Christian Song Alternatives: Girls’ Night Out

This is the second installment in a series of Christian song alternatives, bringing you Christian music that sounds just as good, if not better than, the music you’re listening to. Read the first part HERE.

Whether you’re on the Internet or tuned in to the radio or MTV, you may find a lot of female singers releasing some pretty catchy tunes, from current flavor of the month Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe,” to radio faves like Katy Perry. Maybe you prefer a classic vocalist, like Lauryn Hill or Alicia Keys.

Here’s a quick peek at some female Christian singers who can belt a tune out and match the sass of any secular radio darling, only to point the glory back to their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

You like Carly Rae Jepsen? Why not try Britt Nicole’s “Headphones”?

Carly Rae Jepsen, at 26 years old, recently topped the Billboard Hot 100 with her debut single “Call Me Maybe,” a song that’s been the soundtrack of kooky videos by everyone from Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez to the Abercrombie and Fitch boys.

The similarly aged Britt Nicole, meanwhile, has had quite the career since her debut in 2007 with “You.” “Headphones” is an infectious track from Nicole’s The Lost Get Found CD, which featured the Christian CHR (Contemporary Hit Radio) number one hits “The Lost Get Found” and “Walk on the Water.” The accompanying video is also pretty neat, and should be a very good one for teens and young adults into the kind of music that Jepsen makes.

You like Katy Perry? Why not try Mandisa’s “Good Morning”?

There was a time when radio darling Katy Perry’s “Fireworks” was all we could hear on local and international radio. That kind of electronica-laced feel-good pop music became popular even with the Christian set, but its focus on how man is the source of his own power made believers a little uncomfortable.

What a lot of CCM lovers may not know is that Christian superstar tobyMac has been making that kind of radio-friendly music for quite some time. It is on “Good Morning,” his collaboration with American Idol season five finalist and now Christian star Mandisa, that he achieves virtually total radio-friendliness. This jam is perfect for starting your day!

You like Nicki Minaj? Why not try Beckah Shae’s “Put Your Love Glasses On”?

It’s a tribute to the chameleon qualities of Beckah Shae that she can create material like “Life,” whose sound is reminiscent of Lady Gaga, then in the same breath, produce a track like “Put Your Love Glasses On,” whose urban quality and irresistible chorus may be reminiscent of some of the album tracks of female rapper du jour Nicki Minaj.

Christian hip-hop is a growing sub-culture in the United States, and artists like Shae (and her husband Jack Shocklee) are among the genre’s fastest rising stars.

You like Colbie Caillat? Why not try Francesca Battistelli’s “This is the Stuff”?

Colbie Caillat and Francesca Battistelli have several things in common. First, both were radio darlings their first time out: Caillat made the Billboard Hot 100 Top 5 with “Bubbly,” her first single, while Battistelli’s first two debut tracks, “Free to Be Me” and “I’m Letting Go,” were both Top 3 hits on Billboard’s Christian Songs chart. Both are known for their down-to-earth, girl-next-door personalities, senses of humor, and unique voices.

Battistelli’s “This is the Stuff,” a light acoustic pop jam reminiscent of Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours,” talks about the mundane everyday experiences that make her rely more on God.

You like Lauryn Hill? Why not try Heesun Lee’s “Open Your Eyes”?

Lauryn Hill is a phenomenal artist who can rap and sing. HeeSun Lee is primarily a poetic lyricist and rapper, but on “Open Your Eyes,” she features Shanell Gabriel, and comes up with a song that is stunning both lyrically and musically.

Reminiscent of Alicia Keys or Hill before she decided to take a leave of absence from the industry, the music created by Lee, a New York-based rapper of Korean heritage, is some remarkable material that discusses her difficult life but ultimately points back to a hope in Christ.

Got any suggestions for future Christian Song Alternatives articles? Email me at ganns@gannsdeen.com.

 

Ganns Deen is a child of God, husband to Caths, and father to Nathan and Nicki. He is passionate about Christian music and tapping the power of the Internet to glorify God and spread the gospel. An award-winning songwriter in his own right, Ganns serves God full time in his capacity as online content supervisor for Victory Philippines. Follow him on Twitter (@ganns) or on his Christian music-themed blog, www.gannsdeen.com.