My friends and I have been having fun lately emailing a list back and forth of what are the best of the worst Christian songs we grew up listening to. You know, those songs that are enjoyable, with lyrics you can't get out of your head, but at the same time you'd be slightly embarrassed if anyone came across them on your iPod.
So I condensed our lists and decided to share the final version of our list of songs we hate to love. It's not meant to be a mean-spirited list, just a fun way to look back at how much Christian music has--thankfully--changed.
Don't be afraid to add your best of the worst in the comments box below!
"Cartoon Song" by Chris Rice: It's fun, it's catchy and a concert favorite. But let's face it, Fred Flintstone singing hallelujah as "yabba dabba do ya" is about as theologically light as a wet crepe paper.
"Big House" by Audio Adrenaline: It's a song that has been sung by teenagers in youth groups all across America-- over and over and over again--usually in a crowded, broken-down bus on a mission trip where the chaperones have no means of escape. I am speaking from experience, folks.
"Shine" by Newsboys: Another snappy, happy, clappy tune that is hard to get out of your head but with such lyrical images as making a "vegetarian barbecue a hamster," it's a wonder the song didn't start a PETA protest.
"American Fast Food" by Randy Stonehill: Way before Morgan Spurlock came up with the idea for "Supersize Me," Stonehill warned us all against the evils of milkshakes and french fries.
"Live Out Loud" by Steven Curtis Chapman: I am sure it seems horribly inappropriate and insensitive that I would put Chapman on the list, but come on, the song mentions Regis Philbin.
"Word to the Father" by dc Talk: Let's face it, the entire "Free at Last" recording was pretty cheesy, but this song was one of the worst offenders. The Christian boy band did a pseudo-rap that included chicken noises. Even K-Fed can't say that. Still, it's a great song to work out to.
"Who's in the House?" by Carman: I know, how can you decide which Carman song to put on a list like this, right? But I picked this song because it has also been a youth group staple and I confess I once taught a dance to this song.
"Home Run" by Geoff Moore: After the song begins and announces that Geoff Moore and the Distance are getting ready for a day of baseball against the "big guy, the Prince of Darkness," the following sports metaphors are used: "Well, it's the wind-up, here comes that ball/You gotta pray and swing/ watch it till, it's goin, goin, it's gone!"
"Fat Baby" by Amy Grant: Anyone remember when she made the bad choice to sing this song on "The Tonight Show"? You can only imagine what Jay Leno was thinking when Amy sang about how "His spiritual tummy, it can't take too much. One day a week, he gets a spiritual lunch."
"Friends" by Michael W Smith: I personally would have gone for the Smitty classic "Rocketown" for cheese factor, but "Friends" has been sung at graduations for years now so my friends say it get's the nod as one of the all-time best of the worst.
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Might want to consider Mark Farner of GFR covering his own song "Some Kind of Wonderful" and changing the lyrics to give it a more religious feel making the song even cheesier than the original. Even with that being said it's a catchy song and I would only recommend it from the anonymity of the internet.
bhaha. this is hilarious... mos def... Who's in the house by carmen gets major nod for cheese factor!! I remember going to a kids camp [not youth] as a worker and the speaker pulled out this song and did a stupid [like flailing crazy man] dance to it I was embarrased...it was that bad!!
Ok now I LOVE breakfast by newsboys... its a classic...I despise the cartoon song! I just cringe everytime I hear it! AND you have to admit DC Talk got better with age...I still listen to supernatural cd...
Every song written for the honor of God has a place and a purpose. I would rather enjoy the variety and see the good in them. Different types of music touches the hearts of different types of people in different generations and different walks of life. There is no good in complaining about them.
big house nearly drove my wife and I crazy, but we love it because our daughter sang it all the time. Sher died when she was 14
So, you complain about a song because it mentions "Regis Philbin", you criticize a Newsboys song because of one line, even though the rest of the song is encouraging Christians to live a life that makes you "Shine, make 'em wonder what you got, make 'em wish that they were not, on the outside looking bored." And you cavetch about the "Cartoon Song" even though its a KID'S SONG. I'm sorry, but your pathetic. You're simply using this as a chance to bash bands and songs you personally don't like. Lame.
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