Sensitive word on American Idol: “Jesus”
I didn’t watch the show this week, but reader Ricky e-mailed that during the American Idol charity special on Wednesday night, eight finalists performed Darlene Zschech’s Christian-pop crossover hit “Shout to the Lord.” The first line of the song is “My Jesus, My Savior, Lord there is none like You.”
But instead of “Jesus,” the show substituted the word “Shepherd.”
What the h-e-double-hockey-sticks was that all about?
Here’s the video:
The Colorado Springs Gazette editorial gave the altered performance two thumbs down. Way down:
Jesus, regardless of one’s faith, is known as a philanthropist.
But not on “American Idol,” which has apparently decided that “Jesus” can’t be mentioned on national TV – even when the theme is giving. Instead of singing the song as millions know it, the “Idol” stars sang, “My Shepherd, My Savior…”
As Judge Randy Jackson might say: Yo, so listen up, American Idol. A big part of this show involves smart song selection. Everyone knows the lyrics to “Shout to the Lord.” It’s a song about Jesus. If that’s no good for you, pick another song.
Removing Jesus from a song about Jesus? That’s not cool, Idol. Pick another song, or have the guts to say “Jesus.”
Josh Harris wants to know what the show producers were thinking:
I’m not the kind of person that gets worked up about things like this. I’m just curious. I’d love to know what the decision-making process for the producers looks like. Are there Christians involved who are trying to get songs like this on the show? Or to take a more cynical view, do they just realize that a huge portion of their base (and a lot of the people who will be quick to contribute) are evangelical Christians so they throw us a bone once in awhile? But then if that’s the case, who made the decision to cut “Jesus” out of the lyrics? Are there factions at Idol who don’t like bringing in Christian themes so they had to make this compromise? Ahhh, the intrigue of it all.
Well, someone must have had a come-to-Jesus moment. Because last night, after Fox’s message boards lit up with complaints from Christian viewers, the same song was featured again–and this time, “Jesus” was allowed to be sung.
So, Jane Fonda says the c-word on national morning TV and it’s a light-hearted joke. But some young people want to sing the J-word and it gets whitewashed out of a gospel song until there’s a public backlash?
Secularism run amok. P.C. cluelessness. Just plain nuts. Take your pick.
***
Question: What will they do if one of the American Idol finalists wants to sing Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus?”
“Personal Shepherd?”
Here’s Johnny Cash’s cover of the song:
***
Some good perspective from blogger Soren:
My family watches “American Idol” regularly. We were pleasantly surprised to see the contestants on last night’s “Idol Gives Back” show singing one of my favorite songs, Shout to the Lord. Yes, they edited it a bit, changing “my Jesus” to “my shepherd”, and some of the bloggers are upset about that. And I could have done without Ben Stiller’s bleep-filled rant that ended the show (someone’s idea of humor, I guess). But still, I’m going to rejoice that the #1 show in America aired a song of praise to the King. Someone made that decision. The song will be downloaded from iTunes all over the world. How awesome is that?
Amen.
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American Idiots is what it should be. Never will watch it.
They did change it on Tuesday night, but last night they sang it again and they used the correct verse…”my Jesus, My Saviors….”
Young David the singing phenom sang a Dolly Parton tune the other week that included “Jesus.”
Yes, I mentioned that in the post.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Yup, that is pretty offensive.
/max sarc off
I am happy to say I have never watched the show and I never will. I guess, looking at the bright side, I should be impressed they did not substitute Jesus with Budah.
Kind of reminds me of the churches that substitute “Father, Son and Holy Spirit” for “Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier.”
I’m with Soap – I’ve never seen the show, so I wouldn’t have the faintest idea even what it’s all about. But it won’t be long before they’ll have to substitute “Mohammad” for “Jesus” anyhow, when they manage to finagle Sharia into law and do away with the Constitution.
Correction, switch that order.
“Creator, Redeemer and Sacntifier” for “Father, Son and Holy Spirit”…
The thought process that must have gone into this descision must have been like “Well, we need to feature a song about giving and caring, but the one chosen mentions Jesus, and we really can’t have Hollywood’s benevolence upstaged now, can we?”
Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing
Power and Majesty, praise to the King;
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name
Shepherd?
