Skillet's John Cooper on 'Demonic' Christmas Song Controversy and Christian Rock

Skillet's Christmas Song Creation

• 💡 Fans began requesting a Christmas song from Skillet about a year prior to its release.
• 🚀 The band decided to create a "Skillet version" of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," aiming for an epic and powerful sound.
• ✨ The song's reception has been overwhelmingly positive, with fans expressing strong love for the rendition.

Layers of Meaning in "O Come, O Come Emmanuel"

• 🎄 The song is an ancient Advent song, traditionally sung for the first coming of Jesus.
• ⏳ It also carries a secondary meaning of longing for Christ's Second Coming due to current global suffering.
• 💔 Skillet aimed to capture both the somberness of the original intent and the eager expectation of relief from hardship.

The Heart Behind Skillet's Arrangement

• 💥 The second half of the song intentionally becomes heavier, reflecting the "hardship of the world" and personal heartaches.
• ✝️ The band sought to express the triumphant, earth-shaking power of Christ's defeat over sin, death, and the devil.
• 🔊 Skillet produced what is described as possibly their loudest song ever, juxtaposing intense sound with deep spiritual themes.

Reacting to Controversy and Misinterpretations

• 😲 John Cooper was shocked by some negative reactions, including accusations of the song being "demonic" or "ungodly."
• 🎸 He notes that Skillet has been making loud music for nearly 30 years, questioning why this particular song drew such criticism.
• 🗣️ Cooper acknowledges the historical debate surrounding Christian rock music in the 80s and 90s, where bands were often accused of playing "the devil's music."

Compassion and Biblical Interpretation

• 🙏 Cooper expresses compassion for detractors, believing they may genuinely fear wickedness, drawing from his own upbringing where rock music was seen as evil.
• 🚫 He argues that the style of music itself is not inherently demonic, but rather that the devil distorts God's creations.
• 🎶 Skillet's intent was not to "baptize something satanic" but to reclaim music for God, emphasizing the song's blatant gospel message and encouraging listeners to watch the video and consider the lyrics.
• 💔 The video visually represents themes of loss and brokenness, starting with Cooper singing in a hospital room to an empty bed, underscoring the human need for healing and redemption.