Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Getting Spun



I was listening to Chris Rosebrough’s program Fighting for the Faith on Pirate Christian Radio yesterday and about fell out of my chair. Mr. Rosebrough played a clip of Rick Pino singing a modified "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" as a praise song.

"You Spin Me Round" is a song originally released by Dead or Alive on their 1985 album Youthquake and was a number one hit in the UK but only reached the eleventh spot on the US charts.

I remember this song playing in all the clubs in Germany when I was serving in the armed forces during the 80’s. Not once did I imagine I was listening to a future praise song, not once.

As it turns out, Mr. Pino removed the word baby and inserted the name Jesus to enable "You Spin Me Round" to become a future beloved hymn. Yessum, that’s all it takes to create a new dynamic hymn that is relevant for today’s Christian.

Here's the original lyrics;

If I, I get to know your name
Well if I, could trace your private number, baby
All I know is that to me
You look like you're lots of fun
Open up your loving arms
I want some,want some

I set my sights on you (and no one else will do)

And I, I've got to have my way now, baby
All I know is that to me
You look like you're having fun
Open up your loving arms
Watch,out here I come

You spin me right round, baby Right round
like a record, baby Right round round round
You spin me right round, babyRight round
like a record, baby Right round round round

I got to be your friend now, baby
And I would like to move in a little bit closer
All I know is that to me You look like you're lots of fun
Open up your loving arms Watch out, here I come

I love our new hymnal, Lutheran Service Book, but I'm already looking forward to a new hymnal where hymnody that I once danced to can be sung in church. Yep, can't wait.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

“we’re having a Holy Ghost hoedown” “people all over the world, start a love train” ??????? You’ve got to be kidding me! Is this a youth gathering?

ghp said...

Help me out here, Frank -- is the best construction that they knew about the gay-centric meaning of the song & tried to reclaim/redeem it, or that they didn't know & are just clueless?

I mean, it's a great, bouncy, piece of 80's techno-dance fluff, don't get me wrong (I've got it on my iPod, I must confess...). But, gracious, to substitute "Jesus" for "baby" in the chorus, and then just go all stream-of-consciousness on the rest of the 9+ minute epic (including the whole HS Hoedown & carefree handwaving...).

Odd.

Frank Gillespie said...

Anon, the Ramp hosts nondenominational youth gatherings once a month. This video was filmed at one of their events.

Frank Gillespie said...

ghp, I don’t think you are seeing the big picture! How many more songs on your iPod could be transformed into hymnody?

As far as the best construction is concerned, I would say that after reading some of the Ramp’s material, the Holy Spirit must have sanctified the song to awaken a generation to an existence dominated by prayer, fasting, and worship. See, it’s all good.

ghp said...

Frank, my friend, that is why you are Ablaze! -- you just get it! ;^)

Me? I'm more a-blasé... ;^P

Patrick said...

Let me be the first to say that, unfortunately, this "hymn" didn't make it into the 2008 Baptist Hymnal.

Not that Baptists would dance to it anyway... they might "creative movement" to it...

Frank Gillespie said...

Me? I'm more a-blasé... ;^P

LOL!!!!

ghp, I’m just trying to be mission minded here as well as forward thinking. Right now the seventies are “in” both in theology and culture. If we start rewriting the 80’s greatest hits now, we can be on the cutting edge (a first for the LCMS) of a new musical outreach. The people we are clamoring for now will assume room temperature in ten or fifteen years. If we can have a relevant and dynamic music ministry ready for their children, most of problems reaching the unbelievers will be solved!

Frank Gillespie said...

Patrick,

Hey, there’s always hymnal supplements in the meantime… I know plenty of dancing Baptists and they cut a rug with skill far exceeding my own.

I haven’t seen you comment before…how’d you find me?