Enjoyable religoius songs?

[Jaar-Gilon]

Looking at those horrible religious songs got me thinking about religious songs I like.
The first thing that springs to mind is not really a religious song as such, one of my favourite bands is System of a Down. The first album I ever had of theirs was Toxicity and on it is a song called Science, the song is great the words, however,are not.
mBM2iGXrshU
Making two possibilities a reality
Predicting the future of things we all know
Fighting off the diseased programming
Of centuries, centuries, centuries, centuries
Science fails to recognise the single most
Potent element of human existence
Letting the reigns go to the unfolding
Is faith, faith, faith, faith
Science has failed our world
Science has failed our mother earth
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Letting the reigns go to the unfolding
Is faith, faith, faith, faith
Letting the reigns go to the unfolding
Is faith, faith, faith, faith
Science has failed our world
Science has failed our mother earth
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Spirit-moves-through-all-things
Science has failed our mother earth

[Jaar-Gilon]

Then there's Jesus Christ Superstar. I have always loved it since I was a kid, listened and watched it innumerable times, know it completely by heart! :rolleyes: :o

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Other musicals I like, Joseph and his technicolour dreamcoat and Godspell :rolleyes::rolleyes: :o:o

[Jaar-Gilon]

There are also a number of very religious classical stuff that I love. Partial to a bit of Mozarts Great Mass in C minor (what could be more religious??)
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or Requiem Mass in D Minor IX - Sanctus

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Don't mind a bit of JS Bach either Sanctus in D major

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Classical (I also think of technical death metal is very similar though a little "noisier") sounds awesome up really loud on a good sound system(something i lack at the moment :mad:) or even better with really good quality headphones and an mp3 player (something I don't lack :D) and a nice spliff!!

[Seamus]

I still love Schubert's Ave Maria and I'm rather fond of "Amazing Grace" played on the bagpipe.:D

[eclectic]

I can't think of any examples but I hate it when pop-songs are sneaky about their goddiness... so I start humming along and then I realise the true intent of the song. grrr.

I love some jesus christ superstar, quite a fan of musicals generally. and I like singing amazing grace, feels great in my throat & chest when i'm in good voice.

I always enjoyed the hymns bit of church... but then i just love singing. I used to love singing 'o holy night' in the choir at primary school - at that stage I was one of the priveleged few given the role of reaching the top-note harmony.

I used to like 'all things bright & beautiful' as a child - made me feel joyful. I prefer the monty python version though, 'all things dull & ugly'. :)

[Kid]

The one and only Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky"

When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
When I lay me down to die
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best

Prepare yourself you know it's a must
Gotta have a friend in Jesus
So you know that when you die
He's gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
Gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
That's where you're gonna go when you die
When you die and they lay you to rest
You're gonna go to the place that's the best

Never been a sinner I never sinned
I got a friend in Jesus
So you know that when I die
He's gonna set me up with
The spirit in the sky
Oh set me up with the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
I'm gonna go to the place that's the best
Go to the place that's the best

I love it! ;)
(I also love 'o holy night, Ec...)

[Peanuts]

Have you seen this cover version Kid? It's got the expected trippy music video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_trcFZLg5FU&feature=related

I've always been a fan of Ava Maria....and Aaron Neville's version always gets me choked up. It's on the soundtrack for the movie "Alive" (one of those movies that stays with you forever I think).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JhwKHCtg7I&feature=related

Lizzy

[Kid]

thanks Lizzy; I enjoyed the gothic look of that vid...I've actually got the original version on a vinyl single; dead proud to own it! (but gives my age away...whaa!)

[Seamus]

I lurves me a big mess o' Gregorian chant with big, reverberative, cathedral sound.


Snap

I HAD a tape of authentic chants recorded at a monastery. I loved that music. The stuff on CD is OK,but just not the same.

[Peanuts]

All of these examples of religious inspired songs/music made me wonder if there were many songs with science themes.

The one that came to mind first was Katie Melua's 2005 song "9 million Bicycles". I remember watching a Michael Sherman talk where he mentioned the tongue-in-cheek correction Simon Singh inspired her to do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXhxDDY1GYI&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXhxDDY1GYI&feature=related)


The Great Beyond had a lot of sciencey songs but I had to post the one below (it's an ad but it's freaking hilarious).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uafUVNkuzg&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs%2Enature%2Ecom%2Fnews%2Fth egreatbeyond%2F2008%2F01%2Fsongs%5Fabout%5Fscience %2Ehtml&feature=player_embedded (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uafUVNkuzg&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs%2Enature%2Ecom%2Fnews%2Fth egreatbeyond%2F2008%2F01%2Fsongs%5Fabout%5Fscience %2Ehtml&feature=player_embedded)

"PCR when you need to find out who the Daddy is....who's you're Daddy?"

