Author Topic: Rock Music (Read 485 times)

NIFH · « **on:** February 05, 2026, 06:59:17 PM »

The primary problem with rock music is NOT the lyrics. That is secondary (though often sufficient on its own).

Music is deeply human. Animals do not compose music. The primary problem is the disordered structure of rock music and the effect of its inverted structure on the human soul.

There are three basic elements in music:
1. Melody - which corresponds with intellect/reason
2. Harmony - which corresponds with emotion
3. Rhythm - which corresponds with passion

A properly ordered human has emotions which are directed by and subordinated to reason. The passions are in turn subordinated to the emotions and reason. In a military march, for example, the melody rules over the harmony, with the rhythm at the service of both. The three work together marvelously, and the listener is aided by the proper order of the structure to order the powers of his soul to reflect this same hierarchy. His intellect will consider the goodness of a society that provides the well-being of its members, his emotions follow with a love for this society, and the passions serve the two in stimulating a desire to defend his society with force.

In rock music, the structure is completely inverted. The rhythm is the ruler, the harmony follows, and the melody is led in chains, if it exists at all. The listener is led to reflect the disorder of the music by enslaving the powers of his soul to the passions, which after Original Sin are only with great difficulty held down in their revolt against reason. The emotions will support whatever the passions demand, and the intellect will slavishly rationalize the demands of the unrestrained passions, if reason is not altogether stifled!

When rhythm is allowed to triumph, the placement of emphasized beats in a measure will be inverted also. In a military march, the rhythm will count:
ONE-two-THREE-four.
In rock music:
one-TWO-three-FOUR.

The disordered structure is what makes even Gospel Rock evil. The lyrics of course are very good, often the words of Our Divine Lord Himself, but the manner of delivery by an inverted musical structure negates the order that God has designed our souls to have.

There is no "moderation" in the consumption of rock music.

AnthonyPadua · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2026, 08:20:39 PM »

Quote from: NIFH on February 05, 2026, 06:59:17 PM

The primary problem with rock music is NOT the lyrics. That is secondary (though often sufficient on its own).

Music is deeply human. Animals do not compose music. The primary problem is the disordered structure of rock music and the effect of its inverted structure on the human soul.

There are three basic elements in music:
1. Melody - which corresponds with intellect/reason
2. Harmony - which corresponds with emotion
3. Rhythm - which corresponds with passion

A properly ordered human has emotions which are directed by and subordinated to reason. The passions are in turn subordinated to the emotions and reason. In a military march, for example, the melody rules over the harmony, with the rhythm at the service of both. The three work together marvelously, and the listener is aided by the proper order of the structure to order the powers of his soul to reflect this same hierarchy. His intellect will consider the goodness of a society that provides the well-being of its members, his emotions follow with a love for this society, and the passions serve the two in stimulating a desire to defend his society with force.

In rock music, the structure is completely inverted. The rhythm is the ruler, the harmony follows, and the melody is led in chains, if it exists at all. The listener is led to reflect the disorder of the music by enslaving the powers of his soul to the passions, which after Original Sin are only with great difficulty held down in their revolt against reason. The emotions will support whatever the passions demand, and the intellect will slavishly rationalize the demands of the unrestrained passions, if reason is not altogether stifled!

When rhythm is allowed to triumph, the placement of emphasized beats in a measure will be inverted also. In a military march, the rhythm will count:
ONE-two-THREE-four.
In rock music:
one-TWO-three-FOUR.

The disordered structure is what makes even Gospel Rock evil. The lyrics of course are very good, often the words of Our Divine Lord Himself, but the manner of delivery by an inverted musical structure negates the order that God has designed our souls to have.

There is no "moderation" in the consumption of rock music.

Thanks for this post. I never had much interest in music when I was younger, never liked secular music for the most part. If only someone had explained it like this I may have had interest in it

Matthew · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2026, 09:04:33 PM »

Quote from: NIFH on February 05, 2026, 06:59:17 PM

There is no "moderation" in the consumption of rock music.

You need to define your terms. You can't say "what the kids are listening to" or "what's on the radio". This isn't the 1960's.
The only place you're going to find "Rock music" played live is at gatherings with tons of Baby Boomers and older GenX.

Even "Pop" (or "popular") music varies a ridiculous amount. The Cranberries aren't "rock and roll" though they are definitely "pop". Or how about "Enigma", which had that song "Return to Innocence" which sounded like Native American chanting.

There are dozens of genres of music. Very few of them could be classified as "Rock and Roll" in any classic sense, as in "What those Christian/Catholic authors wrote about, in their writings/sermons against Rock music" or "What Bishop Williamson spoke about when he criticized Rock music".

