Crowd shot masthead ApologetiX Logo Keith Haynie plays bassBill Hubauer plays lead guitarJ. Jackson sings leadJimmy Vegas Tanner plays drums
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03.18.24Get Multiple Downloads for One Donation
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03.16.24Influential Albums: 1402-1408
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03.09.24This Week's Bible-Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
03.09.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
03.05.24This Week's News Bulletin
03.03.24New Single: '74 Solo Smashes
03.01.24A Serious Problem We're Trying to Address
02.29.24All About Our Next CD
02.29.24Influential Albums: 1388-1394
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02.22.24Wayne Is Retiring, What's Next for Him and Us?
02.22.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
02.19.24This Week's News Bulletin
02.19.24New Single: Billy & The Beach
02.16.24Influential Albums: 1374-1380
02.16.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.16.24Remembering ApX Friend Paul "Doc" Nigh (1956-2024)
02.16.24Clues for 2024 Single #4
02.10.24Influential Albums: 1367-1373
02.10.24Fans Making Plans to Attend Our Big Show September 1
02.10.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.10.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
02.06.24This Week's News Bulletin
02.06.24New Single: '74 & '83
02.03.24ApX Lead Singer/Lyricist Shares His Testimony 36 Years Later
02.03.24Influential Albums: 1360-1366
02.03.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.03.24Latest CD Added to iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, Etc.
02.02.24Clues for 2024 Single #3
01.29.24This Week's News Bulletin
01.26.24Influential Albums: 1353-1359
01.26.24How to Get the ApX Library, USBs, Multiple Downloads
01.26.24This Week's Bible-Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
01.26.24Flashback: J.'s Vision for ApologetiX in 2014
01.26.24J.'s Vision for ApologetiX in 2024
01.26.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
01.24.24Checking in With ApX Alum Drummer Fred Behanna
01.22.24This Week's News Bulletin
01.22.24New Single: '70s #1 Hits That Remade '60s Top 10 Hits
01.19.24Influential Albums: 1346-1352
01.19.24Encouraging Message from Longtime Fan in Oklahoma
01.19.24This Week's Bible-Reading & Rock Thru the Bible
01.15.24This Week's News Bulletin
01.12.24Influential Albums: 1339-1346
01.12.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
01.12.24Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
01.12.24New Testament Reading Started Wednesday
01.11.24New Worship Songs Available from ApX Alum Bill Rieger
01.08.24New Single: '81 & '83
01.08.24New CD BOGO Ends Sunday
01.08.24New USB Thumb Drives on the Way
01.05.24Clues for 2024 Single #1
01.05.24Influential Albums: 1332-1338
01.05.24Have You Heard About the Other Music City Miracle?
01.05.24This Week's Bible Reading & Rock Thru the Bible
12.29.23Influential Albums: 1325-1331
12.29.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
12.28.232023: A Record-Breaking Record-Making Year
12.28.23The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
12.26.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.26.23New Single: 1974 & 2008
12.23.23Influential Albums: 1318-1324
12.23.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
12.23.23ApologetiX Updated Christmas Playlist
12.18.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.18.23New Samson CD Mailed to Fans, New Orders Sent as They Come In
12.16.23Influential Albums: 1311-1317
12.16.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
12.16.23New Story
12.16.23The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
12.11.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.11.23New Single: '83 & '84
12.11.23ApX Apparel: Order by Tuesday with Express Shipping
12.07.23New ApX Apparel and More: Order Soon for Christmas
12.07.23Influential Albums: 1304-1310
12.07.23Just Reword CD Added to iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, Etc.
12.07.23Clues for 2023 Single #25
12.04.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.02.23Influential Albums: 1297-1303
12.02.23This Week's Bible Reading & Rock Thru the Bible
12.02.23The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
12.02.23New Shirts & Other ApX Merch Coming Soon
12.02.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
11.28.23This Week's News Bulletin
11.28.23New Christmas Single: All '80s
11.24.23Influential Albums: 1290-1296

The Stories Behind the Songs on Our 15th Single
Fri., Sep. 17. 2021 4:09pm EDT

J. Jackson, lead singer and lyricist for ApologetiX here again.

Here are the stories behind the songs on our 15th single of 2021:

WORD OF

I suggested "Word Up!" as a parody possibility in an email to Rich Mannion on July 28, 2020. He replied with, "Could be interesting. I actually like this song." Four days later, on the way to church, I got the hook line, "What's the Word the word of?" That's a crucial question we all must answer: Is it the Word of God or the word of man?

Making things even more interesting, the Bible tell us that the Word of God actually became a man (John 1:1-14). Ironically, as Man's view of the Bible has dimmed, the Bible's view of Man (and his future) seems more accurate than ever.

I got a decent portion of the lyrics for the first verse on August 20, while driving home with my family from a visit to Splash Lagoon indoor water part in Erie PA. We had spent the day there with Keith Haynie and his family. Ironically, though, Keith does not play on this parody. George Elliott made a Cameo appearance on bass. Keith is still our beloved bassist, but a number of the 80's songs feature slap bass or fretless bass or both, and that's where George comes in.

While preparing to imitate Cameo lead singer Larry Blackmon's vocal style for this parody, I noted that he sang it a bit like Steve Urkel on the old TV show Family Matters with a touch of Fran Drescher, who was best known for her role on The Nanny. However, I was thinking more of the way she spoke in her role as Bobbi Flekman in the cult-classic movie This is Spinal Tap, which is essential viewing for anybody in a rock band.

PSALM 19

I got the idea and title for this parody on the evening of July 27, 2021, so I sent an email to Rich Mannion the next morning to gage his interest in doing "All I Need." Knowing what an accomplished musician Rich is, I figured he'd prefer German composer Richard Wagner (famous for his operas) to American singer Jack Wagner (famous for his soap operas).

"You probably think I've lost my mind for even suggesting it," I said. Much to my surprise and relief, he replied by with the following: "I loved this song when it came out." That song went to #2 in 1985, and by then I was already collecting all songs that hit #1 and #2, so I would have purchased it whether I liked or not. But I ended up liking it. And I love Psalm 19, especially verse 14, where David prays, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer."

Back in 1990, when I was a choir member at Covenant Church of Pittsburgh, we learned a song based on that verse, and it has stuck with me all these years. I still sing that song occasionally to my kids, and I pray those words often to God. Was David asking God to approve what he just prayed or was he asking Him to guide his future words and thoughts? Either way, it's a great prayer and sums up how I feel.

Interesting note: Jack Wagner starred in the daytime drama General Hospital (1983-87), as did Rick Springfield (1981-83), another artist we've spoofed ("Jesse's Boy"). And both songs relate in some say to David.