:D:D


And this dedication to the Mandelbrot Set.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES-yKOYaXq0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES-yKOYaXq0)


:D:D

Science Rocks
Lizzy

[SinisterDexter]

I used to sing in a conservatorium choir in Adelaide (and still sing in a band), and I've always loved Byrd's Ave Verum Corpus and Durufles Ubi Caritas.

[Jaar-Gilon]

Nice call Lizzy,
I can think of a few although some I am not too sure whether they are all songs about science.

Tomas Dolby's 1982 hit She blinded me with science...ah sweet memories of a 13 year old, crap! same age as my daughter now who lives and breaths Slipknot, a tad different!?
2IlHgbOWj4o

The Grates song Science is Golden
"cos science in golden, science is golden,
watch your soul cos science is golden"
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Custard- The science nerd's lament with Girls Like That

Girls like that
Girls like that don't go for guys like us
I wanna see the facts
And she says simply "no, ah ah"
The Julio Iglesias
He just ain't scientific
MoW_fqr86JU

What Jaar-Gilon music post would be without a mention of metal? There are a couple of very heavy grindcore bands that have strict medical term lyrics, Carcass springs to mind with songs such as
Manifestation On Verrucose Urethra -
Bloody hypertrophy of papillae spewing urethritis like urticaria
Septicaemia filled dermis scorched by acidic uric nocturia.

Verrucose urethra
Glutenous condyloma

Ureterocoeles excreting warm, decaying, cystic pemphigus
Gnawing at flesh with rancid uraturial lust.

There are more but I'll leave it at that shall I?

Of course there is Devo, I love Devo. The name is short for De-Evolution and they got the name from a religious pamphlet (http://fw_alden.tripod.com/id1.html)published in the 1920's
Their "Anthem" Jocko Homo is a direct piss take of it

They tell us that We lost our tails
Evolving up From little snails
I say its all Just wind in sails
Are we not men?
We are devo!
Were pinheads now We are not whole
Were pinheads all Jocko homo
Are we not men?
D-e-v-o
Monkey men all In business suit
Teachers and critics All dancethe poot
Are we not men?
We are devo!
Are we not men?
D-e-v-o
God made man But he used the monkey to do it
Apes in the plan Were all here to prove it
I can walk like an apeTalk like an ape
I can do what a monkey can do
God made man But a monkey supplied the glue
We must repeat
O.k. lets go!
KUrT0M_XGZE
Awesome if I could travel back in time the first place I would go would be to an early devo gig!! Space junk is a goodun too!
Gx_3hw3TCjE
SHE WAS WALKING ALL ALONE
DOWN THE STREET IN THE ALLEY
HER NAME WAS SALLY
I NEVER TOUCHED HER
SHE NEVER SAW IT
WHEN SHE WAS HIT BY SPACE JUNK
IN NEW YORK MIAMI BEACH
HEAVY METAL FELL IN CUBA
ANGOLA SAUDI ARABIA
ON XMAS EVE SAID NORAD
A SOVIET SPUTNIK HIT AFRICA
INDIA VENEZUELA (IN TEXAS
KANSAS)
IT'S FALLING FAST PERU TOO
IT KEEPS COMING
AND NOW I'M MAD ABOUT SPACE JUNK
I'M ALL BURNED OUT ABOUT SPACE JUNK
OOOH WALK & TALK ABOUT SPACE JUNK
IT SMASHED MY BABY'S HEAD
AND NOW MY SALLY'S DEAD

ARE WE NOT MEN? WE ARE DEVO!

[Peanuts]

Thanks for the walk down memory lane Jaar-Gilon....I never knew the story behind Devo's name.

Ahhhh heavy metal! Two older brothers ensured I was exposed to Black Sabbath, Metallica, Deep Purple, Judas Priest, Led Zeppelin....and of course ACDC!!

And don't get me started about Slipknot! With 3 males aged 21 - 23 yrs in residence that's all I've heard over the last 8 years. I know all the words to "Before I Forget" (which is ironic because I'd love to)...and I often find myself singing along to most of their "songs"!? Help!


