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**Definitions**
Not up to date on your musical terminology? Here’s some definitions to help you get started.
CCM
Christian Contemporary Music is a genre of popular music which is lyrically focused on matters
concerned with the Christian faith. The term "CCM" originated in the 1970s, referring to the
emerging pop and rock "Jesus Music" movement, which was the musical outpouring of the hippie
Jesus Movement of the time. The pionerring artists to express their Christian faith in this
form were Larry Norman, 2nd Chapter of Acts, and Love Song. Popular modern CCM artists include
Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, Chris Tomlin, Jeremy Camp and Rebecca St. James
Ska
Ska is a form of Jamaican music combining elements of traditional mento and calypso with an
American jazz and rhythm and blues sound. It is notable for its shuffling, scratchlike tempo
and jazz-like horn riffs on the offbeat. Most Christian ska bands are part of the Third-wave
of ska, and include Five Iron Frenzy, The O.C. Supertones, The W's, and The Insyderz.
Spirit-Filled Hardcore
Spirit-filled hardcore is a genre, expecially popular in the 1990s. This genre inherits many influences
from punk music and is usually heavy, loud and fast, with an emphasis on guitars and drums.
Spirit-filled hardcore bands explicitly state their Christian beliefs by having bold faith based
lyrics, surrounding Christian imagery. Early spirit-filled hardcore bands include Underashamed and Zao,
whilst more modern bands include Norma Jean and Underoath.
