Gospel Song Genre

By Michael I. Crawford
UWRT 1101-002
January 24, 2015

Gospel songs and specifically gospel song lyrics can be widely misunderstood. When
people hear the word Gospel it causes them to have ideas already as to what they will hear and
what it will sound like. Gospel has taken on so n many different forms over the years that to
simply try to categorize it based on the word Gospel is just simply wrong based on todays
understanding. People have their ideas of what gospel music is today and what many consider to

Commented [E1]: Long sentence; Maybe try to condense into

more concise statement

be gospel songs actually are not.

This topic interested me as generations have words that had one meaning and caused
them to have a completely different meaning. Sincee(ignore this markup) this has been
happening we need to have a clearer understanding of what Gospel songs were and what they are
today. This is another case of people having one idea based on what the word originally meant
as to how it is used and the meaning of it today.
Gospel songs are also known by other names or titles. Gospel in itself denotes one
particular type of music and is classified by many names. Gospel music is a genre of mostly
American music characterized by dominant vocals (often with strong use of harmony) drawn
from Christian worship and often featuring Christian evangelical lyrics. (Gospel Music - New
World Encyclopedia, 2013) What many people would list under a broad topic of Gospel
Music is actually classified as many other things today. Now Christian music is found in so
many different styles it is the only genre of music that is defined by its lyrical content. (Jones,
n.d.) Gospel music has taken on many different forms and faces over the years that the generic
topic of gospel is no longer adequate for much of what is heard.
What makes a song Christian is simply the lyrics. The content of what is sung must be
congruent with the principals of God and His Holy Word. (Hill, 2012) We strive to find ways
of being able to share our faith or our belief with others without offending them and without

Commented [E2]: Can you provide an example of people

mistaking the definition of Gospel Songs?

turning them off. Music is a form that seems to be able to reach and touch so many that would
not typically come into a church setting. People will listen to various types of music both
knowingly and unknowingly as they go throughout their day. We hear music in stores, while
waiting on the phone, in some elevators, in restaurants, etc. The music that we listen to many
times has an influence on us and we have to recognize why that is.

Commented [E3]: Good example on the impact of

Music/Gospel

Traditional was the word of the day . . . but not anymore. (Jones, About Entertainment,
n.d.) What is heard today by those who listen to Gospel or Christian music cannot be lumped
into one category as Traditional as it was years ago. The new word for now Current term is
Contemporary; if you are looking for some meaning a form of music that would not come
from a hymnal and would not typically will not include an organ playing. There have been many
new forms of music that has evolved over the years and the music is largely geared towards
those that it is specifically geared towards reaching. Traditional gospel was used as it was the
only form of music that was accepted at the time in the church. Today what is accepted is almost
anything including the traditional style, as long as the message in the words is reaching people
and helping to change them.
When people hear the term Gospel they already have set in their mind what the sound
should be like and what they are expecting to hear. Gospel songs have changed over the years
from what they started out being,(use hyphen/dash) putting the Bible to music and reaching the
masses. Gospel songs today still have some of that same tone and energy to them, but it they
have also has taken on a much mellower, not so straight forward approach. There are songs out
today that are listed as gospel songs that do not have any reference to the bible or the Word of
God in them, but sound good and have a positive message.

Commented [E4]: What types of music has evolved? Who is

their typical audience? Maybe look at age groups for different kinds
of music.

Two major types of Gospel music have developed along basically racial lines. These
include Urban Gospel (sometimes referred to as black Gospel) and its white counterparts,
among them: Southern Gospel and modern, popularized Gospel (now more commonly known as

Commented [E5]: Good breakdown of the different sub genres

of Gospel

praise music or Contemporary Christian music). (Gospel Music - New World Encyclopedia,
2013) Gospel songs have to be understood for what they are saying, the message, more than for
the racial group or ethnic group that we think is being reached. Some argue that Gospel music
is rooted in Africa and was brought to the Americas by slaves. However, Gospel harmonies and
many of the hymns themselves also show a clear Scottish influence. (Gospel Music - New

Commented [E6]: Interesting, Nice source

World Encyclopedia, 2013)

The face of Christian music has spent the last 30+ years evolving and growing. (Jones,
About Entertainment, n.d.) Gospel music or Christian music as it is commonly called has had to
change or it would have died out to many that listen to it today. There are many times that it is
only in certain settings that you will find hymnals and organs today. Hymnals have been
replaced by hard hitting lyrics that speak of today and a God that is fully in control of our times.
(Jones, About Entertainment, n.d.) What worked for people years ago is not what this generation
today is looking for or wanting. One of the problems with Gospel music is that it has to be able
to change with the time yet hold the simplicity of the message in it. The generation today is
looking for that Microwave reaction to everything that they are a part of, this includes religion
or church. If someone does not understand what is happening and does not hear the message
being delivered quickly, they tune themselves out for the remainder of what is happening.

Commented [E7]: Really enjoyed this paragraph. True

statements and well explained

The genre of Gospel songs over the past forty to fifty years has changed and is still
changing. What was as easily classified as a gospel song years ago no longer can be so easily
classified? There have been so many adjustments made over the years simply due to do peoples

Commented [E8]: Should there be a question mark here?

interests havinge changed and more and more people are not being attracted by the same things.
To truly be able to reach and impact the lives of those who need it, we have to be willing to find
new and different ways of getting their attention. Music always can reach people, but when
trying to get a positive message through based on the music, we have to make sure that we do not
go so far from what truly reaches them. Gospel songs from years ago talked about the bible and
could be clearly understood what the real message was. The songs today that some would
classify as gospel do not have such a clear and distinct message to them, even though they are
still aiming to impact the lives of individuals with the message. The more that we keep our focus
on the true meaning of the message in the songs and do not allow the pressures of society to
influence what is said, the more songs will still have the impact and the influence that they did
years ago.

Works Cited
Gospel Music - New World Encyclopedia. (2013, december 23). Retrieved from
www.newworlkencyclopedia.org/entry/gospel_music
Hill, D. (2012, october 8). Different Types of Christian Music: A Look at the Genres. Retrieved
from www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/different-types-of-christian-music-...
Jones, K. (n.d.). About Entertainment. Retrieved from Types of Christian/Gospel Music:
http://christianmusic.about.com/od/artistsandbands/tp/history101.htm
Jones, K. (n.d.). About Entertainment. Retrieved from The Changing Face of Christian Music:
http://christianmusic.about.com/od/trivia/a/ccmhistory.htm