Reading Time: 20 min read

12 Jaw-Dropping JESUS Songs (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Luis Quintero from Pexels; Gordon Johnson from Pixabay; from Unsplash]12 Jaw-Dropping JESUS Songs features songs by Brandon Lake & Lainey Wilson, Frankie Grande, Gloria Spencer, Jonah Kagen, and The Boot Scootin’ Sissies.

“I found a friend / Who hangs with the misfits, listens, forgives, then forgives again,”
Brandon Lake & Lainey Wilson sing, and continue, “Can’t believe I was missin’ out / On the Jesus I know now.” The keyword: JESUS 👏. Jonah Kagen had something to say about J-E-S-U-S as well: “Why are we talking about Jesus? / Baby, that never helps.” Um… we might need some more context there, Jonah 😳! Frankie Grande also has something to say about the Son of God: “All eyes in the club on Glitter Jesus / Throw stacks and drugs on Glitter Jesus / Thigh highs and a strap-on, Glitter Jesus / All eyes in the club on Glitter Jesus.” Oops… I was greatly mistaken… I have lots of forgiveness to ask for, at least for two out of the three of these songs 👀.

Whether secular as hell or filled with heavenly aspirations, the 12 ‘Jesus’ songs that appear on 12 Jaw-Dropping JESUS Songs are indeed jaw-dropping. Some are perfectly fitting for the church 🙌.  Others have the club and non-church-related things in mind 😈. 12 Jaw-Dropping JESUS Songs features songs by Brandon Lake & Lainey Wilson, Frankie Grande, Gloria Spencer, Jonah Kagen, and The Boot Scootin’ Sissies. So, without further ado, Bibles ✞ ready… Um, you know what? You won’t need them more often than not for this intriguing affair!


~ Table of Contents ~

1. Jonah Kagen, “Talkin’ About Jesus”

Jonah Kagen, Talkin’ About Jesus [📷: Arista Records]

2. Petra Kaye, “Oh It Is Jesus (Live)

Petra Kaye, Sing Praises Live [📷: Danx440 Entertainment]

3. Brandon Lake & Lainey Wilson, “The Jesus I Know Now”

Brandon Lake & Lainey Wilson, The Jesus I Know Now [📷: Provident Label Group LLC]

4. Frankie Grande, “Glitter Jesus”

Frankie Grande, Hotel Rock Bottom (Deluxe) [📷: Casablanca / UMG Recordings, Inc.]

5. Gloria Spencer, “I Wanna Go (Where Jesus Is)”

Gloria Spencer, I Got It [📷: Perfect Gospel Series]

6. Cloudy June, “if Jesus saw what we did last night”

Cloudy June, if jesus saw what we did last night [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Cloudy June]

7. The Boot Scootin’ Sissies, “Jesus, Take the Lube”

The Boot Scootin’ Sissies, Balls Deep in the Bible Belt [📷: DistroKid]

8. Geordie Kieffer, “Jesus Van”

Geordie Kieffer, Jesus Van [📷: +1]

9. Charity Gayle, “Thank You Jesus for the Blood”

Charity Gayle, Endless Praise [📷: Charity Gayle / The Fuel Music]

10. Shirley Caesar & Michelle Williams, “Steal Away to Jesus”

Shirley Caesar, Hymns [📷: Word Entertainment]

11. Corporate Avenger, “Jesus Christ Homosexual”

Corporate Avenger, Freedom Is A State Of Mind [📷: KOCH]

12. The Edwin Hawkins Singers, “Jesus, Lover of My Soul”

The Edwin Hawkins Singers, Let Us Go Into The House Of The Lord [📷: Sony Music Entertainment]

 


1. Jonah Kagen, “Talkin’ About Jesus”

“Talkin’ About Jesus” » Arista Records » 2026

Jonah Kagen, Talkin’ About Jesus [📷: Arista Records]

“But I know love should feel good, and I know you feel good.”
Georgia singer-songwriter Jonah Kagen’s music goes hard, in an alternative, Americana, and folky kind of way.  On “Talkin’ About Jesus”, Kagen takes us to church – hallelujah! No, it’s not because he’s praising Jesus, but because of the top-notch vocal performance and the descriptive, honest songwriting.  Kagen wrote and produced the impressive single himself.

