When you write about country music for a living, giving a song called “Soldiers and Jesus” an unfavorable review is a special type of masochism. Inevitably, after today I’ll be repeatedly asked the following question: “Which do you hate more, Malec? Soldiers or Jesus?”
Would it do any good to say that I don’t hate either?
Co-written by Chris Wallin, “Soldiers and Jesus”—the second release from Otto’s upcoming album—draws a parallel between the sacrifices made by the two parties mentioned in the title, eventually coming to the conclusion that “God only knows where we’d be without soldiers and Jesus.”
That’s a nice enough sentiment, and if the song ended there my life would be a lot easier and less hate-mail filled. I could paste the code for a “Thumbs Up” down at the bottom of this review, then go on about my day, thankful, free and blessed. After all, Otto’s sensitive balladeering here marks one of his best performances. That’s saying something, because the man can flat-out sing.
The trouble is, as usual, this supposedly apolitical country song can’t keep from threading politics into its message. That wouldn’t be a problem (why should it keep its politics out of its music?), except for the fact it disingenuously implies it’s apolitical (thanks to a throwaway line about how there’s “a left side, a right side and then there’s the truth”).
That, and because the political points this song makes (as usual) perpetuate false knowledge that’s meant to reinforce a specific narrative. That narrative, in turn, fuels a specific agenda.
“It seems like the news likes to run ‘em both down,” Otto sings at the opening of the second verse.
Of course, that sentiment is drawn directly from the line of criticism that preaches about the “mainstream media’s liberal bias.” You know, it’s the same line of criticism that implied you were un-American if you protested the war in Iraq or criticized the president after 9/11.
Whether or not you believe the media has a liberal bias, can any of you reading this give me an example of a time when “the news” has run down soldiers? What about Jesus?
I’m not talking about, “Oh, well, just listen to CNN and you’ll hear it.” I’m asking for specific examples.
Criticizing a war, or questioning the merits of a war, does not equate to “running down” soldiers. And as for Jesus, God only knows what Otto and Wallin are scratching at with that one. The news likes to run down Jesus? The news likes to run down religion?
Frankly, it’s irresponsible for any media outlet to be an accessory to the dissemination of a message that encourages and reinforces a rejection of critical thinking. Few people who hear this song are going to stop and ask, “What’s that statement based on?”
We should ask that question, rather than just going along with it because it sounds like something we can agree with. We should demand to know how “the news” “runs down” soldiers or Jesus. We should demand examples. It is not the hallmark of a thinking society to simply accept such statements as fact.
If we don’t question the truth and accuracy of statements such as these, we’re all fools who are prone to manipulation by propaganda.
I like this song. I truly think that the core of it is touching tribute to our men and women serving in the armed forces. But that core is buried inside a political message that deserves scrutiny.
In that sense, Otto and Wallin are right about one thing—it’s not about left or right. It’s about reality and rhetoric.
My comment yesterday, 9/29, on CU’s review of this song:
There’s a line in the “Soldiers and Jesus” song, “It seems like the news loves to run ‘em both down”. I don’t think that’s true for the most part. I think the media goes out of its way to praise the service of our soldiers. Maybe it’s out of a collective guilt because most don’t serve these days because there’s no draft. The sacrifice is not shared. I don’t recall seeing anyone “running down” Jesus lately either – only the hypocrites who use his name to further their own agenda.
Glad to know I’m not the only one who was rubbed the wrong way by that line, Bob.
I just simply feel the second verse wasn’t even necessary anyway, given how the first verse refrains entirely from statement and provides the rich imagery of a late grandfather resting in a pine box draped in a flag delivered home by plane, about to be placed into the ground at a memorial service.
If the second verse had only been a continuation of the emotions and reflections emphasized in the first verse, I could see this being a song I would greatly enjoy. But, the way this record is composed almost feels as though one songwriter penned the first verse, then another songwriter copied and pasted something else as its second verse, then the two writers tried to make ends meet on the bridge.
The second verse kills the act for me, much like John Rich took what could have been a decent offering commemorating a loved one who served in World War II in “The Good Lord and the Man” with jingoistic jargon including that we’d all be living under the flag of Japan and speaking German had he and others not made their sacrifices.
Okay, that’s enough of this liberal leaning/kum-by-ya moment of consensus! (lol) I think putting politically oriented lyrics in any mainstream country songs these days is idiotic and a good way to sink a single at country radio. The US is more politically divided these days (thanks to Obama and his socialist agenda) than at any time since the civil war, and stirring up the bubbling cauldron just doesn’t make sense as country radio doesn’t want to offend anyone (except folks with good taste in music). The Cia Leigh Cherryholmes penned song “My Only Son” had a somewhat similar theme but was far better than this effort. What were these guys thinking?
Without any political leanings, I actually think the song itself is just ok. I think that it isn’t sure what kind of song it wants to be. The lyrics and Otto’s vocals suggest this is to be a subdued song about soldiers and Jesus but the instrumentation underneath gets a little closer to being a power ballad. I don’t think the song is terrible, I am just not sure how to really feel about it.
Since you “demand” alot of thing in your above article, can I “demand” where you obtained your credentials at? You seem to babble alot. You say you like the song, but in the paragraphs above, you rip it apart. So, I’m not sure of your thought process……
Michelle: I criticize one line of the song. You’re proving my point. There’s no way this review could be considered “ripping the song apart.” I hardly talk about the song.
“I hardly talk about the song.” Isnt this the song review category!? What kind of review is that? What does that say about your quality of work? Not much. I give it two thumbs down. Thanks for proving my point.
I don’t think that the quality of my work is directly related to how you personally believe a “song review” should be constructed.
Sometimes I like to use a song as a starting point for a discussion about how music interacts with society, the kind of messages a songs sends to listeners, etc. Sometimes, those issues are more interesting than the nuts and bolts of a song.
Guess it’s all in the eyes of the beholder.
Malec, you commie! Why do you hate freedom?!
John Rich for President!
Beck/Rich 2012?
Ummm, how about Miranda Lambert for President?! 9 CMA noms, yee-haw!!!
Beck/Rich 2012?
With Toby Keith as Secretary of State and Trace Adkins as National Security Advisor. The role of Press Secretary will be filled by Kristian Bush.
Where’s all the love for poor Darryl Worley? ;(
To the people who don’t think the news ever runs down soldiers, I disagree. They tell us all the time about how many have died, but they never tell us when a mission goes right or anything like that.
I guess if you have both Jesus & soldiers in your life–the song has more meaning to you. I say–God bless our soldiers who fight for our freedoms and some die just about every day now. Jesus also died for us. The liberal media DOES run down Jesus when all they report is how some of our representatives want to take Christ out of everything. Do they give a fair and balanced report? They only report the bad things–none of the good. So, where would we be without soldiers and Jesus?—I can tell you—we would be bowing to Mecca or suffer the consequences.
@Dawn: America isn’t a Christian nation, and your opinion that legislators who support the separation of church and state (as established by the United States constitution) are bad people does not justify the claim that those people are “running down Jesus.” Believing that public schools shouldn’t be allowed to profess a religion, or that religious paraphernalia shouldn’t be present in courts isn’t about running down Jesus. It isn’t. And if you think it is, I’d like to know why, in more specificity than what you’ve posted here. Do you have an educated or reasoned opinion on the subject?
America is a nation of religious freedom. And it’s amazing to me that you can say something like “we’d be bowing to Mecca” when you yourself would have this nation be a Christian theocracy!
I think the political message in this song is totaly right. I agree 100% with this song. If these guys want to write about their true convictions, they have the right to do so. I’ve written a few politicaly charged songs myself. If you don’t like them, don’t listen to them!!
@Liz: And what makes you think the “political message” in this song is totally right? What’s your opinion based on? Anything? Or just “truthiness?”
