There can be a sense that a song isn’t modern unless it includes generic syllables. That’s a bad standard to use in determining what’s best for your congregation or the people you’re leading. Being relevant is helpful until it undermines the message we’re seeking to communicate, which is that words matter because truth and doctrine matter (Rom. 16:17).
Single syllables are easy to learn and people tend to belt them out passionately. In fact, at times, I’ve heard crowds at their loudest when they’re singing generic syllables. As I lead a congregation, my hope is that they’ll be most excited about who God is and what he’s done for us in Christ. It’s not hard to get a crowd singing “oh oh oh” at the top of their lungs. What is harder and certainly more fruitful is to lead them in loudly singing something like, “And on the cross as Jesus died the wrath of God was satisfied.” The point isn’t how loud we sing, but why we sing so loud.
A Few Questions
So if you’re a leader, here are a few questions you might ask yourself before leading that song with all those generic syllables:
- Am I drawn to songs that incorporate sections of wordless sounds? If so, why?
- How many songs do I lead that incorporate generic syllables?
- Am I seeing it as a priority to enable the word of Christ to dwell in people richly as they sing?
- Would I be encouraged and edified to read, rather than sing the lyrics to the songs I lead? If not, why not?
- What am I seeking to accomplish when I project “Whoa, oh, oh, oh” on the screen?
- Speaking of generic syllables, how often do I throw in comments like “Hey! Come on! Here we go! Whoooooa (not sure how to spell that one?)!” What’s my point in using them?
If you’re a songwriter, here are a few questions for you:
- Are these sounds adding to or taking away from the content of the song?
- Can I incorporate an extended syllable as part of a word, as in Oh—— my Lord, or Glo———ri-a? That’s called a melisma, which is simply singing one syllable over a number of notes.
- Am I adding these sounds because it aids people in teaching and admonishing one another, or because I can’t think of anything better?
- Am I trying to be relevant and cool or edifying and faithful?
- Would replacing syllables with a meaningful word serve people’s hearts and minds more effectively?
So in conclusion, oh, oh, ohhhhh, oh. I trust that this has been helpful. Hey! I’m really not trying to make a big deal out of this. Ooh, ooh, ooh.
But if this is a trend in congregational song, the word “Whoa!” does come to mind.
