Jesus in pop music

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An overview of the motif of Jesus in pop music is given here in the form of a list. Jesus of Nazareth as the central figure of Christianity was also thematically treated by popular music .

As in other areas of popular culture, this motif is widespread ( literature , film, advertising, etc.).

history

So you can draw a line, starting with the Negro Spirituals and Gospels via the Blues to Soul to the beginnings of Rock'n'Roll. The Jesus motif can be found in all genres of popular music - from rock'n'roll to metal and pop music to hip-hop. There are roughly three areas:

  • Songs in which Jesus is the main character and areas of his life are retold and interpreted: Barclay James Harvest : Hymn (1975); Queen : Jesus (1973). The spectrum ranges from affirmation to extreme rejection. In songs with positive connotations, Jesus is often the recipient of prayers and requests. In addition, Jesus is also often viewed as the Redeemer and Savior.
  • Songs that criticize the abuse and appropriation of the person of Jesus by individuals and institutions: Genesis : Jesus he knows me (1991); Skunk Anansie : Selling Jesus (1995); Bad Religion : American Jesus (1993)
  • Songs that relate only a small part of the text or only individual lines of text to Jesus: John Lennon : God (1970); Simon and Garfunkel : Mrs. Robinson (1968)

The following list, which does not claim to be exhaustive, mainly includes songs that have achieved a certain media distribution and popularity (with the exception of Christian pop music ). A distinction must be made between mention in the text and representation in the associated music video.

