MondayMorningInsight - Leadership & Encouragement for Church Leaders

Ten Things Worship Leaders Can Learn from Bruce Springsteen

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Wed, February 04, 2009
Viewed 69
(10) comments so far

What do you think?

Todd

This is from my friend Mark Wilson. This is great, especially after Sunday's Super Bowl appearance from Springsteen. Mark writes:

Rob O'Connor ripped Springsteen's Super Bowl halftime show at List of the Day. In light of these observations, I'd like to suggest ten things worship leaders can learn for Springsteen's performance:

1. "Drop the Guacamole Dip": People resent being told they HAVE to do something musically (i.e. Everybody raise your hands! or Let's all clap together on this one!)

2. Don't Start with Something Stilted and Corny.

3. More isn't Necessarily Merrier.

4. This is Not a Place for Self Promotion

5. Gospel Choir: O'Connor was wrong on that one. Bring 'em on! They add exuberance!

Comments

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Jan on Wed, February 04, 2009

I was at a superbowl party and pretty much the general consensus was that Springstein was a boring half time show. We had all ages represented, and they all agreed they would rather have watched a good marching band qne the songs were s-l-o-w.

Although, the audience seemed pumped up at excited to hear him and his instrumentals were good.
Shannon on Wed, February 04, 2009

Some good points in the list….however, I completely disagree with number 1 “Drop the Guacamole Dip.” If we are reaching “unchurched” people it is the worship leaders responsibility to “lead” these people in an experience in which they have never participated and may not entirely understand. For a worship leader to say “Let’s put our hands together on this one….” is not telling someone what they HAVE to do, but it is demonstrating for the guest or the unchurched or the rechurched what is acceptable in your worship. There are “rechurched” people who would NEVER think of clapping in church…but to have the worship “leader” suggest it helps adjust them to this new experience.
Randy Wood on Wed, February 04, 2009

As far as the concert I thought it was great. As far as corny things said on the platform, the beginning of it was cornry, the rest was great. As far as “leading” worship, its lead by action not by words alone. But when a worship leaders uses the “same ole quotes” it gets boring!! fast!
John Morris on Wed, February 04, 2009

1. “Drop The Guacamole Dip”—- He’s wrong about this one. This is Biblical worship leading! The Psalms are full of this kind of language. This is exactly why worship is not a performance or a concert. Because Worship Leaders are supposed to intentionally engage the people to join them in praise!

Having said that, I think that this was one of the better halftime shows. I think there are a lot of positives Worship Leaders could learn from it. For example, Bruce Springsteen simply knows how to turn a giant stadium into a 40 seat club. He knows how to engage his audience and make them feel like part of the show. He knows how to “pace” a set list and transition from song to song without awkward pauses. He knows how to incorporate different and interesting elements into the set to maximize his time constraints. He has an ethnically, generationally, and gender-wise diverse band(which is a MAJOR problem with modern worship). We’re not all ultra-hip white teenagers. His songs are rich in content and yet singable. They take you somewhere different that “Oh baby, I love you”.

I think that the author missed a lot of the good stuff that Bruce did.
Peter Hamm on Wed, February 04, 2009

I also thought that Bruce did a great half-time show. And yes, I think he’d make a heck of a worship leader!

But it wasn’t quite up to the level of the halftime show in 02 with U2.
Lex on Mon, February 09, 2009

I’m going to have to disagree with #1 too. For the reasons previously stated, and because I’ve found that direction/suggestion spoken from the stage during worship can be very liberating.

Many times people WANT to raise their hands/jump/whatever but they’re fighting their flesh. When the worship leader suggests or instructs people to do something, those people find the freedom to do it. I’ve experienced this as the timid worshipper and the worship leader told after the service, “Thank you!”
Pastor Joseph on Wed, February 11, 2009

Sorry, but I don’t feel like we should be learning anything from that man, especially when it comes to leading worship that should glorify God alone. !
Rick T on Sat, February 28, 2009

I will cosign on the biblical objections to #1.

I will also raise a personal and non biblical objection to #5. The gospel choir has become as impotent and routine as the cross on a chain or saying “I’d like to thank God” at an award shows. The tradition of robed, faith-filled parishioners, harmonizing in full-throated praise to God has been abused like most sacred things in America. From Mellencamp to the American Idol Finale, from Steve Martin soliciting a laugh to Madonna belting a painfully poor simile for prayer, the gospel choir is simply a cliche, desperate attempt to add “soul” to an otherwise bland performance.

You can almost predict the moment you’re going to be hit with it. Picture a solitary performer on a dim-lit stage, crooning some we-can-change-the-world ballad co-written by Diane Warren, Barry Manilow and Will-I-Am. As the music swells through the second verse and the chorus is ready to turn for the third time, the lights go full, the singer wails and out of oblivion comes 40-50 African Americans in white or purple robes swaying and clapping, singing a song they just learned in yesterday’s rehearsal that they will forget once the check clears. An addition that use to rouse worship and implore a “hallelujah!” is now followed by the phrase “wasn’t that cool?!” That’s exactly what modern worship needs…one more cool gimmick.
Fiona on Tue, June 02, 2009

I want to warship for my beloved Bears. I do not want to cry. I hoep I can kiss my NFL jersey proudly during this season.
iphone converter on Sun, August 02, 2009

That’s very helpful