Maritza Cantu Composition October 31, 2001 Satan, Music, and Ozzy For a long time, music has had a nemesis: Christians who have a perception of music being evil. At one point in history, any music not based on Gregorian Chant was deemed satanic. Rock music has been a target of criticism from many in the Christian community. Through the years, several rock musicians who are considered the vilest, most evil, and satanic of all have been singled out. One of these musicians is Ozzy Osbourne. Since his birth into the world of music, he has been branded as a Satan worshipper involved in the occult. Christians believe his lyrics revolve around satanic subjects. During his concerts, it is also believed he reflects occultist acts. Finally, the depictions on his albums are considered blasphemous. However, according to Ozzy, he is not a devil-worshipper. He simply enjoys using dark themes to express his artistry. You know what I'm about, I'll cast the demons out, and I'll persist until the battles won. I'll feel your creeping flesh if you're to be possessed, then I'll desecrate what you've become. These lyrics are part of the song "Devil's Daughter" from Ozzy's No Rest For The Wicked CD. Christians take lyrics such as these and form the basis for their accusations. Since this song openly talks about demons, possession, and desecration, they feel confident in their beliefs about Ozzy. Ozzy, however, claims in an article from Metal Edge, that his songs are basically stories. "They are not real life desires; there is no real connection between my life and the song." In the book, Satanism: The Seduction of America's Youth, Bob Larson, a Christian author, writes about Ozzy's stage shows. "His performances on stage are complying with satanic symbolism. There are pentagram banners hanging, banisters with demons painted on them, and pictures of inverted crosses everywhere. His behavior on stage is crude, and supports his satanic ideals." There is one incident that has become Ozzy's trademark to many people: the time he bit the head off a bat during a concert. Ozzy defends himself by saying everything he does on stage is pure theatrics. Nothing he does is ritualistic or sacrificial. In fact, he claims he thought the bat was fake. "It's all for show and entertainment for the kids." Ozzy's albums are considered quite insulting to Christians. His album No Rest For the Wicked features Ozzy in a black leather coat with a pitchfork, sitting on a throne surrounded by skulls and distorted little girls. Diary Of a Madman features an inverted cross, a dead dove on a table with lit candles, and cobwebs all over the room. There is also a little girl with a maniacal grin sitting at the table reading a large leather bound diary. Christians declare that anyone with depictions such as these would have to be demented and evil. To think otherwise would be foolish, in their point of view. However, Ozzy claims, "I am not a maniac devil-worshipper, I am just playing a role to have fun with it. Things of this nature shouldn't be taken so literal, everything isn't just black and white." As long as there is music, there will always be criticism towards musicians who dare to walk on the darker side of the spectrum. Christians will always perceive rock music as a tool of Satan. Musicians and music lovers will always defend their beliefs. In the end, people make their own decisions about music and whether Satan and Ozzy kiss each other goodnight. |