Spirituality in Popular Music

Last updated on: March 26, 2007 at 9:21 pm by J. Ryan Parker

Spirituality in Popular Music 2007-03-26T21:21:11-07:00 J. Ryan Parker

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For most of the latter half of the 20th Century, a significant portion of the Christian church opposed popular culture. However, beginning in the 1980’s, politically paralleled with the rise of the “moral majority,” Christians have stopped shunning culture and have again attempted to shape it. Some of this effort has yielded better results than others. Christian Heavy Metal, Rock, and Rap have had their own particular kind of success and occasionally “cross over” appeal; however, other musicians have experienced a via media.

“Crossover” originally described Christian musicians who crossed the line between religious and secular, or in some critics’ opinion, sold out (Amy Grant perhaps being the earliest and most successful example). On the other hand, a group of musicians began to emerge who refused to define themselves as “Christian musicians” but rather saw themselves as musicians who just happened to be Christian. In this important identity shift, all of life became a canvas for their music as they sang about heartbreak, betrayal, lovers and mistakes (topics that have always found expression in “secular” music). Steve Taylor commented on this dichotomy: “We used to ask artists if they were ‘Christ-centered’ or ‘worldly’? Today we can be both.” Taylor implied another stream within the music industry that defies labels. Bands like U2, Six Pence Non the Richer, Jars of Clay, Switchfoot, Mercy Me, Jennifer Knapp, and others have exhibited musical talent, gained popularity, and transcended “secular” or “Christian” genres. However, Christian audiences have also been more attentive to the spiritual elements of “secular” music from artists who would not dare consider themselves Christian or religious and who have nothing to do with the Church. At best, they might consider themselves spiritual. The following is a list of songs that sample this spectrum from specifically Christian to “secular” artists that all “sing spiritually.” Obviously, U2’s entire catalogue could be added to this list.

• “Born at the Right Time” by Paul Simon on The Rhythm of the Saints
• “From Here You Can Almost See the Sea” by David Gray
• “Ray Of Light” by Madonna
• “No One Is to Blame (European Version)” by Howard Jones
• “Leave” by Katie Todd Band
• “Let It Be” by The Beatles on 1
• “I’m Not Alright” by Sanctus Real
• “Silence (iTunes Originals Version)” by Jars of Clay
• “Wave On Wave” by Pat Green
• “Natural Mystic” by Bob Marley And The Wailers
• “Seven Turns” by The Allman Brothers Band
• “Diamonds On the Inside” by Ben Harper
• “Broken Hearted Savior” by Big Head Todd & The Monsters
• “I Shall Be Released” by Bob Dylan
• “You Don’t Get Much” by The BoDeans
• “Don’t Look Back” by Boston
• “Wondering Where the Lions Are” by Bruce Cockburn
• “Waiting for My Real Life to Begin (Album Version)” by Colin Hay
• “Angels Of The Silences” by Counting Crows
• “How to Save a Life” by The Fray
• “One World” by The Freddy Jones Band
• “Jesus, The Missing Years” by John Prine
• “Cool Change” by Little River Band
• “Blood of Eden” by Peter Gabriel
• “Prince Caspian” by Phish
• “On the Turning Away” by Pink Floyd
• “Pigs on the Wing, Pt. 2” by Pink Floyd
• “Everybody Hurts (Live in Athens, GA ’92)” by R.E.M.
• “Meant to Live” by Switchfoot
• “Into the Mystic” by Van Morrison
• “East O’ Jesus” by Waxing Poetics
• “The Mission” by Ennio Morricone
• “Across The Universe” by Rufus Wainwright
• “The Monk at the Disco” by Bobby Bare Jr.
• “Soul Meets Body” by Death Cab for Cutie
• “Peace and Love” by Fountains of Wayne
• “All These Things That I’ve Done” by The Killers
• “Hands Open” by Snow Patrol
• “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall” by Edie Brickell
• “Mockingbird” by Derek Webb
• “The Face of Love” by Sanctus Real
• “The Believer” by Rhett Miller
• “Somebody Loved” by Weepies
• “The Lucky One” by Allison Krauss and Union Station
• “Hurt” by Johnny Cash
• “Lord I Hope This Day Is Good” by Lee Ann Womack
• “That Was Me” by Todd Snider

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