So, what do a 1970’s Finnish disco instruction video and Romans 7 have in common? Answer: Ryan Adam’s Halloweenhead!

This music video (as awesomely clever as it is) sort of masks what the great songwriter of our time, Ryan Adams, has to say about the human condition.

For those of you unfamiliar with with his art, Adams is usually described as an “alt-country” guy, a sort of mix between punk, rock and roll, blues, bluegrass and country – although in my opinion, his particular style transcends genre. Alt-country stuff also usually has some attitude (warning: this particular song includes a little vulgarity).

But, what cannot be missed in the songs of Ryan Adams, as is apparent in this particular selection, is the heartfelt angst that the songwriter feels over his inability, on his own terms, to direct his heart and mind to that which is good. Instead he finds himself with a “Halloweenhead”, full of tricks and treats, visiting, or at least wanting to visit, the places where “junkies meet”. In short, he finds himself in a similar place as that which the Apostle describes in Romans 7. That is, wanting to do right, but instead doing wrong.

We as Christians often find ourselves in this place. Who will deliver us from our “Halloweenhead’?

Thanks be to God, there is One…

Lyrics for Halloweenhead can be found here.

COMMENTS

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8 responses to “Finnish Disco, Romans 7, and Ryan Adams”

1. Aaron M. G. Zimmerman says:

   05/14/2009 at 4:10 pm

   I am reminded also of this part from the Ramones’ “Needles and Pins”:
   Why can’t stop, and tell myself I’m wrong, I’m wrong, so wrong/
   Why can’t I stand up, and tell myself I’m strong/Because, saw her today, I saw her face/It was the face of love, and I knew /I had to run away/And get down on my knees and pray, that they go away/And still it begins, needles and pins/Because of all my pride, the tears I gotta hide/Needle and pins, needle and pins, needle and pins

   Reply
2. StampDawg says:

   05/14/2009 at 5:06 pm

   Mike Burton is AWESOME.

   Reply
3. Jacob says:

   05/15/2009 at 9:08 am

   I loved his work in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. Oh, wait, maybe that is Bryan Adams.

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4. Mike Burton says:

   05/15/2009 at 9:43 am

   Jacob,

   Yes, this is not Bryan Adams… God forbid.

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5. David Browder says:

   05/15/2009 at 12:00 pm

   I love to old white dude doing the disco. LOL.

   Reply
6. Jacob says:

   05/15/2009 at 12:18 pm

   I don’t know Mike. I don’t think anyone should blow off Bryan Adams and his Gospel insights so quickly.

   Reply
7. John Zahl says:

   05/15/2009 at 12:31 pm

   Jacob is right. Remember that amazing guitar solo played next to the waterfall in “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You”? A very important moment in MTV history.

   But there’s also the line from South Park: “The Canadian government has already apologized for Bryan Adams.”

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8. William B. says:

   08/19/2016 at 11:06 am

   Ryan Adams greatest artist ever, the best singer-songwriter of his generation I think. Halloween Head http://lyricsmusic.name/ryan-adams-lyrics/easy-tiger/halloween-head.html i like this song

   Reply