Aside from that, who is trying to deny anyone the right to write anything?
if you don’t like the freedom you have of religion and speech that was provided by many soldiers let me know and I’ll pass the hat to get you a plane ticket to anywhere out of the USA..
@Jerry: freedom of speech and religion was provided by the lawmakers who rafted the bill of rights, not soldiers. Aside from that, these protections only deal with government sanctions (and the prevention thereof) so I’m not sure why you would bring them up in this conversation, as I don’t think anyone here implied that the government should censor you/me/Otto.
hmmmm…”America isn’t a Christian nation”. OK, where do you get that? ALL of the founding fathers were Christian even the ones who didn’t practice (such as Jefferson). ALL of the people who came to this nation originally were Christian. They were looking for freedom to express THEIR version of Christianity. They were followed by other types of religious people all looking for freedom. The attraction was being able to practice without persecution but the vast, vast majority were Christian. I cannot point to a specific survey to say how many are currently defining themselves that way – can you? I can say that not all Christians are right wing nuts.
“Believing that public schools shouldn’t be allowed to profess a religion, or that religious paraphernalia shouldn’t be present in courts isn’t about running down Jesus”. The government has no business limiting or promoting or commenting in any way on religious practices in any environment. Allowing prayer in school (of any faith) or a display of the 10 commandments outside of a courthouse isn’t the business of the government. The government shouldn’t fund the erection of religious monument or require religious expression in public events but according to the constitution they CANNOT interfere with people who do. Any interference with the expression of Christianity is seen by some Christians as “running down Jesus” as he is the ultimate expression of “Christ”ianity.
@Cailin:
First of all–no, not all of the “people who came to this nation” were Christian. You’re confusing the puritans with the revolutionaries, so you’re off by abut 150 years. Of course, even then not “all” were Christians. Thomas Morton established Merrymount in 1630 (if memory serves), and was staunchly opposed to the Christian view of the world. He erected a maypole and taunted the puritans.
Second, and more importantly, our “founding fathers” inherited the European Christian tradition, but were also squarely in the midst of an enlightenment of reason, and took specific and explicit measures to frame the nation’s founding documents in broad terms that avoided Christian language. There’s a reason why those founders seldom used specific Christian terminology. There’s a reason why they wrote of “nature’s law and nature’s God,” rather than writing about how the nation comes under the protection of Jesus Christ, son of God.
The government has no business limiting or promoting or commenting in any way on religious practices in any environment. Allowing prayer in school (of any faith) or a display of the 10 commandments outside of a courthouse isn’t the business of the government. The government shouldn’t fund the erection of religious monument or require religious expression in public events but according to the constitution they CANNOT interfere with people who do.
Of course they can interfere, when those people are acting in a public capacity as a function of government. That’s inherent in the establishment clause. Prayer is allowed in school. Prayer has never been banned in school. Anyone can pray to any god in school at any time he or she wishes. That’s not the issue. The issue is whether or not a publicly funded teacher can lead students in prayer, or in a moment of silence implicitly meant to be used for prayer. And he or she cannot do that, because doing do violates the principle that the government will not make an establishment of one religion over another religion, or of religion in general over no religion.
Aside from all of this, I think it’s really sad that you’d transform American into a Christian version of Iran if you could. Because that’s really want you want–a Christian theocracy.
I now have a new favorite song.
My father (a Vietnam vetern) brought up the same point this article did. Dissent is patriotic and essential and this song is idiotic
Veteran ^
Well we can all be thankful that we live in a country where we have the Right to serve any God inwhich we want to and we live in in freedom because of the AMERICAN SOLDIER who like Christ died for those he did not know. that is what makes this song special to me.
