Quentin Letts of the Daily Mail has listed Graham Kendrick as #39 on his list of 50 people who have ruined Britain. That’s right the person who brought us the catchy and endless irritating Shine, Jesus, Shine is being excoriated by one of Britain’s preeminent whiners (whinger, for you Brits).
I’m trying to get worked up about this but the truth is Graham whoops up on any Christian songwriter in the world today. His massive opus, his articulate lyrics, and his memorable melodies place him on a pillar miles high above the bag-loads of tripe being passed off as “Christian” these days. Sure, he has some losers. Some of his songs are groaners. But that is the nature of songwriting. You write and write and write some more and if you keep refining your craft you will produce a small number of treasures.
In terms of vocabulary and theology, Kendrick leaves the waa-waa down-on-my-knees piffle produced by the likes of Tomlin and Redman and Zschech in the dust.
Is there anyone out there anywhere close to the caliber of Kendrick? Remember the Women’s Marathon at the Olympics this year? Kendrick is Constantina Tomescu-Dita way out in front while off in the distance these folks are struggling for the silver:
- Reuben Morgan
- Rita Baloche
- Tim Hughes
While Letts claims Kendrick has wrecked Britain the case is the opposite. He almost single-handedly contextualized the Gospel message in attractive music for the late twentieth-century. Letts sneers,
The sturdy hymns of England, musical embodiment of the stoicism, resolve and undemonstrative solidarity of our nation, are in severe peril, and all thanks to ill-shaven remnants of the late Sixties – grinning inadequates who have never got over the fact that they weren’t Cat Stevens.
Well, Mr. Letts, England has changed while you’ve been drowning your common sense at the local pub. Far from being a country populated by a citizenry trussed up in wigs and bustles bleating archaic hymns, it’s a thriving multicultural miasma far more attractive to me than the cracked melting pot of my own country. And in that exhilarating mix of diversity there is a place for modern music expressing timeless piety.
Graham Kendrick links:
- Official Site
- At MySpace
- At YouTube
- For an example of his fine songwriting try Crucified Man (lyrics – listen on his MySpace page) Or check out a video of the song:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oxbYxNPKYw]
Note: I recommend you read Lett’s article. It’s hilarious.
For once I agree with Letts, in some ways at least. Kendrick was fine in the 1980s. I even performed on stage with him once during that decade. But he is now way passe, as out of touch with the modern world (and church) as all the other “ill-shaven remnants of the late Sixties” who are still touring with their original songs. Ker and Letts, let’s wake up to the 21st century!
But it is quite a tribute to Kendrick’s influence that he has managed to be next in the list to Gordon Brown.
I think the video shows a certain sophistication of story-telling and poetry that for me personally is much more moving than the vapid repetition and semantically bleached lyrics we all too often are asked to sing these days. And this song is from 2006 so he can hardly be called an 80’s has-been. The best musicians are old musicians who keep writing long after the wave of pop stardom has passed them by.
Peter, I’m going to have to disagree. I saw lead worship twice in 2004 & 2005 for Moody Bible Institute’s Founder’s Week. It was some of the best worship I have had and his songs were great (no, he didn’t sing Shine).
He’s done some great work with the Psalms as well – I love “To You O Lord.”
two against one so of course we’re right!
I love Graham Kendrick! His music definitely beats up some of the nonsense we have today. Letts needs to take a AC/DC out of his ears and actually listen to his music.
BTW “Knowing You” is one of his best
He’s no longer welcome in Britain, so now he is on a mission to wreck America!
I do like “Crucified Man”. But it isn’t suitable for singing in worship in a church like mine.
Shine Jesus shine has just been on tonight’s Songs of PRaise – surely a sign of being totaly mainstream!
SJS is one of my least favourite hymns but I hate it more in the French translation which is much triter.
However I think Kendrick is generally a good thing . he’s doing new stuff these days and he’s humble and open to criticism and still being creative. Good for him
I’m having a nightmare. Peter Kirk on stage with Kendrick?
I just returned from a Compassion International conference where Graham Kendrick was the worship leader. It was the most awesome time — not only does he write great songs and lyrics, he really led us in the directions we needed to go, such as repentance for our nations, breathing in the Spirit and corporate prayer for the needy children of the world. We even led us in creating new tunes to scripture. It was all very inspirational and meaningful.
I am so jealous you can’t believe it.
asingleblog, you made me laugh so hard.
Yes, Asbo (as Phil Groom calls you), that is indeed a nightmare – me on stage with anyone!
I stumbled on this post after sharing a great memory – Kendrick spent a few minutes teaching me a guitar progression during a Billy Graham Crusade in London when I was 18. People like Letts are one of the reasons I’m glad I follow Jesus instead of being stuck in a religion that confuses faith for a cultural time-capsule – frozen in time, and immune from Reformation. You’re an articulate and intelligent writer, David – keep it up.