Gospel Song Genre

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

Michael Crawford
Professor Olivia Rines
UWRT 1101-002
February 20, 2015
Gospel Music Genre
Gospel songs and specifically gospel song lyrics can be widely misunderstood. When
people hear the word Gospel they preform it causes them to have ideas already as to what they
are about to will hear and what it will sound like. Many people, especially older generations are
used to listening to songs that talk specifically about the Bible and include biblical phrases.
Songs that make clear reference to God, Jesus and the Bible is what was known as Gospel.
Gospel has taken on many different forms over the years. that to simply try tTo 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 be gospel songs actually are
not., they are more inspirational than gospel.
This topic interested me as generations have words that had one meaning and caused
them to have a completely different meaning. Since this has been happening we need to have a
clearer understanding of what Gospel songs were and what they are today. Gospel songs from
years ago were very easily distinguished. Songs such as On Time God by Dottie Peoples or
songs like Im Still Here by the Williams Brothers. These songs have been known for years
and are clearly known as gospel and can be heard by the words. Songs that are considered to be
gospel today are songs such as Withholding Nothing by William McDowell or songs such as
Greater is Coming by Jekalyn Carr.

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 today along with gospel. 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 today would list under
thisa broad topic of Gospel Music is are actually classified many other titlesthings today. The
only true gospel songs are those that hold true the values of years ago that have lyrics that are
biblically based and freely will talk about Jesus, God and mention the gospel straight from the
Bible. 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. The gospel songs of years ago still have an impact today, but more and more the
songs are taking on the style that is accepted in specific functions or areas.
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 turning
them off. Music is a form that seems to be able to reaches and touches so many that would not
typically come into a church setting. Most people will respond to music many times without
even knowing that they are. People hear songs playing in stores, elevators, etc., and they start to
move to the song or sing along with it. Gospel music can touch people in the same manner
without having to Beat them down with the Bible. 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. In most cases we
respond to music because it is simply a part of us.
Music has a role in each of our lives, but we have to know and understand why the type
or style of music that we listen does. Gospel music plays a role in a persons life because they are
seeking for something that will cause their life to be altered for the better. Having a relationship
with the Lord causes us to examine our life and make changes that will keep us more focused in
that direction. Gospel music has had to adapt to this also over the years. Too many that would
say that they listen to or have listened to gospel music, they may classify what they have heard as
Traditional.
Traditional was the word of the day . . . but not anymore. (Jones, About Entertainment,
n.d.) Traditional gospel songs that were sung were more like hymns. The songs had strong
reference to the bible and made numerous references to that. 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 todayfor now is Contemporary. Many churches and denominations
consider contemporary music to beif you are looking for some form of music that would not
come from a hymnal and 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 targeting. Gospel
music today has taken on the same style as rap, easy listening, heavy metal and others. The
difference is that the words in the songs do not put down a race or any specific gender, but help
to build up and strengthen those that hear them. 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, 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. Too many people are waiting to hear the
bible through song and they have already tuned out the song even before listening to it. Gospel
songs have changed over the years from what they started out being, 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 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.
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
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. When the song causes someone
to examine their life and willingly make a change to help themselves, it does not matter the
origin of the song. 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 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.
By the mid-twentieth century, Gospel music had developed a major market. Soon,
distinct sub-genres began to appear. (Gospel Music - New World Encyclopedia, 2013) What
many people looked at as something that would only impact a select group has grown, changed
and evolved into something much larger. This helps us to understand why classifying all these
songs simply as Gospel is not accurate today. There are many forms or styles of this music that
can touch lives from all races, age barriers, etc. The typical song today that could be called
gospel many times can be classified as two or three or even four other titles.
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
interests have 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 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 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