The Udo Ibeleme Show

019 “Nothing Songs” — Why So Many Songs Say Nothing (Even the Good-Sounding Ones)

Want personal guidance in your songwriting? Apply for coaching here! - https://form.jotform.com/251396978435877 Some songs sound great… until you stop and ask, “What was that actually about?” That’s what I call a “nothing song.” In this episode, we dive into what makes a song a “nothing song,” why they’re everywhere, and why Christian songwriters especially need to take this seriously. Whether it’s vague lyrics, recycled clichés, or lines that rhyme but say nothing—songs like these are all over the place. We’ll talk about:- What a “nothing song” actually is- Three types of nothing songs (some may surprise you)- The biblical importance of every word we write- Why message-first songwriting matters- How I explained songwriting to my daughter This one’s for Christian songwriters who care about depth, truth, and writing music that actually means something.

018 Easter 2025 | Understanding the Scriptures with the Resurrected Jesus

For this Easter episode, Udo shares a sermon he preached about the resurrected Christ. Title: Understanding the ScripturesText: Luke 24:13-49Speaker: Udo IbelemeDate: Sunday, 24th November 2024Venue: Westside Community Church Original link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp0MbkymcNI

017 How to Rhyme in 46 Min

In this episode, we talk all about rhyming, and all that is possible. Let's get technical and explore the possibilities.

016 What Christian Songwriters Can Learn from Calypso

In this episode, Udo dives into calypso and applies srengths of the genre to all of songwriting.

015 Beauty in Music: The Christian Perspective on Aesthetics

In this episode, I explore the idea of an aesthetic standard in music from a Christian worldview, showing that music is not just a human invention but something rooted in creation itself. The Bible makes it clear that not all music is created equal—some music is better, more beautiful, and more skillful than others. We'll look at scriptures like Psalm 33:3 ("play skillfully") and 1 Chronicles 25:6-7 (which describes trained temple musicians) to see how God's Word upholds the value of excellence and intentionality in music. I'll also explain how music reflects the order built into creation, from the way beats and bars evenly divide time to the mathematical relationships between frequencies that create harmonious notes. If music were purely subjective, why would the Bible command musicians to play skillfully and in order? Join me as we uncover the biblical foundation for musical excellence and why beauty in music matters to God.