Thursday, May 2, 2013

Secular Songs in Southern Gospel

Typically I'm a fan of new projects by southern gospel artists having new songs. I mean, if there were no new songs we'd all be hearing the same songs over and over, right? (There are definitely exceptions to this rule. "I Want to Know" by Mark Trammell Quartet and "I Know a Man Who Can" by Greater Vision are two that immediately come to mind.)

I do love the older songs and hymns and enjoy hearing them in a live setting. It's interesting not only the artists lately who have gone back and covered older songs, but also artists who have covered songs previously sung by secular artists. The songs definitely have a positive message and apply to Christians, but it's different to see them covered as a southern gospel song. Some of them even fit better as a gospel song than in the original genre. And honestly, some secular songs that are covered I don't always realize it was sung by a secular artist first.

A full list of these might be more comprehensive that I bargain for, but I think it would interesting to see how many we can name.

To get you started, here are a few secular artists from various genres who have had songs covered by southern gospel artists, see if you can name the song and the southern gospel artist who sang it! And feel free to comment with any more that come to mind!

  • Jason Mraz - "Living in the Moment" - Beyond the Ashes
  • Jonas Brothers - "Time for Me to Fly" - Jeff and Sheri Easter
  • John Mayer - "Love Is a Verb" - Devin McGlamery
  • Diana Ross - "Reach Out" - Karen Peck & New River
  • Lady Antebellum - "I Run to You" - Crawford Crossing
  • Reba McEntire
  • Johnny Nash
  • Leeann Womack
  • Dolly Parton


5 comments:

  1. Oh, I'm going to do terrible! But I know that Beyond the Ashes just covered a Mraz song. Also, didn't Leeann Womack do "Get Up in Jesus' Name"? Gordon Mote covered that. Jonas Brothers, I can't imagine!

    I know that Crawford Crossing did a Lady Antebellum song called "I Run to You." And KPNR did "Reach Out."

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    1. That wasn't the Leeann Womack song I was thinking of, so there are at least two! I didn't know about the Lady Antebellum song, but I'll add it! And I'll add "Reach Out!" Thanks!

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  2. The Easters did "Time For Me to Fly" which was written by Nick Jonas & recorded by the Jonas Brothers. Also, Devin McGlamery just recorded a John Mayer song - Love is a Verb - as the title track to his album.

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    1. I thought the Jonas Brothers one would take the longest to get! Good job! And thanks, I'll add Devin's John Mayer song.

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  3. I would have to guess the Leeann Womack song is Three Bridges "There Is A God." I love the song, though I haven't heard Three Bridges version of it yet! I'm afraid I don't know any of the others though!

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