Prince, Paul Simon, and Psalms
by Tripp Hudgins
There’s a lot to read lately. Politics have been keeping us busy. No doubt. So too has music. Prince passed away suddenly and people are still reeling. Here in the Bay Area The Fantastic Negrito sang at the Bernie Sanders event and Michael Franti has a new album, Soulrocker (stay tuned for a review). It’s impossible to keep up with it all.
Still, we try.
Karin Burke wrote, “ I don’t think we mourn for a man so much as we’re suddenly sad to realize our own lives are disappearing. We’re losing our selves” in The year the gods died. Her reflections on Prince and her own biography are a poignant reminder of how frail we are and how much music holds us together.
The Rev. Mindi also wrote about Prince. “ With Prince’s death, for now, we simply mourn. And while we ask why and what happened, and we experienced at first the shock and numbness that comes with a sudden death, we are also free to grieve together, and to celebrate his life. The public celebrations and singing, even the thousands of purple balloons outside of Paisley Park, point to a life well lived, something worthy of admiration, and grief at its brevity.” Celebration in the midst of loss.
Sarah Bereza offered up a scholarly reflection on what makes music “good.” “But for fundamentalist Christians, that’s not what “good music” means. Music isn’t “good” because you like it. Music is “good” because it’s morally right. This moral rightness is inherent in the music itself, and that quality doesn’t change depending on your associations or preferences.” This post might stretch your brain a little.
The Rev. Emily Williams Guffey allowed us to cross-post her recent homily on Psalms, community, change, and what a new song might be. “ Sing to the Lord a new song — not because we need to keep making up new songs or because it matters if we’re saying or singing or doing it right, but because God is always doing a new thing in us.”
Today we published Cathleen Falsani’s interview with Paul Simon about his new release, Stranger to Stranger. We’re grateful Cathleen shared her work with us. Read “Proof of Love” now. You won’t regret it.
As you can see, we’re trying to bring in various voices from different traditions and points of view. If you have a piece you would like to share, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Lastly, look for a url change soon: www.sonictheology.org is on the horizon.
Peace and All Good Things,
Tripp Hudgins
Curator, Editor, Twangling Jack