Kinda kills the chorus doesn’t it?
The producers must have been afraid that the audience would mistake the name as referring to a Latino baseball player.
Just wait ’til PETA gets wind of the fact that the the lyrics were changed to “My Shepherd.”
How dare Fox air a song that celebrates the oppressors of our arian brothers.
NOTE TO TROLLS: That’s arian, as in Aries (the ram), not aryan.
I watch the show and will have to say that I am pleased that on the number one show on TV during primetime they were singing about Jesus and some of the contestants have done the same on other weeks. Week before last Dolly was singing about Jesus. I think this is a good thing. For you folks that say you haven’t watched it, you shouldn’t knock it.
Dolly the sheep? Now the Shepherd reference makes sense!
I have to admit I am an Idol junkie. I was thrilled last night, and shocked, to see them singing that song (I must have missed the first time they sang it on Tuesday). I’ve noticed that a lot of songs about Jesus have been sung this season. I find it refreshing.
Silly. Someone at Idol (or Fox) made a goofy decision. Fortunately, the free market prevailed, and things were made right. And Ron’s right. I’m sort of embarrassed to admit that we tune in pretty much every week for our Idol fix, and there have been any number of Christianity-themed songs performed on the show.
I’d rather watch grass grow, Holy Carp, I do! I’m a Baseball fan.
Dude. Hey America, what the hell?
Johnny Cash kicks A$$!!!!!!!!!!
Ya got that right jose!
We’ll I watched the ‘give back show’ and switched channels often. I was not offended by Idols version of Shout to the Lord because I don’t know the words but I hope potential donors were offended. I’m offended all the time by Idols social engineering and I’m offended by Bono milking America of hundreds of Millions for Africa. Problem, I’ve never seen Bono money at work, strange. All they ever show are small hungry children.
You know “close quote” and “stike” are next to each other – right?
I refuse to watch it as the show is tantamount to idol worshiping. I also believe in the separation of church and stage.
ROFL
I have yet to willing watch an episode of this show. My mother watches it and I was raised under “her house her rules” when visiting her after her stint in the Hospital last month (was not really impressed with the show at all). I consider it nothing more than pulp for the masses along the same lines as ancient Rome’s free bread, circuses, and gladiatorial games.
sausage coming strong…that was funny as hell!
bit_boy, we know where you’re coming from. You should probably do a bit more research regarding Bono’s efforts (in partnership with the Gates Foundation) in Africa. What have you done lately to alleviate suffering among your fellow human beings?
bit_boy, what type of social engineering are they doing on American Idol?
I consider it nothing more than pulp for the masses along the same lines as ancient Rome’s … gladiatorial games.
“Personal Jesus” would be a great choice for a song to do on American Idol, in my opinion. In addition to putting the J-word front and center, it’s got a great beat and the catchy hook line, “Reach out, touch faith!”
Johnny Cash’s version of the song is excellent, too; it’s a lot like the original acoustic version of the song, but with more of a Texas honky-tonk feel to it. And it’s known that he thought the song was quite Godly in nature. (Now, his cover of “Hurt” was a masterwork. Trent Reznor can never do that song again; Cash owns it now.)
Forgive me for playing the troll role here, but this is as insignificant as American Idol itself (for the record, I don’t watch AI; the music industry is full of karaoke singers and really doesn’t need any more). As it’s been said above, those who are familiar with the song would know that “Shepherd” would be Jesus; the refrence would have been translated in the mind. Whenever my ears hear “gay” or “lesbian” my mind hears homosexual because that’s what they are. As Rodney King once said (kinda sorta) “can we all [agree that Americal Idol sucks and] just get along?” *out*
Idol is usually not on tv on Thursday, so I accidently listened to the opening number which used “Jesus” in “Shout to the Lord”. What a pleasant surprise! The audience certainly approved and sang along. So did I, which surprised me even further. “Shout to the Lord” is well-know by millions of youth and others who enjoy contemporary Christian music written with lyrics right out of the Old and NewTestaments which has “Shout” found in Psalms 95, 98, and 100! I am sure that viewer complaints about the “edited” version used for the telethon affected Idol’s decision to make the correction. That is “Good News”! jb
If that happens i’ll be out 2nd amendment rights.