“Talkin’ About Jesus” commences with an enigmatic, intense drone. With the entrance of sustained chords, the rhythm increases. Eventually, it settles into an alternative record. The star of the show is Kagen, who impresses with his expressive, gritty vocals.  The coarse nature of his vocals is striking.  Something else that is striking is the honesty of the songwriting, exemplified by the excerpted lyrics from the first verse.  Jonah seems to fancy this woman… “You look so nice in this light / Yeah, you got mountains in your eyes with a sunset,” he sings in the second verse, and continues, “Yeah, God painted that / What I would give to see you again, just to paint you like a work of art.” Oh, snap! There are plenty of spiritual references, including in the crème de la crème, the chorus. The chorus is melodious and memorable including a prominent f-bomb!

“Why are we talking about Jesus?

Baby, that never helps

Yeah, love, we’re all sinners, daddy’s going to hell

I got this love in me and no one to tell

God, just fuckin’ kiss me, I don’t want no one else

I don’t want no one else.”

Why is it that holy fuck feels appropriate here? Anyway, “Talkin’ About Jesus” probably should be avoided like the plague… in church that is! But, Jonah Kagen wows, sinful ways and all! This Georgia boy has got it!

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2. Petra Kaye, “Oh It Is Jesus (Live)”

Sing Praises (Live) » Danx440 Entertainment » 2022

Petra Kaye, Sing Praises Live [📷: Danx440 Entertainment]

“Oh, it is Jesus / Yes, it is Jesus / It’s Jesus in my soul.”
Those powerful lyrics of praise were penned by a legendary gospel musician: Andraé Crouch (1942 – 2015).  As a standard, particularly in black churches, many soloists and choirs have covered it. One special rendition was performed by the talented, big-voiced Petra Kaye. “Oh It Is Jesus (Live)” is the fifth track from Kaye’s 2022 live album, Sing Praises (Live).

In Kaye’s hands, “Oh It Is Jesus (Live)” maintains a traditional, church sound that still sounds fresh in the 2020s. The band is 🔒 in.  Giving all the honor and glory to God, Petra delivers expressive, gritty, and ultra-soulful lead vocals. What stands out about her pipes is the depth and the huskiness, a quality I adore in female vocalists. Kaye’s ad-libs are everything.  It sounds as if she puts her all – her heart and soul – into every note.  Anointed background vocals support her, carrying the familiar refrain:

“Oh, it is Jesus

Yes, it is Jesus

It’s Jesus in my soul

For I have touched the hem of his garment

And his blood

Has made me whole.”

Beyond leading the unforgettable refrain, Kaye excels in performing the verse.  After doing everything she could herself to no avail, she sought Jesus: “Then I heard Jesus, he was passing by / Then I decided, to give Him a try.” Even in this old-school rendition, Kaye and company take some risks.  The primary example is the adventurous harmonic progression and extended vamp on “For I have touched the…” Fittingly, Petra gives a dramatic ending, affirming “And his blood / Has made me whole.” No extensive analysis or commentary is necessary regarding  “Oh It Is Jesus (Live)”.  This brilliant live recording speaks for itself.  Petra Kaye DID THAT!

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3. Brandon Lake & Lainey Wilson, “The Jesus I Know Now”

The Jesus I Know Now” » Provident Label Group LLC » 2026

Brandon Lake & Lainey Wilson, The Jesus I Know Now [📷: Provident Label Group LLC]

“Yeah, I thought I knew Him / ‘Til I met Him for myself.”
Let those introspective, prudent, and thought-provoking lyrics from Brandon Lake sink in. The Grammy-winning Contemporary Christian musician collaborates with Grammy-winning country singer-songwriter Lainey Wilson on the powerful, inspirational single The Jesus I Know Now. “The Jesus I Know Now” was written by Lake, Wilson, Emily Weisband, and Luke Laird. Jacob Sooter and Hank Bentley produced it.

