Entertainment For Lively Minds
Yes, Professor Dawkins, but what about the music?
Posted by Humphrey Plugg on 23 September 2011 - 11:53am.
We've all had a right good go at the creationism/evolution/religion/atheism debate over the last couple of weeks. But one topic completely missed is the role that religion/belief in God has had in influencing popular music.
I mean could you really live in a world without this:
(Mavis Staples - In Christ there is no East or West)
Further examples to follow in comments.
And in the spirit of open debate, please feel to post your favourite songs inspired by scientific rationalism
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Two more
(Johnny Cash - Man In Black)
(Monica Queen - 77x)
How I Love This....
Almost as much as I love questioning everything.
Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
By The Low Anthem is lovely.
The best argument for Christianity that I've heard - incredible
So far
God's definitely got the best tunes. But then again he's had a very big head start. Scepticism & Scientific Rationalism only stopped being punishable by death or lengthy imprisonment fairly recently here in the west. In some parts of the world it's still illegal/highly inadvisable to not worship the state's deity of choice.
Anyway. Here's Randy Newman's "God's Song", as interpreted by Etta James, positing the notion of an at best indifferent god who may actually hate us humans.
Mike
meant to thank you when you tweeted this the other day, great version I was unaware of.
If I may take a less Godly POV
XTC
Python
There's a version someone has put together
of "Dear God" with some additional stuff. It's altogether much more hardcore and not for the faint-hearted. I won't post it here but if you search for "XTC Dear God" on YouTube you'll see it. Censored somewhat for YouTube but it still hits pretty hard.
Mahler
Symphony No.2, The Resurrection Symphony
It's classical rather than popular music but it's very popular in our house!
not all the good songs
belong to the devil. Doesn't make religion any less tosh of course.
And now a song from our No 1 atheist songwriter
I give you Mr Roy Harper and The Spirit Lives:-
From a Christian Worship Leader's perspective...
A song that always goes down well. Not necessarily in that style (we tend to do it a bit straighter timing-wise), but a good song with a rousing chorus none the less. And its fun to sing.
Even as an unwashed unbeliever, doomed to burn,
I absolutely adore this:
Similarly
As an unbeliever this song almost makes me want to be a believer. Almost.
Can anyone recall...
..a version of this that was a hit back in the early 70s?
I think they might have sung down to the valley to pray, instead of river.
I can still hear it in my head, but have never been able to ascertain who it was, as it never gets any airplay on "classic hits" type radio.
Arlo Guthrie
had a hit with Valley To Pray
My name's Ralph and I'm Aquarius
If Richard Dawkins ruled the world, we would also miss Ralph, Aquarius, a man who likes giving women their freedom. Which is more than Dawkins does.
A heretic joins in
I will give you this slab of beauty, but have to ask what Dawkins has done to deny women freedom that is comparable with Islam or Catholisicm? or is it a gag?
I suppose religion *gave* us this as well
And he also gave us Una Stubbs
And he also gave us LIONEL BLAIR...
Did Una Stubbs........
......ever wear a pair of Lionels?
Lennon's comment on Jesus pretty much put paid to any touring after '66, so I guess that's an 'influence' of sorts.
That Lionel Blair, she's well evil she is.
She done that film where 'er 'ead goes round and round 'n she pukes up mushy peas, did'n she? Bloody well vile, that is.