I'm one of the least religious people you'll ever meet and there are few things that turn me off more than Christian songs, but Julien Baker is hands down a genius and my favorite singer ever. Even just listening to clips of her songs here was enough to make me tear up.
Her music is far from Christian music but many of her lyrics are very much Christian… if that makes sense. In other words it’s not praise and worship; but it’s more of acknowledging the god she believes in just as a part of her life, the most powerful part at that.
@@muralmarshall5044 they definitely have. I mean I personally, even though I’m white as can be, jive with black gospel music, but not with CCM. Contemporary Christian music to me seems lifeless, musically uninteresting and most importantly free of any sort of meaningful doctrine. That’s even the case for some black gospel music; but I mainly enjoy that because it in general seems more energetic, dynamic and equally spiritual, unlike its slow, boring, robotic counterpart being worship. That’s if I’m listening to actual Christian music at all, which I very rarely do.
@@colesisler582 yeah when my parents made me do my Catholic confirmation they used to play Praise and Worship EVERY day I was there and I remember how it made me physically nauseous to have to sit through. Not to talk down on anyone who enjoys it but it was a totally overwhelming experience in the worst way.
this video reminded me why I love these two artists so much and made me remember the time when I first found their music and god and myself. it pulled me out of a dark place I was stuck in for a month now. I started writing again. God is real
I'm an athiest who grew up in the Nazarene church, but two of my favorite songwriters are Christians and express their faith in their music -- Sufjan Stevens, and John Darnielle of Mountain goats. And no, it's not JUST their songs that don't have religious themes that I love. For me, it's because it is very clearly "music written by Christians" and not "Christian music" where the whole song is "jesus jesus jesus i'm a sinner i'm trash jesus jesus". I find Sufjan Stevens and John Darnielle to both be earnest in their faith and that comes across in their songwriting as sincere art that I enjoy even if I stopped believing in god after I came out as a lesbian. Thank you for introducing me to Julien Baker! I'll check Sprained Ankle out!
I adore The Mountain Goats as well. If you're into Sufjan and John Darnielle then I can only imagine you'd like Julien too, same confessional songwriting and emotional delivery. And also she is lesbian! It was something I wanted to mention in the video and connect to Sufjan, but also Sufjan has never been too upfront about his sexuality and I didn't want to make any assumptions and label him as a "queer Christian" when he obviously shies away from the conversation.
Theres a very big issue in Christian communities, in that, LGBTQ is seen as "An unforgivable sin". The people who say this need to look at the log in their own eye first (to quote Jesus). If you are a christian reading this, please choose to love others first before judging. PS. I apologize in advance if I offend anyone with this comment.
@@arachnidath You are so right! There is definitely a double standard within the Church when it comes to sexual ethics. Your comment is full of the kind of conviction, self-awareness, and compassion the Church needs more of! Thank you for sharing, friend :)
thank you so much for this video, i'm glad i came across it and decided to give it a watch. go home was actually my first julien baker song back in late 2015 and i remember being so touched by it when i heard it for the first time. the ending of the song is actually a coincidence too, and you can read more about in on genius: "At the end Julien is playing 'In Christ Alone', a modern Christian song, and you can hear a preacher speaking in the background. As she explained in an interview with Stereogum the latter was actually a coincidence: We were recording that track, and the end is the piano arrangement from this hymn called 'In Christ Alone.' It holds a lot of memories for me - being young in church, and the lyrics hold a lot of meaning when you analyze them. It’s nostalgic, and as I was recording the end of that we had these two directional mics set up while I played piano into the pre-amp. And then I hear this like, crackly TV noise and the dialogue happening through my headphones. Well, it wasn’t dialogue but the guy was talking. I just finish off the thing, the arrangement and everyone tells me that the pre-amp was picking up church radio, as I was playing. […] It was like a Twilight Zone thing, and I decided to leave it in there because it was such a cool, organic happening. It’s just so crazy, given the context of the record, that this happened to be a quintessential Southern preacher shouting phrases that start with: 'But, God!' [laughs] almost like Reverend Lovejoy from The Simpsons. It was like some holy roller shit."
