The vinyl return
I’ve noticed something: vinyl records are becoming more and more popular these days! There seems to be a move away from digital music.
I’ll have to go up into my loft and bring down my collection of albums, 7 inch and 12 inch singles and the record player.
One of the first singles I bought, with my own money, was the Mike Oldfield version of the Blue Peter theme. I think it was 79p from WHSmith’s! Love that tune! My first album was the ‘Kids from Fame’ LP from the TV series, which was a spin off from the film ‘Fame’.
As a teenager, I would take my Saturday job earnings, and visit ‘Our Price’ on Saturday and enjoy thumbing through all the albums and buying a few records!
I love the tactile nature of an album, with its artwork, lyric sheet and sometimes a gatefold sleeve.
Last week two great artists announced new albums, and promoted them on vinyl. The first was the legendary OAPs, The Rolling Stones and the second was the multi-talented Ed Sheeran.
The advert for Sheeran’s album ‘Autumn Variations’ popped up on my social media feed, and I was surprised to see how the marketing was deliberately ‘retro’ in style, he was holding a record.
One of the products they were promoting is a plain vinyl album cover with stickers to create your very own, unique cover. How interactive is that!
As I was looking at this, the thought struck me, digital music is great, but it’s not tactile. The current popularity with vinyl seems to indicate people want to touch, hold and feel something physical.
That reminded me of a Bible verse in John’s gospel…
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
‘The Word’ that John wrote about is Jesus. God’s son came as a human some 2000 years ago to Israel, where he lived, taught and did amazing miracles.
In other words, God became tactile! He did not remain distant, invisible and in heaven, but he came as a man, visible, physical and present. This was God’s gamechanger.
As humans one of our basic needs is for relationships. Physical interactions with human beings are so important, such as a shoulder to cry on, a hug, or even a high five or fist pump. We are embodied, we are tactile, we are designed to connect in this way.
There is nothing like being with someone in the same space and connecting with them. God did that by sending Jesus into the world, to be there for people. He calls His church (His followers) to do the same.
Perhaps the increased popularity of vinyl records is a ‘sign’ that we need to be more interactive with one another…
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader