TOPICAL INDEX OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
The following is a list of songs that relate to or address a specific topic or issue usually from a Christian perspective (apart from some of those that are in bold – denoting an artist or band which records on a mainstream/secular record label). This is a helpful list for anyone looking for a song that addresses a specific issue. It will be especially helpful for radio announcers and youth leaders. Please email Frank Rasenberger if you want to know the musical style/genre of a particular song. Feel free to email him if you know of another song (and the particular CD it is from) that addresses a particular issue or if you would like to suggest a song from another topic that has not been listed. Frank gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Australian contemporary Christian music journalist/promoter Wes Jay www.woodlandsmedia.com & Mark Allan Powell (author of the ‘Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music’ [Hendrickson Publishers, c. 2002]).
ARTIST/BAND SONG CD
ABORIGINAL / INDIGENOUS / FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE & ISSUES
Dickson, John Maranooka Maranooka
Midnight Oil Beds Are Burning Diesel And Dust
Midnight Oil The Dead Heart Diesel And Dust
Purpose What Was Your Name (from 3-song demo)
Seven Stories Walk Through Babylon Judges And Bagmen
ABORTION
Amy K Silent Cry (a song about P.A.S. – Post Abortion Syndrome)
Barren Cross Killers of the Unborn Atomic Arena
Cauzin’ Efekt Right 2 Be Famlee Affair
Crouch, Andrae I’ll Be Good to You, Baby Don’t Give Up
Crux Price Check Failure to Yield
Agenda Failure to Yield
Elder Red Earth Use to Be Adorable
Final Judgement Prelife Vivisection Desolation Sacrilege
Focal Point Homicide Suffering of the Masses
Frazier, Rob The Silence
Front, The The Promise The Front
Grammatrain Execution Lonely House
Herring, Annie Killing Thousands Search Deep Inside
Holy Soldier See No Evil Holy Soldier
Keaggy, Phil The Survivor Private Collection Volume 1 – Underground & True Believer
Kings X Legal Kill Faith Hope Love
Rez Fiend Or Foul Twenty Years[Live with spoken intro] & Innocent Blood
Rose, Randy I Was Alive Sacrificium
Tragedy Ann Your Escape Viva La Revolucion
Troccoli, Kathy A Baby’s Prayer Love And Mercy
ADVENT / SECOND COMING OF CHRIST (see also End Times & Rapture sections)
ApologetiX Lightning Flashes Ticked
Ashton, Susan When Are You Coming Back Angels Of Mercy
Atkins, Dallas R U Ready Eternal
Balin, Trace Everyone Will Know Glory Road
Barren Cross Out Of Time State Of Control
Big Question Too Late Big Question
De Garmo & Key Judgment Day To Extremes
Dylan, Bob Are You Ready Saved
Human Nature People Get Ready Telling Everybody
Kesler, Marianne Very Last Train From The Heart
Kings X King Out Of The Silent Planet
Lewis, Crystal People Get Ready (…Jesus Is Comin’) Beauty For Ashes & More
Mansfield/Turner Jesus Comin’ Soon Blues With A Feelin’
People Get Ready Blues With A Feelin’
Mayfield, Curtis (& The Impressions) People Get Ready Give It Up – the best of the curtom years 1970 - 77
Miss Angie Like Lightning Triumphantine
Norman, Larry I Wish We’d All Been Ready Upon This Rock & Only Visiting This Planet
U.F.O. In Another Land
Purpose Darlin If I Stop Runnin
Rowe, Jamie O Come, O Come Emmanuel Rock Power Praise Vol. 2 – Christmas Hymns
ANGELS
Ashton, Becker, Dente Angels Along The Road
Farnham, John Angels ?
Scott, Connie Angels Live To Tell
Tumes, Michelle With The Angels Centre Of My Universe
ANGER
Gibson, Michelle Never Let The Sun Go Down Michelle Gibson
Kesler, Marianne Let It Fly From The Heart
Paul Colman Trio Sundown Turn & pc3 Live (Electric)
ANNIVERSARY, WEDDING
Little River Band Happy Anniversary The Classic Collection
U2 Everlasting Love ?
