Rescue Me (Task #2: Song Commentary)

I thought I'd join in on this task in which Logosology members have been asked to choose a favorite Christian song and compare and contrast with a popular secular song. I have a handful of favorite Christian songs right now so that part is easy. The hard part, finding a popular secular song that will force a good commentary. Some songs that came to mind? "I'm in luv wit a stripper" personally even the "cool" misspellings of the title give this song a more than trashy feel to it. The lyrics? Too far gone. Next up? Anything on the Top 100 Billboard... So I decided to just tackle Numero Uno for this week... Rihanna's S.O.S (Rescue Me) and pit it against Newsongs Rescue. Here we go.

At first glance, Rihanna's song is a total obsession for this guy. She can't get him out of her mind. So much so she confesses over and over again she is about to lose it. She pleads in the chorus for someone to "please come and help me. " The biggest irony is that she knows "It's not healthy for [her] to feel this way." You got that right. The main question: Who is she asking for help? I venture to think that the songwritiers didn't even bother to address this. It's just a cool hook. She is asking for help to no one. Obviously the object of her obsession is in front of her because she is talkign to him... so her pleading for help is in vain. She has placed her self in harm's way and isn't leaving. And I would add, she doesn't really think it's harm's way.

Newsong's lyrics however have a specific intent. They're clearly asking God for help. ("I need you Jesus, to come to my rescue.") While Rihanna's song is playful, superficial and you can't really take her pleas for help seriously, Newsong pens a vulnerable, transparent, dire song. They constantly ask the question "Where else can I go?" And they know they can't go anywhere else to get the help they need. Why? Because their tag proclaims "this world has nothing for me" over and over.

David wrote a song (Psalms 121) in which he asks "Where does my help come from?" David realizes that his help comes from the Lord. No matter where we go, what time of day or night it is, and certainly no matter what trouble we are in... there is only one who can truely help us-- GOD. And all we have to do is be real with him and say, "Come to my rescue."