Given the personnel, it shouldn’t be shocking that “The Jesus I Know Now” has a country-tinged sound and vibe. Brandon Lake has a knack for eclecticism, mixing genres seamlessly within the Christian music space. As for Lainey Wilson, she is firmly planted in country music; therefore, she’s in her wheelhouse.  Both sing exceptionally well – we buy what they are selling.  Brandon takes the reins initially, performing the first verse. Before the lines excerpted earlier, he asserts, “I was told He would save me / If I showed up to church and I shut my mouth.” Simple and true, but technically, there’s more to it, which Lake also states. Lainey appears for the first time, joining in on select lines: “If I smoked, if I drank, if I cussed, I’d think / I was on a long black train to Hell.” Salvation is a key theme. Their roles are reversed in the second verse, where Wilson leads the charge (“Yeah, I’m learnin’ He knows me / Every hair on my head, every story behind my scars”). Once more, there are select lines with both singing and a few lyrics where Lake leads.  Where the bread is buttered is when both artists perform the centerpiece, the chorus:

“But the Jesus I know now

Ain’t shakin’ a fist, ain’t raisin’ a brow

Yeah, the Jesus I know now

Ain’t runnin’ away from a party crowd

I found a friend

Who hangs with the misfits, listens, forgives, then forgives again

Can’t believe I was missin’ out

On the Jesus I know now.”

There is also a post-chorus, performed solely by Lake the first time, with both performing it the second time (separately).  Lainey performs the bridge alone (“Top of the world with an empty heart / And nowhere left to go / But back into the arms…”), leading into the final chorus and outro. Here, again, the emphasis is on an authentic, sincere relationship with Jesus. Ultimately, The Jesus I Know Now is a powerful, thoughtful, and uplifting inspirational duet by Brandon Lake and Lainey Wilson.  The song emphasizes the awesomeness of J-E-S-U-S above everything else, a real relationship.

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4. Frankie Grande, “Glitter Jesus”

Hotel Rock Bottom » Casablanca / UMG Recordings, Inc. » 2025

Frankie Grande, Hotel Rock Bottom (Deluxe) [📷: Casablanca / UMG Recordings, Inc.]

“I will reflect all the light from the shine of my skin / So you can fuck who you want and get your glam on.”
Oh, snap, Frankie Grande! Mr. Grande is a character… understatement.  Flamboyant and unapologetic, he is one-of-a-kind, something he confirms on his 2025 debut album, Hotel Rock Bottom.  The song at hand, “Glitter Jesus”, is the tenth track. Unsurprisingly, it is fierce and blasphemous to the nth degree. “With the body of techno / With the body of disco,” he asserts in the pre-chorus, concluding, “With the body of Glitter Jesus.”  I mean, in the Bible, in Exodus 20, it clearly states thou shalt have no other gods before me, and yet, here is Glitter Jesus, the god of the gay club.  #Slay 💅 🤭.

“Glitter Jesus” matches its bold title by being turnt up from the get-go. It features sleek, electronic production from Slush Puppy that is chock-full of synths. The opening synth riff is irresistible to the nth degree. You won’t be able to get it unstuck from your head as much as you try! Tuneful! Of course, our flamboyant Frankie serves up a performance that is fierce to the nth degree, characterized by breathy vocals, rhythmic melodies, and sheer, unfettered naughtiness. Jesus, I mean, Glitter Jesus, states, all-knowingly, in the second verse, “I will absorb all the hate, go get your gay on / Let it bear my faults, let them all scream my name / I will lay down my life so you can sin on.” Let the gay club say, AMEN, AMEN, AMEN 🌈! The centerpiece of the brief but intriguing “Glitter Jesus” is the chorus, where the focus is on our gay lord and savior… 😬 Let me repent in advance:

“All eyes in the club on Glitter Jesus

Throw stacks and drugs on Glitter Jesus

Thigh highs and a strap-on, Glitter Jesus

All eyes in the club on Glitter Jesus.”

Ooh-wee, Frankie!

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5. Gloria Spencer, “I Wanna Go (Where Jesus Is)”

I Got It » Perfect Gospel Series » 2007

Gloria Spencer, I Got It [📷: Perfect Gospel Series]

“I wanna go (Oh, Lord) / Where Jesus is (Thank God) / I wanna go (My Lord) / Where Jesus is.”
Amen! Hallelujah! Gloria Spencer (1937 – 1976) should be remembered for her remarkable instrument; she had the voice of an angel. She could also play the piano. Spencer was tailor-made for black gospel music given her skills.  However, it’s not that simple.  The short-lived singer sadly lived to be only 39 years old in 1976.  She’d been extremely obese throughout her entire life thanks to a thyroid condition.  When she died, she weighed just shy of 800 pounds.  During her career, she was marked as the World’s Largest Gospel Singer.  That’s not my cup of tea regarding marketing 😡, but it gained her attention.  Rather than focus on Spencer’s size, I’m more focused on her music, which deserves the most attention and far more recognition.  “I Wanna Go (Where Jesus Is)” is the moving opener from her 1972 debut album, Gloria’s Views of Glory. In 2007, when the album was rereleased, it was renamed I Got It.