ANZAC (see WAR)
APATHY
Ashton, Susan Land Of Nod Wakened By The Wind
Green, Keith Asleep In The Light No Compromise
Resurrection Band First Degree Apathy Mommy Don’t Love Daddy Anymore
Siloam Apathy Dying To Live
APOLOGETICS – DEFENCE OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
ApologetiX All ApologetiX Ticked
You May Be Bright Jesus Christ Morningstar
Believer Dimentia Dimensions (the entire cd is a brilliant defence of the Christian Faith)
Betrayal More Faith Than Me Renaissance By Death
Elefante, John I Know You’re There Corridors
ASCENSION OF JESUS
ApologetiX L.S.F. Jesus Christ Morningstar
ATHEISM
Just Jinger No God? All Comes Round
AUSTRALIA / AUSTRALIA DAY
Clapton, Richard Lucky Country The Best Years Of Our Lives
Grace, Steve Australian Country Towns Children Of The Western World
Droughtland Rain Liberty Road
Edward Kelly Children Of The Western World
Land Of The Rock Children Of The Western World
Life And Times Children Of The Western World
Gangajang This Is Australia ?
Icehouse Great Southern Land Primitive Man & Masterfile cds
Men At Work Down Under Business As Usual
BACKSLIDING
dc Talk My Friend (So Long) Supernatural
Green, Keith I Don’t Wanna Fall Away From You No Compromise
Petra Backslidin’ Blues Petra
Stevenson, Tarun Drifting Psalms For The Broken
BAPTISM / LIVING IN YOUR BAPTISM
Allies Can’t Stop The River The River
Take Me To The River The River
Jaci V. Baptise Me Heavenly Place
Mann, Robin From The Air And From The Light All Together OK (Disc 1)
Matthews, Kyle Been Through The Water See For Yourself
Petra Killing My Old Man Never Say Die (living in your baptism)
BIBLE, THE / WORD OF GOD / HOLY SCRIPTURE
ApologetiX (Check Out) The Book Radical History Tour
Fakey Shaky Parts Jesus Christ Morningstar (inspiration of Scripture)
La Bible Spoofernatural
No Chain Ticked
Second Timothy Biblical Graffiti (inspiration of Scripture)
Stay In The Light Keep The Change
Trooth Spoofernatural
Ruscha The Word Stands Forever Come Alive
BIRTHDAY
Cardwell, DC Birthday Present Some Hope
Max, Kevin Birthday Ten: The Birthday Album (Beatles cover)
Paul Colman Trio Birthday Song One
Wonder, Stevie Happy Birthday Hotter Than July
BLESSING (GOD’S)
Ashton, Susan Benediction Wakened By The Wind
Idea of North, The The Irish Blessing The Idea of North (excellent a capella version)
Newsboys Breathe (Benediction) Take Me To Your Leader
Renner, Kathie May The Lord Bless You Today All Together OK (disc 3)
BULLYING
Miller-Heidke, Kate Caught In The Crowd Curiouser
CELEBRATION
Daft Punk One More Time ?
Dragon Celebration Snake Eyes On The Paradise – Greatest Hits
1976 - 1989
CHANGE / CHANGES
Balin, Trace Changes Out Of The Blue
My Heart Is Set On You Out Of The Blue
Black Sabbath Changes Volume 4
Bowie, David Changes Hunky Dory
CHILD ABUSE
Jars Of Clay He Jars Of Clay
CHILD TRAFFICKING
Casagrande, Candice Behind Closed Doors New Day
Popp, Heidi & Tony Kirwan Every Child Has A Destiny
CHILDREN
Myrrh Figgy Myrrh
CHRISTMAS / CHRIST’S BIRTH
ApologetiX Christmasnite Keep The Change & Have Yourself A Parody Little Christmas (also suitable for Epiphany)
December 5 or 6 B.C. (Oh Holy Night) Have Yourself A Parody Little Christmas
Hotel Can’t Afford Ya Jesus Christ Morningstar
Manger Keep The Change
Micah No. 5 Have Yourself A Parody Little Christmas
Santa Claus Have Yourself A Parody Little Christmas
Virgin Radical History Tour
Band, The with Rick Danko Christmas Must Be Tonight
Blind Boys Of Alabama the entire ‘Go Tell It On The Mountain’ CD
Cameron, Allan Star Over Bethlehem Second Chances
Dead Artist Syndrome Christmas Prints Of Darkness
Deliverance Silent Night What A Joke
Destiny’s Child Little Drummer Boy Best Ever Christmas Mix
Disciple Easter Bunny HM Sampler Nov/Dec 97
Eden’s Bridge the entire ‘Celtic Christmas’ CD (good celtic renditions of traditional carols)
Estefan, Gloria Christmas Through Your Eyes Greatest Hits
Garfunkel, Art O Come All Ye Faithful Best Ever Christmas Mix
Grant, Amy Breath Of Heaven (Mary’s Song) Home For Christmas
Gray, Macy Winter Wonderland Best Ever Christmas Mix
Hammond, Jess Emmanuel There Is Hope
Hoey, Gary The First Noel HM Sampler Nov/Dec ’01 (really cool guitar instr.)
