"Burnin' Up" by Jonas Brothers
Reviewed by: Josh Meares
Note: We focus on reviewing songs, and therefore cannot comment on the appropriateness of the album in its entirety. Please use your best judgment whenever purchasing or listening to music.
The Band
The Jonas Brothers consist of real-life brothers Kevin (20), Nicholas 'Nick' (15), and Joseph 'Joe' Jonas (18). Nick Jonas was working on Broadway when Columbia Records signed him. After discovering that Kevin and Joe were also gifted musicians, Columbia got all three brothers in the recording studio together. The Jonas brothers released their first album "It's About Time" on August 8, 2006. They also recorded a single for the movie "Meet the Robinson's." A year later, the Jonas Brothers released their second album, titled "Jonas Brothers," and hit the mainstream with their hit songs "S.O.S" and "Hold On."
The Album
Now the Jonas Brothers are on top of the charts with their new single, "Burnin' Up." Their song is the most downloaded song on iTunes right now and is on the radio constantly. "Burnin' Up" is very much a part of the Jonas Brothers style. It features a catchy beat, alt rock vocals reminiscent of the All-American Rejects, and an energetic guitar riff. The song even features "Big Rob," the Jonas Brothers' security guard. It's no surprise that this song is topping the charts.
The Song
"Burnin' Up" is all about the physical attraction the Jonas Brothers feel towards an exceptionally hot female fan.
Lyric: "I walk in the room / All I can see is you / You're staring me down / I know you feel it too"
As much as some Christians would like to deny it, we are physical beings with physical attractions. The Jonas Brothers describe the sexual attraction between a guy and a girl in this song as "burnin' up."
Lyric: "I'm slipping into the lava / And I'm trying keep from going under / Baby
You turn the temperature hotter / Cause I'm burnin' up / Burnin' up / For you baby"
The question is not, "Do we feel attracted to people?" It's, "What do we do with those feelings as Christians?" I have heard that "you can't help who you love" from a LOT of teenagers. It seems that Christians are as guilty as non-Christians of chasing our hormones instead of loving people for who they are. Christians spend a lot of time talking about homosexuality and premarital sex, but we don't talk about lust as much.
What is lust exactly? Lust is not physical attraction. Or, lust is not just physical attraction. You can appreciate the way someone looks without lust. Lust is when you dwell on what a person looks like instead of who that person is. Lust is when how someone looks, how someone makes you feel, or what someone does for you is what you like most about them. Lust is thinking about another person as if they exist for your pleasure.
Lust is destructive and harmful to other people. Don't believe me? Well, think about what the ultimate expression of lust really is. Lust is mentally indulging in your sexual desire for someone you are not married to -- often even if that person is not attracted to you. If a person follows that desire fully with someone against their will, it is called rape. The rapist is physically attracted to someone and doesn't love him or her enough to overcome that desire. That is why Jesus says, "Whoever looks upon a woman with lust in his heart has already committed adultery with her." (Matthew 5:27)
The most illuminating passage that talks about why we should obey God's standards (including avoiding lust) is Romans 13:8-10Romans 13:8-10
Love, for the Day is Near
8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.. "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not covet,' and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
Lust is much like hate in that it is the opposite of love. But love, both for God and other people, is the defining characteristic of a Christian. How then can we also lust after others without living a lie? One of the things I treasure most about following Jesus is the freedom He has given me. Paul writes, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1)Galations 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
I am no longer a slave to my desires, even to physical attraction. I am no longer bound by them. A review of Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" sparked a lot of debate about this issue, especially with regard to homosexuality. Are we truly slaves to our genetics? What about the alcoholism gene? What about the genetic predisposition to find children sexually attractive? Should we throw up our hands and give in to our genes?
Or should we think like Paul? "But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." (Romans 6:17-18Romans 6:17-18
But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.)
You will never be able to avoid the things that tempt you. Whether that is beautiful people in skimpy clothes on the beach, the Jonas Brothers' girl in high heels and a red dress, fast cars, or a beautiful home, you are going to face temptation. What is your reaction going to be? Are you going to believe God's promise in 1 Corinthians 10:131 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. that every temptation comes with a God-given escape hatch? Are those beautiful people going to be an opportunity for you to develop your faith and represent Christ OR is it going to be an opportunity to give in to sin?
Questions:
- What do you think of the Jonas Brothers' metaphor in this song?
- Are you "burnin' up" for someone right now? What do you know about that person? What are they struggling with? What is their personality like?
- Do you think the Jonas Brothers really feel that way about some of their female fans? If so, do you think that feeling is limited to just one fan?
- What is the Jonas Brothers' attraction to the girl in this song based on? What does that make you think about the Jonas Brothers?
- Can you think of another metaphor for attraction?
- Is there a "homosexual" gene? What does that mean? How does that affect our life and ministry?
- Do you have limits towards what you can do or see without sinning? If you think so, do you know what your limits are?
- What is the relationship between lust and pornography?