Cheers from a fellow metalhead ;)
Lizzy

[SchizoDeluxe]

metalheads unite! Good to see ya here ;) Being a metalhead myself, both religion and science to me has never been something that had anything interesting to add in music, if anything, maybe some of the religious hyms, sounds and all that, the creepiness and dark stuff maybe had some relevance but science in music? I dunno, smells of geekness to me, I'm not sure if I could take a band who sung about gravity and astro physics any more serious than a band who sung about god and jesus. Music is supposed to be more personal than that, maybe even a story to tell at the very least, not a classroom lesson. But then, I also don't pay any real attention to lyrics that much anyway, only the odd song here and there that catch my attention. But here's an example of a song that did catch my attention and which addresses religion. There's a Metallica song called "The God That Failed" which James Hetfield wrote about his christian science upbringing which his parents forced on him when he was young, his mother had cancer but because of their faith which forbids modern science to intervene in medical situations and believes that the spirit of the body and god will heal all illness, his mother died. These are the lyrics to the song, which I also consider to be one of my favorite songs ever. Aside from the obvious religious question in the song, there's other ways you can read into the lyrics but it wasn't until I became an active atheist that the songs true meaning really hit me. The song also has a mighty heavy riff :p

Pride you took
Pride you feel
Pride that you felt when you'd kneel

Not the word
Not the love
Not what you thought from above

It feeds
It grows
It clouds all that you will know
Deceit
Deceive
Decide just what you believe

I see faith in your eyes
Never you hear the discouraging lies
I hear faith in your cries
Broken is the promise, betrayal
The healing hand held back by the deepened nail
Follow the god that failed

Find your peace
Find your say
Find the smooth road on your way

Trust you gave
A child to save
Left you cold and him in grave

It feeds
It grows
It clouds all that you will know
Deceit
Deceive
Decide just what you believe
I see faith in your eyes
Never you hear the discouraging lies
I hear faith in your cries
Broken is the promise, betrayal
The healing hand held back by the deepened nail
Follow the god that failed

I see faith in your eyes
Broken is the promise, betrayal
The healing hand held back by the deepened nail
Follow the god that failed

Pride you took
Pride you feel
Pride that you felt when you'd kneel

Trust you gave
A child to save
Left you cold and him in grave

I see faith in your eyes
Never you hear the discouraging lies
I hear faith in your cries
Broken is the promise, betrayal
The healing hand held back by the deepened nail
Follow the god that failed
Follow the god that failed
Broken is the promise, betrayed
Betrayal

[Peanuts]

I agree SchizoDeluxe! I find music very personal and think it would be a tough call for a science based song to be relevant to many people...except maybe to scientists...*cough* geeky! :D

Past experiences, good and bad, always seem to have a song attached to them don't they? And isn't it amazing how much more poignant a song is when you learn the story behind it?

My all time favourite song is also a Metallica song!! For me "Unforgiven" is the most beautiful song ever written and knowing about Hetfield's strict christian upbringing elevates it even more!

How do people write stuff like this? (jealous) :o


New blood joins this earth
and quickly he's subdued
through constant pain disgrace
the young boy learns their rules
with time the child draws in
this whipping boy done wrong
deprived of all his thoughts
the young man struggles on and on he's known
a vow unto his own
that never from this day
his will they'll take away

what I've felt
what I've known
never shined through in what I've shown
never be
never see
won't see what might have been
what I've felt
what I've known
never shined through in what I've shown
never free
never me
so I dub thee unforgiven

they dedicate their lives
to running all of his
he tries to please them all
this bitter man he is
throughout his life the same
he's battled constantly
this fight he cannot win
a tired man they see no longer cares
the old man then prepares
to die regretfully
that old man here is me

what I've felt
what I've known
never shined through in what I've shown
never be
never see
won't see what might have been
what I've felt
what I've known
never shined through in what I've shown
never free
never me
so I dub thee unforgiven

you labeled me
I'll label you
so I dub thee unforgiven



WOW.....Awesomness personified!

Lizzy
;)

[rGb]

Then there's Jesus Christ Superstar. I have always loved it since I was a kid, listened and watched it innumerable times, know it completely by heart! :rolleyes: :o


same here, I have the double album on my ipod :cool:

[Fearless]

When P.O.D's album Satellite came out (released on the day the US will never forget 9/11) I was pretty much hooked, then I really started listening to the lyrics and realised P.O.D were not your run of the mill rock/rap band (I am not into rap btw :P)... then I started poking around the net and there is some confusion as to what religion they follow... but then it pretty much comes down to it reflecting on their mixed beliefs as a band:

POD is a mainstream metal rock band whose lyrics reflect the Christian spiritual beliefs of their members. They have had some acceptance as a Christian rock band, but their success goes far beyond an appeal to Christians.

P.O.D. - Alive (was my favourite track for a while)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOESyEljmFE&feature=related

If you read the Satellite lyrics (below) I think it is pretty clear, but they had some pretty catchy tracks all the same. They have been in some 'controversial' situations like when they got involved with the Matrix movie and a questionable album cover... it seems Christians aren't sure whether to cheer or sneer at them.

