Easter is upon once again. The religious feast where Jesus was crucified on Good Friday , only to rise again on Easter Sunday. Religion and pop culture have always gone hand in hand , with mixed and controversial results down through the years.
John Lennon caused outrage in the 60's proclaiming The Beatles "bigger than Jesus ". Who can forget Madonna incurring the wrath of the Vatican in 1989 with the legendary Like A Prayer video. And what about Sinead O'Connor ripping up a picture of Pope John Paul on live television in the 90s.
Religion has always worked as metaphor for faith for love in music. It;s inspired several classic songs , some of which make up our Good Friday playlist. Below are some of the most controversial songs with religion as the central theme or metaphor. Happy Easter and Viva Papa
Lady Gaga -Judas (2011 )
This was the second single from Gaga's Born This Way album. A song about a woman falling in love with a man who has betrayed her -Judas. It was a clever metaphor for a song that really did'nt live up to Gaga's high standards. The song fell flat critically and commercially. The accompanying video sees Gaga as Mary Magdalene with her Judas Iscariot on their way to Jerusalem. The video concluded with Gaga as Mary Magdalene being stoned to death. Gaga ripped a huge chunk from Madonna's playbook. The Catholic League condemned the video for its religious imagery. The song itself remains one of Gaga's least memorable moments.
Joan Osbourne -One Of Us (1996 )
A 90's classic one hit wonder , that is actually a cover of a song by The Hooters. A gorgeous song that asks how one might relate to God. " If God had a face / would you want to see , if seeing meant that you would have to believe in things like Heaven , and Jesus and the saints and all the prophets " It was a hit for Osbourne and remains as glorious a song today as back then.
George Harrison -My Sweet Lord (1971 )
This classic from Beatle Harrison was a worldwide hit and posthumously hit the top spot in the UK in 2002 after his death.
The song was written in praise of Hindu god Krishna. The song also called on the listener to abandon religious sectarianism. The song is elevated by Phil Spector's legendary Wall of Sound production. The song was basically a song for all religions , not one singular denomination. The song is celebratory in tone.
Kanye West -Jesus Walks (2004 )
Rumours suggest Kanye West's forthcoming sixth album will be called I Am A God. Not surprisingly really , seeing as West is one of music's most narcissistic personalities. But the man is also a genius. As demonstrated on this bold , thumping cut from his debut album The College Dropout.
The track details how Jesus walks with all manner of people whether they be saint or sinner. The track also takes a swipe at a media that ignores songs concerned with faith in favor of songs of sex , drugs and violence, that have soundtracked much of hip hop. Many of /West's closest music industry friends told him as stunning as the track was , it would never be played on radio. How wrong they were. Jesus Walks won a Grammy for Best Rap Song in 2005. It remains one of Kanye West's greatest moments.
Depeche Mode -Personal Jesus (1989 )
This classic song from Dave Gahan and co surfaced on the revered Violator album. It;s a track , that not wholly concerned with matters of faith , uses Jesus as a metaphor for hope. When someone loves and depends on someone so much , that person becomes a "personal Jesus " for them.
It remains on the Mode's most enduring songs , one that has gained in esteem and acclaim in the last 20 years
R.E,M -Losing My Religion (1991 )
This is the song that turned R.E.M into one of the biggest bands in the world. An unadulterated classic that is one of the greatest songs of the 90s and perhaps R.E.M's most legendary song in an iconic back catalogue.
Prior to this R.E.M were a critically acclaimed , commercially ignored , band that successfully eked out a career. Things changed dramatically with this iconic song that would win 2 Grammys and 6 MTV Video Music Awards for its stunning accompanying video.
"Thats me in the corner, thats me in the spotlight , losing my religion " , sings Michael Stipe.
The song is an ode to unrequited love , and catapulted Out Of Time to 18 million sales worldwide.
Madonna -Like A Prayer (1989 )
And now we come to pop's ultimate agent provacateur. The Vaticans worst nightmare. The Queen of Controversy herself. The Queen of Pop , Madonna.
The song is Madonna;s crowning glory , pardon the pun. Its video , legendary. The album of the same name is one of the greatest pop albums of all time. To many , Madonna's finest album. It marked her transition from superstar to bona fide , Hall of Fame , icon. The song was received to a rapturous reception by fans and critics alike.
The song itself , with its Gsopel choir and the goosebump inducing opening line " Life is a mystery , everyone must stand alone , I hear you call my name , and it feels like home " It was indeed heavenly.
It was another global smash for Madonna. But the avalanche of controversy that came with the video has never been matched since, The Vatican and religious lobby were up in arms.
The video depicted Madonna making love in a church to a black Jesus, stigmata on her hands , dancing in a field of burning crosses and a murder of black man. It was hugely controversial for its time. Madonna was subsequently dropped from her multi million dollar deal with Pepsi.
The video went on to win 2 MTV Video Music Awards and behind Michael Jackson's Thriller , it is probably the most groundbreaking video of all time. One that broke all the rules , harnessed the controversy and furore to its own benefit. But more than that , Like A Prayer is not just one of the greatest pop songs of all time , it IS one of the greatest songs of all time.
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