A low note swells, rumbling through the roaring crowd. Strobe lights flare. Millions turn back to their TVs. And then . . . a beat, a dazzling entrance! For thirteen carefully choreographed minutes, America’s most-watched broadcast turns into something closer to a liturgy.
Ahead of her 2012 Super Bowl halftime show, Madonna told Anderson Cooper: “The Super Bowl is kind of like the ‘holy of holies’ in America, right? So here I am—I’m gonna come halfway between the church, the church experience, and I’m going to have to deliver a sermon.”
The Holy of Holies: the most sacred space in the tabernacle, where God’s presence dwells (Leviticus 16:2).
What sermon did Madonna, who materialized at the Super Bowl resembling a Babylonian goddess, really preach? Whose presence was she honoring?
The same could be asked of many other Super Bowl halftime show performers. Remember:
The list goes on and on . . .
Dig deeper by watching “Are Super Bowl Halftime Shows Secret Occult Rituals?” And look out for our upcoming videos on Bad Bunny and Turning Point USA’s alternative halftime show—both set to release on our YouTube channel!
These fiery, mystic, deifying performances represent just a snippet of the blatant wickedness weaved into the fabric of the music industry.
We’ve all seen it: No-names growing increasingly bizarre on their climbs to fame, capturing the hearts of listeners—fans who turn lyrics into action: drugs, violence, possession. Singers writing and joking about selling their souls—bargaining with the devil. Some, like Bob Dylan, outright admitting it. Others are more vague, appearing to walk the line between light and darkness. They fill their content with Satanic imagery and biblical allusions—promoting the former and distorting the latter. A false gospel.
Thankfully, the true Gospel, the good news of Jesus, reveals that He has already beaten Satan. Choose that story. Believe in Jesus, meditate on Him and His works, and no false gospel—no matter how catchy its tune—can deceive you.
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4–6)
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:1–2)
The Psychological Power of Music
You might be thinking, “So what? Music is just entertainment, background noise. I barely listen to the lyrics, anyway.”
No matter your intent or attention levels, music remains one of the most powerful tools ever for subtly shaping memory, desire, and action. Scripture itself acknowledges this: God instructed Moses to teach the people of Israel through song (Deuteronomy 31:19).
Modern neuroscience confirms what the Creator already knew: music enhances memory by triggering neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine, strengthening attention, learning, and long-term recall. Music makes things stick. (Remember how you learned your ABCs?)
But it doesn’t stop there. Music manipulates your impulses. Stores play music designed to please their target demographics, putting prime customers in happy, buying moods. Amusement parks use musical soundscapes to immerse their visitors in other worlds. Restaurants play songs with tempos that fit their goal. Recent research suggests that faster songs don’t just keep customers moving—they lead to bigger tips!
Why are tunes so powerful? Music activates nearly the entire brain, including the:
By listening to songs you love over and over again, your brain learns to crave the emotional payoff, creating habits that feel addictive. This is why short-form platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts are so effective: music-driven clips loop endlessly, embedding sounds, phrases, and moods in our thoughts long after the screen is off.
In Scripture, God calls His people to be sober-minded and discerning (1 Peter 5:8); yet music’s immediacy “captures our attention in a way that cannot be negotiated,” says Harvard Medicine—a quality, the magazine rightly points out, that can be used to aid people. Music therapy has been shown to help with neurological disorders, memory loss, and even seizure reduction—evidence of music’s God-given capacity for healing.
“ . . . David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.” (1 Samuel 16:23)
Unsurprisingly, lyrics matter, too. The words in songs don’t just influence what you think about—they impact what you do. Studies link music with aggressive or sexual lyrical content to:
Add highly stimulating concert environments, and you get phenomena like concert amnesia, where overwhelming emotion interferes with memory formation. Several fans reported memory loss after watching Taylor Swift perform on her Eras Tour.
God asks us to reason (Isaiah 1:18). He renews us through the mind (Romans 12:2), not by bypassing it. Music can either cooperate with that renewal—or quietly work against it.
One way to recognize when music is working against God’s plan for you is to stay spiritually awake: recognizing the lyrics, themes, and artists that contradict God’s Word. That means studying Scripture for yourself and staying guarded against flirtations with darkness—musical “sermons” that recast rebellion as empowerment and songwriters who claim self as their savior.