Such a great analysis. As a Christian, I can't relate to the cookie cutter CCM played on Sunday. Sufjan and artists like Wovenhand bring me closer to Him as i realize I'm not alone in my doubts, fears and shortcomings. Thank you for this video!
This must be a re-upload? Because I remember watching this video awhile ago and Sufjan was already on my favorite artists but it's what got me to really start listening to Julien Baker and she has since become another one of my favorite artists! And I just wanted to thank you for that.
Yes it is! It was originally on a different channel which is about game music, so I moved it over to its own channel where I am uploading about just regular music now.
You shouldn't have so much doubt Julien Baker We're all one thing. Sometimes when it's all black around you it's because in that moment you are the light. Just because others shine makes yours no less bright. A teacher turned musician, to of the greatest things a person could ever want to do with themselves, and you've done both. Relax s little, the source doesn't really make mistakes. Somehow it always works out before the very end. Palms are about the only part of the Bible I read, brings me peace like messages to myself through time. Anyway just wanted to show some love and faith here. The universe will unfold just as it should. trust all that talent you were given as you clearly have to much heart. Forgive yourself as let go of that little bit of sadness you seem to be holding on to, guilt and regret just weigh you down. One love BE THE LIGHT
Yeah, me too, my Friend...as a Believer, I find that modern worship music has less to do about worship and more to do about money. Lament Psalms take over most of the Book of Psalms but when do we ever hear a lament worship song coming out of CCM. What contemporary "Christian" music fails to offer is sound and balanced doctrine which leaves it lifeless and devoid of substance. Two of my favorite Christian music artists are Jon Foreman and Jonathan Ogden. Blessings and thank you for the great video 🙂
I'm getting the feeling that being religious is like being in a relationship with a self-projected entity in which you yourself have to do all the emotional labour. Sounds toxic and exhausting.
Sufjan’s life is one of contradiction, living as God forbade and then asking God why he has forsaken him, blaming the evils of people on the perceived “lack” of love from God. Sufjan wants to have God shade him from evil while not abiding in the righteousness of God. If anything, Sufjan is not reminiscent of psalms, but if Israel in the desert, provoking the lord while grumbling against him.
Your title makes it seem as if Julien Baker and Sufjan Stevens are actually speaking or being interviewed about this subject, but it's just you talking about those two people. You could have chosen a different title to make that more clear.
@@cesarespinoza6831 in Europe there are very few christians compared to America : many fall behind the title "Christian" because they re families were christan , but they dont believe in god. In europe , i would say up to 40% are atheists and another 40% are Christians that dont go to church.
@@sim7477 sounds like America. Or at least the subset of people I interact with in public life. Seems awash, about 40-50% Athiest or agnostic and the other 40-50% Christian of some kind, Muslim or Jewish. Most of the being Christians non church goers.
@@King_Goblino well depends , many european countries are vastly différent : for example in estonia only 20% fall behind the title christian while in poland its 80%
I'm one of the least religious people you'll ever meet and there are few things that turn me off more than Christian songs, but Julien Baker is hands down a genius and my favorite singer ever. Even just listening to clips of her songs here was enough to make me tear up.
Her music is far from Christian music but many of her lyrics are very much Christian… if that makes sense. In other words it’s not praise and worship; but it’s more of acknowledging the god she believes in just as a part of her life, the most powerful part at that.
@@colesisler582 it feels kinda like praise and worship have taken over the face of religious music
@@muralmarshall5044 they definitely have. I mean I personally, even though I’m white as can be, jive with black gospel music, but not with CCM. Contemporary Christian music to me seems lifeless, musically uninteresting and most importantly free of any sort of meaningful doctrine. That’s even the case for some black gospel music; but I mainly enjoy that because it in general seems more energetic, dynamic and equally spiritual, unlike its slow, boring, robotic counterpart being worship. That’s if I’m listening to actual Christian music at all, which I very rarely do.
