Religious tunes

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“Religious music” is usually quite terrible and cringe-worthy; usually a generic tune and text that’s a recital of someone’s cultist brainwashing. However, there are examples of tunes that were good enough to become famous hits, with the religious undertone that’s either so subtle that it flew under the radar, or so over the top that it was perceived as a joke. I’ll make a list, just to preoccupy myself with something less depressing than the news. I already giggle like a schoolgirl thinking how surprising some of the titles may be. 🙂

Desireless – Voyage Voyage

Mr. Mister – Kyrie

Mr. Mister – Broken Wings

Bobby McFerrin – Don’t worry be Happy

Boy George – Hare Krishna

The Beloved – Sweet Harmony

Ofra Haza – Im Nin’alu

 

These are, of course, the ones I like (ok, I don’t really like “Sweet Harmony”, it’s self-righteous propagandistic bullshit). There are at least two I profoundly hate on philosophical and theological grounds, because they reject transcendence in favor of this world; basically, they are a “fuck you” to God.

Lilly Wood and the Prick and Robin Schulz – Prayer in C

Queen – Who Wants To Live Forever

7 thoughts on “Religious tunes”

  2. I get told I’m too picky and you’re even pickier so I’m gonna use “spray and pray” method 🙂

    Not disagreeing with your assessment of religious music but let me see what religious and “religious” stuff I can find that I like for one reason or another. (Not claiming this is the best stuff in some absolute sense, nor am I subtle enough to be able to tell.) Omitting what I know you’re certainly familiar with or assuming you’re familiar with (such as Hauser – Benedictus, because you’re subscribed to that channel).

    Sanskrit song from Markandeya Purana
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDd3iupKUyI

    Tereza Kesovija & Mali raspjevani Dubrovnik – O Sveti Vlaho
    (This particular version.)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m79-ZztcFrg

    Neil Diamond – Be
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k028-NETGOQ

    Libera – Sanctus
    (I’m biased here because this is based on Pachelbel’s Canon which is my favorite classical piece.)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW4i-kYPVFc

    Shine, Jesus, Shine
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4hXJ9ax2FY

    Ode to Joy with Henry van Dyke’s lyrics
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMY3ivdNzwE

    Heroes of Might and Magic II OST
    (Probably my favorite game. Opera parts in the middle of each video use Bible verses as lyrics (in German). In the first video the lines are from that psalm “They have eyes but see not..”, and in the second video, well, the translation is in the description: “O death, where is thy sting?..”)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzuCcyl6cfo
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WCnjRlef_4

    Asja Kadrić – Fear Not This Night
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCBqwrikrB8

    Xandria – Nightfall
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGTAmmTiD_Y

    Rock-n-mob – Living on a Prayer
    (Popular Jon Bon Jovi’s song with different arrangement.)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpFhEp9RUJA

    Jacques Houdek – My Friend
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkP0xw_i_Ho

    Inti Raymi
    (Technically not a song..)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OShU3lQaGs

    Mauro Picotto – Komodo
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0VpZ1eQp5E

    Alanis Morissette – Thank U
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOgpT5rEKIU

    Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin – Je t’aime… moi non plus
    (I had to think of a way to bend the ruleset to fit this one in so let’s just say this is a tantric song 🙂 NSFW. It has an interesting making-of story behind it that includes heavy petting.)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2C98G-9rJk

    Ok, I don’t really like “Sweet Harmony”, it’s self-righteous

    Woah, if you think that one is self-righteous don’t open “Stars – Philip Quast – Les Misérables – 10th Anniversary Concert” 🙂

      • Yea I know (hence “religious undertones” etc), but I wanted to see if I could find something “obviously religious” that wouldn’t fall in your “terrible and cringe-worthy” category 🙂

        I was surprised that Voyage Voyage made your list. Always liked that song but I wasn’t able to recall any religious undertones so went to check the lyrics.

        PS: You missed once and hit the song named “Hare Krishna”, and ricocheted onto the one named “Kyrie” 🙂

        • “Hare Krishna” is interesting because it doesn’t look serious, it’s obviously Hare Krishna themed but people who don’t understand their theology won’t get how seriously meant it is. As for “Voyage Voyage”, it’s among the subtler ones. I didn’t cite any examples by Oldfield because that would take all day. 🙂

    • OK, I’ll correct it.

      Sure it’s average, but it was quite popular and I heard that “don’t worry be happy” is actually a mantra the author received from his guru. I checked now, and it’s apparently something originating from Meher Baba. You can imagine how “impressive” I find it, but yeah, religious origin checked.

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