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Secular Bands with Christian Overtones

Mike

Mike

Member
What do you all think of bands that seemingly have Christian overtones but don't come out and proclaim the Gospel.

Growing up, I remember Kansas. ("Dust in the Wind", "Carry on My Wayward Son")

What about U2? I'm drawing a blank now, but when I conceived of this topic, it seems I had a number of other bands in mind. :confused

Any other "secular" bands or artists that sway Christian but are mainstream?

Do we applaud them for avoiding immoral themes, or do we shame them for staying "safe" and not using their gifts to lift the Body of Christ?
 
I never thought of any of those bands as having Christian overtones, but rather "spiritual" overtones...and there's a big difference as you know. I think that part of their popularity is that they tap into people's longing for some sort of spiritual expression, and people don't even know why they like the song so much.
 
Caroline H said:
I never thought of any of those bands as having Christian overtones, but rather "spiritual" overtones...and there's a big difference as you know. I think that part of their popularity is that they tap into people's longing for some sort of spiritual expression, and people don't even know why they like the song so much.
Click to expand...

U2 - Pride (In the Name of Love)
"One man come in the name of love
One man come and go
One man come he to justify
One man to overthrow

In the name of love!
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love!
What more? In the name of love!

One man caught on a barbed wire fence
One man he resist
One man washed on an empty beach
One man betrayed with a kiss"

I'll give you Kansas as more spiritualism (perhaps), but not U2. U2 has a lot of Christian references besides this song.

Interview with Bono:

"Is Bono, the lead singer and songwriter for the rock group U2, a Christian? He says he is and writes about Christianity in his lyrics. Yet many people question whether Bono is "really" a Christian, due to his notoriously bad language, liberal politics, and rock star antics (though he has been faithfully married for 23 years). But in a new book of interviews, Bono in Conversation by Michka Assayas, Bono, though using some salty language, makes an explicit confession of faith.

The interviewer, Mr. Assayas, begins by asking Bono, Doesn't he think "appalling things" happen when people become religious? Bono counters, "It's a mind-blowing concept that the God who created the Universe might be looking for company, a real relationship with people, but the thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma."

The interviewer asks, What's that? "At the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics—in physical laws—every action is met by an equal or an opposite one," explains Bono. "And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that. . . . Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I've done a lot of stupid stuff."

The interviewer asks, Like what? "That's between me and God. But I'd be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge," says Bono. "It doesn't excuse my mistakes, but I'm holding out for Grace. I'm holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don't have to depend on my own religiosity."

No doubt, Bono and U2 are influenced by Christianity.
 
jasoncran said:
that's common knowledge , i'm not a big fan of u2, but they were more direct in the early years.
Click to expand...

I lost touch with their music with "The Joshua Tree". Some say they got more bold with their lyrics since then, but I wouldn't know.
 

Dang it!

I guess I tried to imagine Christian overtones into Coldplay (cause I love their music so much), but now I read this: :bigfrown

"A reviewer for Britain’s Guardian recently asked if Chris Martin, raised in a Christian household, rediscovered God. Martin responded, coyly, "Have I rediscovered God? Um. No. I’m always trying to work out what he or she or it is. I’m not sure who’s right. I don’t know if it’s Allah or Jesus or Mohammed or Zeus. — I’d maybe go for Zeus. I lay claim to being the only person in the world who still believes in Zeus."

Huh? :confused
 
Mike I enjoy the fact that you chose Kansas as your initial band as you will find that they became very Christian. I have added a bit from wikipedia:

Kansas' band members began to drift apart in the early 1980s. Livgren became a born-again Christian, and this was reflected in his lyrics on the next three albums, beginning with Audio-Visions, and particularly on the Top 40 single, "Hold On", released from that album. Hope soon converted to Christianity as well. Walsh left in October 1981 to form a new band, Streets. In early 1982 Walsh was replaced by vocalist/keyboardist/guitarist John Elefante,[1] also a born-again Christian, who along with his brother Dino, later became known for producing albums for Christian rock bands including Sweet Comfort Band, Petra, Bride, Rick Cua, and Guardian.

One of the first Christian CD's I purchased was a John Elefante CD and a Petra CD.
 
