i've written before about how i think artists in the industry are doing it wrong. how they say one thing and do another. how they portray themselves in one light and are really living in the dark.
this post is the exact opposite.
this is one artist who i think is doing it right.
he isn't even in the "Christian" industry and he is more outspoken in his interviews and on his blog than a vast majority of the Christian artists out there.
so in this post i tip my proverbial hat to mr. adam young...better known as, owl city.
who didn't love "fireflies" when it came out? it was a new sound for pop radio, it was ethereal, and it rocketed owl city onto the music scene. there was nothing in the lyrics that said he was a Christian and nothing offensive to anyone in any way. his entire ocean eyes album was pretty imaginative and brought you into this fantasy world mr. young had created.
just before the release of all things bright and beautiful (owl city's sophomore release) there was a blog post that showed a side that the average listener and fan may not have known about the quiet frontman. adam had taken the beloved song, "in christ alone," recorded it and tossed it up on his blog. it was linked by hundreds (if not thousands) on facebook, twitter, and was played on many a radio station, including the one i work for. suddenly, adam's faith had been thrust into the forefront and he didn't shy away from it at all.
in interviews he said that he was a Christian and quoted Scripture, he tweets Bible verses, his sophomore album had a song that sang, "dear God, you're the only north star i would follow this far." on his last tour he partnered with the salvation army for their "rock the red kettle" movement, stopping in almost every city along the way to volunteer his time and energy in the stores and sorting rooms and using his celebrity (via youtube videos) to help their cause. and i get that you can't ever truly know anyone else's heart and tweeting John 3:16 doesn't make you a super Christian but you can tell when it's authentic and when it's a show. i get the feeling that, with adam, it's genuine.
do i think adam young is perfect? no.
do i think he's doing a better job than a lot of Christian artists at living out his faith? yes.
he isn't afraid, of what label might be put on him or how it may affect his career. and that's an example we can all learn from.
xo
