Please find a selection of tunes; all carefully curated by the Religious Studies Department to help you either relax, study or be  inspired!  If you have any suggestions for the playlist then please let us know via the Google Form on the home page. 

Not only are they named after a Holy Book, this song is a scathing attack on those who use religion as cloak to obtain financial gain. 

This really is quite something, using the voice to create this aural landscape is curiously hypnotic.   This video also has a lovely outline of the history of this form of worship. 

Eschewing the traditional chorus, verse, chorus etc. structure of a pop song is part of this song's appeal.   In addition, the song has come to mean so much to so many. To those who have lost their faith in people, to those who maybe once followed a religion and now do not.  Impose on it what you will.  It's also a darn fine tune......

Everyone's favourite poodle-haired rockers with their stadium pleasing hit.  I defy you not not join in with the chorus......

Okay, they're back - hair is alot less poodley - but still at the apex of stadium rock thanks to their desire to keep the faith.  

Arguably one of the greatest American bands of all time, perform one of the great folk-rock songs of all time.   Lyrics are from the Holy Book Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

Comedian Steve Martin would be a great Religious Studies teacher, he studied Philosophy at University and has a great sense of humour.  Here he is trying to put together an atheist song book. 

This song was always going to make the list!  What's interesting though is that George Harrison's sublime hit,  on its 50th anniversary , was given a brand new video.    See if you can  spot some familiar faces.

The 'Man in Black' brings his distinctive voice to an old American folk tune, in which people are warned about divine judgement. 

An intriguing theological idea, wrapped in an ear worm tune that you will either find wonderful or irritating.    

The Queen of Pop constantly reinvents herself, she's the biggest selling female artist of all time.   Love a live version, and  love a live version with a choir too.   

A dhol is a double sided drum from India.  Check out these amazing Sikhi percussionists kick starting a wedding celebration!  

Kate's running up that hill!  Why? She wants to make a deal with God that's why.   Enjoy the almost avant-garde video and ethereal synth tune from one of the UK's best artists.  

Rock legends singing about the Norse god of thunder?    Yes please!  Allegedly cost Disney just shy of $5 million dollars to use this song in 'Thor:  Ragnarok' (2017). 

This was tough.  There are countless versions of this song, so many great names - Aretha Franklin, Elvis, Alison Krauss and the thrash metal version by The Drop Kick Murphys.  In the end, I went for this version by President Obama.  He sung it at the funeral of Senator Clementa Pinckney; a pastor who was shot and killed in his own church by a white supremacist. 

Practising Buddhist k.d. lang's early 90's hit is about the Buddhist concept of samara - one can achieve enlightenment in Buddhism by eradicating cravings for worldly items and attachments. 

Greatest one hit wonder ever?  Greenbaum once performed this song as a forty minute set.  His twenty minute encore?  The same song again! Be aware, the video may cause motion sickness.

I will be the first to admit that Adam Sandler's creative output is not always - ahem -  to my taste.  However, when he is on top form he is really funny.  Along with the movie 'Punch Drunk Love' (2002) this is one of his masterpieces.