LANY – I Still Talk to Jesus

LANY is an American secular pop band.  Their name is an acronym that stands for Los Angeles New York.  They began their music career in 2014, releasing four albums and four EP’s.  These include:

• Acronyms (EP, 2014)
• I Loved You (EP, 2015)
• Make Out (EP, 2015)
• Kinda (EP, 2016)
• LANY (2017)
• Malibu Nights (2018)
• Mama’s Boy (2020)
• gg bb xx (2021)

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Lany-i-still-talk-to-jesus-lyrics.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

This song is LANY’s honest assessment of their behavior, self-improvement, and conversations with Jesus. While I think it’s great that LANY admits their shortcomings and suspicions that they won’t enter heaven, they also express the common idea that “doing good” will earn favor with God. LANY doesn’t understand that God’s grace is undeserved, available through Christ’s sacrifice and that we thank God for His loving acts through repentance and obedience. LANY tries to improve on her own and wonders why they aren’t succeeding. I address in more detail salvation by works and “trying” in section 2.

Finally, it’s great that LANY is open and honest with Jesus about their lawbreaking.

Score: 6/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

This song is mostly in agreement with the Bible, except for stating that everyone knows they require saving, works righteousness, and “trying” to improve.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-4: This was my first sign that this song might come from an unbeliever’s perspective.  This is a common hope that they have, that they would enter heaven, yet, knowing deep down inside that they aren’t going.  Why is that?  They broke God’s rules.  Their suspicions are consistent with Matthew 18:8, Matthew 25:41, Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43, Romans 6:23, Jude 1:7, and Revelation 14:11.

[Pre-Chorus]

Lines 1-3: I applaud LANY for their honesty.  They don’t change their unbiblical behavior and probably won’t in the future.

[Chorus]

Lines 1-6: More confession of sins.  This admission demonstrates that LANY knows these things are ungodly, even if they’ve never read the Bible (Romans 2:14-15).

Lines 7 and 8: Despite their refusal to behave differently, they still talk to Jesus!  While I would want LANY to repent and trust in Jesus (Matthew 3:2, Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15, Luke 24:47, Acts 2:36-38, Acts 3:19-21, Acts 20:21, and 2 Timothy 2:25-26), I’m happy that LANY talks to Him.

[Verse 2]

Line 1: Summarizes Verse 1 and Pre-Chorus.

Lines 2-4: Under the assumption that LANY readily admits their shortcomings, I can see why they might think this.  LANY is probably not referring to the Christian idea of salvation, but that they need to change for the better.  Does every single person on earth think this?  I haven’t heard of LANY until this review, and I suspect others are unaware of them.  I understand that the word “everyone” gets thrown around to mean “others who know about me”, but it literally means “every person”.

[Bridge]

Lines 1 and 2: First, trying to do better is not God’s amazing grace.  This is works righteousness, which is not how we enter heaven (Luke 18:9-14, Acts 13:39, Romans 3:20-30, Romans 4:1-7, Romans 8:3, Romans 9:16, Romans 9:31-32, Romans 11:6, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:10-12, Galatians 3:21, Galatians 5:2-4, Ephesians 2:8-9, Philippians 3:3-9, 2 Timothy 1:9, Hebrews 6:1-2, and James 2:10-11).

Second, I applaud LANY for attempting to do better.  But, there is power in removing the word “try” and simply stating, “I will do better than yesterday”.  The word “try” enables failure and disables accountability.  If they fail, they can excuse themselves with, “well I tried”.  This is not prescribed in Scripture.  As Yoda said (yes, I am quoting Star Wars in a Bible review): “Try not.  Do.  Or do not.  There is no try”.

Lines 3 and 4: Repeats lines 1 and 2.

[Outro]

Lines 1 and 2: LANY knows that they should talk to Jesus about their struggles.  So, they do.

Score: 6/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

LANY’s song will be easily interpreted by their fellow unbelievers as open confession.  Their language is down-to-earth and references to Jesus, heaven, and the Bible will point them towards a Christian context.  LANY is incorrect about salvation, which will lead unbelievers astray.  This is unsurprising as LANY are likely not followers of Jesus.  Yet, maybe it will enable them to talk with Jesus too.

Score: 5/10

4. What does this song glorify?

While it glorifies God that LANY speaks openly and honestly about shortcomings, accurately describing their eternal destiny, their incorrect views on salvation lead their audience down the wrong path, taking some of it away.  However, it also glorifies God that LANY talks with Him.

Score: 6/10

Closing Comments

LANY’s I Still Talk to Jesus is a mixed bag.  While I applaud their honesty about shortcomings and desire to change, and I agree that they aren’t going to heaven in that state, I cannot agree with their view on works righteousness.  Those who believe them will be led towards error, especially unbelievers who haven’t studied the Scriptures.

I cannot recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 6/10

Artist Info

Track: I Still Talk to Jesus (listen to the song)

Artist: LANY

Album: Mama’s Boy

Genre: Pop

Release Year: 2020

Duration: 4:17

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.