Jon Davison, Yes, and Christianity

[downbyariver]

So, I was listening to Glass Hammer's album "If" again last night, which features Jon Davison on lead vocals. I was in bed falling asleep while listening, so I'm not 100% sure of the exact track, I think probably "At Last We Are", but one of the tracks featured a distinctly Christian view of the afterlife and of God.

I looked up Glass Hammer on the Wikipedia this morning and found this:

"Lyrically, Glass Hammer is inspired mostly by their love of fantasy literature (most notably Tolkien and C. S. Lewis) and by their Christian faith. Although by their own admission they have tried to avoid becoming an overtly Christian band, their 2002 release Lex Rex was a concept album based on a Roman soldier's encounter with Jesus."

This jumped out at me because the spirituality in Yes' music to date has been distinctly Eastern or New Age with Buddhist and pagan overtones. I don't know any of the band members' personal religious preferences, but if they are Christian, it isn't a part of the music they make with Yes.

So, if Davison stays in the band and contributes to new material, should we expect him to work in some Christian sounding stuff? Is he going to have issues with playing stuff like "In the Presence Of" that talks about worshiping the Sun? Maybe "In the Presence Of" is a bad example, because there's no way they're going to play that in concert, but same question goes for other songs that are more likely to be played, just fill in your favorite Yes song that expresses some sort of non-Christian religious sentiment.

[bondegezou]

Much of Glass Hammer's Christianity is to do with the main two members, Babb and Schendel. Davison is new to Glass Hammer and wasn't even on Lex Rex. So, Davison's beliefs may not be the same as Glass Hammer's. Yes has had Christian members before, although they've generally been in the minority. Wakeman (R) is Christian. I believe Downes and Wakeman (O) are too. And Davison is familiar with Yes's lyrics: he knows what he's going to have to sing.

But, yes, it's an interesting question. Yes's spirituality reflects the counter-culture in being largely 'New Age'/Eastern-influenced or humanist, as is the case for much prog, yet they are also a band existing in a Judaeo-Christian tradition and there are themes from Christianity in the band's lyrics too.

Henry

[profusion]

It's worth noting that there was much less overt spirituality on FFH. Also, Yes lyrics have rarely referred to specific faiths and tend towards the vaguely mystical.

Since Davison has sung Yes lyrics before, I doubt he has a problem with them. Going forward, it would be interesting to see what type of lyrical influence he would bring. My understanding is that the lyrics he has brought to the last two GH albums have been much more "real world" stuff, such as a song about his late father.

[Purple Wolfhound]

Uh-oh, you brought the "C" word into it - that ought to kill this thread before it even gets started... Personally, the Christianity angle of Glass Hammer's music doesn't bother me at all - although they do say "glory" on Lex Rex one too many times.

As for that possibly trickling into Yes' music? I don't see it, especially since Davison - if he becomes a permanent member - would, in my mind, be the minority voice initially and therefore have less of a say in regards to (but not necessarily the actual writing of) lyrical content.

[Rabin105]

i wouldn't mind a christian lyrically based yes as I am a christian myself. I can see why it might alienate people but i wouldn't mind

[yesfannh]

More importantly - is JD an R or a D?

[JustAFan]

Who the heck is Jon Daivson?

[Rabin105]

Who the heck is Jon Daivson?

the new singer after Jon Davison He will join in 2013 :)


just kidding it's just a mispelling of the new lead singers last name.

[rePete]

More importantly - is JD an R or a D?

Oh Gawd... not this "Raisins" vs. "Dates" controversy again...

[yesfannh]

Oh Gawd... not this "Raisins" vs. "Dates" controversy again...

Actually, I know a few "Dates" who are married to "Raisins."

How are you Pete?

[Jonah]

the new singer after Jon Davison He will join in 2013 :)


just kidding it's just a mispelling of the new lead singers last name.

Amended

[Closetotheedge1972]

As has been noted elsewhere, Jon has often used subtlety in his lyrics...referring to the "Sun" at times when he is obviously referring to God.

[yesfannh]

As has been noted elsewhere, Jon has often used subtlety in his lyrics...referring to the "Sun" at times when he is obviously referring to God.

Which Jon?

[Closetotheedge1972]

Anderson as it refers to the lyric above in "In the presence of."

[bondegezou]

As has been noted elsewhere, Jon has often used subtlety in his lyrics...referring to the "Sun" at times when he is obviously referring to God.

He's referring to the divine. So, yes, he's referring to God, but what he means by "God" and what some other people mean by "God" might be rather different. He's not referring to a traditional Christian exclusive conception of God, for example.

Henry

[yesfannh]

Anderson as it refers to the lyric above in "In the presence of."

I know, just fooling ya, hence the little winky dude..................

[rePete]

Actually, I know a few "Dates" who are married to "Raisins."

How are you Pete?

I'm good, thanks. Very happy to see you posting again. How are you doing?

[yesfannh]

I'm good, thanks. Very happy to see you posting again. How are you doing?

Pretty good....rough winter for a number of reasons, but trying to get back on track..........

Thanks for asking........!

[Theoberheim]

I don't think Jon Davison will have any problem singing any song in the Yes canon, spiritual or otherwise! - And you're probably right, the most likely not be performing In the Presence of...

[Imperatrix]

He's referring to the divine. So, yes, he's referring to God, but what he means by "God" and what some other people mean by "God" might be rather different. He's not referring to a traditional Christian exclusive conception of God, for example.

Henry

I'm very glad you wrote this.