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"Up beat" songs for church.

M

Mike M.

Feb 14, 2010
2,208
174
#1
I'd like to find some songs for our church to consider that are more up beat.

Story: The drummer from the team I'm playing on announced he's going to be leaving. Shame because I really enjoy him. First, it's a long distance for him to drive. His other reason was because of the music we play. He said "believe me when I say I know why I'm here and it's not about me. However, I haven't been happy for the longest time, couldn't quite put my finger on it and I've discovered why. The music all sounds the same. You've got the drums playing that constant monotonous "world beat", you've got the bass going dddddddd-eeeeeeee, it's a dirge and there's no groove to these songs what so ever." He also added "while I know we need songs that are reflective.....there's no fun and it should also be fun. Worship should also be fun."

His words but I can understand where he's coming from.

A while back I filled in on one of the other teams and one of the songs we played was "All The People Said Amen" by Matt Maher and the congregation LOVED IT!!! It was happy, it was joyous, they were clapping along, it made you feel good to be there and it made you say AMEN!!

It's songs like that I'd like to find for suggestions. Happy, joyous, some groove.....got any?
 
#7
Mike M. said:
"...there's no fun and it should also be fun. Worship should also be fun."
Click to expand...
Exactly! The Bible says, "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD".

There are tons of R&B gospel tunes that do just that. Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, and many, many more.

MercyMe might be more in your wheelhouse. If "Shake" doesn't get you going, then I don't know what to tell you:



Hope this helps!
 
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#8
FilterFunk said:
Exactly! The Bible says, "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD".

There are tons of R&B gospel tunes that do just that. Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, and many, many more.

MercyMe might be more in your wheelhouse. If "Shake" doesn't get you going, then I don't know what to tell you:



Hope this helps!
Click to expand...


Now THAT'S what I'm talking about! I loved it and I'd do that one in a second. While I am defiantly going to bring this one up I don't know if they're going to go for it. It might be too much of a change for them. Funny thing is, I'm the old man of the bunch. I'm fast pushing 62 and the next oldest one is 48 and yet I'm the one who wants to pep things up a bit. I just checked out a few more of their songs and I really like these guys a lot.

I'm playing today and we're doing:

"Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone"........Tomlin
"Come As You Are"................................Crowder
"Another Hallelujah"...............................Brewster

All slow songs. Granted, "Another Hallelujah" picks up a bit halfway through, but still. A lot of slow songs....Oceans, Amazed are two for example.
I'm not knocking the message that any of these songs contain and many of them got me thinking of my own personal failures and I have made changes within due to some of the songs we play. So there is good in a lot of them and I know that. Just want to liven things up a bit as well.

10cc.......your suggestion of "Free Ride"...........ya know, I actually wouldn't mind playing that one!

Gorn Captain.....the Merv Griffin song..........well, maybe at your church!
 
#9
Mike M. said:
Now THAT'S what I'm talking about! I loved it and I'd do that one in a second. While I am defiantly going to bring this one up I don't know if they're going to go for it. It might be too much of a change for them. Funny thing is, I'm the old man of the bunch. I'm fast pushing 62 and the next oldest one is 48 and yet I'm the one who wants to pep things up a bit. I just checked out a few more of their songs and I really like these guys a lot.

I'm playing today and we're doing:

"Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone"........Tomlin
"Come As You Are"................................Crowder
"Another Hallelujah"...............................Brewster

All slow songs. Granted, "Another Hallelujah" picks up a bit halfway through, but still. A lot of slow songs....Oceans, Amazed are two for example.
I'm not knocking the message that any of these songs contain and many of them got me thinking of my own personal failures and I have made changes within due to some of the songs we play. So there is good in a lot of them and I know that. Just want to liven things up a bit as well.

10cc.......your suggestion of "Free Ride"...........ya know, I actually wouldn't mind playing that one!

