Tuesday's Musical Notes exists to celebrate all kinds of music! Sure, we have our favorites around here and sometimes curry to that list for our songs of the week, but if you were to survey most folks, they have their favorites too! These favored songs tend to be generational and evoke memories of days gone by or times on the extremes of the emotional spectrum.
We all tend to get just a little stuck in our musical eras with those favorite bands and perhaps find ourselves thinking, "Wow, that song really was good and it just came out!" only to discover that 42 years have passed and the lead singer is now 64 years old.
For those of us fortunate enough to have experienced 80s music firsthand, we must also realize that many of those tunes are celebrating their 40+ year anniversary since release. NO!!!
On occasion, we ask our children and grandchildren, "What is it that you are listening to? It has a groovy beat and I think you could dance to it..." After they ask, "Did you just say "groovy"?they reply with the title of what will certainly be their generation's record of preference in 40 years. Regardless of the mind-altering state now induced by such revelations, we continue the choice of listening to our own said favorites, making for the warm fuzzy feelings of familiarity and relaxation even if the track is say...Alternative Punk Rock. Regardless of the genre, we all have favorites that make for a Happy House...
I was always on the periphery with the band Siouxsie And The Banshees. There were so many bands that came and went in the 80s and for me this was one of them. To my surprise, from 1978 to 1995 they released 11 studio albums and had 2 singles break into the Hot 100. As I rediscover one of the pioneering acts of the post-punk world, I find myself gravitating toward the nuances that make this band special.
"Happy House" is one of those tracks that on the downbeat of one, you recognize as a defining single of the decade. With it came the addition of 2 new musicians to The Banshee lineup, the drummer Budgie, and guitarist John McGeoch who assisted in creating the sound that would become the band's trademark. It just has that 80s sound and the above video...well we report, you decide...
While not charting in the states, "Happy House" peaked at #17 in the band's home country UK singles Charts. "Happy House" is regarded as having started a new sound in the post-punk age and ushered in the 80s sound of other artists like Howard Jones (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "No One Is To Blame" (Howard Jones), Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Things Can Only Get Better" (Howard Jones), Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Life In One Day" (Howard Jones), ) and Talking Heads (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Burning Down The House" (Talking Heads), Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Once In A Lifetime" (Talking Heads)).
A new decade was being guided in and there was the sense that being ironic would be one of the only ways to navigate what was coming in the future. Let's face it...there were many changes in the 80s and the music world followed lockstep to provide the soundtrack.
The cynicism of "Happy House" is reflective of its period as well. It came along at just the right moment to shout, "maybe things aren't as they seem!" and it exclaimed this mantra with some of the most unique hairstyles ever imagined...however, it wasn't an original thought...
If today is your first experience at Tuesday's Musical Notes, welcome! In the last year or so, we have been taking a chronological view of the Bible and its great stories. It is alarming that there exists a generation that has not been exposed to the life-changing lessons found in these ancient pages and we hope to bring about an entertaining change to that narrative. We find ourselves today with the prophet Haggai.
Haggai was one of the Israelites who were taken captive to Babylon during the destruction of Israel by the world power of their time. He was one of the about 20,000 who found themselves back in Jerusalem after the prophesied 70 years of captivity had concluded (526 BC - 455 BC, here's a great article detailing the prophecy and how it came to be reality: "70 Years of Babylonian Captivity", Text from Earth’s Sacred Calendar: The Dated Events of the Old Testament by Jim Liles). Haggai as you can see in the article is also mentioned in the book of Ezra as part of the "ministry team" that would be supervising the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.
The 2 chapter book of Haggai is a fascinating introspection of priorities gone awry. Haggai notes that those who had returned were enthusiastic about rebuilding the temple for God, but soon were quickly distracted by making "Happy Houses" for themselves.
King Darius (yup, the same one from that whole lion's den thing in Daniel, Tuesday's Musical Notes - "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" (The Tokens)) allowed the captives that wished to return to go back to Israel. Some of the folks had made "Happy Houses" in Babylon and decided to stay. Those that chose to return were given resources to restore the city and rebuild their temple. Remember to the Israelites, the temple was the place where Yahweh (God) would dwell with them. If they wanted God to be in their midst, the temple needed to be rebuilt as quickly as possible so the land and its people could be restored to Him. The folks got started and then...
14 years later Haggai begins commenting enthusiastically, sarcastically, and ironically that they have transitioned to making their comfort a priority over seeking the presence of God. They had reversed the plan that Solomon the original builder of the temple, had set as an example. Solomon made sure that God's house was ready to go before construction even began on his residence as king of Israel. These Israelites determined that they had come to play and waste the day in their "Happy House" making sure their needs were met before making sure the presence of God could dwell with His people. Priorities anyone?
Before I can judge the Israelites of Haggai's day, I have a confession to make. I have gone about my life many times with my priorities askew. My own house was decorated and well stocked with records while the needs of others, including the things God has told me to do, went undone. I have practiced the Israelite method of making sure that I was comfortable and not ensuring that the needs of others are met and more importantly making sure there was a place for God's presence evident in my life. And in so doing, I have created a mirage of a "Happy House" similar to the tongue-in-cheek version that Siouxsie and The Banshees sing about. The immaturity of my walk as a child of God, upon reflection, is regrettable at the least and embarrassing at the worst. I have convinced myself that..."We've done no wrong with our blinkers on It's safe and calm if you sing along"...well, you get the picture.
So what is the solution? It really is easy. If I may be so bold as to borrow from Nike..."Just Do It"!!!
I need to do what God wants. I need to do what will ensure His presence in my life and among His people. He speaks your language and His instructions are easy to understand. Where do you start? His Word is written out. He speaks as you read through the Bible, even in some of the genealogies and sacrifices that may not seem relevant to Christians. Worry less, about your "Happy House" and more about His presence in people's lives. Making Him the priority ensures that you minimize the irony that may exist in your "Happy House"..." we're happy here..."
The wisest man who ever lived and the original builder of the temple put it this way: Proverbs 3:1-12 NASB/AMP/KJV full disclosure...if you read Solomon's story, you will quickly discover that he didn't have a "Happy House" either...
'Til Tuesday,
Loving HIM by Loving You,
randy
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