There is a lot to love about “I Wanna Go (Where Jesus Is).”  From the get-go, this is a feel-good, funky gospel cut.  The percussion (conga drums) sets the tone.  Soon enough, the rest of the band gets into the mix, with drums, bass, keys, and eventually guitar, organ, and horns.  This is gospel, but it also embodies the R&B, funk, and soul of the era. Gloria Spencer proves herself to be a dynamic vocalist.  From the first note she sings, she’s locked in, sharing her desires to live right, with a heavenward mindset. She brings the tuneful melodies and prudent lyrics to life like a champ.  Furthermore, her ad-libs are incredibly impressive, oozing with soul and having church written all over them.  “No more crying there (Good Lordy) / Where Jesus is,” she testifies. Adding to the goodness of her own anointed pipes, Spencer is supported by awesome background vocalists, who take us to church as well!  One of the best moments is the vamping section, where Spencer is on autopilot – she eats and leaves no crumbs, supported by her faithful choir.  Sadly, Gloria Spencer was short-lived and left us with only two albums.  Regardless, a record like “I Wanna Go (Where Jesus Is)” endures – its meaningful and powerful message never grows stale.

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6. Cloudy June, “if Jesus saw what we did last night”

“If Jesus saw what we did last night” » Cloudy June » 2025

Cloudy June, if jesus saw what we did last night [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Cloudy June]

“If Jesus saw what we did last night…”
Uh-oh… this sounds sketchy, Cloudy June.  The feminist and queer musician (she identifies as bisexual) continues singing in the chorus of “If Jesus saw what we did last night”, “He’d be comin’ back to life.” Holy shit! She is referencing the resurrection of Jesus, of course. The other miracle cited? “He’d turn water into wine.” Spirituality is prevalent throughout “If Jesus saw what we did last night”, though the most devout and pious may cry foul.  I doubt Cloudy June cares.  The Berlin singer wrote “Jesus” alongside Cy and Maarten Paul. Philip Strand and Paul produced it.

Sex is the modus operandi of “If Jesus saw what we did last night.” No shit, Sherlock! “When you touch me there, it’s a miracle / Biblical affair,” Cloudy June sings in the first verse. Damn! In the second verse, she asserts, “[I] Can’t escape the feelin’ it’s physical / You’re my prophecy, baby.” Yep, that is a big, heaping dose of blasphemy! In the chorus, she describes their body as holy, claiming, “I’m floatin’ like an angel / You brought me down to my knees.” Amen… I mean, SACRILEDGE!  Ultimately, “If Jesus saw what we did last night” is fun and stirs the pot. Cloudy June sings beautifully, expressing her sufficiently and unapologetically expressing her desires. Sex-positive, she speaks to being unashamed to be with who you choose and ‘do’ what you choose.  Backed by a dark, minor key, sleekly produced backdrop, “Jesus” sounds celestial… in a dark, twisted way.

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7. The Boot Scootin’ Sissies, “Jesus, Take the Lube”

Balls Deep in the Bible Belt » DistroKid » 2025

The Boot Scootin’ Sissies, Balls Deep in the Bible Belt [📷: DistroKid]

“I was sittin’ in traffic, hard as a rock / Dashboard shakin’ to the beat of my cock…”
😳 😳 😳… I’d say WE LISTEN, AND WE DON’T JUDGE, BUT we are definitely judging here! “I looked to the skies and said, ‘Lord, I’m weak’ / With a bottle full of Jergens and a mind full of freak / The devil’s in my pants and I can’t break through.” Yep, that sounds about right… AI-created country band, The Boot Scootin’ Sissies is something else.  That’s an understatement! The song at hand, “Jesus, Take the Lube”, is the fourth track from The Boot Scootin’ Sissies’ gay country album, Balls Deep in the Bible Belt. Lead guitarist Willie Stroker (did you catch that last name 😏), and The Boot Scootin’ Sissies penned this queer joint while Randy Bottoms produced it.  In the lyric video caption, The Boot Scootin’ Sissies provide the backstory on “Jesus, Take The Lube,” and it is one for the ages.  It should come as no surprise that it involves masturbation… An excerpt from the masturbatory commentary:

