I've got soul, but the drugs like me!

July 1, 2006 11:37 AM

Popmusic filter, I really like the gospel choir singers singing along to rock music, ala The Killers "All these things I have done", or Marilyn Manson's "I Don't like the drugs but the drugs like me". Any ideas for songs like this?
posted by CCK to media & arts (37 comments total)

There's always "Sound of the Sinners" by the Clash...
posted by Smart Dalek at 11:44 AM on July 1, 2006

Check out the songs that The Band recorded with the Staple Singers.

If memory serves, Use Your Illusion-era Guns 'N' Roses and Rattle and Hum-era U2 also did some songs with gospel choirs (and so did Puffy and Sting), but I wouldn't recommend any of it.
posted by box at 11:48 AM on July 1, 2006

"This Corrosion" by The Sisters of Mercy.
posted by Gator at 11:49 AM on July 1, 2006

oh man... "ladies and gentlemen we are floating in space" by spiritualized. especially the 'banned' version with the elvis sample ("fools rush in").
posted by joeblough at 11:51 AM on July 1, 2006

You'll want to listen to "With Arms Outstretched" by Rilo Kiley, from the album Execution of All Things.

Then of course there's "Can't Always Get What You Want" by the Rolling Stones and "Under the Bridge" by RHCP.
posted by ludwig_van at 11:55 AM on July 1, 2006

If you're willing to accept Gator's suggestion, you might want to try "Juke Joint Jezebel" by KMFDM.
Its chorus is more influenced by funk/soul than traditional choir, but it's catchy enough.
posted by Smart Dalek at 12:03 PM on July 1, 2006

When you say gospel, do you just mean religious choirs, or soul choirs? Rammstein has lots of quasi-opera churchy choirs in their tracks... Morgenstern and Reise Reise come to mind.
posted by phrontist at 12:04 PM on July 1, 2006

Soul I guess.
posted by CCK at 12:09 PM on July 1, 2006

the polyphonic spree is all choir all the time from what i know...
posted by GleepGlop at 12:14 PM on July 1, 2006

I don't know if you consider Madonna in the rock genre, but I've always had a fondness for "Like a Prayer".
posted by kimdog at 12:18 PM on July 1, 2006

There's quite a lot of it in old top-40 music: "Lay Down" by Melanie, "Like a Prayer" by Madonna, "I Want to Know What Love Is," by Foreigner, but perhaps you have something a little more heavy duty in mind.
posted by JanetLand at 12:19 PM on July 1, 2006

"Hitsville UK," also by the Clash.
posted by jtron at 12:41 PM on July 1, 2006

SPIRITUALIZED does this very well.
posted by dontrockwobble at 12:43 PM on July 1, 2006

"With Arms Outstretched" may have something resembling a choir, but it's far more campfire singalong than anything, and definitely not gospel choir.

The only thing that comes to mind right now is Tricky's "Broken Homes," though that may stretch your definition of "rock" to the breaking point (and then some).
posted by chrominance at 1:06 PM on July 1, 2006

"With Arms Outstretched" may have something resembling a choir

I'm not sure what that means. The song has a choir. It's not a gospel song, no. I've no idea whether or not the people in the choir featured in the song like to perform gospel music.
posted by ludwig_van at 1:09 PM on July 1, 2006

The point being that the poster isn't asking for gospel music.
posted by ludwig_van at 1:09 PM on July 1, 2006

Along the same lines of Polyphonic Spree, is the 29-person music collective I'm From Barcelona.
posted by rabbitsnake at 1:10 PM on July 1, 2006

While "Hitsville, UK" borrows from gospel and soul influences (particularly the organ segment), it owes more to Motown and the Jackson 5.
posted by Smart Dalek at 1:24 PM on July 1, 2006

"Just A Man" by Faith No More.
posted by Sticherbeast at 1:32 PM on July 1, 2006

Tender by Blur
posted by biscotti at 1:35 PM on July 1, 2006

I'm not sure what that means. The song has a choir. It's not a gospel song, no. I've no idea whether or not the people in the choir featured in the song like to perform gospel music.