I just heard this song on the radio, and I enjoyed it. With my other half in Afghanistan right now (leaving behind 3 kids 16, 12,&3) it hit the spot it was suppose too. Do I think i will hang my hat on ALL the lyrics? I don’t think so, but the saying is true Soldiers and Jesus will and Have gave their lives for our freedom. I can’t imagine why the author of this article would try and justify dislike of the song by cutting down opinions of the writer/singer. What is that all about? In one sentence dissent is good, but only if the dissent meshes with the authors dissent? Folks in this country don’t like what is coming out of the media, so they have to be preached to about that freedom, a freedom according to a response by the author, is provided by the u.s. government.
This review actually looks/feels more like an attempt to find fault in one sentence/thought in the song, and offers nothing but contempt for political ‘views’. This ‘review’ and other sites like are the reason I can barely stand to watch the news. I know this is why my husband is in the military, but let me tell ya it don’t make me at all happy to be a part of the sacrifice for the authors ability to post WTFE he wants. Dude just step away from all the Bill Maher…I don’t mean to be ugly, but you won’t be as good a hater as him ever. Oh and to all the people who want to argue…I can’t imagine why you would waste your time. There is a script somewhere, and answers for everything anyone could say to defend their position.
Darcy, I agree with you about the fact that one line shouldn’t completely invalidate the point and tell you’re other half I said thank you. I was trying to find info about the song when I came across your art. Mr. Malec. I feel that You have put too much emphasis on the two lines in which you referenced vice appreciating it for what it is. As far as criticizing “a left side, a right side and then there’s the truth”, I feel that saying is fairly accurate whenever multiple opinions are present. I think in that manor he was just illustrating that both parties are fallible. Now as far as whether or not the media tends to “run” down Jesus and soldiers, there are instances in which they have put negative connotations which led to a lot of backlash against American soldiers. ( look at Vietnam) reporters were given free reign to photograph and write whatever they wanted and when the soldiers had returned they were stepped on by the general population. Now I am not saying that I don’t respect the individuals who went to Vietnam to report (joe galloway) among many others are heroes in their own right I am merely giving an instance of how the media’s search for a story only leads to negative feelings toward American soldiers. Especially today it seems as though the media outlets are more worried about “scaring” the American people into watching or reading their news than they are about reporting unbiased stories. I understand the separation of church and state, albeit I think that it was a more relevant concept during the time of monarchs. Unfortunately, whether you are willing to acknowledge it or not, “god” was an influential part in the making of our country. Phrases like nature’s God and “.. they are endowed by their creator..” appear in the declaration of independence as well as God is referenced many times in letters and publications by individuals such as George washington (like America’s proclamation of Thanksgiving). Finally (as if I hadn’t rambled on enough) You are correct that our freedom of speech originally came from the law makers, and by that I mean that they had written it down for others to read, but it was the soldiers that protected the law makers and fought to actually receive and maintain those freedoms. I felt that your comment was distasteful and arrogant.
V/R Joe USN
Reporting the truth about what soldiers are doing in Vietnam, Afghanistan or anywhere else isn’t “running soldiers down.” It’s refusing to turn a blind eye to people committing actions that they shouldn’t be committing. Perhaps instead of trying to cover up those actions, we should encourage the persons committing them not to commit them. But we can’t do that if we shroud their actions in a veil of patriotism, essentially saying that whatever they do is permissible because they’re soldiers.
I don’t care for “Soldiers and Jesus” much, either, but for different reasons.
It may have been said best by Kevin John Coyne over at Country Universe, and I hope he doesn’t mind my quoting him.
“It’s about how soldier and Jesus both die for us, so they’re basically the same. It’s a false equation that manages to minimize both of them. It cheapens the unique singularity of Christ’s sacrifice, along with His commitment to nonviolence in the face of violence being used against him by…soldiers. See the problem here?
American soldiers are not Roman soldiers. Most of them sign up voluntarily and with the admirable goal of protecting our country’s freedom and liberty. But they’re not doing the same thing Christ did. Not by any stretch of the imagination. And it trivializes their very different, very human sacrifices to blur the line between them and the divine.”
http://www.countryuniverse.net/2010/08/29/single-reviews-james-otto-soldiers-and-jesus-due-west-the-bible-and-the-belt/
To me, the song is good until you think about it.