Jones, Norah Peace Best Ever Christmas Mix
Kaiser, Glenn Immanuel Throw Down Your Crowns
Kelly, Paul Christmas Must Be Tonight Best Ever Christmas Mix
Kesler, Marianne A Christmas Song
Lennon, John & Yoko Ono Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
Mann, Robin A Star, A King God Version 1.0
Meece, David One Small Child Our Christmas & Twila Paris And Friends: Celebrate The Gift & Odyssey
Miller, Julie Manger Throne He Walks Through Walls
Nectarine God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen HM Sampler Sep/Oct ‘97
Norman, Larry Christmastime So Long Ago The Garden
The Day That A Child Appeared Bootleg
Orrico, Stacie O Come All Ye Faithful Best Ever Christmas Mix
Patrick, Robin Road To Bethlehem You Believed In Me
Pretenders, The 2000 Miles Best Ever Christmas Mix
Queen Thank God It’s Christmas Best Ever Christmas Mix
Rea, Chris Driving Home for Christmas Best Ever Christmas Mix
Richard, Cliff Mistletoe & Wine Best Ever Christmas Mix
Slade Merry Xmas Everybody Slade Greatest Hits – Feel The Noize & Best Ever Christmas Mix
Various he entire Happy Christmas: A BEC Holiday Collection cd
the entire Happy Christmas Vol. 2 cd
CHURCH / FAMILY OF GOD
Allies Come To The Family The River
Camp, Steve The Church Is All Of You After God’s Own Heart
Upon This Rock Fire And Ice & The Steve Camp Collection: A Library Of 32 Favorite Songs
Petra Friends (All In The Family Of God) Petra Praise: The Rock Cries Out
Rose Colored Stained Glass More Power To Ya
CHURCH AND STATE
ApologetiX Come Out And Pray Ticked
Trooth Spoofernatural
CITY / CITIES
Joel, Billy New York State Of Mind ?
Rhubarb New York Slow Motion
COLOURS
Green, Keith Stained Glass No Compromise
Petra The Coloring Song Never Say Die
Resurrection Band Colours Colours
COMMITMENT / DEVOTION TO GOD
Allies Devoted To You Man With A Mission
Green, Keith Pledge My Head To Heaven So You Wanna Go Back To Egypt
COMPROMISE
dc Talk My Friend (So Long) Supernatural
Green, Keith Make My Life A Prayer To You No Compromise
Petra Chameleon Never Say Die
Scott, Connie Play This Game Live To Tell
CONFESSION / OPENESS & BROKENNESS / REPENTANCE
Ashton, Susan Down On My Knees Wakened By The Wind
Chapman, Tracy New Beginning New Beginning
Gibson, Jon Father, Father Body & Soul
Let It Be Done The Man Inside
Green, Keith Create In Me A Clean Heart Jesus Commands Us To Go!
My Eyes Are Dry No Compromise
Soften Your Heart No Compromise
Herring, Annie Search Deep Inside Search Deep Inside
Kesler, Marianne Scars All The Days Of My Life
Searchlight Of Love All The Days Of My Life
Petra Clean Beat The System
We Hold Our Hearts Out To You No Doubt
Schaefer, Athanasius Cleanse Me Servant Of Christ
St. James, Rebecca Go And Sin No More ?
Talbot, John & Terry Create In Me A Clean Heart The Painter
Volz, Greg X. On Bended Knees The Exodus
CONVERSION
Newsboys Born Again
St. James, Rebecca Reborn Transform
CREATION (CARETAKERS OF)
Chapman, Tracy The Rape Of The World New Beginning
Osbourne, Ozzy Revelation (Mother Earth) Blizzard Of Oz
Tourniquet Ark Of Suffering Psychosurgery
CROSS OF CHRIST see LENT / HOLY WEEK
DAYS OF THE WEEK
John, Elton Saturday Night’s Alright ?
Kesler, Marianne Saturday Night All The Days Of My Life
DEATH / DYING / FUNERALS / MORTALITY
Allies I’m Crying Man With A Mission
Requiem For The Living The River
Applehead Six Feet Under Meaning
Balin, Trace Meet You In The Garden Out Of The Blue
Carey, Mariah (with Boyz II Men) One Sweet Day ?