The people singing along in the second half of the song aren't singing in a gospel style, is what I meant. Like I said, it sounds like a rousing campfire singalong. I love the song, but it doesn't really fit any definition of gospel choir singing I know.

(I know the original poster isn't asking for gospel music, but he/she is asking for gospel singing, which this doesn't have either.)
posted by chrominance at 1:36 PM on July 1, 2006

I second Biscotti's Blur mention - search on YouTube for 'blur tender' and check out the video, which is lovely.
posted by waxbanks at 2:03 PM on July 1, 2006

Dying To Be Alive by *cough* Hanson on the This Time Around album has a gospel choir and Rose Stone (of Sly & The Family stone).
posted by speranza at 2:05 PM on July 1, 2006

There's a version of 'Still Haven't found what I'm looking For' by U2 on the Rattle and Hum video (probably on Youtube) with a gospel choir. Paddy Casey did a version with the Dublin Gospel choir that's on his DVD. Embrace's England World Cup song has a choir in it, but they suck!
posted by TwoWordReview at 2:42 PM on July 1, 2006

There's the opening to the Talking Heads's Road to Nowhere.
posted by evil holiday magic at 2:42 PM on July 1, 2006

"The Good Will Out" (song, not album) by Embrace is quite good for that, especially the live version.
posted by ed\26h at 2:47 PM on July 1, 2006

others mentioned Spiritualized - this is the album you want if you like choirs.

Nick Cave used a gospel choir when touring his last labum - it was amazing, but don't know if he will again - and don't think he recording anything with a choir.
posted by ascullion at 2:54 PM on July 1, 2006

Robert Randolph Family Band. RR and his backup singers used to sing in a church choir where they were 'discovered'. His sings are a combo of rock with a gopel revival feel.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 4:22 PM on July 1, 2006

If you go for Rammstein, there's a whole host of European bands in that vain, such as Tristania.
posted by jmd82 at 4:42 PM on July 1, 2006

Lyle Lovett's song "Church" has some great gospel singing in it. From his album Joshua Judges Ruth.
posted by JT at 6:08 PM on July 1, 2006

Primal Scream "Movin' On Up"

Agreeance on Spiritualized...good stuff.
posted by First Post at 7:01 PM on July 1, 2006

"Way Down," by Tori Amos, on Boys for Pele?
posted by WCityMike at 7:14 PM on July 1, 2006

"Karmadrome" by Pop Will Eat Itself.
posted by neckro23 at 8:36 PM on July 1, 2006

Matchbox Twenty, "Downfall"
U2, "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" from the Rattle & Hum album.
And thanks for posting this, I also really like this particular musical crossover. I may have to get off my arse and make a compilation.
posted by jferg at 10:03 PM on July 1, 2006

Ascullion is almost right about Nick Cave - the album he toured (a double called Abbatoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus) is FULL of songs in which the Bad Seeds are accompanied by the excellent London Community Gospel choir. It's an amazing record.
posted by bunglin jones at 10:15 PM on July 1, 2006

The last two tracks on the Gorillaz' Demon Days feature gospel choirs. Although I'm not 100% sure you'd call those tracks 'rock'.
posted by randomination at 7:09 AM on July 2, 2006

In a similar vein as The Band, and Robert Randolph and The Family... The Black Crowes. Lots of their stuff is deeply influenced by gospel / soul. They perform with 2 very soulful backup singers. Good examples are:

Soul Singin' (from Lions)
My Morning Song (from The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
Girl From A Pawnshop (from Three Snakes and One Charm
(Only) Halfway To Everywhere (ditto)
Go Tell The Congregation (By Your Side
posted by fearless_yakov at 7:58 AM on July 3, 2006