Are New Order into God and Christianity and stuff

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

I need to know to settle an argument.

― Tim Stewart, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

If they are, Peter Hook didn't get the memo.

― paul, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

NO remind me of Kevin Costner for some weird reason

― dave q, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Why do you ask? Because they *HAPPEN* to have a song called "Touched By the Hand of God"?

They're not Nazi's either, despite being called New Order. Don't take everything so literally.

― Motel Hell, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Why do you ask? Because they *HAPPEN* to have a song called "Touched By the Hand of God"?

They have a LOT of songs that talk about God. Love Vigilantes, Bizarre Love Triangle, Touched by the Hand of God, possibly True Faith... There's more-- I can't remember right now. But at any rate, I can remember thinking that there were a lot of God references on the "Best of" album alone...

― Manny Parsons, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh yeah, I was thinking that the third person in Bizarre Love Triangle might be God...

― Manny Parsons, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

NO == Gospel?

― Lord Custos III, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

As someone recently mentioned in the "Taking Sides: Joy Division vs. New Order" thread, New Order's lyrics tend to be a bit clumsy and ham- fisted, as if to suggest that they are the last piece of the puzzle the band bothers with. They certainly don't suggest that Bernard put all that much thought into them. That said, I wouldn't go searching for any grand statements or agendas within their lyrics.

Moreover, the band has grappled with herculian appetites for drugs in the past, which certainly doesn't lend itself to the monastic lifestyle of a serious Christian. I'm not saying they completely lack a spriritual conscience, but rather that they're no more religious than, say, The Wonder Stuff or the Soft Boys.

― Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 6 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I think Barney might have gone to a church (catholic?) school. so it's maybe a matter of upbringing rather than belief.

― Dan Byron, Saturday, 10 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

two years pass...

Nobody has mentioned the interlude in the middle of the "Bizarre Love Triangle" video?

― Edward Bax, Sunday, 24 October 2004 18:33 (twenty-one years ago)

They talk about God the same way Spiritualized talks about God. They're actually talking about drugs or love or something.

― David Allen (David Allen), Sunday, 24 October 2004 20:07 (twenty-one years ago)

The language and imagery of the Bible are so central to our civilisation it's kind of hard to avoid, whether you are religious or not. That said, True Faith is about drugs, I believe. And I have no idea of their religious view - maybe someone whould write them a letter and ask.

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Sunday, 24 October 2004 20:32 (twenty-one years ago)

The final track from Get Ready contains the lines:

"Far and wide
Sweet and simple
Jehovah knows
That I've been sinful

But if Jesus comes to take your hand
I won't let go, I won't let go"

For some reason though, I always felt it was kind of tongue in cheek. I've no idea why.

― papa november (papa november), Sunday, 24 October 2004 21:08 (twenty-one years ago)

That said, True Faith is about drugs, I believe.

Well, there's no denying the lyric changes when Barney sings it live.

"When I was a very small boy,
Very small boys talked to me.
Now that we've grown up together,
they're afraid of what they see."

becomes:

"Now that we've grown up together,
they're all taking drugs with me."

― Edward Bax, Sunday, 24 October 2004 21:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Perhaps they've had drug-inspired religious epiphanies.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Sunday, 24 October 2004 21:55 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/5meo_dmt/5meo_dmt.shtml

― sometimes i like to pretend i am very small and warm (ex machina), Sunday, 24 October 2004 22:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I think the only explicit god song they've done really is Sunrise from Low-Life:

I've been waiting to hear your voice for too long now
One way conversations do not work somehow
Tell me how does one get your soul in touch with the one above
When one way conversations pay a price for the use of love
I tried so hard last night you would not talk to me
I live with the fear of the few with the gift
And I know what's going to be

Why did you never speak my name in front of my family
You gave a gift that you then took away
Like you never did before
Your name might be God but you don't say that much to me
Your name might be God but you don't say that much to me
We might be your black sheep
But you forgot us a long time ago
We might be your lost sheep
But it's time you remembered us now

As we spend our days together, nothing can go wrong
No one told the truth about it because it was so strong
If you ever think of me, if you hear my name
If you read between the lines, you'll hang your head in shame
These ears will never hear, the ice will never freeze
Whatever I have done for you I did because you ???

Which is still arguably ambiguous (I've never worked out what that last word is), but I think pretty reliably anti God, really.

― JimD (JimD), Sunday, 24 October 2004 23:20 (twenty-one years ago)

That's a good call, Jim. It makes me realize that I don't actually tend to think very much about their lyrics because the truth is I don't care what he's singing. The music obscures all that for me.

They talk about God the same way Spiritualized talks about God. They're actually talking about drugs or love or something.

Well, hey, it's easy to confuse God with drugs and love! Ha ha.

― Bimble (bimble), Monday, 25 October 2004 02:21 (twenty-one years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.