Seite - 49 - in JRFM - Journal Religion Film Media, Band 06/02

What Makes Popular Christian Music “Popular”? | 49www.jrfm.eu 2020, 6/2, 41–57 is streamed, as one glance at the booklet, and more specifically its credits, quickly reveals the Christian content. Not only is God thanked first in the credits, but Koenige & Priester refer to the credits as “Danksagung” (thanks- giving/acknowledgement),38 a recognizable part of Christian worship services. For a further level of this analysis, we can turn to Koenige & Priester’s offi- cial video clip for the song. Since February 2017 the video clip has been viewed about 225,000 times on YouTube, where it is referred to as “B. A. S. E. living room session”.39 Unlike the album version, here the song is played unplugged. The term “living room session” can imply a certain spontaneity, as a private gather- ing to play a little music together. This spontaneity is carefully, even profession- ally, staged in the clip, with, for example, the room perfectly illuminated and various cameras or at least camera perspectives. In addition, the sound is re- markably precise and clear, which suggests it was not recorded when the play- ers actually performed this video clip. It would be nearly impossible to achieve the smooth sound heard in the video clip with three highly sensitive large di- aphragm condenser microphones for the singers positioned in the immediate vicinity of the drums. Ergo, this video clip features a level of production that is in no way inferior to that of the secular music scene. Secular popular music will often frame video clips (especially on YouTube) as an acoustic/basement/ studio session. Then again, the specific setting of Koenige & Priester’s video clip can link the band to evangelical communities, for whom non-hierarchical, informal meetings, are part of their lived religion. In addition, the clip’s staging has visible parallels to the “Acoustic Sessions” by Hillsong United – one of the most successful evangelical worship bands in the world.40 Moreover, a number of visual markers identify Koenige & Priester as Christian. In addition to the cross clearly visible around Thomas Enn’s neck, all the singers’ facial expres- sions are blissful and they make gestures of praise (fig. 1, 2). What is “popular” then about Koenige & Priester? The production values of the song “Alles ist möglich” are highly professional, which is certainly related to the band members’ experience in secular entertainment for many years. The lyr- ics of “Alles ist möglich” contain direct yet subtle and non-intrusive allusions to the Bible, whereas the music could have stemmed from a secular indie pop band. The band uses forms of presentation that are common in secular popular music. 38 Heldenreise (Koenige & Priester, DE 2017, dieKoalition Label), liner notes. 39 Alles ist möglich (Koenige & Priester, DE 2017). 40 Oceans (Acoustic) – Hillsong United (Hillsong United, AU 2013); for further reading on Hillsong United see Wagner 2020.