Band members testimony - pretty clear from this what the deal is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wmjsGQzW5c&feature=related

Satelite, Satelite,

I wonder how clear it must look from
there to here no obstruction to selfish corruption
all in this atmosphere, no fear less tears only time to
catch my breath I fail to inhale your love constricts my
chest. Confusion running me mental and physiclly
and it's because of you that now I can see
so now I can run I'll follow the sun and ride on to Zion
and dance this last song of freedom
but only time will tell if it's truly for real
can't change your mind and now I know this is what I feel
whether I'm wrong or right please keep my life in sight and
never take your eyes of me

When I look up to te sky today I can see you look'n down on me
It bring a smile to my face again sa sa sa satelite

Satelite, Satelite,

It's truly one of a kind like star shine beyond night time
are you there my eyes stare to find just what's behind
blind notion of mind is it genuine cause sometimes it plays
tricks with my mind some call it asonyne.
but it's like love or hate now is that real or fake cause there's
a real thin line but that's your choice to make
the question at hand help me understand is this your plan
I think I can then I think then I think I can
because I won't break, naa, and I won't shake, naa, with lifted hands
to this man, jaa, I stand in fate
I'll make it prove my trust in you close my eyes make A wish kiss the
sky hey there I see you

sa sa sa satelite

Satelite, Satelite, Satelite, Satelite, when I look up to the sky today I
can see you look'n down on me it brings a smile to my face again

Satelite,Satelite,

When I look up to the sky i can see you look'n down on me It brings
a smile to my face again

It's truly 1 of a kind like star shine beyond night time are you there
are you there are you there

[Kid]

another Metallica fan; have the black album, a work of art that one...love the songs you guys posted. I also love all the songs from that vampire movie, Queen of the Damned...I went nuts for them, and sent my kids baffled when I went on the hunt to download them all from the net...my daughter thinks she has a very weird mum...!! mind you, I grew up listening to Alice Cooper in his Billion Dollar Babies days..I love the dead...so well...I still love those songs, tho I'm a little more mellow these days...but still listen to Queen of the Damned soundtrack...

[Vonnie]

I'm yet another Jeebus Cripes Super Fart fan, particularly "I Don't Know How to Love Him".

I also love "Halleluhjah". (Preferably Jeff Buckley's version... but I like them all, even the Choir of Hard Knocks' version.)

And Nick Cave's "God is in the House".

Vonnie

[GUDLUSS]

Well this one's name is Heaven...
5zNdMc6wGtU
Actually now that I think about it it seems more critical of Heaven...

[Jaar-Gilon]

I'm yet another Jeebus Cripes Super Fart fan

HAHAHAH LingMAO

[davo]

I never could get into Jesus Christ superstar .. maybe it was the whole jesus thing that just put me off :(

[TÐöer]

Ah, Christmas Carols, learned them in kindergarden and loved them. Only later did I realise it was xtian. But hell, who cares, there's no God, so nothing wrong singing them.

On a twist, the Beatles "Let it Be" was thought to be a christian song, until revealed that Mother Mary, refered to Paul's actual mother. :p

[Chasly]

Not sure of the name and can't quite remember if it was a religious song. It goes something like this:

He's got the whooooooole world, in his hands, he's got the whoooooole world in his hands.....
Me and my brother, in his hands, he's got the whole world in his hands.....

[davo]

ok not a song, but jebus showed himself at this christian kids rave :


http://memeparty.com/i/2f588e3a97b4fb65f691db12d0e915ae.gif

[Jaar-Gilon]

What's going on there Davo? It looks disturbing!!

Also My Sweet Lord by George Harrison, I think it's about Vishnu or Budda or something, anyway I likes it (not as much as While my Guitar Gently Weeps though).

I really like that XTC song (along with Senses Working Overtime and My Bird Performs) Mr Black, I guess it counts as a good atheist song hence last verse


I won't believe in heaven and hell. No saints, no sinners, no
devil as well. No pearly gates, no thorny crown. You're always
letting us humans down. The wars you bring, the babes you
drown. Those lost at sea and never found, and it's the same the
whole world 'round. The hurt I see helps to compound that
Father, Son and Holy Ghost is just somebody's unholy hoax,
and if you're up there you'd perceive that my heart's here upon
my sleeve. If there's one thing I don't believe in

it's you....


As opposed to The Jonas Bros song Dear God *BLERK* Definitely in the horrible religious song category. South Park episode The Ring is a hilarious piss take of disney using the J bros to sell sex to little girls with Mickey Mouse as the hard ass head of disney, classic!

