Thursday 30 August 2012

Update on songs for Atheism

Following my post last night in which I asked for songs and music people felt appropriate to the atheist/secular movement, I've had some great feedback and suggestions.  I was going to just post these under my original entry with my suggestions,  but there's too many so I'll put them in a new thread.

First, though, I'm going to be shamelessy self-indulgent (hey, it's my blog) and post just two more of my own.  The first one is Nina Simone's "Feeling Good", which I think is pretty self-explanatory:

This second - not to lower the mood - I want played at my funeral. Reflective, simple and beautiful.  I could listen to Tom Waits all day (and frequently do) but "Take It With Me" is one of my favourites:
In the comments section here, I had the following suggestions: From Xu Wang, "Saved" by Shelley Segal:
From WelshKris87, Bryan Steeksma's "Listen To Reason":
From Phil Meyers, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds' "If I Had A Gun":
Heretic With A Heart suggested Gogol Bordello's "Supertheory of Supereverything":
Michael5MacKay offered  XTC's "Dear God" (by the way, someone needs to tell me what other song that guitar riff appears in because it's putting my swede through. I'm feeling it's vaguely 70s-ish but can't pin it down) and "Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead":
Jon suggested Doris Day's Que Sera, Sera:
Altair suggested this piece from the Cosmos series (for me, definitely a lie on the grass, stare at the stars get miles away one, thanks Altair!):
Smegger68 recommends "Faithless" and "Freewill", both by Rush:
And Phil Walder suggests "Everybody Hurts" by REM - a worthy acknowledgment, I think, that all of us, atheist and theist alike, are human and have the same feelings. (Well. Maybe not Republicans.):
Meanwhile, on Twitter, Adam Bennett suggests "The Dream" by Greydon Square:
... and only1united suggested the theme tune to Ghostbusters, which made me laugh:


Anyone want to suggest any more? Keep 'em coming!

10 comments:

  1. Personally, I quite like the idea of "Beyond Belief" by Elvis Costello - not exactly anthemic in style but with lyrics like

    "I've got a feeling
    I'm going to get a lot of grief
    Once this seemed so appealing
    Now I am beyond belief"

    it should at least get an honorable mention.

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    1. Http//:alturlhttp.com/xyyzu

      Journey of the Sorcerer, The Eagles. Also known as..? I give you 42 guesses.

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  2. Bugger, just thought of another one - this one is a lot more fun to sing along to.

    "(What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love & Understanding" by Brinsley Schwartz.

    Lyrics are:

    As i walk through
    This wicked world
    Searchin' for light in the darkness of insanity.

    I ask myself
    Is all hope lost?
    Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?

    And each time i feel like this inside,
    There's one thing i wanna know:
    What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? ohhhh
    What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?

    And as i walked on
    Through troubled times
    My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
    So where are the strong
    And who are the trusted?
    And where is the harmony?
    Sweet harmony.

    'cause each time i feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
    What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? ohhhh
    What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?


    So where are the strong?
    And who are the trusted?
    And where is the harmony?
    Sweet harmony.

    'cause each time i feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
    What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? ohhhh
    What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding? ohhhh
    What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?

    YouTube has the original at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SZ2eT_T0AI

    and Nick Lowe's accoustic version at the Royal Albert Hall some 35 years after he recorded the orginal at
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRrK2BlhdEA

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  3. Grinderman - "Heathen Child" (this one totally rocks and features the coolest man in the world, Nick Cave)
    Todd Snider - "In The Beginning" (a terrific songwriter, he has several songs that fit an atheist playlist, this one is just my favorite right now)
    Billy Joel - "Only The Good Die Young" (natch)
    Hayes Carl - "She Left Me For Jesus" (hilarious!)

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  4. How about:
    Tool: "Eulogy": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4wdXoN7oPY
    Our Lady Peace: "Innocent" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpFfLO9cSRc
    Sarah McLachlan: "Adia" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNFx_5VRW9E
    Incubus: "Megalomaniac" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyvo6gY9zLA

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  5. "Unthought Known" by Pearl Jam

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-Db7U0sicA

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  6. Tori Amos, God

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQFe_b3zwwc


    Chris Smither, Origin of Species

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpNoQaB2LT0


    Susan Werner, medley

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fLQV2eTqqU


    Like Todd Snider (who's already been mentioned), Werner calls herself an "evangelical agnostic." She's apparently not an atheist, but she makes fine music.


    And, not to be missed, Steve Martin, First Hymnal for Atheists

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFWA1A9XFi8


    Enjoy,
    Dave H.



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  7. Just remembered this one....

    Dar Williams: The Christians and the Pagans

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_KiHRHwaAs

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  8. Hi Lucy,

    Did you ever put up links to or comment on any of the song suggestions here? If so I can't find the follow up post.

    Curiously,
    Dave H.

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    Replies
    1. Just done it! Unforgivably negligent of me, I do apologise. xx

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