Mike, I agree with your assessment of U2 and Kansas. I do understand that Kansas leaned a bit to spiritualism. Maybe because of a member or two having bloodlines that cross into Native American. But... the two songs you posted and especially this one, The Wall, are very Biblical.

I'm woven in a fantasy,
I can't believe the things I see
The path that I have chosen now
Has led me to a wall
And with each passing day I feel a little more like something dear was lost
It rises now before me,
A dark and silent barrier between,
All I am, and all that I would ever want be
It's just a travesty,
Towering, marking off the boundaries my spirit
Would erase

To pass beyond is what I seek
I fear that I may be too weak
And those are few who've seen it
Through to glimpse the other side,
The promised land is waiting like a maiden that is soon to be a bride
The moment is a masterpiece,
The weight of indecision's in the air
It's standing there, the symbol and the sum of all that's me
It's just a travesty,
Towering, blocking out the light and blinding me
I want to see

Gold and diamonds cast a spell,
It's not for me I know it well
The riches that I seek
Are waiting on the other side
There's more that I can measure in the treasure of the love that I can find
And though it's always been with me,
I must tear down the Wall and let it be
All I am, and all that I was ever meant to be, in harmony
Shining true and smiling back at all who wait to cross
There is no loss
Click to expand...

I always thought "Time and a Word", "And you and I" & "The Gates of Delirium", all by Yes, had Biblical meanings to the lyrics. Especially "The Gates of Delirium". Even though it is loosely based on the book "war and Peace", I'm almost convinced it has it's roots in the Book of Revelation.

Prelude to battle, the battle itself, the aftermath and finally, peace:

Soon, oh soon the light,
Pass within and soothe this endless night
And wait here for you,
Our reason to be here.

Soon, oh soon the time,
All we move to gain will reach and calm;
Our heart is open,
Our reason to be here.

Long ago, set into rhyme.
Soon, oh soon the light,
Ours to shape for all time,
Ours the right;
The sun will lead us,
Our reason to be here.

Soon, oh soon the light,
Ours to shape for all time,
Ours the right;
The sun will lead us,
Our reason to be here.
Click to expand...

Ok, here is a sidebar; I mentioned the song, And You and I. In the song is the line, "Sad preacher nailed upon the colour door of time". Is he referring to Jesus, Martin Luther or both? :D

Oh yeah, I actually know of two songs by Kelly Clarkson that could easily be about the Lord. :yes
 
Thanks for the responses! That is interesting about Kansas. We're blessed to be living in an era that has so many talented people writing and performing Christian music. :thumbsup

That said, I don't think my question was addressed. Do you applaud these bands for writing lyrics for the secular world that includes Christian messages. Or are they not to be applauded because they don't use their gifts to write very clear Christian songs? I lean toward the former, since they're reaching the world that doesn't listen to Christian music per se.
 
I applaud any secular band who takes the high road and inspires to make more thought provoking music. We see the spiritual side of lyrics because we see things through a different "lens".

I was aware of Livgren and Elefante. Also, did you know Richie Furay of Buffalo Springfield and Poco fame, has been a born again believer for years and was even a pastor in Colorado at a Calvary Chapel church?

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=42402
 
i brought that up when a while ago, he was under skip hitzig tutulage for a while before he went on his own.

calvary chapels. i like that movement.
 
Nearly every country singer has at least on Christian song per album, in fact I question if you can even consider an album a country album if it does not have a minimum of one Christian song on it. It stands to reason, tough, since pretty much every country singer is a proud Christian.

One song that comes to mind, of the many hundreds, is George Strait's "Love Without End, Amen"

I got sent home from school one day with a shiner on my eye.
Fightin' was against the rules and it didn't matter why.
When dad got home I told that story just like I'd rehearsed.
And then stood there on those tremblin' knees and waited for the worst.

And he said, "Let me tell you a secret about a father's love,
A secret that my daddy said was just between us."
He said, "Daddies don't just love their children every now and then.
It's a love without end, amen, it's a love without end, amen."

When I became a father in the spring of '81
There was no doubt that stubborn boy was just like my father's son.
And when I thought my patience had been tested to the end,
I took my daddy's secret and I passed it on to him.

And he said, "Let me tell you a secret about a father's love,
A secret that my daddy said was just between us."
He said, "Daddies don't just love their children every now and then.
It's a love without end, amen, it's a love without end, amen."