I’ve said about all I have to say about this song, but I just wanted to say that it’s nice to see you over here, Jon G.
This doesn’t offend me because of the references to Christ.
It offends me because it is B.S. Why?
1). “Well granddaddy came home in a B-52…”
They don’t bring home fallen soldiers aboard bombers. They bring them home in Cargo Planes. A B-52 is not a Transport and has no provision for carrying the fallen.
2.) “It seems like the news loves to run em, both down…”
Name ONE news outlet that has run down soldiers – especially the fallen – or Jesus. You can’t – because IT NEVER HAS HAPPENED. Not even on NPR!!!!!
Another patronizingly false patriotic piece of crap from the Music Mafia in Nashville.
Another piece of crap that picks a fight when there isn’t a fight to pick. Name ONE liberal that has publicly spoken specifically against Jesus. You can’t because it simply isn’t true.
Another piece of crap that cheapens the sacrifice of our fallen and our savior – written so someone can make a buck off of the ignorant.
If this makes you angry – it’s because I’m right!
I’ll give an “amen” to that.
While I may not appreciate the sentiment completely in these lyrics, I appreciate the fact that Jesus was put out at all, with reference to the truth of his sacrifice for us. I feel that many singer/songwriters don’t necessarily live out the appreciation for his sacrifice as much as they write about it, nevertheless, God uses their imperfections to point people right back to him. Just as those who are the ones hated against can see the ‘running down’ more so than those who aren’t, those more sensitive to statements/actions against Jesus can see it more clearly. Racist ‘running down’ is often hard to prove because no racist remark was explicitly said, yet a slighting action toward a person of a particular race can be hard for another not of that race to interpret as such. We don’t necessarily need to give CNN-featured examples; for we are the news not featured on TV, and can provide you with examples.
I would more so criticize lyrics to the song, ‘Shake what God Gave Ya,’ because God didn’t give ‘it’ in order for someone to shake it wherever someone told them too (‘All God’s children, pretty mama, shake it baby’? ;-). So many other songs are full of ‘truthy’ crap, but get glossed over because ‘it’s the culture’.
I appreciate the post, Jim, for you’ve certainly made me think (as well as the many posters). You may have a hard time validating opinions different from yours ;-), but bygones, for I too might want to argue my truth until people change their opinions (but God’s word says it’s not very profitable to do so ;-)
The song was written to entertain the listener. Ya’ll oughta be ashamed for having negative opinions. When you write your comments, write them as if a fallen soldier is reading every word you type.
We all know how soldiers were greeted upon arrival home from Vietnam.. Rotten fruit thrown at them..obscene words and jesters carelessly forced at them, when most of them were drafted and did what they could just to survive in hopes of making it back home. the media did not help to make their welcome home a pleasemt one. now days I and thankful that citizens are more prone to supporting our troops even thought they may not agree with the fighting. It takes courage to sign up knowing that being put into a war situation, not by choice, but by th orders of the commander in cheif. Your hard presed to find good stories about the war in Iraq because the media finds it more pertinant to reproet on the deaths of Iraq cirizen/milita vice the finding of three disposed of WMD’s. So don’t sit on your high horse and say the media doesn’t contribute to and influence negative attitudes when it does. A for our rights, yes written by our fore-fathers but protected by military. As for this song saying Jesus and a soldier are exactly the same, grow up. It does not in any way belittle Jesus. Its merely saying their actions are similar.they both unselfishly gave up their lives. An action alor of Americans know nothing about and could learn from. Take notes. this country does have freedom of religion but was forged by God. ” one nation under God” as stated in the pledge of allegiance. ”l in God we trust” a printed on all american currency. Your free to chose tour religion but respect what or country was founded on. I love this song.
U.S. Marine
Cpl. Beeson