Dr Alban’s “Sing Hallelujah” – a Postmodern Interpretation

I was listening to pseudo Christian "family" radio one time in the car and I heard this song with a groovy beat and bassline – "Sing Hallelujah!". I couldn't make out the words so I thought I'd look it up on google, and see what the lyrics actually said. I include them below.

This song is highly reviewed by all kinds of people on youtube, godless Germans and others, who speak of it in the highest terms. So it just goes to show that the people of the world aren't averse to a bit of Christian-speak as long as the rhythm and the bass-line is right. Words like "Hallelujah" and "O Lord" don't necessarily bother them.

<I decided not to link to the video any more, I don't encourage people to listen to it, if you must you can look it up on youtube yourself>

But as you know, many songs have a hidden meaning, and under the principles of postmodern criticism, the critic has just as much right as anybody to say what a song means. So I too will interpret this as a parody of the modern culturally-relevant Christian. Here we go:

The lyrics of "Sing Hallelujah" by Dr Alban

A B C is like one two three the beat the rhythm the verse y'all come on happy people come on jam with me oh lord come on come one Happy people singing people party people happy people jamming on the party session oh lord Sing hallelujah sing it sing hallelujah sing it yeah sing hallelujah sing hallelujah sing it sing hallelujah sing it yeah sing hallelujah sing hallelujah sing hallelujah sing it sing hallelujah sing it D E F is like four five six one more time I say y'all come on party people come on sing with me oh lord come on come on The bubbling style is wicked and wild wicked and wild oh lord mmh Sing hallelujah sing it sing hallelujah sing it yeah sing hallelujah sing hallelujah sing it sing hallelujah sing it yeah sing hallelujah sing hallelujah sing hallelujah sing hallelujah sing hallelujah sing it sing hallelujah sing it Come on happy people come on jam with me oh lord sing the song come on come on come on Happy people singing people party people happy people jamming on the party session oh lord mmh Sing hallelujah sing hallelujah sing hallelujah sing hallelujah sing hallelujah happy people come on – sing hallelujah happy people come on – sing hallelujah party people come on – sing hallelujah jam with me oh lord – sing hallelujah Sing it sing it yea sing hallelujah sing it yea sing hallelujah sing it sing hallelujah sing it yeah sing hallelujah sing hallelujah sing it sing hallelujah sing it yeah sing hallelujah sing hallelujah

A B C is like one two three

Here Dr Alban is making a statement that his song is talking about simple minded folks. "A B C" symbolizes the beginning of literacy and "1 2 3" symbolizes the beginning of numeracy. So we understand that this song is addressing people who can be likened to children – at the beginning of understanding. 

the beat the rhythm the verse y'all come on

Its all about the beat, the rhythm firstly, and the verse only after that.

In modern seeker friendly churches, what counts is first of all the beat and the rhythm. It needs to be "pumping". Without that, we can't attract or retain young people in any significant numbers. Once these simple minded young people are attracted to the beat and the rhythm, only then do we give them the "verse". One or two religious lines mixed in with some feel-good concepts would make a good "verse". This is what Alban seeks to do in the present song.

In missiological terms, this is an attractional model of missions. We say "Come to us", "Come on y'all" and stuff like that. "Y'all come on" is shorthand for the many motivational messages you are likely to hear at a seeker friendly church. Its basically an exhortation that whatever you have decided to do in life, you should do it with all your heart. You should get motivated.

happy people come on 

The modern church being described here is for "happy people". The important thing is that we don't get too intense, or too "religious" but rather we should seek to savour every moment of life on earth.

jam with me oh lord come on come one

At the core of every mega-church today is a church band that "jams" together. We are invited to "jam" – that is to harmonize with the spirit that is in the church. "O lord" is a kind of religious reference to God possibly, but the small 'l' makes it a bit ambiguous as to who is being referred to here. And then again we have the exhortation "come on, come on". Just get with the program, groove to the beat, "come on, come one".

Happy people singing people party people happy people 

Here the subtle agenda come to the forefront.

"Happy people" are not only "singing people" but they are also "party people". How godly this "party" is going to be I don't know, but when we move beyong "A B C" to "D E F" we are going to find out, I suspect.

The Kingdom of God should contain celebration, but we need to be sure who and what we are celebrating.

"jamming on the party session oh lord"

This sounds like a full on musical session in the name of God where its really all about the music".

Sing hallelujah sing it sing hallelujah 
sing it yeah sing hallelujah 
sing hallelujah sing it sing hallelujah 
sing it yeah sing hallelujah sing hallelujah 
sing hallelujah sing it sing hallelujah sing it

Now the obligatory but fairly vacuous religious part. Now that we are "jamming on the party session" we can also "Sing Hallelujah", because this is a church after all. The phrase is repeated for emphasis.

D E F is like four five six 

We are now advancing in our understanding of this thing beyond "A B C" and "1 2 3" to the next levels of this thing – we are moving closer to the inner circle.

one more time I say y'all come on 
party people come on 
sing with me oh lord come on come on

None of the sneaky associations are needed now. The people being addressed here are clearly the "party people". You know, the kind of church leaders who get together after church and have a party with some alcohol and some groovy MTV type music. You don't think such things exist? Where have you been hiding?

The bubbling style is wicked and wild 
wicked and wild oh lord mmh

Now he comes out and says it. All this happy effervescence is in fact a "style" which is both "wicked and wild". This phrase is repeated for emphasis. The Lord is brought into it again. I don't know which "lord" is being referred to. They say they are singing to "Yah" (Halleluyah) but it could be in fact Bacchus or some kind of demon that Satan loves.

Sing hallelujah sing it sing hallelujah 
sing it yeah sing hallelujah 
sing hallelujah sing it sing hallelujah 
sing it yeah sing hallelujah sing hallelujah 
sing hallelujah sing hallelujah 
sing hallelujah sing it sing hallelujah sing it

But how could this really be? After all, our "party people" here keep on "singing hallelujah!" Not just once or twice, but many times. Could this effectively cover over the elements of "wicked and wild" which are also being promoted?

Come on happy people come on 
jam with me oh lord 
sing the song come on come on come on

Then again, don't worry about it. Just be one of the "happy people" and "jam with me". Just "sing the song". Fit in with the agenda. Come On. Come on.

Happy people singing people party people happy people 
jamming on the party session oh lord mmh

Sing hallelujah sing hallelujah sing hallelujah 
sing hallelujah sing hallelujah 
happy people come on – sing hallelujah 
happy people come on – sing hallelujah 
party people come on – sing hallelujah 
jam with me oh lord – sing hallelujah

Sing it sing it yea sing hallelujah sing it yea 
sing hallelujah sing it sing hallelujah 
sing it yeah sing hallelujah 
sing hallelujah sing it sing hallelujah 
sing it yeah sing hallelujah sing hallelujah

More of the same repeated for emphasis. Have you forgotten the subliminal message of this song yet?

Comments are welcome below.