@@colesisler582 yeah when my parents made me do my Catholic confirmation they used to play Praise and Worship EVERY day I was there and I remember how it made me physically nauseous to have to sit through. Not to talk down on anyone who enjoys it but it was a totally overwhelming experience in the worst way.
It would be interesting to see an analysis on how Julien Baker’s queerness is reflected alongside religion in her lyrics
sufjan, too. both of their music interlocks it, would love to see a video on it
God I love Julien Baker.
God I love sufjan Stevens
this video reminded me why I love these two artists so much and made me remember the time when I first found their music and god and myself. it pulled me out of a dark place I was stuck in for a month now. I started writing again. God is real
You are god
I'm an athiest who grew up in the Nazarene church, but two of my favorite songwriters are Christians and express their faith in their music -- Sufjan Stevens, and John Darnielle of Mountain goats. And no, it's not JUST their songs that don't have religious themes that I love.
For me, it's because it is very clearly "music written by Christians" and not "Christian music" where the whole song is "jesus jesus jesus i'm a sinner i'm trash jesus jesus".
I find Sufjan Stevens and John Darnielle to both be earnest in their faith and that comes across in their songwriting as sincere art that I enjoy even if I stopped believing in god after I came out as a lesbian. Thank you for introducing me to Julien Baker! I'll check Sprained Ankle out!
I adore The Mountain Goats as well. If you're into Sufjan and John Darnielle then I can only imagine you'd like Julien too, same confessional songwriting and emotional delivery. And also she is lesbian! It was something I wanted to mention in the video and connect to Sufjan, but also Sufjan has never been too upfront about his sexuality and I didn't want to make any assumptions and label him as a "queer Christian" when he obviously shies away from the conversation.
Theres a very big issue in Christian communities, in that, LGBTQ is seen as "An unforgivable sin". The people who say this need to look at the log in their own eye first (to quote Jesus). If you are a christian reading this, please choose to love others first before judging.
PS. I apologize in advance if I offend anyone with this comment.
@@arachnidath You are so right! There is definitely a double standard within the Church when it comes to sexual ethics. Your comment is full of the kind of conviction, self-awareness, and compassion the Church needs more of! Thank you for sharing, friend :)
thank you so much for this video, i'm glad i came across it and decided to give it a watch. go home was actually my first julien baker song back in late 2015 and i remember being so touched by it when i heard it for the first time. the ending of the song is actually a coincidence too, and you can read more about in on genius:
"At the end Julien is playing 'In Christ Alone', a modern Christian song, and you can hear a preacher speaking in the background. As she explained in an interview with Stereogum the latter was actually a coincidence:
We were recording that track, and the end is the piano arrangement from this hymn called 'In Christ Alone.' It holds a lot of memories for me - being young in church, and the lyrics hold a lot of meaning when you analyze them. It’s nostalgic, and as I was recording the end of that we had these two directional mics set up while I played piano into the pre-amp. And then I hear this like, crackly TV noise and the dialogue happening through my headphones. Well, it wasn’t dialogue but the guy was talking. I just finish off the thing, the arrangement and everyone tells me that the pre-amp was picking up church radio, as I was playing. […] It was like a Twilight Zone thing, and I decided to leave it in there because it was such a cool, organic happening. It’s just so crazy, given the context of the record, that this happened to be a quintessential Southern preacher shouting phrases that start with: 'But, God!' [laughs] almost like Reverend Lovejoy from The Simpsons. It was like some holy roller shit."
This is such a fantastic video. A great reminder of how beautiful Carrie&Lowell is and I'm now super excited to check out more Julien Baker tunes.
Such a great analysis. As a Christian, I can't relate to the cookie cutter CCM played on Sunday. Sufjan and artists like Wovenhand bring me closer to Him as i realize I'm not alone in my doubts, fears and shortcomings. Thank you for this video!
