Gone are the days of alternative rock B-listers dominating the Christian rock scene. Well, at least on vocals. The one and only Pope Francis, the most actually Jesus-like of popes in recent memory, has collaborated on a rock album on the Believe Digital imprint.
On the teaser single “Wake Up! Go! Go! Forward!” we get two whole minutes of triumphant instrumentation before Francis makes his mark with a sermon, laced like the rest of the album with pre-recorded speeches ’round the world, this particular one taken from a homily in South Korea in August of 2014.
He delivers his first, most all-important lyrics (“wake up”) with too much nasality, which combines with the radio-rock cutting-room-floor background to induce a giggle or two. Still, it’s hard for this guy to really swing and miss — his New Testament altruism and calls to action inspire regardless of the background:
No one who sleeps can sing, dance or rejoice
Appealing to the young and holy usually works better with trendier genres, and the youth are tired of power chords. UnderOath had it figured out with early aughts, radio-friendly emo. But will prog rock do it for the new dude in the funny hat?
Perhaps some sort of ambient post-EDM would suffice? The atmospheric sounds from that scene reflect heavenly joy better than any of the mega-Church ballads of the past millennium.
Either way, the ultimate Christian rock album has arrived, which means we’ve got about year before Ryan Adams covers it track-for-track in the style of Taylor Swift and Creed.
Wake up
Wake upThis word speaks of a responsibility which the Lord gives you
It is the duty to be vigilant, not to allow the pressures
The temptations and the sins of ourselves or others
To dull our sensitivity to the beauty of Holiness, to the joy of the GospelToday’s responsorial psalm invites us constantly to be glad and sing for joy
No one who sleeps can sing, dance or rejoice
I don’t like to see young people who are sleeping
No, wake up, go, go forward
Dear young people, God, our God, has blessed usFrom him we have received mercy
Assured of God’s love, go out to the world so that
By the mercy shown to you, they; your friends
Co-workers, neighbors, countrymen, everyone on this great continent
May now receive the mercy of God
It is by His mercy that we are savedAsian youth, wake up
Lego sum le silencio et vita
Qui et creditimae
Exium si mortus veritus vivet
Et al sribibit vivite creditimae
No mori e tu vivi eterno
Lego sum le silencio et vita
Qui et creditimae
Exium si mortus veritus vivet
Et al sribibit vivite creditimae
No mori e tu vivi eterno
