Pittsburgh Catholic Newspaper

Editorial

Making noise joyfully
current editorial

Editorial

The newspaper of the Holy See — L’Osservatore Romano — recently published a list of the top 10 pop albums of all time.

Curiously absent from the list was Bob Dylan, a favorite of Pope John Paul II. The authors said that while he was a great poet, he paved the way for a generation of singer-songwriters who have “harshly tested the ears.”

First on the list was the Beatles’ “Revolver,” followed by “If I Could Only Remember My Name” by David Crosby, and Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon.” Other albums making the list were Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” Paul Simon’s “Graceland,” “Morning Glory” by Oasis and Carlos Santana’s “Supernatural.”

U2 and Fleetwood Mac were also there.

Frankly, there seems to be some sins of omission if not commission on the list. For what it’s worth, we might have suggested “Abbey Road” by the Beatles over “Revolver.” And it is hard to see how “Graceland” would be a better effort from Paul Simon than Simon and Garfunkel’s 1968 “Bookends” album.

But music is in the ear of the listener and good can be found when a rich song is delivered with passion, even when it is not carried too well. Those who heard representatives of the Catholic Men’s Fellowship belting out “Amazing Grace” Feb. 13 at St. Paul Seminary might have winced a bit. But the faith carried the tune as well as a professional choir.

Remember that to sing is to pray twice. That counts even if your voice “harshly tests the ears” of those around you.