Now, here's an interesting one for you.  A lot of people are very protective of "Christian" music.  Anyone who's payed attention the industry knows this.  Bands like Relient K and Switchfoot have faced backlash from the Christian market since going mainstream.  It hasn't hurt sales a bit, but the disapproval is there.  Some people simply believe that the Christian market should be kept out of the mainstream (I don't know, maybe they think it's a separation of church and state thing...).



My question is: where are these people when mainstream bands go Christian?  Look, do not get me wrong at all.  I love to see mainstream artists go Christian...as long as they're really "going Christian."  For example, former Korn bassist Brian "Head" Welch radically changed his ways, and it was a great thing to see.



But there are three recent things that have caught my eye.  First off, the last issue of CCM Magazine I purchased (It was either April or May, I'm not sure) had some 2005 sales figures for the Christian market, showing gold and platinum albums and singles.  Most of them were not surprising, but one artist/disc appeared that I was shocked to see on the list: Taking Back Sunday's Tell All Your Friends.  Strange, no?  Taking Back Sunday, to the best of my knowledge, is definitely not a Christian band, nor have they ever professed to be.



Now, it's gotten a bit stranger in the past two days, when I saw two singles that are headed to Christian radio.  The first was Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield.  This one was mildly surprising but didn't necessarily shock me, mainly because I don't listen to her stuff, so I can't say that her stuff is "Unchristian" (On the contrary, Unwritten has a very spiritual side to it if you pay attention the lyrics).  It is a bit strange though.



But the one that really confused me is...Hawthorne Heights.  Yes, Hawthorne Heights.  Their new single, Pens And Needles, is not only going for adds at mainstream rock and alternative stations, but it also heads to Christian radio on June 12.  Now look, don't get me wrong.  I don't have a problem with Hawthorne.  In fact, I own the disc, If Only You Were Lonely.  But a band who sings things like, Cut my wrists and black my eyes...it seems very...wrong, for lack of a better word, to see them at Christian radio.  Now, I suppose that it's possible that from the debut disc to the sophomore release, Hawthorne band members had a huge change of heart.  But, based on the lyrics, I don't believe that to be the case.



If the Christian arena feels the need to embrace mainstream artists, I am okay with that.  Just choose the right bands.  For example, a band like Thrice would be a welcome addition to the Christian radio scene.  No, the band is not "Christian" by name...in fact, not all the members are even Christian.  But the songs they sing are deeper then 98.9 percent of Christian music out there right now...on the spiritual level!  This is stuff that everyone relates to, but it takes on stronger meaning for Christians, if they'd only pay attention.