Any secular bands ever done a Christian cover?

[Skel]

Like a lot of us, I'm in a secular cover band. I'm always looking for new songs to do, and my wife played a song for me the other day that I instantly liked and felt would go over great. It's called "Undo Me", recorded by Jennifer Knapp.

I e-mailed it to the rest of the band before I realized it was a Christian song. I had e-mailed about 10 songs, and our singer is really picky, but we decided to learn 3 new ones and she picked "Undo Me" as one of them, even though once I realized what it was, I explained it to the rest of the band. Then I starting thinking - "it's a good song, and so what if we do one song like this". Nobody else in the band had any problem, and it's not a real "over the top" religious song, so we're doing it, simply because we like the song a lot.

Just wondering if any of you folks have done this before and how it went over.

[uaudio]

I don't understand. If you like the song, cover it.

Isn't this kind of like asking a pop-rock band if they've ever covered a country song?

[Skel]

Originally Posted by uaudio

I don't understand. If you like the song, cover it.

Isn't this kind of like asking a pop-rock band if they've ever covered a country song?

Yeah it probably is, but you know how these days people freak out and get offended about certain things.

[oldrocker]

What is a secular band?

[Mr-Wunderful]

I don't think it matters. I've played gospel songs in bar before.

[Red Rover]

I guess a secular band is one that doesn't affiliate itself with any religious group. Which is probably most bands.

Anyway, as a "devout" atheist I say who cares if the song is Christian or otherwise. If it's good and you like it, play it.

[Skel]

Originally Posted by oldrocker

What is a secular band?

I probably used the wrong terminology. I think I just meant a cover band that does mostly blues, blues/rock, and classic rock covers, that isn't a Christian rock band, where every song is about <don't want this thread to get religious> - hopefully you know what I mean.

[scottbass]

I play in a cover band that does mostly blues, blues/rock, and classic rock covers. We are not a Christian rock band, although we're all Christians as opposed to Muslims, Buddhists, Scientologists, etc. We play biker bars, road houses, VFW's and American Legion Clubs. We used to play "With Arms Wide Open" by Creed. We played it for a few years, then it just kind of rotated out of our play list. We try to play about ten "new" songs in a typical gig, and that song stopped being "new" a few years ago, I guess.

[BillyRay]

Johnny Cash, yes. Creed, no (and not just because of the religious message).

[Lucas G]

it always makes me think of this: http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28634

[GmanJeff]

You may want to consider whether overtly religious material (whether this particular song, or in general) may provoke unwanted reactions from audiences, which might impact your ability to gig where you want. If you don't think it will, no problem. The same practical consideration probably applies to very political songs, or to songs with obscenities in them.

[musicelectronix]

I see no problems here and what a weird way to call a band with no religious affiliation, but evidently captured my attention.

[vinny]

We play Gary Chapman's version of "Gospel Ship" & it always goes over big.

[Alcyon]

My old post-hardcore band (100% jewish) played Norma Jean's Memphis Will Be Laid To Waste a couple of times live... Was a huge hit. I am aware that's probably totally unhelpful.

[agreatheight]

Atheist here, played a few religious songs in the past with no harm done, lol. Flood by Jars of Clay, Over My Head by King's X, there are others I am sure. My opinion is that not every song has to represent you as a band, or as an individual.

[Deacon_Blues]

I've played songs like Wayfaring Stranger and People Get Ready, with two different female vocalists. The first one is only subtly religious while it's more obvious that the other one is - "...you don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord". The latter is just on the limit how religious songs I can accept to play. I want to believe in the lyrics of the songs I play and sing and that's just not the case if the songs are too religious.

I don't mind christian christmas songs though...

[Humblerumble]

My band used to cover that same song Undo Me. We are a classic rock/Christian rock type of band though. We have played it in secular places with no issues. I can honestly say we have had more strange reactions playing "secular" music in a christian environment than the other way around

[OtterOnBass]

Ever heard "water into wine?" It's a little known song by the little known Handsome Family. Anyway, it sounds like a drunk thanking Jesus for his favorite miracle, but you get to the bridge and it says "he'll crash your evil party and turn your water into wine," totally turning the meaning on its head. I love it - scrutinizing the meaning of the miracles of Jesus in a bar. Then the singer announces that we will play our other 'come to Jesus' song in the third set, which is I Saw The Light at top-speed. We can get away with this since we're an originals americana band.

[Revvv]

YOu have to understand that most Christian music today is on the cutting edge of culture.

As for songs being covered; there are many. For example, "I can only Imagine" by Mercy Me. There are many others, I'm just too tired to think about it.

[Skel]

My band already does "Jesus Just Left Chicago", and the thought never even crossed my mind about it being religious, or not. I always thought of it as a "not". I hope it's not mocking anything, I don't even "get" the song, but I love the music and the lyrics are so bizarre to me (which is part of why I love it so much).