Please don’t blame this on secularism. I an most of my friends are secular athiests, and none of us are troubled by hearing the name “Jesus”.
This was cowardice, plain and simple. Idol is watched worldwide, and they know that in many parts of the world uttering the name “Jesus” is considered just cause to riot for a week. On the other hand they know that outraged Christians will, at worst, write some nasty op eds or maybe try to organize a boycott. So they tried playing it safe.
I suspect these people would be cowards no matter what their faith was.
Yup James…I’m with ya on this.
I have never watched the show and don’t plan to. My impression is that none of the contestants sing their own music, so why would I want to hear someone do a copy and probably butcher it. Maybe if they did make it a contest where they had to write and sing their own songs then I could be lured into watching it. Until then……..I don’t think so.
OH no, not the J-WORD.
And one more thing, I liken this show to pick my “American Idol” to the line from “Monty Python’s Search for the Holy Grail” when King Arthor is asked how he got to be king and he goes through a glorified speech about the sword and whatnot and the peasent answers, “I didn’t vote for you.”
Ditto!
I’ve never watched it, it is artificial and contrived. Give me a band like the Stones or Iron Maiden, who worked up through the bar circuit, to playing small halls, to stadiums, who earned their shot of fame.
Gosh, just pronounce HIS name “hey-soose” and voila…no problemo! This secularism and political correctness is getting out of hand! This is exactly what happens when you throw the liberals in this country a bone, relax YOUR principles and try to compromise with them.
A bone is never enough with them, they want the entire carcass. NO MORE COMPROMISES, unless they are willing to give up their retarded (YES, I SAID RETARDED!!!) faux-principles!
I don’t know if this is enough to get upset about. American Idol has more gospel and Christian themed songs than one could expect. I don’t watch it because it isn’t for me, but I am happy that they have religious based songs from Christianity in it. Why did they change the word? I don’t know.
But their most popular artist Carrie Underwood’s inaugural most popular song was ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel’ that got played over and over and over again. It may have even won a grammy or country award or two.
Of all the things to begrudge secularism and society and AI, I don’t think that considering them to be ‘anti-Christian’ is fair to American Idol.
Why is the Johnny Cash version no longer available?
Johnny Cash Personal Jesus
Compared to most of what’s on TV today I think American Idol is a fun show, and less politically correct than many.
Changing the song lyrics was dumb though.
Well said ThackerAgency! And thank you for mentioning Carrie Underwood’s ‘Jesus, Take The Wheel’. And don’t forget the Ruben Studdard AI Season 2 winner has been a huge hit in the Gospel industry.
For all of you who are getting bent out of shape over this, please reread the Soren post that MM mentioned:
On Michelle Malkin: “She’s like the Rosa Parks of the disproportional outrage movement”
OK sausage, I’ll give you credit – that was funny!
I watch the show all the time, mostly some pretty talented people go through there. Last year they had Akon, this year “Shout to the Lord”. Even with changed lyrics a huge improvement. Dolly Parton, young David, Jonas brothers, all have made Jesus references. I wouldn’t rag on them too much, just doing the song probably gave a producer night sweats…
And I like Bono and his work for the poor and desperate. I think it’s a genuine passion for him.
- I was surprised to hear “Shout to the Lord” again.
- Did anyone miss Jason Castro singing Dolly’s “Travelin”?? Check them lyrics out!! (Go Jason!)
- They showed one of the African mothers praying the rosary, another orphanage run by a Catholic nun that I just wanted to hug…
American Idol is A-ok in my book.
My wife and I have watched the show from season 1 and I haven’t noticed any real PC stuff. The last couple years we’ve TiVo’d it and skip all the fluff between the actual singing as well as Paula’s “critique”.
I agree Jesus should not have been cut from the first performance and somebody needs a good thrashing for that decisions, but I don’t see it as part of a pattern of anti-Christianity.
BTW Does Jason Castro remind anyone else of a young John Travolta?
LOL, no doubt. I’ve got a total mancrush on him, and yes, I’m secure enough in my uber-hetero masculinity to admit that.
I could’ve also done without a certain cringe-worthy country song that advocates domestic violence against men…but that’s just me.
Sarah Silverman was out of place as well. Yuk.