Well this one's name is Heaven...

Actually now that I think about it it seems more critical of Heaven...

Yes, I couldn't imagine David Byrne being anything but Atheist

[youngmoigle]

Not sure of the name and can't quite remember if it was a religious song. It goes something like this:

He's got the whooooooole world, in his hands, he's got the whoooooole world in his hands.....
Me and my brother, in his hands, he's got the whole world in his hands.....

He's Got The Whole World In His Hands
The most popular version was by a young lad named Laurie London
#1 in Australia April 1958 (16 weeks in the charts)
#12 in UK November 1957 (12 weeks in charts)
#2 in USA March 1958 (19 weeks in charts)

[Now that I've looked at the video, I think I recognise him as the kid who played Chuck Conner's son in the TV series called "The Rifleman"] No, I got that bit wrong. The Irreverent Mr Black has the correct details a few posts below,


Also on the charts at the same time was Pat Boone singing another religious song titled "A Wonderful Time Up There".

#3 in Australia May 1958 (14 weeks in charts)
#2 in UK April 1958 (17 weeks in the charts)
#10 in USA February 1958 (19 weeks in the charts)

You take your holy bible
In the back of the book
The book of Revelation
Is the place to look...

[youngmoigle]

Details above ^^^

9p9Zesvznas


OjBRSkP9S9A

[TÐöer]

Loved XTC's song.

Also My Sweet Lord by George Harrison, I think it's about Vishnu or Budda or something, anyway I likes it (not as much as While my Guitar Gently Weeps though).


You should try "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", with the Beat channel only. It's a much cooler start.

[youngmoigle]

No, it was Johnny Crawford who played Lucas McCain in Rifleman.

He had a hit with Ma Petit Chanson sometime in the same part of the Palaeolithic era. Don't ask me how I know: I might have been a fan or something.

Yeah, you're right. He also charted in Australia with Daydreams (#28), Cindy's Birthday (#21), and Your Nose Is Gonna Grow (#20).

Petit Chanson entered the (2UE) charts on 6/9/63, stayed 8 weeks and hit #17

[Jaar-Gilon]

You should try "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", with the Beat channel only. It's a much cooler start.


I listened to it whan I got home from work yesterday morning through just the right channel, If that's what you mean, it just has the high hat and the single string bass line. It did sound cool, especially up loud.

[TÐöer]

I listened to it whan I got home from work yesterday morning through just the right channel, If that's what you mean, it just has the high hat and the single string bass line. It did sound cool, especially up loud.

Yeah! :D

[Seamus]

"My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison.

It was described at time P J Proby as "the lowest point in the history of rock music"

I agreed with Jim Proby at the time,but I guess worse shit has probaly been released since then

I was later gratified to learn that George got pinged for plagiarism of "The Chiffons" song " He's So Fine"




((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((__________________ _______))))))))))))))))))))


From Wiki

Following the song's release, musical similarities between "My Sweet Lord" and The Chiffons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chiffons)' hit "He's So Fine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/He%27s_So_Fine)" led to a lengthy legal battle over the rights to the composition. Billboard magazine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_magazine), in an article dated 6 March (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_6) 1971 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1971), stated that Harrison's royalty payments (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royalties) from the recording had been halted worldwide. Harrison stated that he was inspired to write "My Sweet Lord" after hearing the Edwin Hawkins Singers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Hawkins_Singers)' "Oh Happy Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh_Happy_Day)".
In the U.S. federal court decision in the case, known as Bright Tunes Music v. Harrisongs Music,[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Sweet_Lord#cite_note-1) Harrison was found to have unintentionally copied (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptomnesia) the earlier song. He was ordered to surrender the majority of royalties from "My Sweet Lord" and partial royalties from All Things Must Pass. Former manager Allen Klein (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Klein), who earlier had supported Harrison's case, became the owner of Bright Tunes, after they parted ways. In the long run this worked against Klein, but it resulted in the case continuing for years in court. Interestingly Harrison claimed in a BBC interview with Annie Nightingale that the Judge in the case said that he liked Harrison's version of "My Sweet Lord" more.

[Seamus]

When people criticise the Beatles and other groups of the 60's they seem to forget or unaware that at that time:


Elvis and rock had slipped .

The charts were dominated by people such as: Pat Boone, Connie Francis Bobby Vinton, Frankie Lane,Ricky Neslon and the stultifying Duane Eddy with his guitar.

I first heard the Beatle in December 1963. They blew me away. Shortly after I heard The Stones whom me and my mates thought were so cool (with the bonus that our parents loathed them)