Ryan Tedder on Christian Recording Artists
I had no idea who Ryan Tedder was before reading a piece on him and his band in last Thursday’s Houston Chronicle.
Tedder heads up the band OneRepublic whose single Apologize is apparently a big hit.
Chronicle reporter Joey Guerra’s piece is basically a Q&A between him and Tedder.
In it is revealed that Tedder was raised in a family of missionaries and pastors and is a Christian.
This is that part of the interview,
Q: You were raised by an extended family of missionaries and pastors. Has that played into your music?
A: I got offered a Christian record deal. I’m Christian, I grew up in the church. But I’m not going to tour churches. I was raised in Oklahoma. Tulsa’s like the buckle of the Bible Belt. I grew up in that environment. I was in Nashville for two years, (and) I quickly became friends with probably half a dozen of some of the biggest Christian recording artists. Every single one of them was absolutely miserable with the fact that they were “Christian” recording artists. I saw some stuff in Nashville that turned my stomach. Some of the most pretentious, insecure people I ever met were Christian recording artists.
(emphasis mine)
Pretentious? Insecure? Ouch, I do wonder how accurate these comments are.
How do you feel about so-called Christian music?
[I wonder if Local H (if they're still around) will write a song including the line, "If I was Ryan Tedder Would you like me any better?"]
Im christian. and i have to agree. I grew up in a christian environment. it was cool at first, i met lotsa friends, got close with them and stuff. I was even considered to be one of the heads of the community…
at around my teens i realized that these people were no different than the people who were living outside the community. they even gossiped about me.
take it from me. i grew up in that environment. everyone thinks everyone outside their little community is going to hell. and they think they have to ’save’ everyone who’s on the outside…in a very condescending way too…
altho thats my expirience. and it might not apply to everyone… but me and ryan prolly saw the same stuff
Thanks for the comment Jigg-O.
Do you currently attend church services?
yup. I still do. im very religious actually. I just accepted the fact that people outside and people inside the community are human, and not everyone can hold up a ‘true christian’ lifestyle.
Well Jigg we are all very religious, the only difference is what our devotion is to.
You’re right not everyone can do what Jesus did and lead a sinless life, though this does not open up the floodgates for those of us who are in Christ to as Lewis put it, “sin away my lad”.
haha. found this blog again =p well, the only thing i really disliked about my community was that it preached: “love everyone!” but it resented people with vices and generally ’sinners’. so it was as if the people trying to preach God’s love were trying to exlcude ones who needed it the most.
but christianity in itself is awesome. if you really dig deep into the religion, it is very…um logical.
and i dont like it when people bash christianity because of the people IN it. saying its retarded and what not. but you can’t blame people for being human and have a natural inclination for mistakes =]
I think he has made a good decision by not choosing the Christian music recording. We should start spreading God’s love to the people who haven’t heard of it yet. I have heard his music and God kept coming again and again through the lyrics.. I thought it was a coincidence but then yeah, he is given a talent and he is indeed a Christian!