Seconds later, with sweat pouring and AM gospel blaring, he [Willie Stroker] shouted “Jesus, take the lube!” and nearly rear-ended a Subaru full of youth pastors. He says he blacked out during climax and came to writing lyrics in the fog on his own windshield. The rest of the band helped shape the verses, but the soul of the song, the desperation, the shame, the slippery grace, belongs entirely to Willie.

God damn, I mean, God bless 🙏!

It goes without saying that most country songs don’t tackle choking the chicken.  There are non-AI exceptions, of course, but masturbation is rare in country music.  But, it’s front and center with The Boot Scootin’ Sissies.  The theme and lyrics are surprising, but the sound of the record is familiar for country music: the twang, guitars, fiddle, etc.  Still, it’s the narrative that takes the cake.  The chorus is the crowning achievement, in all of its self-pleasuring glory… or hell:

“Jesus, take the lube

I’m two strokes from hell

My balls are achin’, Lord, I’m shakin’

You know this grip too well

If I bust through these Wrangler jeans

Let it baptize the dash and set me clean.” 

My God, today! There is a variation, where our horny protagonist is “‘bout to blow / Got nut on my jeans and fog on the window.” Of course, it doesn’t end with the chorus.  While he’s jerking it in the car, he asserts, “Had my eyes rolled back / Right hand in place / Then I saw Jesus in the License Plate.” A divine vision? Nope, more like WWJD – What would Jesus do?  Of course, he makes it clear that the acronym on the license plate was “Starin’ straight at my meat.”  Jesus! Later, there may be divine intervention, though I have some doubts: “The engine stalled / My speakers blew, / And I swore I heard Moan, too.” Plus, he goes on to sing about nutting, a “jizz-stained breeze,” his “junk on his knees,” and “smelling his own prayer.” The big takeaway from “Jesus, Take the Lube” is never underestimate the power of man, lust, and his junk. This song, of course, should be taken with a grain of salt.  Oh, and it shouldn’t be played anywhere near the workplace…

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8. Geordie Kieffer, “Jesus Van”

Jesus Van” » +1 » 2024

Geordie Kieffer, Jesus Van [📷: +1]

“I got Jesus in the back of my van.”
Amen, Geordie Kieffer… I think… I mean, Jesus is everywhere – all-powerful and omniscient – but the bisexual musician thinks more with his pants than about his soul in his single, “Jesus Van”. The most devout Christians would not only consider “Jesus Van” to be sexually charged, but also blasphemous.  There are ample spiritual references, but, how sincere is the ‘Agro pop’ star? Even if it is a sinful listen, the instrumental backdrop is sweet with its electronic sounds and rock elements.  As the excerpted lyrics suggest, Geordie has a big personality.  He sings marvelous, infusing the lyrics with no shortage of eyebrow-raising, innuendo-laden moments.  At the top, Kieffer sings, “Hey pretty babe wanna dance the line / With them cowboy dudes and them southern dimes / I got shagged on the floor of my pony express / Gun on the dash and a cross on my chest.” He may have a cross ✝️, but it also seems he enjoyed some S-E-X. He doesn’t lie when he says, “There’s a wild congregation in this holy mobile / So get your ass in the wagon that my friend take the wheel.” Holy, huh? It’s giving more like ‘holy fuck’ than anything else. Sex is the modus operandi. It’s Kieffer’s gospel: “Can a man move his body like he’s blessed and possessed / I’m just preaching the gospel of foreplay and sex.” Continuing to be ‘religious,’ he asserts he’s a priest and the prophet, with his apostles near… So, he’s Jesus? Near the end, he informs us, “I got the power of the spirit in the palm of my hand / But I hate to tell ya baby you ain’t coming with me.” Why? “I got Jesus in the back of my van.” It won’t save your soul, but “Jesus Van” is terrific.

