I was at a folk festival recently where on the Sunday morning they had a workshop with a group of artists who were not known for being particularly sympathetic to the idea of religion. The idea was that these singers would play a Sunday morning set for the non-religious. This idea got me thinking about creating a playlist for the atheist/ agnostic to play on a Sunday morning when the rest of the world is at church. After some thought, here is what I have so far:
Lord I Have Made You a Place in my Heart – Greg Brown or Cry Cry Cry
Flyentology – El-P (Trent Reznor lyrics)
Jesus and Elvis – Greg Brown
Personal Jesus – Depeche Mode or Johnny Cash
Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell
I Was Stabbed By Satan – K’Naan
Leper Messiah – Metallica
Losing my Religion – R.E.M.
Dear God – Sarah McLachlan
Suggestions? Thoughts?
Last edited by vanisleflamesfan; 07-29-2011 at 11:44 PM.
I was at a folk festival recently where on the Sunday morning they had a workshop with a group of artists who were not known for being particularly sympathetic to the idea of religion. The idea was that these singers would play a Sunday morning set for the non-religious. This idea got me thinking about creating a playlist for the atheist/ agnostic to play on a Sunday morning when the rest of the world is at church. After some thought, here is what I have so far:
Lord I Have Made You a Place in my Heart Greg Brown or Cry Cry Cry
Flyentology El-P (Trent Reznor lyrics)
Jesus and Elvis Greg Brown
Personal Jesus Depeche Mode or Johnny Cash
Both Sides Now Joni Mitchell
I Was Stabbed By Satan KNaan
Leper Messiah Metallica
Losing my Religion R.E.M.
Dear God Sarah McLachlan
Suggestions? Thoughts?
Metallica has got a bunch, I always liked 'The God That Failed'.
More from Reznor/NIN too, 'Heresy' is about as classic as it gets.
Probably dozens from Manson, always liked 'The Reflecting God'
Tool has a bunch, 'Eulogy'
And Maynards other band A Perfect Circle has some, check out 'Right in Two'
I probably know at least 100, and some from lighter sources too. These are off the top of my head.
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Chocolate Jesus - Tom Waits
Satan is my Motor - Cake
Mohammed my Friend - Tori Amos
Sex and the Church - David Bowie
If Jesus Drove a Motorhome - Jim White
Jesus Sings the Blues - Junkhouse
Jesus Christ was an Only Child - Modest Mouse
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According to Stipe, Losing My Religion is about unrequited love. "Losing My Religion" is a southern term for losing one's composure. It's a great song though, so I'd keep it on there.
Ocean Breathes Salty or Bukowski by Modest Mouse are good ones.
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"Judith" by A Perfect Circle would be rather fitting too.
Haha! Yeah, how did I forget that one? That's right up there for sure.
A lot of the music that I listen to seems to have a similar theme. Well, not a LOT, but I guess if you were to take the largest group of songs I really like.
Sorry I know I'm being an ass, but Right In Two is a Tool song, not APC.
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But living an honest life - for that you need the truth. That's the other thing I learned that day, that the truth, however shocking or uncomfortable, leads to liberation and dignity. -Ricky Gervais
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Sorry I know I'm being an ass, but Right In Two is a Tool song, not APC.
Oh damn, I'm doing too many things at once, and I've had a few drinks tonight. You are right of course. No need to be sorry, I would have jumped on that too!
The funny thing was I could see the album in my head, wonder why I messed it up. Same with missing Judith. I was probably thinking one and naming the other.
I would say, Right in Two does kinda sound like an APC song. I know s few people critisized 10,000 Days of sounding too much like an APC album, and I disagree. Though I do think that may be the one song that is guilty of that.
Hey, Tool can put out a new album that sounds like APC and I'd be perfectly happy right about now! I love 10,000 Days.
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But living an honest life - for that you need the truth. That's the other thing I learned that day, that the truth, however shocking or uncomfortable, leads to liberation and dignity. -Ricky Gervais
Actually, now that I think about it, the title track from 10,000 Days (both of them, it's a two parter) is an excellent fit. Maynard coming to terms with the passing of his mother who was a devout Christian who believed in heaven, and fitting it into his own values.
After years of railing against the hypocracy of the Christian system and some of it's values with both his bands Tool and A Perfect Circle, he writes a song for his mother, telling her not to be denied at the gates of heaven, as she has surely been far more 'Christian' than a lot of those who would fall behind that banner.
It's a Pink Floyd'esque journey with amazing poetry that is sure to make your eyes water. And it brings you through that whole spiritual journey where you question everything, but leave love in your heart. Also brings up the struggles of those that don't believe, when they have special people in their life who not only believe, but are very devout.
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Oh man, if your not tired of listening to me, I have another must have. Again, same band.
Check out Lateralus, by Tool, title track of the same album. Another 10 minute journey of a song talking about placing yourself intelligently in the place of something that may be larger.
This is my favorite song of all time. Starts of a tiny bit corny, but builds to a finish that will have you dancing and banging around the room. Asks you to let go and just give up to what will be, whether it is something larger, or nothing at all. All at the same time empowering you and your decisions. We're all human, we're all learning, and we're all searching, whether we know it or not.
The best thing about this song, and this album, is that Tool spent 5 years on it, trying to make it mathematically perfect. (Haha, they may have been doing other things as well, but all their albums take a while) They used equations of 'sacred geometry' to not only make it catchy, but complex. Like how a flower grabs you attention.
It is widely used in the music industry that certain rhythms and melodies are 'money'. But Tool proves that you can be catchy and provoking at the same time. Same as I would wager, true classical artists.
EDIT: While we are on it, grab Sober by Tool. It's about alcohol addiction for the most part, but the secondary theme is very atheist. And it'll give you a starting point for these other songs. While I'm at it, if your checking him out, a lot of Marilyn Manson songs have primary and secondary themes. It's a lot like how South Park can do a episode making fun of Glenn Beck and Fox news, and yet put and Avatar theme over the whole movie (Ep 1313 Dances with Smurfs). You really gotta be listening and understand the poetry to get what they are saying. Think what of him what you will, but MM is a master of nuance. And it helps he is able to hide it behind his shock value (or what used to shock anyway). Tool is the same way, just more obscure and not so in your face.
Modest Mouse, Bad Religion and Tool are probably three of my favourite bands.
Heart of Darkness by The Headstones also fits this theme:
Quote:
God loves me
Sayin god loves you
Sayin god loved hitler man
And them six million Jews
Must be a con
When he rolled down from the mountain
We do a death dance
He does a body count
Those might not be the exact lyrics (I just went from memory) but it's the general idea.
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A Playlist for the Atheist / Agnostic