There are lots of "popular" or "secular" genres of music, many of which have a distinct rhythm, percussion, etc.

Let's put it this way -- even if they're quite exciting, quite good to work or exercise to -- their rhythm isn't even syncopated (one TWO three FOUR) as you describe. That's what I'm talking about.

In conclusion, if drums don't equal "evil" (which you seem to agree with, with your example of military march music), then countless modern, popular, secular genres of music would be fine.

In Conclusion -- if you want to discuss further, I suggest we define our terms and/or provide examples. It's what high end, intellectual Catholics like St. Thomas Aquinas do. Otherwise, we might be arguing around each other, talking about 2 different things. No one wants that.

And no, it's not sinful to post a youtube of some rock song*. We've all heard these songs at work, in the grocery store, at the outdoor event we took our family to, etc. It's not going to kill us, or instantly turn us into Mr. Hyde.

(*For most songs, there's a "lyrics" version of the song. i.e., where the complete song is played, and the lyrics just scroll up the screen. Because many rock music VIDEOS -- the official videos, put out by the artists, aired on MTV -- are indeed sinful)

Or if you don't want to post examples, just give names/artists. That would do as well.

Tisas · « **Reply #3 on:** **Yesterday** at 05:44:25 PM »

A great rock song and splendid lyrics.

https://rumble.com/v74ya8k-hassgesang-18.html?e9s=src_v1_upp_a

OABrownson1876 · « **Reply #4 on:** **Yesterday** at 10:02:18 PM »

Back in the 90's I was going to assist Bp. Williamson about doing some commentary on Pink Floyd "The Wall." He told me that Pink Floyd would not grant him copyright permission to their lyrics. I thought that it was a bit odd since the bishop was only going to write commentary on the lyrics, not play the songs. It would have made for some interesting reading.

Matthew · « **Reply #5 on:** **Today** at 12:46:50 AM »

Quote from: OABrownson1876 on Yesterday at 10:02:18 PM

Back in the 90's I was going to assist Bp. Williamson about doing some commentary on Pink Floyd "The Wall." He told me that Pink Floyd would not grant him copyright permission to their lyrics. I thought that it was a bit odd since the bishop was only going to write commentary on the lyrics, not play the songs. It would have made for some interesting reading.

That's interesting. I would think that would fall under "fair use". I don't think Mr. Floyd had a leg to stand on with that one.

But again, it's kind of out of date and irrelevant now. You could go into a dance, bar, or any gathering with 1000 young people -- and how many of them listen to Pink Floyd? Maybe 1?

The Wall was released in 1979. You do know that a baby born in 2005 would be able to legally drink alcohol now, right?

(As an aside, when Bp. Williamson mentioned The Wall during his Music class in my Humanities year at the seminary, the year was 2000. So the album was only 21 years old...)

If you want to influence the world for the better, you have to be in touch with what's actually out there in the world. You have to attack bad habits that people are actually doing. And attack bad singers/bands that people actually know, recognize, and listen to.

When you talk to young people about Michael Jordan, you seem old and out of touch. Better to talk about LeBron James. And so on, with countless other proper nouns.

Drolo · « **Reply #6 on:** **Today** at 03:20:14 AM »

I can help with the last topic. The world listen now:

-Pop Stars such as Taylor Swift

-Rap
-Trap
-Reggaeton

Rock, Heavy Metal, etc, went out of fashion a long time ago.

Seraphina · « **Reply #7 on:** **Today** at 06:56:20 PM »

Last summer, 2025, I went to what could have been a pretty decent exposé type conference on the dangers of rock music by a priest. I say “could have been” because the music and musicians cited to back up the numerous valid points of consideration were popular in “the world” of 15-30 years ago! At least half the intended audience weren’t born yet when the artists were popular. Most of the audience, the parents who dragged their kids to attend, while alive, weren’t familiar with the music, either. They were too young and/or their parents were pioneers of tradition like in the 1980’s.
If the priests are going to be taken seriously, they really need to keep up with who and what is popular, like, now! If you are, let’s, say, age 13, even five years past peak popularity, is to you, ancient history! Think back to what music was popular when you were age eight compared with when you were 13, and then 18.
What is needed is a scientific method of analyzing all music.

Author Topic: Rock Music (Read 485 times)

NIFH

Rock Music

AnthonyPadua

Re: Rock Music

Matthew

Re: Rock Music

Tisas

Hassgesang - 18

OABrownson1876

Re: Rock Music

Matthew

Re: Rock Music

Drolo

Re: Rock Music

Seraphina

Re: Rock Music