Charliehall,
“The tune usually used for “Maoz Tzur” is a German tune used by none other than Martin Luther HaRasha for Christian hymns”
I believe you, but that really ruined something for me. No, don’t feel bad that you told me, but that was really and unpleasant tidbit for me to read…
“So just what *is* “Jewish” music as opposed to “goyish” music?”
I’ve given this thought over the years. I *think* that we aren’t permitted to use tunes originally employed in places of Avodah Zarah or have other unclean origins, although I don’t know the parameters. For the rest of it, here is how I differentiate, for lack of better answers:
If the music makes the average listener move in an unbecoming, non-Tznius way, I categorize the music/song as “non-Jewish”, regardless of lyrics. If it moves one to dance with Tznius body movements, be inspired, or even if it is just “blah”, with Jewish lyrics/sung by Jews, I term them broadly as Jewish. I don’t need to feel personally inspired to accept the “Jewish” labeling for a song, but the red lines of unbecoming, non-Tznius body movements are my clear divider.