Gospel by Another Name

I haven’t consistently listened to gospel music since Yolanda Adams released Day by Day, which I keep in my arsenal (aka car’s glove compartment) ready to go for stressful, traffic—laden days. Outside of this one and Kirk Franklin’s Nu Nation Project, gospel for me has always been inconsistent and difficult to find. The sounds of traditional gospel that were driven by drums, such as Lashun Pace’s "I Know I’ve Been Changed", speak to my old soul but 1) I don’t know the names of most of them, and 2) What’s the point in listening to the same sound over and over? I’m new to Vocal, but one thing you will come to learn as you read my content is that I need variety in my music the way fish need water.

As with most things, it seems, when I stopped searching for gospel it found me, but under another name. One definition of gospel, provided by Oxford Languages, reads “the teaching or revelation of Christ.” This seems to be the most commonly accepted definition. However, I resonate more strongly with the etymological definition, which is simply "good news”.

Think about what happens when we receive good news. Some of us jump for joy, some of us cry tears of joy, and some of us do nothing, but we all feel the same type of emotions: relief, excitement, happiness (aka light emotions). You feel it in your being, and it speaks to you and changes you for the better, even if only for a moment.

The songs listed below do that for me. They are some of my favorite gospels, but you won’t find them on any gospel stations. A summary of what’s in the Bible put to music doesn’t always speak to me—unless it’s the two albums mentioned above—but these songs do. I hope you enjoy this list, but even if you don’t, I hope that this broader definition of gospel helps you along your own spiritual journey. So now, in no particular order:

1. Mereba—Get Free

When I first discovered this song in late 2019, I knew I had uncovered a gem. Granted, thousands of people were already aware of Mereba, but let me Christopher Columbus this for a moment. I lost my dad earlier in 2019 and was struggling to give a damn about my corporate customer service job. He was only 49, and realizing how much time I may or may not have weighed on me heavily. The three days of bereavement were like a punch in the face, and long story short, I just knew this couldn’t be it. Surely I wasn’t put on this planet just to work, pay bills and ask for permission to grieve (and only for a few days at that). But I had seen multiple people go through this very same thing without complaint, so I figured I was just being a brat.

That is, until I heard the 2-minute masterpiece that is “Get Free”. The song is featured on Mereba’s album The Jungle Is The Only Way Out (also a fitting title for my situation at the time). “Not trying to get by, I’m trying to get free,” is the main line in the song, and it spoke to me so much that I wept on a day I thought I was doing just fine. Afterwards I felt relieved. Mereba validated my emotions and put them into words beautifully. Because working a job that expected me to “speak with a smile in my voice” when all I wanted to do was break down and hide away left me feeling anything but free.

2. Jhene Aiko—Trigger Protection Mantra

I am a huge fan of meditation, but I think even if you aren’t, “Trigger Protection Mantra” would bring you peace. I mean, it got the name for a reason. Especially in these days of quarantine and the “new normal” (whatever that is), I know anxiety is high. There are stresses everywhere as the greedy remain such and ask that we just thug it out. Jhene, in my opinion, has one of the most calming voices out there. That combined with her chanting “You are protected” is one of the best gifts you can give yourself after a high stress week, day, or hour. This one was not part of an album but can be found on YouTube.

3. Beyonce—Bigger

Technically released in 2019 as part of The Lion King: The Gift, “Bigger” hit a lot different when I became addicted to it in 2020. Here I was, without my dad, thinking there was no way ’20 could be worse than ‘19, but lo and behold. I honestly had it better than most; I was able to work from home with the same pay and hours, and although I tried to be grateful most days, I still recognized the absurdity of it all. “Bigger” was and is a much-needed reminder that we are all “part of something way bigger”. Though none of us may know what it is or what it looks like, there’s a design to this fabric. This song is my reminder when I start feeling like nothing I do or say matters. After all, if one thread unravels, it puts the entire quilt--or pair of jeans, in my case--at risk.

4. Lauryn Hill—Selah

This peaceful acoustic was hidden inside the movie Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood (which I highly recommend watching by the way). When I first heard it, I thought "Miss Lauryn Hill and a guitar; what could be more relaxing?" Well, a lot of things. The first time I really paid attention to the words—which was only last year—it became less relaxing and much more insightful.

In the song, Lauryn Hill basically describes a multitude of mistakes she has made and self-harming behaviors she has perpetrated. In a last ditch effort, she implores, “I need you to save me from myself. Please save me from myself.” As a person who likes liquor (the taste as well as the effect) I can relate. Before even really listening to the lyrics, I had journaled something similar, begging for guidance. As I go slowly through my journey, this song always strikes a cord for me, reminding me of where I’ve been and how far I have come.

5. Kanye West—Use This Gospel

This song fits the commonly accepted definition of gospel more than any other on this list, but you probably still won’t hear it on a gospel station. Over the slow yet persistent and driving beat (if you can call it that), the words raise God on high, depict the constant war between good and evil, and beg forgiveness for past transgressions. This is my go-to when I'm in a more reflective, proud mood. The perfect mix of humility and power, to ride to or just vibe to, I highly recommend it for any hip-hop lover.