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

Here are the stories behind the songs on our 12th single of 2024: 

GOT MY MINDSET FROM YOU

Remember when Mr. Spock used the "Vulcan mind meld" in Star Trek? Many times I've wished I could do that in order to help other people understand my point of view. However, God has a better way to get us to see things from His perspective, and that's what this parody is about. 

I was just minding my own business on December 13, 2023, when the title came to me. The first Bible reference I thought of was 1 Corinthians 2:16, which first quotes Isaiah 40:13 — "'Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?'"  — then makes this bombshell statement: "But we have the mind of Christ.” 

I went on to refer to four other passages in the lyrics: "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5); "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" (Colossians 3:2); "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2a); and "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things" (Philippians 4:8). 

The tune we spoofed here was notoriously redundant. In fact, "Weird Al" Yankovic made that the subject of his version, "This Song's Just Six Words Long." In contrast, I found myself continually adding new lyrics as ours went on. There were just too many things I wanted to say.

MEDIA CIRCUS

I was nine years old when Three Dog Night's "The Show Must Go On" came out. It was a favorite of mine at the time, and I was not alone; the single went to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on both the Cash Box and Record World charts. 

I'm sure the circus music used throughout didn't hurt. That famous instrumental piece, "Entrance of the Gladiators," was originally written as a military march by Czech composer Julius Fučík in 1897. 

Anyway, "The Show Must Go On" was one of the first candidates considered when I got the idea for the ApologetiX '74 project on October 11, 2023, but it just missed the final cut. However, once I realized we wouldn't have the personnel available to get the last song we had planned for the CD done in time, I came back to "The Show Must Go On" on May 23, 2024, and got the parody idea the same day. 

Unfortunately, it seems many people have forgotten that one of the Ten Commandments is “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" (Exodus 20:16 KJV). Maybe they're confused because the command doesn't simply say "thou shalt not lie." However, elsewhere in God's Law it does say, "Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another" (Leviticus 19:11 KJV). 

Jesus calls Himself "the truth" (John 14:6) and Satan "the father of lies" (John 8:44). In my prayers, I frequently ask God to "open ears, eyes, hearts, and minds" and "reveal the truth, expose lies, convict liars, and cause them to repent."