chu Kang Chapel

What tips would you give a budding songwriter?

Listen and listen. Listen to as many songs as possible, by different artistes, and in as many genres as you possibly can. Put together a playlist of songs you like, and pay attention to what you like about them — the melody, groove, lyrics, chords, arrangements, instrumentation, or others? The more sounds and ideas you collect, the richer your writing will be. Your songs are tapestries of the various influences you listen to, so the more you listen, the more interesting and varied your creations could be.

Our full video recording is available for purchase below!

In this two-hour virtual panel, they answered questions like:
• How do I reject a guy without being insensitive?
• What does love look like to a guy?
• What do guys find attractive in a girl?
… and more!

What Music Taught Me About Being A Girl

Benita Lim — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 10:31:00 +0000

If music were your teacher, what would it be teaching you?
BENITA LIM reveals why discernment matters when listening to music.

Growing up, my favourite girl group was the Spice Girls. They defied conventional pop group stereotypes of being just cute, pretty, or sexy (or all of
the above), and were singers with unique ‘personalities’. Their songs were catchy and fun, and often celebrated ‘girl power’.

As pop stars heavily marketed by one of the biggest global music labels, they
became heroines of girls both young and old in many parts of the world.

THE MUSIC EFFECT

Studies have shown that music influences our emotions, and lyrics, when we connect with them, have the ability to impact our well-being. What makes things more complex is that music today is more than what we listen to. It has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar industry and a multi-sensory experience. Artistes do not only write and perform music; they also try to create viral music videos, appear on different visual platforms such as TV programmes, become brand ambassadors, and create social media profiles so as to connect with their fans on a more ‘personal’ level.

WHAT DOES THE MUSIC THAT YOU HEAR, SEE, AND SCROLL THROUGH TELL YOU?

WHAT A GIRL WANTS

It seems that popular music often teaches us that what a girl really wants is sex and intimacy. A survey of U.S. top-40 hits between 1960 and 2010 showed that
67.3 percent of the lyrics referenced relationships and love, and 29.9 percent
referenced sex and sexual desire! I wouldn’t be surprised if those percentages have gone up even further in the past ten years— songs about sex in particular have only gotten more explicit.

I must admit that I love a good love song. I cannot deny that I, too, desire to hear the guy that I am attracted to one day whisper things like, “You are the only one I’ll ever love,” and “You want me like I want you tonight, baby” (+50 points if he sings it while playing the piano or guitar!). And yet, there have been times when consistently listening to music like that has led me to feelings of intense sadness and even anger at what I seem to be missing out on.

MUSIC IS INDEED A POWERFUL GIFT FROM GOD TO ALL HUMANKIND.

WHAT A GIRL NEEDS

The second thing I’ve observed in today’s music scene is an emphasis on girl power. What does a girl need? Apparently, not men! Let me be clear: music that celebrates empowerment of girls is important. In an analysis of Billboard’s
top 600 songs from 2012 to 2017, out of 1,239 performing artists, only 22.4 percent were women. Seeing the success of female performers and listening to lyrics that highlight the capabilities of girls surely gives us inspiration and encouragement.

It connects with us on many levels and can even help us with our well-being. However, as we have seen, it also teaches and communicates different messages about our needs and wants as girls which may not be fully aligned with what God desires for us. As you enjoy this gift, may you stay attuned to the Spirit’s wisdom for discernment as to what you listen to, see, and scroll through regarding all things music!

She urged me to recognise that I had been carrying a crushing weight of expectations and achievements. Underlying this was pride in my heart, consumed by the pressure to ‘have my life together’ when I had placed my identity in what others thought of me, and not in the One I belong to. Often, our daily preoccupations and emotions suggest who we belong to — a little praise and success lifts us, while a little criticism and failure makes us dispirited. Henri Nouwen puts it this way in The Return of the Prodigal Son: “All the time and energy I spend in keeping some kind of balance and preventing myself from being tipped over … shows that my life is mostly a struggle for survival: not a holy struggle, but an anxious struggle resulting from the mistaken idea that it is the world that defines me.”

I sought time with the Lord and asked for grace that I would be open and tender to His voice as He revealed the offensive ways in me and led me in His ways. In the secret place, I was deeply met with the revelation that there is no striving or performance in His love. With this encountered truth, I desired to turn from my ways of self-sufficiency and pride and to be set free from the need to prove myself with this constant striving and achieving. By my own strength I had tried to carry the weight of my expectations and the pressures of succeeding; but God knows our frame, and He doesn’t ask us to be more than who He has created and called us to be.

There are some weights not for us to carry and some that we are to let go of. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (ESV). Run the race that is set before us — not the rat race with its concomitant pressures and expectations, but the race in light of what God has called and redeemed us for.

