Faithless ~ God is a Dj ~

The final blog post I shall be submitting onto ‘One Love’ is inspired by the Faithless club track namely ‘God is a Dj’. The track can be shown below. The club track lyrics states that ‘This is my Church’ meaning the club scene.

The club has been described as a new way of discovering spiritual expression, a new way to worship laden with religious imagery. The Dj is likened to God, the creator, who uses his mixes to spiritual enrich the listeners. The club is the follower’s temple, the place they take part in the rituals. Radio one picked up on this trend using the slogan ‘Clubs are the new church.’ Ibiza the holy land for clubbers housing some of the biggest clubs in the world, the scene there encourages its visitors to lose themselves and reflect on the larger questions in life. Clubbers often experience overly worldly experiences, with the use of strobe lights, booming base and repetitive movements.

While the club sound can differ, the scene represents common values of freedom, spirituality and expression. This is comparable to religion in the sense that many religions have common values but the way they practice often differ. The song Faithless song lyrics site that ‘this is where I heal my hurt’ and ‘Solutions and remedies, enemies becoming friends.’ Things that we all hope to find through spiritual expression. ~ One Love x

Madonna ~ Like a Prayer ~

This is song pushed the boundaries like never before in the music and entertainment business. Unlike the rest of music discussed in this blog, this post looks at the music video more than the lyrics itself. Released in 1989, it shocked, disgusted and stunned the world. However people were also amazed, excited and transfixed on the piece of music and the video that went with it. These reactions are still common today when people view the video for the first time; it remains as one of the most controversial music videos ever released.

The song, which was inspired by Madonna’s own Catholic upbringing, changed the way the Madonna was viewed; she was transformed from a pop singer to an Artist. The video showed below shows a woman who witnesses a murder and hides out in a church for safety. The video is full of Catholic symbols, saint images, choirs, crosses and ritual objects. The Controversy lies in a number of images that upset many people such as a burning cross, numerous sexual innuendos in both dance and the lyrics, as well as the way she appears to be singing towards God and making love to a saint offended many. Lyrics that refer to religion include lines such as ‘heaven help me’, ‘Just like a prayer I’ll take you there’ and ‘let the choir sing’. However it is the video that manages to be so controversial and notoriously remembered. Madonna described the video as the story of a young woman so in love with God that it is almost as though he is really a male figure in her life.

The Catholic Church, The Vatican and various other religious groups protested against the video and the soft drink Pepsi cancelled their contract with Madonna for advertising, not wishing to be associated with the upset over the video.~ One Love x