Don’t fall for Billie Eilish’s whispered anthems of self-hate and suicide; Kendrick Lamar’s lyrics on “Lucy” (“Lucy gon’ fill your pockets . . . gonna call you even though he knows you love your father”); Beyonce’s stage power—which came, she claims, from an alter ego named “Sasha”; or Kanye West’s oscillating brand—from his 2013 Yeezus album (containing a song called “I am a God”) to his 2019 Jesus Is King album. On the its fourth track, “Closed on Sunday,” Kanye sings (emphasis added):
I bow down to the King upon the throne
My life is His, I’m no longer my own
I pray to God that He’ll strengthen my hand
They will think twice steppin’ onto my land
I draw the line, it’s written in the sand
Try me and you will see that I ain’t playin’
Now, back up off my family, move your hands
I got my weapons in the spirit’s land
With biblical flare, Kanye spread a message that glaringly opposed God’s true promises, the peace and hope He desperately wants for us:
Which king was Kanye bowing to? To whom did he really commit his life? The truth tends to reveal itself, for “out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45): “Mr West stated, ‘Cause I’m god. And anyone who wants to disagree, I’m the god of me.’ ” (NDTV, 2024)
Watch now: Kanye’s Sunday Service: Converted or Converging?
This pattern stretches far beyond a few performers. Lauren Duncan, the daughter of a former voodoo priest, shared that high-profile musicians would often visit her father, searching for a spiritual boost to ultra success.
“He would tell them things to say in their music that would then invite the demons into their music and then would capture the people,” she said.
Watch now: Why Celebrities Visited My Voodoo Priest Father
Taylor Swift, now unmistakably one of the most popular singer/songwriters ever, continues to invert Scripture. Following her public fall from favor more than 10 years ago, light gave way to darkness—both visually and lyrically. She embraced snake imagery: the creature (biblically synonymous with Satan and deception) slithered into her videos, her costumes . . . even her stage, rising as the giant inflatable “Karyn,” just another misunderstood soul.
Dive into the symbology of Swift’s strange evolution here.
Even after moving on from her “darker” reputation era, Swift still promotes self-made salvation. In her 2025 album The Life of a Showgirl, she sings about creating your own sunshine (“Opalite”) and making deals with the devil (“Father Figure”).
Scripture insists joy is received, not fabricated (Psalm 16:11). When artists suggest we can create our own light, our own truth, our own power, they echo the oldest temptation: you will be like God (Genesis 3:5).
None of this means these artists are beyond forgiveness. God’s love does not stop at the edge of fame: Jesus died for ALL. The same God who warns against deception also extends mercy, inviting every heart—celebrities’ and listeners’ alike—into repentance, healing, and true freedom.
Nor is God anti-music; He is its Author. He calls us not to condemn others, but to choose music that leads to joy and restoration.
“Okay . . . but how do I find that music? How could I possibly fill my life with only good music?” Don’t panic. Here are some tips:
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (emphasis added)
Does it guide your imagination toward God’s creation or character? Does it make you tear up, humbled by Jesus’ love—or smile, assured in the beauty of God’s plan for you?
Or does it quicken your heartbeat, casting shades of red over your vision? Does it make you forget God, tugging your focus toward your own faults or strengths? (Remember: a brief moment of feeling powerful or passionate isn’t worth the long-term consequences.)
Music is everywhere—from restaurants and coffee shops to buses and restrooms. Stay aware of Satan’s false gospel, but don’t fear it—and don’t meditate on it (remember Philippians 4:8).
Christian author Ellen G. White once wrote: “I will not allow my mind to dwell on the dark side. Jesus has light and comfort and hope and joy for me. I want to face the light, that the brightness of the Sun of Righteousness may shine into my heart, and be reflected to others.” (Letters and Manuscripts, Vol. 7, Ms. 33, 1892, par. 31)
Want to Go Deeper?
If this article stirred something in you—whether it be scorn, defensiveness, realization, or curiosity—we invite you to dig deeper:
🎥 Watch Our Videos!
Many are waking up to the influence of music on their health, their faith, and their families. That’s why we’ve created multiple video exposés on the darkness at work in the music industry. In them, we break down the hidden messages behind today’s most popular songs and artists.
Come with your Bible. Bring your questions. And prepare to see pop culture in a whole new light.
Watch now at LittleLightStudios.tv or on our YouTube channel.
📖 Open the Word
We get it. You have questions, and this article didn’t answer them all. To learn more about the devil’s false gospel and God’s free offer of hope, visit lls.tv/bibleschool.
For further reading on music, deception, spiritual awareness, and other topics we covered here, check out:
🙏 Pray
“Dear LORD,
I come to You seeking what is pure and life giving. Forgive me for filling my mind and heart with messages that distort Your truth or draw me away from You. Guard my mind from influences that deceive or harm. Teach me to choose music that uplifts and brings me closer to Your presence. Let every note I listen to and sing glorify You.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.”