As the striving and stress began to be replaced with such freedom and light, I found starting the day or study time with prayer helped to anchor me in the Lord. With God’s leading, I began to experience anew the joy of studying, of working heartily unto God and not others, and could fully enjoy the times meant for rest. My Jetpack Kal days are now behind me, and before me is a lifetime’s journey of placing my identity in Him and grasping this timeless truth: it is God who defines me, and nothing and no one else.

Worshipping When No One’s Looking

Aarksara Foo — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 10:18:00 +0000

When we were about to bid farewell to 2019 and excitedly welcome 2020, little did we know that we’d be faced with Covid-19 restrictions, and that in a moment, all of our lives would change drastically. It has been daunting for the whole world to navigate through these unknown waters. I remember having a sense of peace; knowing that God had already promised in Isaiah 43:2 that “when you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you” (NLT).

Church services had to be moved online, and worship teams and church teams all around the globe had to figure out the best way to stay connected with their congregations during these unprecedented times. This season, it has been interesting to see worship leaders adjust to leading worship online, either through pre-recorded sets or live-streamed worship sets via Facebook or YouTube. Some have said that they have struggled with leading without anyone there; they feel like they don’t have anyone to lead without seeing the congregation in front of them. This has challenged me to see the core of being a worshipper of Jesus. What happens when there’s no one in the congregation? What happens when the lights are turned off? What happens when you don’t hear the applause of others? Will you still worship? Will you still praise and lift up the name of Jesus?

Sometimes when we are worshipping together in a live community, we ‘rely’ on others to help us get to that sweet place of worship between us and the Father. Has it been challenging or easy as you click on your church’s service link to worship along to a pre-recorded set list?

I love that Matthew 6:5–6 encourages all of us to go into that secret, quiet place — to worship and pray to God simply and authentically, just as we are, with no roleplaying. The sweetest place of worship where I have encountered Jesus is in my bedroom, singing unto Him with the doors closed, no microphones, no cameras, no makeup, my hair put up in a messy topknot and in my comfy pyjamas.

Even before Covid-19, I’ve always loved going into that secret place, sitting and soaking in His presence. Daily quiet time and worship with the Lord has always been a non-negotiable. I encourage worship leaders and vocalists to see that if we’re not cultivating that lifestyle of worship in that secret place, we’d be leading out of an empty place. If we’re not drawing from the well daily, where will we be pouring out from?

My dear sister, I want to encourage you to keep worshipping Jesus even when it may feel like no one is there worshipping with you. Yes, the lights might be turned off. Yes, there are no microphones and stages. Yes, there’s no one next to you worshipping alongside you. Yes, we miss in-person community. But Jesus is still here — worthy of all our praise and worship. Will you keep worshipping Him even when no one’s looking? Take heart, do not fear. Worshipping Jesus in every season will be the anchor for your soul.

PRAYER

Father God, please help me to worship You in every season. Help me to worship You simply and authentically in my private moments with You. I know You hear me, see me, and love me. Amen.

REFLECTION TIME!

1. What time of the day will you set aside to have your quiet time and worship time with the Lord?
2. Are there some friends you can connect with online during this time so you can encourage one another to keep worshipping?

DELVE DEEPER

Read these passages to dive deeper into this thought of ‘Worshipping When No One’s Looking’:
o Psalm 95:1–7
o Psalm 100

SONGSPO

‘No Fear’ – Tree

Review: The Album by Blackpink

Quek Shi Yun — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 01:09:00 +0000

I have a confession. Before reviewing this album, I have never heard a Blackpink song. I know, how is that possible?! They’ve broken the record for the most-viewed YouTube video in 24 hours (twice!), have two music videos with one billion views on YouTube, and their latest album has already hit a million pre-orders. I must have been living under a rock!

With their finely balanced mix of innocent sweetness (the pink) and a cool edginess (the black) complete with hip hop-inspired dance moves and a rap in every song, Blackpink is a band like no other. Their aesthetic fits right in with the age of girl power, which blends independence and self-assurance with the joy of being female, and truth be told, I see Blackpink’s appeal.

These are women who seem to exude confidence, and not because they have a man. In fact, on ‘Lovesick Girls,’ they declare, “Didn’t want to be a princess, I’m priceless/ A prince not even on my list.” On ‘Love to Hate Me,’ they stand up against those who try to tear them down, while their final track, ‘You Never Know,’ is an anti-hate anthem that encourages people not to judge. These feel-good messages encourage their viewers not to tag their worth to others’ words — instead, they should see the inherent value in themselves.