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9. Charity Gayle, “Thank You Jesus for the Blood”

Endless Praise » Charity Gayle / The Fuel Music » 2021

Charity Gayle, Endless Praise [📷: Charity Gayle / The Fuel Music]

“I was a wretch / I remember who I was / I was lost, I was blind / I was running out of time,”
Charity Gayle sings in the first verse of the uplifting, CCM song, “Thank You Jesus for the Blood”. “Thank You Jesus for the Blood” is the third track on Gayle’s 2021 album, Endless Praise.  She penned it with Bryan McCleery, David Gentiles, Ryan Kennedy, and Steven Musso. Kyle Lee produced. In the first verse, she adds, “But from the far side of the chasm / You held me in Your sight.” That You, of course, was J-E-S-U-S 🙌.

Gayle goes on to laud and magnify His holy name.  In the second verse, she sings with conviction, “And there, at the cross / You paid the debt I owed / Broke my chains, freed my soul / For the first time, I had hope.” AMEN 🙏! In the third verse, she expounds on the sacrifice made by Jesus. It is so impactful that Charity proclaims, “For I have been transformed / By the blood of the Lamb.” In the chorus, she gives all the praise and glory to Him, who “saved my life / Brought me from the darkness / Into glorious light.” All the while, Charity sings beautifully and powerfully.  She’s supported by a reverent backdrop filled with spiritual vibes.  There are keys, a warm organ, rhythm guitars, and percussion. In the second chorus, background vocals add to the power, making “Thank You Jesus for the Blood” more dynamic.  The bridge also ups the ante, with Charity showing off the sheer power of her pipes, touting “the wonder-working power / Of the blood.”  This song is the perfect way to say thank you 👏 🙌!

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10. Shirley Caesar & Michelle Williams, “Steal Away to Jesus”

Hymns » Word Entertainment » 2002

Shirley Caesar, Hymns [📷: Word Entertainment]

“Steal away (Steal away) / Steal away home (I haven’t got long) / I haven’t got long (To say here) / To stay here.”
In 2001, legendary gospel musician Shirley Caesar and Grammy-winning Destiny’s Child standout, Michelle Williams, joined forces for a marvelous rendition of “Steal Away to Jesus”.  These two anointed ladies spice up this traditional African American spiritual. “Steal Away” is the second track on Caesar’s 2001 album, Hymns, and the ninth track from Williams’ debut gospel album, Heart to Yours. “Steal Away” features a beautiful arrangement and production by Caesar, Bubba Smith, and Michael E. Mathis. With instrumentation and sounds including keys, organ, bass, guitar, drums, horns, and choir, it is sweet, spiritual music to the ears!

Caesar and the choir are the first voices heard, singing the chorus, excerpted earlier. Williams enters the mix during the second iteration of the chorus with a marvelous run showcasing her distinct voice. During the Destiny’s Child years, Williams had a unique voice that contrasted with Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland. Caesar sings the first verse, performing the call, with the choir responding: “My Lord, my Lord, he calls me (Calls me) / He calls me by the thunder (Thunder) / The trumpet sounds way down in my sanctified soul / I haven’t got long to stay here.” Amen! Williams sings the second verse, contrasting Caesar with her smoother pipes: “Green trees are bending (Are bending) / Sinners stand a-trembling (A-trembling) / The trumpet sounds within my soul / I haven’t got long to stay here.” Hallelujah! Williams kills it with her ad-libs during the chorus following the first two verses.  She and Caesar split duties in the third and final verse, following up with a bridge that is unique to this contemporary rendition (“It’s gonna be over after a while / We won’t have to cry no more”).  Approaching 25 years after releasing “Steal Away to Jesus”, this collaboration between Caesar and Williams remains epic.  The musical lift is substantial 💪!

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11. Corporate Avenger, “Jesus Christ Homosexual”

Freedom Is A State Of Mind » KOCH » 2001

Corporate Avenger, Freedom Is A State Of Mind [📷: KOCH]

“Not saying that it’s good / Not saying that it’s right / But the Virgin Mary might have been a hermaphrodite.”
😳 Yep, nu-metal/rap-rock band Corporate Avenger starts “Jesus Christ Homosexual” off with a controversial-assed, surely sacrilegious bang.  Beyond the song title itself, the band uses an outdated and offensive term referencing an intersex person. Oops 😬! Furthermore, they speculate, in the intro of the tenth track of Freedom Is A State Of Mind, that Mary, Jesus’ mother, might be intersex 👀.  That assertion has been explored, but most Christians, in particular, aren’t a fan of even considering such when it comes to Mother Mary. Anytime somebody notable, particularly biblical, is considered to be other in some way, it’s a hairy situation. After they motherfuckin’ go (their motherfuckin’ words, not mine), Corporate Avenger transforms a child’s mealtime prayer into something, dare I say, sus: “God is good, God is great / I think that he might be gay.” Oh, this is damnable!

