(Image taken from: guitarmusictheory.blogspot.com)
Religion.
And
Music.
I can find a plethora of reasons why the two should be kept separate like church and state. That said, there are definitely great, catchy songs in both categories, and these are the top 5 in each. Please say a prayer for me for making this list.
Songs about Faith
These are popular songs about God. Not Christian or gospel music, because both of those genres suck. No, I'm talking popular, catchy songs about and featuring the Big Dude upstairs. Amen.
5. "Put Your Hand in the Hand" by Ocean
This hippy dippy love song about God is very upbeat and has a highly positive message about faith. Your Sunday school teacher would approve.
4. "One of Us" by Joan Osbourne
This hugely popular song about God riding next to you on the bus (Possibly with an iPod) got a lot of people singing about the Lord again. Even if they were atheists. Just because it was so damn catchy.
3. "Jesus Walks" by Kanye West
Though liking Kanye is blasphemous in itself since he's so awful, this song about rising up in the name of Christ had a pretty thumping beat and message at the time. And even though a lot of the song's message is deflated when he starts talking about "eating pieces of shit," it still had people in the club shouting, "Jesus walks!" over and over again, so that's good.
2. "Jesus is Just Alright With Me" by the Doobie Brothers
While the Doob's weren't the first to do this song, the Doob's slammed it home. God never sounded so good on the radio.
1. "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" by Kiss
Sure, I could have shouted out Bill and Ted on this one. But to think that the man who created the devil horns (Come on, give it to Gene Simmons), also was in the same group that performed the most ultimate song about God ever. Sure, Argent did it first, but Kiss' version is so much better. It's glorious.
Top Five Songs About Atheism
Songs about the absence of faith are often just as compelling as songs about the belief in faith, especially since most of these songs were actually pretty popular. Does that mean that people supported Atheism when they popped these in their tape decks? Hmm...the world may never admit it.
5. "Only the Good Die Young" by Billy Joel
So upbeat, so happy, and so atheistic. Just listen to the lyrics. Man's a non-believer.
4. "Losing My Religion" by R.E.M.
The absence of faith is right there in the title. But it's so good that even true believers would sing it at their concerts. That's just the power of R.E.M.
3."The Only Way (Hymn)" by Emerson, Lake, and Palmer
It's a complex song musically, with a not so complex message. Religion is deceptive. Says, ELP.
2. "Dear, God" by XTC
XTC may not be the most popular group in the world, but this song drew a lot of attention when it was first released, mostly because if its ANGRY message about the absence of God in our lives. Of all the songs that could draw outrage and be popular at the same time, this might be it.
1. "Imagine" by John Lennon
This might be one of the most fascinating songs on this list, only because I think its message of a life without religion being a better life is often forgotten, even though it's the MAIN message of the song. I mean, jeez, it was even sung on American Idol, making it the greatest song about Atheism of all time.
