Meaning of the songs on "Alive" Options

[SecretInsomnia]

I can see people stating Ed's songs and lyrics "don't have a meaning at all" nowadays, but as this man has been a real inspiration with his lyrics for me, I think it's good to start a thread about the meaning of his newer songs. They might look more simple or bland, you can think what you want, but it's always interesting to discuss the lyrics.

By that, I think it's cool of Ed he explains on Facebook what Grace is about for example (after he was asked to).

Ed Kowalczyk (Ed K) Hi P Celine, the "who" that is "wrong" in the Grace lyric isn't really directed at anyone in particular. It's directed at the worldview that denies grace, or reasons for hope, the view that maintains that there isn't an ultimate purpose or meaning to life. Funny thing is, even people of faith, like i consider myself, need to be reminded of it constantly. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

So nothing TGF related (not that I expected that). A quite universal message, like Forever.

[dinkibass]

I don't think the new songs are 'meaningless' they have meaning but its a meaning that has come from the establishment, there is nothing deep or personal about spouting Christian Cliches. To say these are 'universal' meanings is to discounts atheists.

[Sakhmet2]

I don't think the new songs are 'meaningless' they have meaning but its a meaning that has come from the establishment, there is nothing deep or personal about spouting Christian Cliches. To say these are 'universal' meanings is to discounts atheists.

My definition of mainstream is the current popular music

Alternative was mainstream at the time. Mainstream to me isn't a genre of music, it can be any genre so long as that genre is, well, mainstream at the time.

I can see where both of you are coming from, but to me country music and hiphop are still distinct genres even when they are the current most popular music. To me, mainstream is pop. To some of my friends, mainstream is "arena rock". (Only to them that encompasses everything from Bruce Springsteen to U2 to Bon Jovi to Nickleback)

One thing I have noticed is that I rarely hear Live of any period on the "rock" music programming the secretary plays at work. "Rock" seems to be pigeonholed as the bands I mentioned above plus Van Halen or AC/DC etc. If I can find them, it's on "Adult Alternative". (They used to go by decades, which was a lot better but when they changed to "genre" programming, they dropped the 60s and the 90s entirely.)
What does this mean? It seems to mean that music programmers and other pigeon-holers no longer have a place to put classic Live. Maybe the breakup will get them more play as Ed slides into Christian Rock and The Gracious Few get put in with "rock" or "alternative".

This post has been edited by Sakhmet2: Jun 6 2010, 8:20 am