Charles has an interesting point in the comments below this post.
It emphasizes the unfortunate fact that people like cheese.
Cheese being those tunes that are old-timey sentimental or broadway ballads turned to songs like “Jesus: Buddy, Friend, Pal!” They like being swept away emotionally, not thinking too much about the words and just having a nice time.
It’s taken years for me to move my choir from a sizable amount of cheese to bite-sized portions. Every now and then we throw in “We Are Called” at the end of Mass and people in the congregation who aren’t half-way to the donut shop sing with some gusto. That’s probably the only thing that keeps me from throwing it into the proverbial trashbin like I did “I Believe.”
For those of you not familiar with “I Believe” – take some extra time to today thank God. My ears still bleed from this juxtaposition of the Gounod “Ave Maria” and a doofy counter-melody. It turns into a screamfest at the end with half the choir singing at the very top of their range.
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once a year, the graying ladies of the St Theresa rosebush guild demand that we sing a 1940s tin pan alley tune titled “St Theresa of the Roses”. I am sure the little flower winces when she hears it. I consider singing it to be penitential. The dear ladies love it, though, and their hearts are in the right place.
saccharine, schmaltz and cheese.
You are right, it is a problem that predates vatican 2.
John, we are called to love tenderly. Remember that.
I guess I don’t need to remind you to act with justice.
Not as long as I’m walking humbly with God!
blessed are the cheese makers.
thelrd in TEXAs