this is gonna sound really silly but...

[CrewsControl]

"Atheists Don't Have No Songs" - Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers

Christians have their hymns and pages
Hava nagila is for the Jews
Baptists have The Rock of Ages
Atheists just sing the Blues

[oniman7]

Originally Posted by mjac28

Check out Switchfoot I think it's exactly what you are looking for my young Jedi

He wanted the funk, not the religion. You've taken away the funk and left a Christian rock band.

[Munjibunga]

I'm not knowledgeable about gospel music (which I kind of like), but it seems unlikely that the style of music represented in the tracks above is exclusive to gospel groups. It reminds of some of the stuff Earth Wind and Fire does.

[MrMeacham]

Early Leon Russell and Elvin Bishop had a strong gospel feel, especially the live stuff.

[Kwesi]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

I'm not knowledgeable about gospel music (which I kind of like), but it seems unlikely that the style of music represented in the tracks above is exclusive to gospel groups. It reminds of some of the stuff Earth Wind and Fire does.

To a degree. A lot of live R&B/soul acts manage to cop that kind of sound on a few songs but it's never consistent enough for me to grab the albums.

[Ziltoid]

Kwesi, you're silly.

I didn't even read the OP.

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by FilterFunk

A VERY uncool and unneccessary cheap shot. Was Kwesi's question really that hard to understand? It certainly wasn't an invitation to bash religion. Back on topic, please...

What in the world are you talking about? I wasn't bashing religion or the OP or anyone else. He asked if there was any gospel sounding music that wasn't promoting religion, and I posted a link to an example. I think that song is really funny. My band plays it occasionally.

Lighten up, willya'?

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by CrewsControl

"Atheists Don't Have No Songs" - Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers

Actually it's the Steve Canyon Rangers.

[FilterFunk]

Originally Posted by ggunn

What in the world are you talking about? I wasn't bashing religion or the OP or anyone else. He asked if there was any gospel sounding music that wasn't promoting religion, and I posted a link to an example. I think that song is really funny. My band plays it occasionally.

Lighten up, willya'?

The video in the link, and your quote -

"Some may say that it's an accurate depiction of the God of the Old Testament..."

- could easily be considered bashing. We could all "lighten up" to the point where anything goes, but I don't think that would be wise, especially on a site that has explicit rules about certain things (thank goodness for that). I'm sure the rules were designed to foster at least some respect among members. BTW, here's Kwesi's clarification, which he posted well before your post:

"Just to clarify a bit I mean urban gospel/black gospel. That's what I'm after musically, Fred Hammond, Israel Houghton, etc"

The song in your link doesn't sound anything like that.

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by FilterFunk

The video in the link, and your quote -

"Some may say that it's an accurate depiction of the God of the Old Testament..."

- could easily be considered bashing.

Well, it's not, and the middle verse about Lot's wife is an Old Testament story, the rough language notwithstanding. There's a lot of smiting in the Old Testament. I'm sorry if you were offended, but it's all in fun. I didn't come remotely close to violating any of the forum rules.

As to the OP's clarification, I submit "Puzzling Evidence" by the Talking Heads.

[nutdog]

Originally Posted by ggunn

What in the world are you talking about? I wasn't bashing religion or the OP or anyone else. He asked if there was any gospel sounding music that wasn't promoting religion, and I posted a link to an example. I think that song is really funny. My band plays it occasionally.

Lighten up, willya'?

I'm Presbyterian and I thought it was pretty funny. Probably needs an f-bomb warning. I sent it to one of my atheist buddies and he sent this back:

Old School God > New School God.

Old School - Flood earth, kill nearly everything.
New School - Smaller fish portions to go around.

Anyway, I find it interesting that no criteria meeting alternative has been offered up. I'm surprised actually.

I spent some time in the car today on the Praise sat radio channel. If I had to try and quantify some of the qualities of the music it would be great, prominent recorded bass tone, usually clean and fat, with very tasteful yet creative lines. Some of it was challenging my factory stereo. The mix is very good. The guitars are in their place with a clean, tube-y funk tone higher up on the fret board. A B3 is often present. The vocal talent is off the chart. Same with drums.

I'm not sure what it is about the lyrics that are so off-putting. I mean, is there some genre of popular music that has really fantastic, original non-repetitive lyrics?

But from a musical standpoint, the closest genre that I could compare it with is, don't laugh, smooth jazz.

[ThudThudThud]

Why not just enjoy it as an art form without getting hung up on the religious side of it?
I'm verging on anti-theist (as opposed to just atheist), but my band has a couple of god botherers in it. One came from a Christian band and brought some songs with him that have very religious stories in them. I just ignore that bit and play/sing them. They are bloody good songs. Just because I play them doesn't mean I've found religion or believe the stories! I can listen to Blind Boys of Alabama (and it doesn't get any more gospel than that!) just for the enjoyment of the music. I've seen them live too and they put on a great show. Didn't make me any more/less religious.

[Kwesi]

Originally Posted by ThudThudThud

Why not just enjoy it as an art form without getting hung up on the religious side of it?
I'm verging on anti-theist (as opposed to just atheist), but my band has a couple of god botherers in it. One came from a Christian band and brought some songs with him that have very religious stories in them. I just ignore that bit and play/sing them. They are bloody good songs. Just because I play them doesn't mean I've found religion or believe the stories! I can listen to Blind Boys of Alabama (and it doesn't get any more gospel than that!) just for the enjoyment of the music. I've seen them live too and they put on a great show. Didn't make me any more/less religious.

Most of the time that's exactly what I do, actually.

[Unrepresented]

I wonder how Stryper would feel about this thread.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Duckwater

I'm an Atheist and I love Gospel music. I'm really picky about lyrics and most of the time I find them uncreative and unintelligent in any genre of music, so I have learned to block out the words and listen to the melody of the vocals.

Yeah, most lyrics are poorly written, so I make up my own in my head.

Originally Posted by Ziltoid

Kwesi, you're silly.

I didn't even read the OP.

Youre crazy, man. I like you, but youre crazy.

[Clark Dark]

Tye Tribbett has some arrangements you might like
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_nv8l9Kwkw


also

Bishop Larry Trotter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM373EDZk3g

and

Ron Kenoly w/ Abraham Laboriel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5LfbPAFrJ8

[kbuschmann]

Bishop Larry Trotter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM373EDZk3g


Now that's church.

And though I must have heard a million words in song, I haven't listened to a one of them. Just the music.

[bassinplace]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

Is there such a thing as secular Gospel? Oxymoronic terminology, I know but I think ya'll get what I mean. Gospel but without the whole religious part . Loooooooooove the music, not so much the lyrics. And not necessarily because I'm not Christian but because their just uninteresting/the same thing over and over in every song.

I'd love to hear that sound but with different lyrics or none at all. It's a longshot I know, but I had to ask.

A lot of the early R&B/Rock & Roll bears a strong resemblance to gospel. That's where a lot of it came from.

[VanillaThundah]

Originally Posted by Duckwater

...I'm really picky about lyrics and most of the time I find them uncreative and unintelligent in any genre of music, so I have learned to block out the words and listen to the melody of the vocals...

What really sucks is when you think you like the lyrics then you read them and find out you heard them wrong...now you REALLY hate them lol

I like that you call it like it is, because most people could label religious music as being stupid or whatever lyrically...when in fact most music in general is very uncreative lyrically with some exceptions. I think the vocal melody can carry some lame lyrics farther than poorly sung, well-written lyrics.

[bassinplace]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Yeah, most lyrics are poorly written, so I make up my own in my head.

I used to try that. Problem was, they weren't much better.