Donna Summer - I Believe in Jesus
The late disco queen Donna Summer released the hit "I Believe in Jesus" in 1982. Prior to this release her hits were often a little scandalous, and this song is an early hint at her conversion to Christianity. We'll miss you Donna!
George Harrison - My Sweet Lord
George Harrison’s journey to Hinduism is well documented. His 1970 version of this Billy Preston song was his public
declaration of his faith. It is a hymn to the Hindu
god Krishna, featuring traditional Hindu prayer phrases. The song features references to the Abrahamic
faiths as well, making it somewhat of an anthem for the rampant and chaotic
spirituality of that time period. Even
with all this religiosity, it didn’t keep the song from being the subject of a
copyright dispute.
Dishwalla - Counting Blue Cars
This catchy ‘90s rocker was the first mainstream hit for
Dishwalla. It is a rare popular song
that invokes God directly and in a positive way. By referring to God as a “she” the band
generated curiosity and controversy, but the overall message of questioning and
longing still shines through. The
bassist for Dishwalla wrote this song, and his Mormon faith certainly guided this song.
Joan Osborne - One of Us
Speaking of controversial songs, Joan Osborne’s version of this
song by oddly named group The Hooters is one of the more interesting lyrical
songs from the ‘90s. Joan often sang the
lyrics “What if God was one of us?/Just a slob like one of us?” with a slight
air of contempt, but they still hold a layer of depth that is missing from most
of the songs on this list. If God had a
face, what would it look like?
Jars of Clay - Flood
Jars of Clay commands a large Christian audience today, and
it’s easy to forget that their first big success actually came from secular
radio. The song “Flood,” which is an
upbeat acoustic tune that fell neatly with current groups like Toad the Wet
Sprocket, picked up steam on rock radio behind the production of secular rocker
Adrian Belew. While the band hasn’t
found secular success again, Flood has remained one of the top radio hits by a
band on a Christian label. Quite an
accomplishment!
U2 - Gloria
"Gloria" may not be one of U2’s bigger hits, but it has stood the test of time in the hearts of their
fans. Perhaps one reason it didn’t catch
fire is that the chorus is in Latin - Gloria in
Excelsis Deo – which you may recognize from a familiar Christmas
hymn. The hilariously '80s video was their first to get serious airplay on MTV.
Lifehouse - Breathing
“Breathing” is one of the band’s more minor hits, but all of
Lifehouse’s successful songs from the early 2000s had a very spiritual bent to
them. While “Hanging By A Moment” was
the most played song of 2001, this one just happened to be my personal favorite. It is always interesting to hear a song about
spiritual longing and desperation on top 40 radio, and that was especially true
when this ballad was released.
Matisyahu - King Without A Crown
Matisyahu is certainly one of the more intriguing artists in
rap music today. His life as a Hassidic
Jew takes center stage in his music, and it is something that he didn’t even
shy away from in his first big radio hit.
Singing “Givin' myself to you now
from the essence of my being/And I sing to my God, songs of love and healing”
is very unusual in modern rap may seem like a ticket for airplay dismissal, but for
Matisyahu it is what makes him stand out.
Cat Stevens - Morning Has Broken
A number 1 hit in 1972, this famous Cat Stevens song was actually a new version of a Christian hymn written by Eleanor Farjeon published in 1931. Much of Stevens’ work includes spiritual references, but this one revealed the most about his beliefs. Soon after Stevens converted to Islam, taking the name Yusuf Islam and changing his lifestyle in dramatic fashion.
Switchfoot - Stars
Christian mainstream rock act Switchfoot has always toed the line between being
expressively Christian and putting out a message that can inspire
anyone. The closest they’ve come in a
radio release is the hit “Stars” which contains the lyrics “When I look to the
stars I see someone else.” Their singles
have always served as a gateway to the more overtly religious albums, but the
songs can still inspire anyone no matter what they believe.
Creed - My Own Prison
These
days Creed is more of a punchline than a serious band, but there was a time when the Christian
backdrop of their lyrics spurred serious discussions amongst rock lovers. “My Own Prison” contains some very blatant
nods to lead singer Scott Stapp’s Christian upbringing, including the
delightful drop D melodrama of being judged by God in a make believe courtroom. While Creed is still putting out albums with
spiritual lyrics, these days they are usually undercut by events like Stapp changes
the lyrics to glorify the Florida Marlins.
Praise baseball!
