High demand identified for gospel-infused cross-genre music and playlists.

Published on 06/20/2025Trend Spotting / Early Adopter Signals

The enthusiastic participation and wide range of song examples in the thread "What songs have a gospel feel?" highlight a significant, cross-genre audience actively seeking secular music—from rock and pop to K-pop—that incorporates powerful, uplifting gospel elements like choirs and soulful vocals. This sustained interest across a broad spectrum of music underscores key market opportunities:

  • Enhanced Playlist Curation: There's a clear demand for music streaming services to develop and feature more varied and specific playlists like 'Secular Anthems: Gospel Sound,' 'Indie Rock Revival,' or 'Pop Goes Choir' to cater to this demonstrated interest.
  • Themed Live Experiences: The enthusiasm suggests a viable market for dedicated live music events, festivals, or special artist sets that showcase this blend of secular genres with gospel's emotive power.
  • Strategic Sync Licensing: This musical aesthetic, known for evoking strong positive and unifying emotions, is highly valuable for advertising, film, and television to create memorable and impactful moments.
  • Artist Development & Collaboration: There's a clear opportunity in fostering collaborations between mainstream artists and gospel choirs/musicians, as well as supporting artists who naturally integrate these sonic elements into their work.

Origin Reddit Post

r/music

What songs have a gospel feel?

Posted by u/anandamidetrip06/20/2025
I'm referencing songs that have a soulful feel, normally with a black backup singer in the final chorus. I'm thinking Life is a Highway, I Don't Live Here Anymore (the war on drugs) and not r

Top Comments

u/Diligent-Tea1693
50 Cent. Da Club
u/Wootnasty
Ween - up on the hill
u/GrabzakTurnenkov
I’ve got 2 and they’re from the same band! [Last day under the sun— Volbeat](https://youtu.be/ptro0vwRMaA?si=1FOlpbvY21-6vwKc) and [Goodbye Forever— Volbeat](https://youtu.be/6Sb-WkTP2NM?si=
u/Phog_of_War
In My Time Of Dying - Led Zeppelin
u/BlitheringEediot
Bridge Over Troubled Water - S&G
u/burnbeforeyoumellow
Foxes - Glorious
u/UjustMe-4769
Old one here. Gone At Last by Paul Simon and Phoebe Snow. This is what I used to call a gospel jump song. If you’re not standing up and jumping in the pew, you must be the guy in the coffin.
u/JingleBerries1
Waiting On The World To Change by John Mayer
u/Derail185
The Datsuns - Too Little Fire The Datsuns - All Aboard
u/specialagentflooper
Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2
u/The_Velvet_Bulldozer
[My Gospel](https://youtu.be/aSkaoI0rfnA?si=wN9aFfRy0z9cJoeS)- Paul Cauthen
u/jptabor01
[Like a Prayer - Madonna](https://youtu.be/79fzeNUqQbQ?si=Q3j5M7NKXy_I9nCs) [You Can’t Always Get What You Want - The Rolling Stones](https://youtu.be/ZUqSNbJuGOw?si=dv-nLS5b4QHTJUYR) [Youn
u/aortomus
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For with the gospel choir from Ratlle and Hum.
u/vinylfilmaholic
Ain’t It Fun by Paramore
u/BarstoolProphet9981
The acoustic version of My Morning Song from the Black Crowes album Croweology . Wait for the break ;)
u/Opening-Sky-3406
Outro ego by BTS
u/Certain_Yam_110
Killer Mike's (from Run The Jewels) solo album from a couple years ago is what you're looking for
u/mojeaux_j
[The Red Clay Strays | "Sunshine"](https://youtu.be/1O31IIprXWM?si=YLQ0ZiZRWAMgUTp5)
u/GeezerRocker
Too Much Heaven - Bee Gees; Holly Holy - Neil Diamond; Jesus Is Just Alright - Doobie Bros.;
u/theeggplant42
No black backup singer, but father John misty has a real gospel feel at times. Try Hollywood forever cemetery sings
u/VictoriousRex
For something different check out a band called Zeal and Ardor, specifically the songs Blood in the River, Run, and Church Burns. They are a self described Satanic Gospel group.
u/CAP_GYPSY
Walking in Memphis, The Way it is… (Hornsby on that one, not sure of the actual title)
u/NaturalStateOfMind
Pastor TL Barrett - Like a Ship
u/SimplyToo
All I Need by AWOLNATION and "Ain't It Fun" by Paramore each have a choir in them, which gives *me* a gospel feel. "Get Next To You" by Dirty Loops has a very churchy vibe. But I think what
u/Findyourselfarainbow
Brother Loves Traveling Salvation Show- Neil Diamond.
u/DolphusRaymond-1977
The Badman Song Tears for Fears
u/Kissfromarose01
Can’t always get what you want, Rolling Stones, Dirty Harry Gorillaz
u/ursulawinchester
The Killers “All These Things I’ve Done” comes to mind
u/Pherllerp
Shout! Parts 1 & 2 by the Isley Bros. That’s a straight up church song. Everything by Aretha Franklin because she was the #1 Lady and a pure genius.
u/Gibsonbro20
“Somebody to Love” by Queen. Freddie takes us to CHURCH!!! Also, “Great Gig In The Sky” by Pink Floyd.
u/VirginiaUSA1964
Check out Elton John's Peachtree Road album. The whole album has that feel. Especially I Can't Keep This From You.
u/iamsolow1
Remedy - Zac Brown Band
u/Cremeward
Gimmie Shelter
u/expectingthexpected
Walking in Memphis

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