Page - 53 - in JRFM - Journal Religion Film Media, Volume 06/02

What Makes Popular Christian Music “Popular”? | 53www.jrfm.eu 2020, 6/2, 41–57 Conversely, the polysemic properties of the lyrics allow them to also be related entirely to the Bible. As an example, the distinctively titled Christian blog The Berean Test (the name is related to the Book of Acts 17:10–11), whose goal is “applying critical thinking skills to compare lyrical content from pop- ular Christian artists against the Bible for accuracy”,57 examined Daigle’s song for “true Christian” content. Concerning “You Say”, the self-proclaimed “good Berean” reached the conclusion that there are no direct Bible references in the song,58 although a relevant Bible passage could be identified as complement- ing almost every line: e. g. the “voices in my head” mentioned in the song’s first line, are interpreted by the website’s author as clearly meaning Lucifer’s whispering. However, the quoted reference from the Bible has no direct con- nection to Daigles lyrics, but merely states that Lucifer “is a liar, and the father of it”.59 The author concluded that more direct references to the Bible would have improved the song, making it “true Christian” music. This critique of in- sufficient Christian content in Daigle’s music expressed by conservative Chris- tians continues in other areas of the artist’s life as well. Evangelical Christian circles in the United States were strongly critical of Daigle towards the end of 2018 when during a radio interview, in answer to a question about whether homosexuality is a sin, she responded: “You know I can’t honestly answer on that … […] I just say: Read the Bible and find out for yourself and when you find out let me know ’cos I’m learning too.”60 In addition to the openness of Dai- gle’s lyrics, her reluctant position towards homosexuality, which is apparently seen as unchristian in evangelical circles, becomes a point of attack there. What is “popular” then about Daigle’s “You Say”? Musically, the song could slip by on the radio between popular pop, rock and EDM tracks without lis- teners necessarily noticing that it is Christian music. The production values of the song are very current and the song writing is fully in accord with the zeitgeist and therefore can be accepted by broad audiences beyond the (evan- gelical) Christian scene. The popularity of “You Say” in the secular world may be attributed to the limited evangelical content of the lyrics. In addition, mak- ing reference to God has a far greater tradition in popular music made in the United States than in German-speaking popular music, as for example in Joan 57 The Berean Test, 2020. 58 Wright 2019. 59 John 8:44, King James Bible. 60 Lauren Daigle’s Testimony (No Jesus / Defends LGBT & Ellen Degeneres) (Doctrinal Watchdog, US 2019).