Regina Spektor and Jesus?

Charles Brammall has been listening

I was recently drawn to Indi Rock/Pop singer/composer Spektor’s (no relation to Phil of “The Beatles” fame) song “Laughing With”.

She’s a gorgeously whimsical, thought-full composer, singer and lyricist.

I was drawn into the song hard and fast as a Christian believer, due to the lyric:

“No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’re starving or freezing
Or so very poor
No one laughs at God when the doctor calls
After some routine tests
No one’s laughing at God
When it’s gotten real late
Their kid’s not back from that party yet
No one laughs at God when their airplane
Starts to uncontrollably shake
No one’s laughing at God
When they see the one they love
Hand in hand with someone else
And they hope that they’re mistaken
No one laughs at God
When the cops knock on their door
And they say “We got some bad news, sir”
No one’s laughing at God
When there’s a famine, fire, or a flood…

But God could be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good god-themed joke
Or when the crazies say he hates us
And they get so red in
The head you’d think they’re about to choke

God could be funny
When told he’ll give you money
If you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket
And Santa Claus
God could be so hilarious
Ha-ha

No one’s laughing at God
When they’ve lost all they got
And they don’t know what for
No one laughs at God on the day they realize
That the last sight they’ll ever see
Is a pair of hateful eyes
No one’s laughing at God
When they’re saying their goodbyes

But God could be funny
At a cocktail party when the crazies say he hates us.
And they get so red in
The head you’d think they’re about to choke
And Santa Claus
God could be so hilarious

No one’s laughing at God
We’re all laughing with God.”

It’s not the usual fare you’d expect from a secular radio station. Where I heard it.

Add to the lyric and the message an extraordinary video, and it’s something quite wonderful.

But is she a believer? 

The album “Far” which includes “Laughing With” peaked at #3 on Billboard’s “Hot 100” album charts in June.

But before you assume she’s a “crossover”Christian musician, nothing could be further from the truth.

A Jew born in the former USSR, Spektor immigrated with her parents to NY after the disintegration of the Communist state.

She received formal training at the Manhattan School of Music after beginning as a talented young pianist in her native country.

Her faith background (or absence of) however, shouldn’t be a barrier to her tribute to the closeness to God many Christians feel in times of struggle.

Many people believe that she uses a lot of sarcastic under-tones and criticices Christianity in her song “Human…” as well. 

The words “They’re just old men… though they do not know it, all mankind is now your brother” make me wonder if she sees organised religion as scary, eg “shaking in your pew”.

She seems to think “religion”tends to suggest the “divinity”of some “old men”.

And that religion divides, and fails to see that all mankind is a “brotherhood”.

But the Scriptures don’t say that.

Only all God’s CHOSEN ones are a brotherhood, adopted by the “parenting power” of Jesus’ death.

“Human of the Year”: 

“Hello? Hello?
Calling to the front of the cathedral
You have won, dear sir
May I congratulate you first?
Oh, what an honor
Human! human of the year!
You won!

Why are you so scared?
You stand there shaking by your pew
The icons are whispering to you
They’re just old men
Like on the benches in the park
Except their balding spots
Are glistening with gold
Human! June of the year!
You have won! 
Hallelujah

Outside the cars are beeping out a song just in your honor
And though they do not know it
All mankind are now your brothers
And thus the cathedral had spoken
Wishing well to all us sinners
And with a psalm drew silent
Till next year’s big human winner

Hello? hello?
Calling… to the front of the cathedral
You have won.”