Actually Lee, I rather liked 60s songs. The "We hate LBJ" and "Charlie is our darling"(no those aren't actual songs as far as I know, but you get the point) ones were annoying not just because they were seditious(or would have been if America had that concept) but because they had such an obviously short shelf-life that anyone but a radical could see. However a lot of '60s songs were either revivals of forgotten ones, or songs written in the style and had a sense of timelessness.

I agree with both Jason and Lee. In order to sing, one has to have something to sing about! Having grown up in the era of movie musicals, I can mortally embarrass my grandchildren by breaking into song at the drop of a lyric! However, I don't do that outside my family--say at the grocery store or the gas station: they'd call the guys with the white coats!

Communal singing presupposes a community. It is harder to sing with someone you don't know.

Gina, what do non-Christians have to sing communally *about*? Patriotism?? Ethnic roots?? (E.g., "My Wild Irish Rose", etc.?) Romantic love??

I think the problem lies not in the songs, but in the "community" part.

"The Singing Revolution", http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0954008/ , which was recommended by Roberto here http://www.breakpoint.org/features-columns/articles/entry/12/9275 , a feature article which I originally found via your recommendation here http://www.breakpoint.org/tp-home/blog-archives/blog-archives/entry/4/4101 , is still on my list of films to see.

I can think of several revolutions which featured communal singing (including the one in "Animal Farm," which featured "Beasts of England"). But America hasn't had a revolution - whether political, or, sadly, spiritual - in a while. (Argh - now the songs of the cultural revolution of the 1960s, the ones my older sister played until I had them memorized, are once again stuck in my head.)

So those who do not sing are plainly in need of a reason. If they begin to sing again, I hope the reason is a good one. It would be delightful to see communities raising their voices in pure joy, as we get to do in most churches. Christus Dominus Hodie Resurrexit!

Public singing is fun. People are to sophisticated now to have fun.