Yet at the same time, the confidence seen in their lyrics is accompanied with a not-so-subtle show of sexuality in their performances. With their sensual dance moves, revealing outfits, and suggestive lyrics, Blackpink isn’t all sugar and spice. ‘Ice Cream’ shocked K-pop fans with its sexually explicit lyrics, and ‘Bet You Wanna,’ a collab with Cardi B, is a flirty song rife with innuendo: “From the club to the tub/ You said you wanna / Give me an all-night hug.” There’s also a lot more swearing in English on this Korean-language album than you might expect, with the B-word casually tossed out throughout.

I’ve become a fan of their catchy tunes and powerful vocals, but I can’t deny a slight disappointment in the direction they’ve taken. I’m all for women having confidence, but I wish that “confidence” wasn’t equated to in-your-face sexuality, or even self-sufficiency alone. The Album plays with ideas of female empowerment, but it’s a far cry from a complete picture of femininity. Yes, we are called to respect ourselves and each other as we are all made in the image of God (Gen 1:27) and no gender has more privilege in Christ (Gal 3:28). But the confidence of a Christian comes in her identity as a child of God rather than her ego (Rom 8:14–16; Phil 3:3). Godly beauty doesn’t come from putting our bodies on display (1 Pet 3:3–4) — it comes from fearing the Lord (Prov 1:7; 31:30) and loving Him wholeheartedly (Deut 6:5).

Just as with their previous works, The Album sets out to inspire women to know their worth and get what they want. It’s a worthwhile message on the surface, but relies on popular ideas about strength and femininity that should warrant a second look. There is no doubt that Blackpink will continue to be a pop-culture phenomenon, and I’m hopeful for how they can use their influence in the most positive way.

All About Worship

Kallos Team — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 03:41:00 +0000

Worship is a regular part of our weekly church services. But have you ever thought about what worship really is all about? Here are the top four questions about worship that we’ve gathered from our readers!

“How do I worship God when I don’t feel like it?”
Aarksara: I’ll be one of the first to raise my hand and admit that I have had these thoughts go through my mind. I’ve quickly learnt that worship is a non-negotiable in our walk with Jesus. It is part of our DNA as followers of Christ. Worship is our response and expression unto God, in every season.

When we are under the weather and lose our appetite, we don’t feel like eating, but we know that in order for our body to recover, we need to eat and consume the right nutrition to heal. Likewise, we will have down times throughout our lives where we may not feel like worshipping, but we need to be anchored and remain in Him. John 15:4 says, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

Even when it is difficult, worship is our response to choosing Jesus no matter what may come our way.

“What makes a worship song a worship song?”
Isaac Ong: Growing up in church, I’ve always believed a worship song to be anything that was sung in church or any song with lyrics that had “God” in it. While that may still be somewhat true, growing more in God has helped me to widen my understanding of worship and what God truly desires out of my song.

God is not looking for lip service, or songs that just have an outer shell of “worship” with no heart of worship, void of devotion and adoration that comes from deep within. He desires that our hearts be not far away from the words that we offer unto Him, lest it be just really a so-called Christian song, rather than a worship song.

To me, what takes a song nominally about God to become a WORSHIP song unto God is the heart and posture of the worshipper. We have a tendency to focus on the outward appearance, but God always sees the heart. *Cue* “When the music fades…” [from “The Heart of Worship” by Matt Redman]

“How do you know if you’re cut out to be a worship leader?”
Jonathan Cho: Most of us typically begin with asking if we have the musical ability for this role, but perhaps this is not the most fundamental question. If we truly desire to lead others into worship through song, we would find ourselves disciplined to develop the necessary skill set. Leading worship always involves both the hard-ware (i.e., “hard skills” like technical knowledge) as well as heart-ware. So, what is it about the heart?

What is our truest desire? Would we worship Him in secret — when there is no platform or stage and no one hears our songs? Would we still lead others if no one remembers our names? We can only lead others to where we are prepared to go ourselves. Is it our heart’s deep desire for all to give God glory, to love and adore Him whilst we can be forgotten? Worship is never about the stage; it is always about the heart. Perhaps that is where we must begin.

“Why do we need to have worship as part of church service every week?”
Benita Lim: Singing together is a rich tradition practised by God’s people. The Israelites sang when they were in battle (2 Chr 20:21–22), and when they experienced God’s redemption and victory (Exod 15:1, 21). Together, they assembled to sing praises and laments from the Psalms on days of feasts. Jesus also sang in the upper room with His disciples when they gathered for the Last Supper (Mark 14:26).

In fact, God Himself sings (Zeph 3:17); Jesus is described to be singing praises to God in the assembly of God’s people (Heb 2:12), and Colossians 3:16 refers to songs from the Spirit! The same verse also tells us to let the message of Christ dwell richly in our hearts as we sing spiritual songs to exhort one another and in thanksgiving to God (Col 3:16; cf. Eph 5:19). Through singing together during church services, we experience and recognise God’s presence as one body of Christ, are taught about God’s Word with each song’s theology, and even encourage each other as we sing in harmony.

Review: Folklore by Taylor Swift

Eunice Sng — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 03:40:00 +0000

Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift pivots in style from her last two albums and settles in for a melancholic documentation of relationships and life in her latest record, Folklore. In the midst of a pandemic, its self-reflective charm paints a narrative escape just like that of an oasis in the desert. Folklore takes us through Swift’s musings, rants, and belief systems, a far cry from the controversial Reputation but nowhere near the energising pop anthems on Lover. Swift goes back to her singer-songwriter roots in this one, hardened from past battles, yet open and vulnerable.

Swift draws inspiration from her vault of past experiences, coupled with historic figures, events, and even movies, whilst encircling her tried and tested theme of love and its failings. It all begins with “the 1”, a post-breakup meditation where Swift fantasises about what could have been and looks back on a past relationship with rose-tinted glasses. This track’s easy-listening vibe carries on throughout the album, but the themes are anything but light.

In “mad woman”, Taylor does her take on the phrase “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”. Here, she laments the injustice of how a toxic ex-boyfriend gets away with everything, being able to seamlessly move on to his next “victim”, while she is left carrying the grudges and hurts of their broken relationship. She points to the notion that not all anger is unfounded, playing out scenes of retaliation but biding her time and choosing inaction while simultaneously seething inside.

The whole album soon fades to an end with the beautifully haunting melodies on “hoax”, its repetitive melody resembling that of a music box that gets wound up only to play out the same expected outcome. It’s a sad tale of a protagonist who longs for love from a partner even though she knows the love isn’t true: “Your faithless love’s the only hoax I believe in / Don’t want no other shade of blue but you / No other sadness in the world would do.”

Though the album is catchy and fun to listen to, I would proceed with a guarded heart. Swift is a master of making us feel wistful about young love (even if we’ve never even been through it!), and while this album’s ethereal quality may make you long for the experience, clearly not all the love she describes is healthy.

Don’t get me wrong — I love the album. It’s a beautiful tribute to the Taylor I knew and loved. It also shows her growth as a person and as a musician. Yet, it’s easy to be drawn into romanticising, or longing, for a broken relationship at the strum of a tune.

I think that’s why the Bible warns us to “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Prov 4:23). It would be much more fulfilling to let the wisdom of God guide our thinking and feeling instead of songs and songwriters, no matter how much we admire them.

Review: Is Sour Candy Worth the Hype?

Quek Shi Yun — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 16:19:00 +0000

There is no denying that Lady Gaga is a talented songwriter with an incredible voice. Her 6th album Chromatica is already the fastest selling album of 2020, and her collaboration with the hugely popular Korean band Blackpink has only added to its success. Chromatica is, in Gaga’s own words, her most authentic yet, touching on issues such as sexual assault, self-harm, and the journey of healing from past trauma. Through the album, she hopes to encourage those in similar throes of pain to forgive themselves, and move forward toward healing.

Enter “Sour Candy.” The song rests on heavy electronic beats and a fun pop rhythm. In classic K-pop fashion, the fan-made music video features Blackpink mostly in soft light, emphasising their dewy complexion and bright eyes. On the flip side, Gaga’s scenes are dark and disturbing in her revealing and over the top outfits. The visuals help articulate the song’s message, that even though someone with a hard, sour exterior may seem hard to love, it’s worth the effort when you reach the sweet centre inside.

The intent behind the song is admirable — Gaga stated in an interview that the song reflects her journey of realising that she is deserving of love despite being ‘damaged.’ But here’s where things get questionable. Through the song, she insists that even though she “might be messed up”, she should be accepted as she is. In fact, she goes so far as to say to her lover, “If you wanna fix me, then let’s break up here and now.” There’s also a double entendre in the song when Gaga encourages her lover to “unwrap” her and get a real taste. It’s a sexual advance, but also a reference to the fact that it will take time and patience for him to peel beneath her varied layers and get a real sense of who she really is.

While the premise of the song seems valid, her conclusion sadly isn’t, as there is no reason a person who knows she is flawed should reject help to be changed. It is a popular message these days — love me as I am, or not at all — but not one that we can accept as Christians. A healthy, godly, functioning relationship will always change us to be more like Christ!

Other songs on the album like “Rain on Me” with Ariana Grande justifies alcoholism, while “Stupid Love” speaks of being free from shame, finding peace, and receiving healing, but (like much of the album) gives little direction on where that might be found. At the end of the day, while the songs are reflective of Gaga’s authentic emotions and journey, it is still a journey that no doubt needs to continue to lead to a healthier conclusion. “Sour Candy” is definitely an earworm, but I hope its message doesn’t stick in your mind.