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Stories You can make music something that brings you together and not something that pulls you apart. By David Smith August 26, 2007

            As I sit here writing this column, it was 30 years ago today that Elvis Presley died. Today, I’ve been listening to Hitstory, a collection of his greatest hits. Sadly, Elvis’ story ended in the death of the King of Rock. Stories are a theme in music. Michael Jackson released a collection of greatest hits called History and described as being “his story.” This King of Pop’s real story has become a comedy of errors in judgment and legal disputes.

            The idea of stories permeates rock. Elvis and Michael Jackson’s life journeys are told through their music. This is true of most musicians. MTV has a series on its high definition channel called Storytellers. In this show, bands perform for an audience and take breaks during which they share the meaning behind their stories. In one episode, featuring Green Day, the band explained that it hoped what it said gets through to its audience and changes how they see the world. The title of the band’s live DVD, Bullet Through the Bible, tells the story of Green Day’s message to America’s youth.

            When I was in high school, I used the oft repeated line about music that, “I only listen to the music and not the words.” I was telling the truth, as are many other kids that share this message. Nevertheless, I did know the words and could sing along with my favorite bands. This too is true of most kids. Green Day’s Storytellers concert contains a lot of footage of kids singing along with every word.

            Make no mistake, musicians are telling stories. They are artists and are using their art to convey a message to their audience. This should not surprise anyone. King David was an artist musician and thousands of years ago used music to convey God’s message. We still read that message – the Psalms.

            The concept of stories is important to understand when listening to music. A song is a story. Elvis sang Viva Las Vegas for the movie and as his theme for his successful Las Vegas shows. Michael Jackson’s landmark song and video, Thriller, is a mini-movie. Every song you listen to tells a story.

            Parents and kids often forget the stories of the music. Those stories can be inspirational or depressing. When Kurt Cobain of Nirvana sang Come As You Are, it is almost as if he was foretelling his death by his own hand. On the other hand, when Casting Crowns sings Does Anybody Hear Her, the band is challenging us to reach out and love those around us. As parents and kids, it’s important to listen to these words and think about the story being told. For kids, this may be risky because the story may not be what you want to acknowledge that you are hearing. For parents, this may mean listening to music that you do not enjoy. For both, however, it’s essential and can be rewarding.

            When Aaron and I were in Nashville for the Dove Awards, we interviewed John Reuben, a hip hop artist. John had recently released a new CD called Word of Mouth.  I’ve been a John Reuben fan for sometime and like his new CD. The first two songs reminded me of the B-52’s Rock Lobster, a dance standard, and the Peter Gunn theme. I asked John if those songs influenced his new CD. He responded by turning to Aaron and saying, “Good job; you’re dad knows his stuff.” Aaron grinned at the thought that a rock star had complimented his dad. For one fleeting moment, dad was cool!

I’d encourage kids and parents alike to take the time to make music something that brings you together and not something that pulls you apart. Listening to and discussing musical stories can do just that.