date title tape album Director Excerpt
2013 Songs Adel Tawil Songs Text: "My personal Jesus" Based on the Depeche Mode song from 1989
2011 Black Jesus † Amen Fashion Lady Gaga Born This Way Text: "Black Jesus, Black Jesus, Black Jesus / Jesus is the new black"
2011 Judas Lady Gaga Born This Way Laurie Ann Gibson "I wanna love you / But something's pulling me away from you / Jesus is my virtue, Judas is the demon I cling to, I cling to."
2011 Bloody Mary Lady Gaga Born This Way "I'll dance, dance, dance / With my hands, hands, hands / Above my head, head, head / Like Jesus said"
2010 Personal Jesus Nina Hagen Personal Jesus Cover of Depeche Mode 1989
2009 East Jesus Nowhere Green Day 21st Century Breakdown Text: "I want to know who's allowed to breed all the dogs who never learned to read, Missionary politicians and the cops of a new religion"
2007 Rock n roll jesus Kid rock Rock n roll jesus It's all sex, drugs, rock n roll / A soul sensation that you can't control / And you can see I practice what I preach / I'm your rock n roll Jesus
2007 You Just Can't Beat Jesus Christ Billy Joe Shaver, Johnny Cash Everybody's brother Text: "He was born to be known as everybody's brother / He is the Father Son and Mary is his mother / He is a 'scuse my slanguage, well a compound country kinda guy / Yes he is / Ain't no way to get around it, you just can't beat Jesus Christ / No you can't "
2006 What I've been looking for Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel High school musical
2006 Lord give me a sign DMX Year of the Dog… Again Mark Klasfeld Text: “The spoken word is stronger than the strongest man / Carrys the whole world like his strongest hand / Through the trials and tribulations you never let us down / Jesus, I know you hear with us now / Jesus, I know you still with us now / Keep it real with us now "
2006 He has Everclear Welcome to the Drama Club
2005 Plastic Jesus Billy Idol Devil's Playground Cover of The Goldcoast Singers 1957
2005 Jesus, take the wheel Carrie Underwood Some hearts Roman White Text: "Jesus take the wheel, take it from my hands, cause I can't do this all on my own.I'm letting go, So give me one more chance to save me from this road I'm on.Jesus take the wheel. "
2005 Jesusland Ben Folds Songs for Silverman
2005 Jesus was an only son Bruce Springsteen Devil & Dust Text: “Jesus was an only son as he walked up Calvary Hill. His mother Mary walking beside him.In the path where his blood spilled.Jesus was an only son.In the hills of Nazareth As he lay reading the Psalms of David At his mother's feet […]. "
2005 Drugs or Jesus Tim McGraw Live Like You Were Dying Sherman Halsey
2004 You saved me R. Kelly Happy people Little X Text: 'I was shot 4 times and before I knew it, I was on my knees / Blood gushing out my body my hearts beatin fast / I don't know what I'm a do, I don't think I'm gonna last / Then I began to flash back on the pains I've done in my past / Then I heard a small voice that said to me "I'll give you peace if u believe" / I accepted Christ that day hallelujah / now I'm free '
2004 Jesus of Suburbia Green Day American idiot Samuel Bayer
2004 Personal Jesus Marilyn Manson Read we forget Nathan Cox
2003 Heaven I need a hug R. Kelly Text: "All these questions deep inside my mind / Like if Jesus loved me, why he leave my side, mama / I'm still tryin 'to get the answer why / You were young, 45, and you had to die"
2003 ! Hero Eddie DeGarmo Rock opera; "What if Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania?"
2003 Jesus walks Kanye West The College Dropout There are three different music videos for this piece: Version 1: In the Church (Michael Haussman), Version 2: In the Desert (Chris Milk), Version 3: Coodie & Chike & Kanye West
2002 Hurt Johnny Cash American IV: The Man Comes Around Mark Romanek Text: “I wear this crown of thorns upon my liar's chair. Full of broken thoughts I cannot repair. "
2002 Personal Jesus Johnny Cash American IV: The Man Comes Around Cover of Depeche Mode 1989
2002 Mrs. Jesus Tori Amos Scarlet's Walk Text: "the gospel changes meaning / if you follow john or paul / and could you ever let it be / the mary of it all […] there's the something every day / and there's someone always paging / my mrs. jesus / your walking on the water "
2002 This is me Faith Hill Cry Text: "Lord I try to love Jesus send my soul"
2001 Darkness of Christ Slayer God hates us
2000 Black Jesus Everlast Eat at Whitey's Text: "They call me white Devil, black Jesus / Heaven closes, Hell freezes / Black Jesus, white Moses / Heaven freezes, hell closes"
1999 Jesus came from outerspace Super grass Super grass Text: "Jesus came from outta space and traveled from beyond the stars, he came down for peace on Earth and left in a second-hand car"
1998 Jesus Marius Müller-Westernhagen Radio Maria Text: "Give me your life / I'll give you mine for it / Jesus, I will never give up / To the door of heaven / Jesus, give me blood before the sun kills me / Jesus, give me blood before the day begins"
1998 Jesus in a camper van Robbie Williams I've been expecting you
1997 I talk to Jesus Bon Jovi Destination Anywhere Text: "I talk to Jesus, you don't believe me, I talk to Jesus, I know he hears me, I talk to Jesus and Elvis Presley, I talk to Jesus, the king can save me."
1996 Blasphemy Tupac Shakur The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory Text: "They say Jesus is a kind man, well he should understand times in this crime man, my Thug nation. Do whatchu gotta do but know you gotta change."
1996 Like Jesus to a Child George Michael Howard Greenhalgh
1995 Bullet With Butterfly Wings The Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness Samuel Bayer Text: “Tell me I'm the only one. Tell me there's no other one. Jesus was the only son ... Despite all my rage am I still just a rat in a cage? "
1995 Selling Jesus Skunk anansia Paranoid and Sunburnt Nick Burgess-Jones
1994 Lunacy Booth Therapy Troublegum
1993 Are you gonna go my way Lenny Kravitz Are you gonna go my way Mark Romanek
1993 American Jesus Bad religion Recipe for Hate Gore Verbinski Text: “We've got the american Jesus / he helped build the president's estate / i feel sorry for the earth's population / 'cuz so few live in the USA / at least the foreigners can copy our morality / they can visit but they cannot stay / only precious few can garner the prosperity "
1993 Heart-Shaped Box Nirvana In Utero Anton Corbijn
1993 Shadow of Jesus Hooters Out of body Text: “Living in the shadow of Jesus / It's so hard to bear your cross every day. Was it easy for you, Christ, it's murdering me / Now I'm down on my knees with a reason to pray "
1992 One U2 Watch out baby Text: “Have you come here for forgiveness? Have you come to raise the dead? Have you come here to play Jesus? To the lepers in your head "
1991 Mad the Swine Queen Headlong Text: "[...] I've been there before, A long time ago, But this time I wear no sandals, Ages past I gave all you people food and water, three feet tall, so very small, I'm no trouble , I bring thunder and lightning, Sun and the rain For all the people in the land A message of love I bring you from up above. "
1991 Jesus he knows me genesis We can't dance Phil Collins
1991 Quicksnad Jesus Skid Row Slave to the Grind
1990 Snake of Christ Danzig Danzig II: Lucifuge Text: “Serpent Jesus, Snake of christ, Nailed to a cross of holy design. Blood to water, water to wine, whip the soul til a mother cries "
1989 Personal Jesus Depeche Mode Personal Jesus Anton Corbijn
1987 Just another poor boy Chris de Burgh Spanish Train & other Stories Text: […] He said all men were brothers and that love could conquer all,