Gorn Captain.....the Merv Griffin song..........well, maybe at your church!
Click to expand...
Seen it years ago during a worship service. Brought the house down
 
#12
I posted the coconut song to be silly, but what about secular songs that are upbeat? Do they have to have religious themes? I'm assuming songs about sex and drugs are a no no, but why not regular, non christian god-themed songs? It's all about good times and togetherness, isn't it?
 
#17
Gorn said:
I posted the coconut song to be silly, but what about secular songs that are upbeat? Do they have to have religious themes? I'm assuming songs about sex and drugs are a no no, but why not regular, non christian god-themed songs? It's all about good times and togetherness, isn't it?
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The OP didn't specify "Christian," but from his posts I assume that's what he means (OP, please correct me if I'm wrong). In a Christian church service, it's not just about avoiding certain things, but concentrating on we what consider to be the most important thing - worshiping and serving Jesus. So it's about more than just "good times and togetherness," although those things naturally flow from joyous worship.

IMO and IME, of course.
 
#18
FilterFunk said:
The OP didn't specify "Christian," but from his posts I assume that's what he means (OP, please correct me if I'm wrong). In a Christian church service, it's not just about avoiding certain things, but concentrating on we what consider to be the most important thing - worshiping and serving Jesus. So it's about more than just "good times and togetherness," although those things naturally flow from joyous worship.

IMO and IME, of course.
Click to expand...

Of course the main emphasis is the worship of our Lord Jesus Christ, that's why we're there but I keep thinking there's got to be songs out there that do just that in a fun way. I loved the song "Shake" by Mercy Me and I also checked out two of their other songs, "Greater" and "Beautiful." If our team leader said we were doing those three songs next service I'd be all over them!!

I can't recall, but there are some songs the other teams have done on rare occasion that contain some very thoughtful messages. Songs that have nothing to do with Jesus per say, but the message went hand in hand with the pastors message. One song that comes to mind that I'd love to do is one by Paul Thorn that's called "Things Left Undone" which I believe is a very spiritual song in it's own way. A very thought provoking song that would fit beautifully if the message was right. It's slow, but the message is powerful. I'd be all for the idea of doing more of those kind of songs on a more regular basis, but I think that would be a pretty hard sell if almost impossible. But I'm all for hearing any suggestions.

Vickerekes....love the Big Daddy Weave song!
 
#19
Mike M. said:
Of course the main emphasis is the worship of our Lord Jesus Christ, that's why we're there but I keep thinking there's got to be songs out there that do just that in a fun way. I loved the song "Shake" by Mercy Me and I also checked out two of their other songs, "Greater" and "Beautiful." If our team leader said we were doing those three songs next service I'd be all over them!!

I can't recall, but there are some songs the other teams have done on rare occasion that contain some very thoughtful messages. Songs that have nothing to do with Jesus per say, but the message went hand in hand with the pastors message.
Click to expand...
100% agree! Songs like "Lean On Me" (which was performed in my church when I was growing up) and "Bridge Over Troubled Water" would certainly be appropriate for church, IMO. Those particular songs aren't necessarily upbeat (although "Lean On Me" can be, depending on the arrangement); I used them as examples of secular songs that can go hand-in-hand with a Christian message. I just think it's important to not veer too far from the message.

Edit: I don't know if R&B is your bag, but speaking of upbeat and fun:

 
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#20
FilterFunk said:
100% agree! Songs like "Lean On Me" (which was performed in my church when I was growing up) and "Bridge Over Troubled Water" would certainly be appropriate for church, IMO. Those particular songs aren't necessarily upbeat (although "Lean On Me" can be, depending on the arrangement); I used them as examples of secular songs that can go hand-in-hand with a Christian message. I just think it's important to not veer too far from the message.

Edit: I don't know if R&B is your bag, but speaking of upbeat and fun:

Click to expand...


A lot depends on the church. I've been to churches where the text the sermon was preached on was The Velveteen Rabbit. Others, that would not go over.
 

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