Came here from Polyphonic, this is so great! Love the formatting of lyrics as Psalms, really effective visual
same thoughts
I had no idea about this things until now, and oh it made me cry because of the meaning of sufjan's album, i really had no idea
This must be a re-upload? Because I remember watching this video awhile ago and Sufjan was already on my favorite artists but it's what got me to really start listening to Julien Baker and she has since become another one of my favorite artists! And I just wanted to thank you for that.
Yes it is! It was originally on a different channel which is about game music, so I moved it over to its own channel where I am uploading about just regular music now.
Extremely well made video. Great job!
You shouldn't have so much doubt Julien Baker
We're all one thing. Sometimes when it's all black around you it's because in that moment you are the light. Just because others shine makes yours no less bright. A teacher turned musician, to of the greatest things a person could ever want to do with themselves, and you've done both. Relax s little, the source doesn't really make mistakes. Somehow it always works out before the very end.
Palms are about the only part of the Bible I read, brings me peace like messages to myself through time. Anyway just wanted to show some love and faith here. The universe will unfold just as it should. trust all that talent you were given as you clearly have to much heart. Forgive yourself as let go of that little bit of sadness you seem to be holding on to, guilt and regret just weigh you down.
One love
BE THE LIGHT
This video is incredible. Two amazing records and amazing analysis
Yeah, me too, my Friend...as a Believer, I find that modern worship music has less to do about worship and more to do about money. Lament Psalms take over most of the Book of Psalms but when do we ever hear a lament worship song coming out of CCM. What contemporary "Christian" music fails to offer is sound and balanced doctrine which leaves it lifeless and devoid of substance. Two of my favorite Christian music artists are Jon Foreman and Jonathan Ogden.
Blessings and thank you for the great video 🙂
I always come back to this video but somehow I forgot to like and subscribe. This video has always stayed on the back of my mind.
Same sentiment here! I'm a fan of both of these artists. I love how this video analyses the different approach to faith
Praying for both of these artists- that they would experience the realness and nearness of God!❤️ Great video and analysis of their lyrics!🎉👏
Thank you so so so much for this!
Great video, man
Sufjan alwayys questioned his Faith, for instance Casimir Pulaski day is about this subject.
beautiful video!!
Thanks for this!
I'm getting the feeling that being religious is like being in a relationship with a self-projected entity in which you yourself have to do all the emotional labour.
Sounds toxic and exhausting.
Even Jesus asked this question of God. “Take this cup from me” I can’t do it, im not good enough for the test I’ve been given.
Recovery isn't linear
I don't think it's negligence if you are schizophrenic. It drives you to frustration, but they don't really understand what they are doing or why.
Sufjan’s life is one of contradiction, living as God forbade and then asking God why he has forsaken him, blaming the evils of people on the perceived “lack” of love from God. Sufjan wants to have God shade him from evil while not abiding in the righteousness of God. If anything, Sufjan is not reminiscent of psalms, but if Israel in the desert, provoking the lord while grumbling against him.
this video seems like it rubs the wrong way, if you didnt care about the post, idk why you posted it, also, wassup.
tortured christian artists write the best music
Your title makes it seem as if Julien Baker and Sufjan Stevens are actually speaking or being interviewed about this subject, but it's just you talking about those two people. You could have chosen a different title to make that more clear.
I'm always confused by the amount of Americans believing in god. It's weird for a first world country.
Ever been to Europe or Japan?
@@cesarespinoza6831 in Europe there are very few christians compared to America : many fall behind the title "Christian" because they re families were christan , but they dont believe in god. In europe , i would say up to 40% are atheists and another 40% are Christians that dont go to church.
@@sim7477 sounds like America. Or at least the subset of people I interact with in public life. Seems awash, about 40-50% Athiest or agnostic and the other 40-50% Christian of some kind, Muslim or Jewish. Most of the being Christians non church goers.
@@King_Goblino well depends , many european countries are vastly différent : for example in estonia only 20% fall behind the title christian while in poland its 80%
Stop calling God them
Boo boo boo boo