I would probably buy more but I have no idea who the groups or performers are. I just listen and sing along.

I did go to a concert once. Can’t remember who I saw but it was good. Think it was Michael W. Smith. Guess I’m not much of a groupie.

Tell me, why do so many of these use their names plus initials?

To illustrate, one Middle School age girl grabbed the lead singer and hugged him, then immediately turned to her friends and said with joy “He hugged me!”

So Instapundit linked to this post at La Shawn Barber’s blog about Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) fandom and at what point it becomes obsessive….

But I also like Helen’s comment that she’s a Christian, and so is her favorite musician, but that he’s not really “Christian rock”. It’s a little unclear to me whether Ms. Barber is interested in self-identified Christian rockers, or whether she would include more mainstream artists who include Christ in their songs. Live, in particular, doesn’t seem to me to have ever been ghettoized as Christian rock – I imagine I’m not the only person who heard their songs about twelve times before noticing the lyrics – and if the goal is to reach those outside the fold (rather than to literally preach to the converted, which isn’t necessarily bad, if that’s the intent) then I think going the more subtle route – of just singing about ordinary life, infused with your Christian view of it, rather than singing about God directly – is more likely to influence people.

When I lived in Nashville I went to a big church that had several major Christian music stars (who were among my favorites) in regular or semi-regular attendance. One of the reasons I attended there was because I understood that the spiritual nourishment that they were getting there enabled them to make this music which meant so much to me. I had a chance to meet a couple of them in person, but I never made a big deal out of it except to thank them. One of the nice things about Nashville was that no one made a big deal out of celebrity, and everyone pretty much understood that celebrity-hounding was particularly inappropriate in church.

I dunno if this is going to be outside your data set but anyhow… I am a Christian, and so is my favorite music artist, but he doesn’t perform as a Christian Contemporary artist. I met him backstage with a small group of other fans, by arrangement of his manager, to give him some gifts. The most outrageous thing I’ve done is probably tour chasing: my record is ten concerts in two weeks, all the way from Oregon to San Diego. My concert total is currently at 25 (this is since 2002) but I’m already ticketed for another 4 shows this summer. What happened after I met him? Well, I’ve met him at meet & greets after ten of those concerts, plus three new-release signings at music stores. Sometimes he signs something for me. Sometimes I don’t ask him to, just say hello. Sometimes I give him something (usually a book). Sometimes he gives me a hug. He knows me by name now. I’m finally sufficiently less-star-struck that I can produce complete sentences that mostly make sense in his presence, and that’s a good thing.

Where is the line between supportive fan and crazy stalker?

Supportive fans buy stuff: CD’s, T shirts, concert tickets, more concert tickets. Supportive fans talk to other fans on the Net, check out what’s being said on Google Alert about the star, read interviews and record reviews and information about upcoming projects, and sometimes, politely and winsomely, correct misinformation about the star on other fora or on blog comments. Supportive fans seek out personal contact with the star at the times & places that the star has set aside for the purpose of meeting fans. They don’t hang out in the shrubbery of his house or try to get into the venue BEFORE the concert, when everybody’s trying to set up and get through the sound check. Supportive fans realize that being a fan is not being a friend. Supportive fans know when NOT to share: sometimes Google turns up information that actually compromises the star’s privacy. A good fan not only doesn’t mention it around, but makes every effort to forget it ASAP.

Crazy stalkers are the people who don’t have or recognize boundaries, who start to imagine a special relationship between themselves and the star, who maybe feel a little resentment or envy of the star’s spouse, who get mean and vicious-tongued when somebody disses the star…

But I don’t go to many concerts these days–too expensive. Back in the day it wasn’t but it was easy to meet (and here I am dating myself) Carman or Randy Stonehill or 2nd Chapter of Acts after the show because they usually performed in churches–and there weren’t so many fans. Nowadays Christian music is much bigger business.

I’m glad for that because it makes for a bigger audience, and when you’re preaching (or singing) the Gospel that is a very good thing. I’m afraid that that success has its price, and part of that price is the occasional fan who is sure that a particular song or a particular artist exists solely for him/her–it goes with the territory. And while I am sure the artists appreciate their fans and are happy to know their work is ministering to people, if you are conniving to get backstage to meet someone, well…you are probably going too far. The band can’t meet everyone, and trust me–they have heard your story before, probably many times. You aren’t unique, so if you want to tell them how God has blessed you, do it on the forums.

I sometimes find it difficult to reconcile some of the more “fan”atic people out there. There are those who seem to place the artist on a pedestal, and not extend that same adoration to the object of the artist’s affection. I’ve long held that I won’t clap more at a sporting event or concert than I would in church. It’s probably my little idiosyncrasy, but that’s how I feel.

Some of them inactive. Some of them have gone home. They all sing the same song….and it isn’t about themselves.

…is as a ‘fan’ does.

What are they a ‘fan’ of? Some rock group? Or Christ?

Therein lies the proverbial ‘rub’. And the necessary answer.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[A tree is known by its fruit. -- some Wag, around 2000 years ago]

Or I might have to tell my story about Chicago and Terry Kath.

Whew!

You better tell! – Admin