American Idol is really losing its touch. They started this “giving back” program last year and I didn’t agree with it. Why? Because it’s more about selfish self-promotion and celebrity blathering about how we need to help poor kids in both the US and the world along with alleviating HIV/AIDS and giving every African family a mosquito net. I just wanna vomit.
While I’ve watched Idol for years I don’t watch the “Idol Gives Back” because a) they still haven’t reported how last year’s money was spent/lack of charity transparency, b) Africa is a big, black hole where you’ll never see your money again, c) celebrities get free reign to politicize poverty (like Bono) or shameless self-promote, d) American Idol becomese more like The Miracle Network and less about a talent competition.
I’m tired about being preached to about poverty. Yes, some of these stars really feel deeply about it and go over to places like Kentucky or Africa to bring attention to it but for others it’s just about them looking “charitable.” I wish they would just get back to what the show is about and not this phony display of “giving.”
I really hope the money is going to where it’s supposed to. I won’t be surprised if the folks who gave last year never get an accounting of where their money went.
There is no physical injury, she just tears the heck out of his truck because he’s cheating on her. All so that “maybe next time he’ll think before he cheats.”
Last line is, “…cuz the next time that he cheats, oh, you know it won’t be on me.”
Maybe it’s the guys that are serial cheaters that have a problem with the song.
She can beat the stew out of my car any time she likes…
Ok, too old, her mother can though…
If that tripe really is the #1 show in America, we are in deeper trouble than I thought regardless of what they are yodeling. It’s like a huge I/O error – garbage in – garbage out.
Never watched the show from day 1, and never plan on watching it. If that was the only thing on TV, I’d rather have a good book to read. Sorry, for me, it’s just a way for people to be in front of the camera, one to be “famous” for a day, and then forgotten, as the next “wannabes” show up. In fact, if regular channels were the only thing on, my TV would be a dust collector. It happened once, a few years ago. Read a lot of good books.
As someone who’s family has been in (what is now) this country for over 375 years and in Kentucky for over 200 years of that, I want to be offended by the comparison drawn in the comment, but it is so ridiculous that I find myself cackling in laughter instead. I’m going to have to email that to my cousins and siblings — short list since lucky for me they’re the same people ….
KaosKlerik: Domestic violence takes many different forms…
Cheating is no excuse to commit a felony.
I doubt this song would be so popular with women if it had been sung by a man.
Good grief people. Lighten up. No one takes AI more seriously than what it is, petty amusement. Oh, you guys surely don’t have any petty amusements of your own? Riiiight.
And oh, I read books too! Many many books! I’m guess I’m more sophisticated than I thought that I can balance my time between family, TV, books, work, etc.
*Pats self on back*
No kidding. If he pressed charges, she’d be arrested. That’s not the point. Women are not “supposed” to get violent like that.
I doubt many guys would sing about how they trashed their girlfriend’s car right after catching them with another guy.
There is similar song (sung by a guy) along the same lines in which the guy breaks up with his woman and
“she cussed [him] like a sailor, kicked a hole in the kitchen wall. She threw a fit, and threw the phone, halfway down the hall. She said,’I'll be down at the bar.’ and [he] heard the front door slam. I guess all in all She Took it Like a Man.”
Just do what most other guys do.. watch that video with the sound off..
it was quite the change of pace listening to ‘Shout to the Lord’ and then hearing Ben Stiller getting bleeped..
I think there should have been a bit more of a segweigh(sp?) there..
funny deepdiver, but try not to laugh too hard down there in Kentucky, your trailor will tip over, and might knock your car off the cinderblocks!
No matter what, save the banjo.
Ok I’m done, even for a Friday night…
I can’t wait for the trolls when they try to justify using Islam lyrics, but they can’t abide at all the name of Jesus Christ. Someday all of us will bow and confess that He is Lord and there is no courtroom or human judge that will stop Him. It might be sooner before its later too.
I also watched the Thursday night episode and they opened the show with a repeat of the song.
On this one they definately said “My Jesus”. Praising Jesus as Lord. I wept for joy. This is the beginning of the wall being torn down.
I quit watching this show when the really bad singers aren’t on anymore but did watch the two you tube clips. I am glad that in the end they did the right thing.
They just really love Sheppard Smith