“Jesus Christ Homosexual” should be taken with a grain of salt. Even with associating God as being gay 😬, the band does make a relevant point. “If Jesus Christ was God and God created all / Then Jesus Christ created the homosexual / There might be a little fag in us all!”  The choice of words, particularly the f-slur, is questionable, but far too often, homosexuality is associated with an abomination. But God did create everything, correct? Right, or so The Bible says. The second verse continues to explore the gay angle, with Corporate Avenger highlighting the gay hate purported by some Christians. “He made us in His image,” they sing, and add, “Now listen what I say / Then it’s a possibility that Jesus Christ was gay.” Outlandish? Yes, but there is a worthwhile discussion piece beyond Jesus Christ’s sexuality… It feels strange to write that statement…  Playing devil’s advocate 😈, Corporate Avenger does seem to be careful in phrasing certain things, making sure they are hypothetical.  Still, when a song is titled “Jesus Christ Homosexual”, the controversy is automatic – built in – without performing one note.  To reiterate, take this 2000s song with a grain of salt.

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12. The Edwin Hawkins Singers, “Jesus, Lover of My Soul”

Let Us Go Into The House Of The Lord » Sony Music Entertainment » 1968

The Edwin Hawkins Singers, Let Us Go Into The House Of The Lord [📷: Sony Music Entertainment]

“Jesus, lover of my soul / Let me to Thy bosom fly.”
Those lyrics hail from an old, beloved hymn by Charles Wesley. The late, great Edwin Hawkins (1943 – 2018) and The Edwin Hawkins Singers make “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” sound brand-new and completely original. The sound might contrast with the original penned by Wesley, but the powerful nature of the hymn is unchanged in the hands of The Edwin Hawkins Singers. “Jesus” is the second track from Let Us Go Into The House Of The Lord released in 1968.

From the jump, “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” is high-energy, set in the bright key of D-flat major.  D-flat is an awesome key for gospel music, by the way.  Piano, drums and the tambourine are key instruments within the musical accompaniment. The piano playing is incredibly bluesy. During the verses, The Edwin Hawkins Singers show off a mix of show choir and classical choral sensibility. They masterfully deliver Wesley’s reverent and thoughtful lyrics. In the first verse, they continue singing, “While the nearer waters roll / While the tempest still is high.” In the second verse, they tout, “Plenteous grace from Thee is found / Grace to cover all my sin / Let the healing streams abound / Make and keep me pure within.” Amen!  The chorus is where the choir is its most dynamic:

“My Savior, hide, Savior, hide

Till the storm of life is past

Safe into the heaven’s guide

And receive my soul at last

And receive my soul at last.”

As epic as the chorus is, the bridge may be the section to beat. Vamping, the choir sings in four parts.  It begins with the basses, setting the foundation with “Jesus is the lover of my soul.”  From there, the tenors, then altos, and finally, the sopranos assert powerfully, in harmony,  “He’s a lover, of my soul.”  At the end of the brief outro, the final chord, performed on the word “soul” is stunning.  Rather than end on a standard D-flat major chord, the choir surprises us with a super cool ‘jazz’ chord.  Years after its release, “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” in the hands of The Edwards Hawkins Singers sounds fresh!

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12 Jaw-Dropping JESUS Songs (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Arista Records, Casablanca, Charity Gayle, Cloudy June, Danx440 Entertainment, DistroKid, KOCH, Perfect Gospel Series, Provident Label Group LLC, Sony Music Entertainment, The Fuel Music, UMG Recordings, Inc., Word Entertainment, +1; Luis Quintero from Pexels; Gordon Johnson from Pixabay; from Unsplash]

 

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the musical hype

The Musical Hype (he/him) has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music (music education and music theory/composition, respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and freelance music blogger. Music and writing are two of the most important parts of his life.

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