One of the interesting things about thinking my way all through my music collection before Greenbelt was noticing things about the collection that I'd never seen before. I was acutely aware of gaps on the shelves where things have been lost or broken and not replaced. I even went and bought a couple of replacement CD's to compensate. I noticed themes that crossed over between albums by the same artist, or by albums from different artists in the same era. I noticed that there is very little on my shelves that you would call "Christian" music, and a friend pointed out that a disproportionate amount of my collection is by Canadian artists - although given the strong association of Canada with the singer-songwriter (that's how I used to earn my living before I was a priest), perhaps that isn't so surprising.
If I was really organising God's iPod for him, I wouldn't allow him to miss out on Daniel Lanois (his own stuff, rather than what he's produced for others, good though that is), or Jeff Buckley, or Bach's Cello Suites, or the complete works of Bruce Cockburn (and a couple of gigs to go with it). Annie Lennox would have to figure because her voice is so lovely, and Christine Collister, Teddy Thompson, Sarah McLachlan and Rufus Wainwright for the same reason. Neil Young, Richard Thompson, James Taylor, Peter Gabriel, for their writing talents; Stephane Grapelli for his brilliance and sheer good fun.
I would also insist (and I have plenty of practice at this, as I have a son with a Gameboy) that every now and then when God had been listening to his iPod a bit too long, that he TURN IT OFF!!! and come out and see a couple of art galleries, play in the sunshine, drink some tea at an outdoor cafe, and then go to a proper gig. Or a Verdi opera. Or a night at CB2. Or, of course, Greenbelt Festival...
I love the vision of your gently telling the Almighty to get out more!
So glad Bach and Buckley are both in....:-) x
Posted by: Kathryn | 17/09/2006 at 14:10