Last night I dreamed I died and stood outside those pearly gates.
When suddenly I realized there must be some mistake.
If they know half the things I've done, they'll never let me in.
And then somewhere from the other side I heard these words again.

And he said, "Let me tell you a secret about a father's love,
A secret that my daddy said was just between us."
He said, "Daddies don't just love their children every now and then.
It's a love without end, amen, it's a love without end, amen."
Click to expand...

Actually, the more I think about it the more it occurs to me that I do not think you can go more than three songs listening to a country station without hearing some reference to God or Jesus or some Biblical thing.

Bluegrass... the same rule about country albums applies to Bluegrass albums, except the minimum goes from one to about half the album! Seriously, pick up any Bluegrass album, I imagine nearly half the songs are about God. I have a play-list of Bluegrass gospel, it has about 500 songs on it, I'd have more but I am still developing my collection!

Most rap artists have a song or two about God. Not really saying that meddling drugs, murder, and rape are the most Christ-like of things, but...

Blues does a lot of talking about God and Heaven, when they get around to singing at all...
 
It is strange (not the best word for it) that there is that Christian influence in country music. It's like it's always been there, and whether the artist believes or not, it's almost expected that they do include such lyrics. They even take secular songs, and remake them with a Christian spin.

As Hank Williams Jr. says in one of his best songs, "...it's a family tradition." He's talking about drinking, rolling smoke, living like the songs he wrote, so I'm using his phrase to the purpose of my post.

Oh, and I love to learn my theology about God being at a distance from Bette Midler. :verysick
 
Pard said:
Nearly every country singer has at least on Christian song per album, in fact I question if you can even consider an album a country album if it does not have a minimum of one Christian song on it. It stands to reason, tough, since pretty much every country singer is a proud Christian.

One song that comes to mind, of the many hundreds, is George Strait's "Love Without End, Amen"

I got sent home from school one day with a shiner on my eye.
Fightin' was against the rules and it didn't matter why.
When dad got home I told that story just like I'd rehearsed.
And then stood there on those tremblin' knees and waited for the worst.

And he said, "Let me tell you a secret about a father's love,
A secret that my daddy said was just between us."
He said, "Daddies don't just love their children every now and then.
It's a love without end, amen, it's a love without end, amen."

When I became a father in the spring of '81
There was no doubt that stubborn boy was just like my father's son.
And when I thought my patience had been tested to the end,
I took my daddy's secret and I passed it on to him.

And he said, "Let me tell you a secret about a father's love,
A secret that my daddy said was just between us."
He said, "Daddies don't just love their children every now and then.
It's a love without end, amen, it's a love without end, amen."

Last night I dreamed I died and stood outside those pearly gates.
When suddenly I realized there must be some mistake.
If they know half the things I've done, they'll never let me in.
And then somewhere from the other side I heard these words again.

And he said, "Let me tell you a secret about a father's love,
A secret that my daddy said was just between us."
He said, "Daddies don't just love their children every now and then.
It's a love without end, amen, it's a love without end, amen."
Click to expand...

Actually, the more I think about it the more it occurs to me that I do not think you can go more than three songs listening to a country station without hearing some reference to God or Jesus or some Biblical thing.

Bluegrass... the same rule about country albums applies to Bluegrass albums, except the minimum goes from one to about half the album! Seriously, pick up any Bluegrass album, I imagine nearly half the songs are about God. I have a play-list of Bluegrass gospel, it has about 500 songs on it, I'd have more but I am still developing my collection!

Most rap artists have a song or two about God. Not really saying that meddling drugs, murder, and rape are the most Christ-like of things, but...

Blues does a lot of talking about God and Heaven, when they get around to singing at all...
Click to expand...


Pard! I never wanted to disagree with you...but I'm a rapper and most rappers today have zero christian songs....Trust me

Other then that I totally agree :thumb :thumb :thumb :thumb :thumb :thumb :amen
 
Really, Oats? Dunno, I do not listen to much rap, though I like some stuff. From my little "research" on Zune I have found that the big named guys all have a song or two about God/Jesus/Bible. Maybe not all of them, but the guys I see as "big names". :shrug

I shall defer to you on this, though. I only listen to certain songs which are to just dang catchy to ignore!
 
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