Last year, I posted a brief analysis of a song called "Cathy Don't Go!" which is one of many pieces in the musical repertoire of The Family International, a notorious cult founded by David Berg in 1968. In the meantime, I've come across some more of their extensive contributions to the world of music which I think are worth discussing in more detail.
DISCLAIMER: Before continuing, I first of all want to stress the fact that I do not in any way, shape or form support, condone or approve of The Family International (TFI), its founders, leaders, teachings or methods. And this goes especially for the false and perverted gospel they've been preaching for decades and continue to spread to the detriment of souls and in blind opposition to authentic faith in Jesus Christ, His Gospel and His Church. The purpose of these reviews is to critique some of TFI's music videos from a Catholic/theological perspective and (to a lesser extent) to analyse the themes and aesthetic elements and qualities they contain. The views, opinions and interpretations expressed in these reviews are entirely my own.
The songs we'll be reviewing in this short series can be found in the following video on YouTube which is taken from an old VHS tape containing a selection of works produced by the cult in the late 1980s/early 1990s. According to ex-cult members, these tapes would be distributed door-to-door (Jehovah's Witnesses style) and always depicted the cult in a way that its leaders wanted it to be seen. A viewer's comment on a YouTube video entitled "Cult teens sing to their leader" explains that the teens seen in the video were born into the cult, had to dress and act in a specific way and were chosen for these videos based on their attractiveness. A closer look at the individuals featured in the songs strongly implies as much.
On a side note, some of TFI's past members include actors Rose McGowan and the Phoenix siblings. This information may seem incidental right now, but may prove significant for some film reviews I plan to do in the (hopefully, not too distant) future.
The VHS tape, which I assume was simply named "SOS!" (after its opening song), has a run-time of 35mins and contains seven songs by the group Heaven's Magic, which one could call the "musical wing" of TFI. (For a full list of their albums, songs and lyrics, you can consult the NuBeat Music website). Below is a brief overview of the seven songs from SOS!, all of which will be discussed in more detail in upcoming posts.
A (very catchy) pop-song emulation with some elements of techno. Showcasing the shortcomings and detrimental effects of technology, especially with regard to its inability to give love, this earworm features some impressive imagery, rather silly angel costumes and a surprisingly clever use of Morse code. Probably my favourite song on the tape along with Cathy Don't Go.
2. Moments
A slow disco tune in which a young woman laments the secrecy of her love for a man whom she believes also loves her. Arguably the weakest and least memorable entry on the list, this is the kind of song you'd expect to hear in a cheesy 80s rom-com or soap opera: Girl loves boy; boy loves girl but is too afraid to ask her out; girl fantasizes about boy and makes eye contact; boy finally has enough courage to ask girl for the next dance; boy and girl get married. The end. (insert unimpressed eye-rolling here).
A dopey but nonetheless amusing country-style song mocking Darwin's theory of evolution and critiquing the education system's biased promotion thereof. The song and video does its message a major disservice simply by existing. Needless to say it plays right into the hands of snarky atheists who drool over stuff like this as they add it to their scanty inventory of things to bash those simpleton Christians with. But the chorus is actually quite catchy and makes me laugh out loud each time I hear it, so it gets a thumbs up from me.
4. Mother, Let Me Live!
Perhaps the deepest and most poignant piece TFI's musical repertoire has to offer. Playing heavily on emotions with a heartrending theme "sung" by a baby in its mother's womb, it aims to bring tears to everyone's eyes. Giving credit where it's due, many (but certainly not all) Protestant/Evangelical sects are militantly pro-life and have undoubtedly saved many a baby's life during the atrocities of these godless times. However, it should also be noted that similar to the evolution/creation debate, fanatic cultists with their painful inability of rational argumentation are a bane to the pro-life cause. This song, peculiarly, gets the message across in the least objectionable manner possible under the given circumstances. But I'm happy to stand corrected on that account.
An extremely catchy warning song against the Mark of the Beast prophecy of the Book of Revelation (Book of the Apocalypse for us TradCats). Coming across this song last year (2021) was especially daunting considering what it depicts and what is now unfolding before our very eyes. At least in the song, Cathy and her friends got away. But as a German saying goes: Die Hoffnung stirbt zuletzt - "Hope dies last". (That's your healthy dose of motivation sorted for the week. No need to thank me)
6. He's Coming Soon!
Not sure what genre this one is supposed to be but it's also one of the weaker entries. However, at this point the choice and order of songs on this tape becomes apparent. The previous entries all show us the lies and darkness of the fallen world whereas now we are shown the solution: join the Family and you'll be whisked away into heaven! It's the good ol' rapture heresy all over again and is only screaming for a thorough debunking. (Can't wait to dig my heels into this one!)
7. There's a New World We're Making!
An ABBA-esque conclusion to this TFI video tape and perhaps an open and honest mission statement. According to the chorus line, this new world will involve the cult followers learning how to share. Don't know about you, but if someone hasn't figured out how to share in this world, the prospects for life in the new one are not so promising...
And that's that. Hopefully, I'll get around to reviewing each of these songs individually as there's a few points of interests that are worth discussing. Now, if I could only get that S.O.S. earworm out of my head again. Otherwise I'll be the one sending out a signal of distress. I hope these moments didn't make a monkey out of you... No, wait don't go! There's more coming soon! (Okay, I'll stop. For now...)