Midnight Oil In The Valley Earth and Sun and Moon
Mortification Death Requiem Scrolls Of The Megilloth
Petra A Matter Of Time HM Sampler Jul/Aug 98
Grave Robber Not Of This World
Plankeye Goodbye Relocation (awesome song)
PFR Goldies Last Day Goldie’s Last Day (death of a pet)
Rose, Randy Death (1 Corinthians 15:54) Sacrificium
Stevenson, Tarun Never Be Another You Psalms For The Broken
Trouble Pray For The Dead The Skull
Vika and Linda Grandpa’s Song Princess Tabu
DEPRESSION
Kesler, Marianne The Climb Long Road Home
DISCIPLESHIP – FOLLOWING JESUS / SANCTIFICATION – LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
ApologetiX Every Crown Has Its Thorns Spoofernatural
Walk His Way Jesus Christ Morningstar
Big Tent Revival What Would Jesus Do? WWJD
Camp, Steve Consider The Cost Consider The Cost
Follow Me Consider The Cost
De Garmo & Key Carry The Cross To Extremes
Grace, Steve Follow Follow
Meece, David Count The Cost Count The Cost & Odyssey
Norman, Larry: I Am A Servant In Another Land
Petra Disciple More Power To Ya
Pocket Change I Have Decided HM Sampler May/Jun 98
P.O.D. Follow Me The Fundamental Elements Of Southtown
Wenzel, Scott I Will Follow Film At Eleven
DIVINITY OF CHRIST
ApologetiX Ballad Of Jesus & Yahweh Keep The Change
John 1:1 Jesus Christ Morningstar
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Kesler, Marianne Always
Vega, Suzanne Luka Solitude Standing
DREAMS / VISIONS
Grace, Steve Big Dreams Children Of The Western World
Smith, Michael W. I Still Have The Dream This Is Your Time
DRUG & ALCOHOL ABUSE/ADDICTION
Barren Cross State Of Control State Of Control
Believer Stop The Madness Sanity Obscure
Bowie, David Ashes To Ashes Scary Monsters
Bride Whiskey Seed Live To Die
Dylan, Bob Shot Of Love Shot Of Love
Grace, Steve To The Dealer Children Of The Western World
Just Jinger Sugarman All Comes Round (great version of the Rodriguez song)
Knott, Mike Rockstars On H Strip Cycle
Mad At The World Marshmallow Land Seasons Of Love
Promised Land (The Deception Of Drugs) Seasons Of Love
Rodriguez Sugar Man Cold Fact
Rose, Randy Marshmallow Land Sacrificium
Sometime Sunday Needle Drain
U2 Running To Stand Still The Joshua Tree
Vengeance Rising Can’t Get Out Once Dead
Young, Neil The Needle And The Damage Done Harvest
EASTER/CHRIST’S RESURRECTION
ApologetiX Didn’t Just Die Jesus Christ Morningstar
Died And Rose Jesus Christ Morningstar
I Have To Die First Jesus Christ Morningstar
You May Be Bright Jesus Christ Morningstar (evidence for the resurrection)
Bloodgood The Messiah Detonation
Card, Michael Love Crucified Arose Scribbling In The Sand: The Best Of Michael Card - Live
Carman The Champion The Champion
Clawson, Cynthia (& Choir) I Know That My Redeemer Liveth Handel’s Young Messiah (various)
Disciple Easter Bunny HM Sampler Nov/Dec 97
Green, Keith Easter Song For Him Who Has Ears To Hear (also performed by Second Chapter Of Acts)
The Victor No Compromise
Heard, Mark My Redeemer Lives At The Foot Of The Cross & High Noon
Key, Dana Mary Part Of The Mystery
Mortification Journey Of Reconciliation Mortification
Petra He Came, He Saw, He Conquered This Means War!
Talbot, John Michael He Is Risen John Michael Talbot
Troccoli, Kathy That’s How Much Sounds Of Heaven
END TIMES / LAST DAY(S) / DAY OF JUDGEMENT / ESCHATOLOGY
ApologetiX Armageddon Valley Someday Biblical Graffiti
Bad Dude Risin’ Radical History Tour
Casket Place Ticked
Judgment Gets Passed Radical History Tour
Life In The Last Days Radical History Tour
Midnight Hour Pt.2 Radical History Tour
Revelation Man Biblical Graffiti
De Garmo & Key Judgment Day To Extremes
Green, Keith The Sheep And The Goats The Keith Green Collection
Kesler, Marianne Very Last Train From The Heart
Norman, Larry Six Sixty Six In Another Land
Petra Shakin’ The House Back To The Street