Best music videos?

Unofficial Reverand Alex said:

So I'm a high school teacher, not a music teacher, but I still love playing music in the classroom during passing periods.

I'm assembling a playlist of the best music videos I find, mostly rock right now, but I'll be expanding it as I find more good videos & songs.

So my contribution is the link below; please share your own favorite music videos, and we can make a really fire playlist for anyone who finds this thread!!

Passing Period Jams

Great music videos for high school passing periods :)

youtube.com

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Umm, I like classic rock, but Teeth of the Hydra is a little on the demonic side, and AC/DC is not good to expose kids to. @Kokavkrystallos , what do you have to say about this?

Also, not every event has to have music piped in and stuff. Let the kids talk to each other during passing period, without 1980s hard rock getting in the way.

Unofficial Reverand Alex said:

There are multiple guitar solos in the playlist...what makes Teeth of the Hydra demonic?

And the Thunderstruck cover is a flamenco guitar solo, turning a familiar melody into something truly beautiful, and insanely talented. A lot of the "kids these days" only know rap, pop, bro country, and a bit of rock--nothing to the sheer musicality demonstrated by Luca Striganoli, Santana's performance at Montreux, and others. Hence the reasons I chose quite a few videos that are just high-quality videos of musical performance; I want these kids to see that, even something as simple (and loud) as an AC/DC riff, can become something beautiful & awe-inspiring, pulling their attention away from their phones, and into the art of classical guitar. The Church has a long history of supporting the arts; why should I be different?

--Beautiful further reading on that last point: Letter to Artists, (April 4, 1999) | John Paul II


No classroom I've ever gone to has played music in the passing periods. It's a very rare thing in schools, and many of my kids loved it. They say a couple teachers will play boring piano music, but nobody has played "real music" before, something with a beat, something they actually like. And when appropriate, I'll even take requests. It makes them feel included, and that means everything to this age group. The world is a strange, dark place...I want my room, the Theology room of a Catholic high school, to be a place where they feel like they belong. That means a lot to a 16-year old with high anxiety. And music is a powerful way to make that happen.

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Well, you can play some Christian music instead brother, or soft classic rock by artists who are not metal. At least you are not playing rap, as rap is demonic.

Rap is demonic: Demonic activity in the 2020s from the entertainment industry

Abstaining from Heavy Metal music allows us to maintain our alignment with our beliefs and values. This decision stems from recognizing that Heavy Metal is essentially irreconcilable with the sanctity required in a devoted life. Despite efforts to infuse Christian themes, the core essence of Heavy Metal remains rooted in darkness and rebellion.

Drawing upon passages in both Ezekiel 28:13 and Isaiah 14:11–12, it becomes evident that supernatural forces guide the creation of music, reinforcing the notion that certain genres are indeed otherworldly. Furthermore, David W. Cloud underscores the belief that Heavy Metal lacks holiness due to its earthly qualities, making it incapable of ministering to the divine sphere.

Cultural commentators, including Time Magazine and several prominent rock figures, attest to the transformative influence of Heavy Metal, positioning it at the forefront of social change. However, acknowledging the genre's controversial reputation and profound impact on popular culture, it's essential for Christians to prioritize spiritual growth above cultural conformity.

Embodied within Heavy Metal lies the theme of sexual liberation, a clear violation of Biblical teachings related to marital relations. Numerous artists embrace this sexual emphasis, making it integral to the genre's identity. Consequently, abandoning Heavy Metal helps protect our spiritual integrity and safeguards our bond with God.

By heeding Scriptural guidance found in Leviticus 10:10 ("differentiate between what is holy and unholy"), Psalm 1:1 ("blessing rests upon those who reject wicked advice"), and Psalm 26:4-6 ("distancing oneself from evil companions"), among others, faithful individuals strengthen their resolve to keep Heavy Metal out of their lives. Embracing such decisions empowers us to resist temptations, preserve our religious convictions, and foster a deeper connection with the Divine.

By the way, this is my 20th century playlist, a subset of my music downloads in 2024.



And my Indie playlist from bands that rarely make it to the radio

And my favorite one of them all. So yes, my preferences are soft classic rock, indie (small label stuff), and 2010s dance music.

The dance section of the playlist.

A couple of my favorite movie themes:

The main theme from Dances With Wolves. The late John Barry composed a simple, yet poignant melody that still has a Western feel.


The Love Theme from the Italian movie Cinema Paradiso. Composed by the late Ennio Morricone and his son Andrea. It perfectly captures a feeling of nostalgia and sweet sadness. Outstanding violin playing by Chloe Hanslip at the 2011 Proms.

Unofficial Reverand Alex said:

Since I integrate music into my lessons sometimes, I have a separate playlist for Christian & Jewish music. There's a few others in there that aren't Christian music per se, such as the healing harp music; that's one that I use when teaching 1 Samuel, to help explain David's music therapy with Saul.

Theo class



And to address another part of your post, let's break it down a little.

Suppose someone writes a poem, with these opening lines:

Father, I'm prayin' for a friend, he and I are pretty close
And out of all my friends for this one I'm concerned the most
He say he readin' daily, but he ain't really learnin'
He been in church but say that he ain't moved by any sermon
His faith's weak, he ain't prayed in a week
He wake up and just weep with his face in the sink, Lord
You gotta help my man, I'm prayin' for him daily
He ain't sinned but it just seem as if he goin' crazy

Not content to just let his poem be words on paper, suppose this man records himself reading it out loud.

Then, to add some flair, he makes a bit of music behind it, kind of like soul music, with a strong beat.

The final product comes out like this:

At what point in the process did this song become demonic?

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Yes, Christian rap is a thing (such as Lecrae or TobyMac), but mainstream rap is not Christian.

One more:

With apologies to Judy Garland, Eva Cassidy's cover of Over The Rainbow is beyond a doubt the best version on record. She takes some liberties with it--like flattening and expanding the melody in some places. But overall, her vocals and solo guitar playing are a perfect blend of hope and sadness. The real-life sadness being her death from melanoma at age 33. Not to mention the striking rainbow, wilderness, and sunset shots in the video.

I don't know if you are including romantic songs, but this is catchy and one of the most memorable music videos ever.


Some romantic songs can double by making one think of God, "I loved you all along, and I forgive you, for being away for far too long." (Prodigal son)


Phil Collins wrote this as a lullaby for his daughter. It goes without saying the lyrics could make one think about God too. For a lot of people, cartoons give them nostalgia and comfort (you mentioned anxious students).


Easy song to learn, one of my favorite recent Christian songs. Could be a good starter song for a playlist.