Many gathered round to hear, many for his life did fear, In troubled times like these men seldom talked.

1987 Spanish Train Chris de Burgh Spanish Train & other Stories
1979 Precious Angel Bob Dylan Slow train coming Text: "[...] You never mentioned one time the Man who came and died a criminal's death [...] On the way out of Egypt, through Ethiopia, to the judgment hall of Christ"
1977 Hymn Barclay James Harvest Gone to Earth
1976 Jesus came down Lake Lake Detlef Petersen , James Hopkins-Harrison
1975 In My Time of Dying Led Zeppelin Physical graffiti Text: Jesus, gonna make up my dyin 'bed. / Meet me, Jesus, meet me. Meet me in the middle of the air / If my wings should fail me, Lord. / Please meet me with another pair. - Cover of a traditional gospel song - first recorded by Blind Willie Johnson (1928).
1975 Gloria Patti Smith Horses Text: "Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine". - Cover by Van Morrison (1964).
1975 Sweet Jesus Barclay James Harvest Time honors Ghosts
1975 We've been told (Jesus Coming soon) Eric Clapton There's one in every crowd
1974 Jesus Cat Stevens Buddha and the Chocolate Box Text: "They crossed the wood, and Hanged him, a long time ago, They still misunderstand him, For those who don't know"
1973 Great King Council Queen Queen
1973 Get up, stand up The Wailers Burnin ' Text: “We sick an 'tired of-a your ism-skism game / Dyin' 'n' goin 'to heaven in-a Jesus' name, Lord. / We know when we understand: / Almighty God is a living man. "
1973 Jesus Queen Queen Text: […] It all began with the three wise men, followed a star took them to Bethelehem

And made it heard throughout the land. Born was the leader of man. All going down to see the Lord Jesus.

