Flood

Todd plays "Flood" on the piano

JARS OF CLAY - FLOOD A one-hit wonder retrospective

Todd: Welcome back to One Hit Wonderland, where we look at bands and artists known for only one song. And I am doing another request here, and...let's see what we got today.


 * Patreon request from Peter Motolla: "I always enjoy your videos, Todd! I have a OHW request. "Flood", a top-40 Billboard hit by Jars of Clay in the mid-nineties, was the only time this band landed on the Hot 100. "Flood" has the unusual distinction of getting play on both..."

"Flood" by Jars of Clay. Um...does anyone know this one.


 * Video for "Flood"
 * Jars of Clay: But if I can't swim after 40 days
 * And my mind is crushed by the crashing waves
 * Lift me up so high...

Todd: N...nope. Not ringing a bell. I've never heard this.


 * Jars of Clay: Lift me up
 * Dan Halestine: When I'm falling

Todd (VO): Ugh, well, it's very '90s, clearly. One of the '90s-est things I've ever seen. Um...lyrics seem kinda...

Todd: ..spiritually incline... Wait a minute!


 * Dan: Downpour on my soul

Todd (VO): I think I've heard of these guys!

Todd: They were that Christian band!

Todd (VO): Yeah, yeah, they were that Christian alternative band that was popular for, like, five minutes in the mainstream. I remember them vaguely.

Todd: Aw, man, it finally happened.

Todd (VO): I finally have a chance to beat on that creative wasteland that is contemporary Christian music. Thank you, sir. I've always wanted to take a hammer to this...

Todd: ...zombie genre of gutless, watered-down backwash. I'm gonna tear this piece of crap some new stigmata. Hope you're ready, dude, 'cause I'm gonna stomp this request in the ground for you.


 * Patreon request continued: "...Clay to bring them to the attention of your well-informed and musically sophisticated viewership. And I'd certainly be willing to throw more money at your Patreon if you ever decide to sell out again. :)
 * —Rev. Peter Motolla"

Reverend? [Deflated] Heh. I...I may dial that back some.

Todd (VO): Maybe to tread a little lighter than I was going to here. So let's have a...respectful discussion about...

Todd: ...Jars of Clay, the pioneers of Christian alternative rock. [He still can't believe it] Yeah. Wasn't I just reviewing a band of Satan worshipers last week?


 * Dan: And guilt that overthrow me
 * Jars of Clay: If I...

Before the hit


 * Picture of the band

Todd (VO): Jars of Clay were formed in the early '90s in Greenville, Illinois, while the band members were all in the same college. [Picture of Bible] Their name is a biblical reference from [Picture of hands making a clay jar with quote from...] 2 Corinthians 4:7...

Todd: [holding open "Bible"] ...as any biblical scholar, such as myself, would already know. [Beat, then closes book showing that...] This is a Game of Thrones book.

Tosses the book down

Okay, look, I'm a little out of my depth here. I don't know this genre at all.


 * Clip of church service

Todd (VO): It's...it's...it's been awhile since I've been to church, you know? I was raised in the church, I like to think that I'm at least respectful of people's beliefs, but I wasn't ever exposed to much Christian music. My...my church experience was pretty mellow and mostly positive, if kinda dull. [Christian rock meme] I mean, this genre of music is for people whose upbringing was...

Todd: ...more intense.


 * Clip of NewsBoys - "God's Not Dead"
 * NewsBoys: God's not dead
 * He's surely alive

Todd (VO): Yeah, I have a lot of friends who have a much more extensive and, in a lot of cases, [picture of sign reading "You deserve Hell"] negative experience with religion, and they're largely who I know anything about Christian rock from. What little I have seen, I feel safe in saying sucks.


 * Clip of Dan Smith - "Baby Got Book"
 * Dan Smith: I like big bibles and I cannot lie

Todd (VO): Some of it in funny ways, but mostly, it's just excruciatingly bland. It's seems pretty much for people who have never struggled to find salvation. You know, happy people. And quite honestly...

Todd: ...I just don't like happy people. Don't trust 'em, never have.


 * Clip of live performance

Todd (VO): But anyway, I'm getting off-topic. The biblical reference "jars of clay" is about how we have the treasure of salvation, but it's kept in [picture of flower pots] jars of clay, which is a metaphor for our own stupid, fragile, useless human bodies. So, at the very least...

Todd: ...their brand of Christianity seems to be a more humble, less arrogant version than, say, [poster of Saving Christmas starring...] Kirk Cameron's. So...who knows? Maybe it's gonna be okay. [Shrugs]

The big hit

Transcript in progress