1973 The Gospel Road Johnny Cash Gospel Road Jesus film by Johnny Cash
1972 Jesus is just all right Doobie Brothers Madman across the Water Cover from The Byrds 1969
1971 Jesus just left Chicago ZZ top Tres Hombres
1971 Jesus Christ superstar Andrew Lloyd Webber
1971 Godspell Stephen Schwartz
1971 Levon Elton John Madman across the Water
1971 Love in Mind Neil Young Live at Massey Hall Text: "Man made rules been holding back, church has long preached that sex is wrong, Jesus where has nature gone?"
1971 Hymn 43 Jethro Tull Aqualung Text: "[...] Oh Jesus save me! If Jesus saves - well, He'd better save Himself from the gory glory seekers who use His name in death. Oh Jesus save me! "
1970 God John Lennon Text: “I don't believe in Jesus, I don't believe in Kennedy, I don't believe in Buddha, I don't believe in mantra, I don't believe in Gita, I don't believe in yoga , I don't believe in kings, I don't believe in Elvis, I don't believe in Zimmerman, I don't believe in Beatles, I just believe in me, Yoko and me, And that's reality. "
1969 Jesus is just all right Velvet Underground
1969 Jesus is just all right The Byrds Ballad of Easy Rider
1968 Sympathy for the Devil The Rolling Stones Beggars Banquet Text: '[…] And I was' round when Jesus Christ had his moment of doubt and pain / Made damn sure that Pilate washed his hands and sealed his fate […]'
1968 Hair Was it MacDermot Hair (musical) Text: […] My hair like Jesus wore it, Hallelujah I adore it / Hallelujah Mary loved her son, why don't my mother love me? [...]
1968 Mrs. Robinson Simon and Garfunkel Bookends Text: [...] Jesus loves you more than you will know [...]
1964 With God on Our Side Bob Dylan The Times They Are a-Changin ' Text: “In a many dark hour I've been thinkin 'about this: That Jesus Christ was betrayed by a kiss. But I can't think for you. You'll have to decide whether Judas Iscariot had God on his side "
1957 Plastic Jesus The Goldcoast Singers The Goldcoast Singers

literature

  • Gerd Buschmann, Uwe Böhm (Hrsg.): Pop music - religion - teaching. Models and materials for didactics of popular culture, Symbol - Mythos - Medien 5, LIT Verlag, Münster 2006.
  • Peter Bubmann, Michael Landgraf: Music in schools and communities. Basics - methods - ideas. A Handbook for Religious Education Practice 2006.
  • Gotthard Fermor: Ecstasis. The Religious Heritage in Pop Music as a Challenge to the Church. 1999.
  • Ilse Kögler : Ready for Jesus? - Jesus in rock and pop music. In: Lebendige Katechese 20, 1998, pp. 145–148.
  • Ilse Kögler: The longing for more: rock music, youth and religion. Information and interpretations. 1994.
  • Andreas Mertin: Video clips in religious education. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 1999.
  • Andreas Obenauer: Too much Heaven? Religious pop songs - youthful approaches - opportunities for religious education. 2002.
  • Hartmut Rupp: Christmas in Pop Songs. In: Draft. 3/2005, pp. 38-41.
  • J. Schober: My Sweet Lord. The Jesus wave in pop music. In: Wolf von Lojewski (ed.): Jesus People or the religion of children. 1972, pp. 120-125.
  • Bernd Schwarze: The religion of rock and pop music. 1997.
  • Arthur Thömmes: God is a rock star. Popular music in religious education. German Catechists Association, Munich 2008 ( fundgrube-religionsunterricht.de ).
  • Arthur Thömmes: God in popular music. A personal guide to songs that are suitable for teaching. In: Yearbook of Religious Education. No. 25. Neukirchener Verlag, 2009, pp. 230-238.
  • Arthur Thömmes: Angels in Popular Music. In: Catechetical Sheets. 6/2010, pp. 423-426.
  • Florian Werner: Rapocalypse. The beginning of rap and the end of the world. 2007 ( transcript-verlag.de review: theomag.de ).
  • Reinhold Zwick: Christ figures in the music video. In: Art and Church. 57, 1994, pp. 163-169.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Langenhorst ( PDF )
  2. ↑ Tiemann 2002 Archive link ( Memento of the original from September 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.vr.de
  3. ↑ Pirner, Buschmann kopaed.de
  4. ↑ Florian Werner: Rapocalypse. The beginning of rap and the end of the world. 2007.
  5. ↑ Kögler 1994, pp. 10–36, and Fermor 1999, pp. 121–152.
  6. ↑ ladygaga.wikia.com
  7. ^ A b Daniel Haas: CD of the week: Lady Gaga: With Judas in the whirlpool . In: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung . May 20, 2011 ( faz.net ).