Christian Summer Songs

Looking for some sunny tunes to blow a breeze through the dog days of summer and send an uplifting message of faith? Tap into the good vibrations pouring out of these Christian pop cuts. Most folks remember Jason Castro as the dreadlocked kid who turned Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" into his own kind of prayer on American Idol, but wait until you hear his heavenly pipes pulling the deeper meaning out of the classic "Over the Rainbow." The tobyMac track "Get Back Up" is like a musical trampoline — the harder you fall, the further its propulsive pop power sends you shooting upwards again, with a big, giddy grin on your face. And just when you think you've heard it all, Family Force 5 — a lovably goofy but lowdown funky Georgia band — comes on like a converted Beastie Boys break-dancing with Beck on "Dance or Die."

Keep cool with breezy R&B, jangly pop, and more in Next Steps.

Get set for some more summertime tunes to pump up your fun and feed your spirit. Take 6 brings their mix of jazzy vocal harmonies and gospel-soaked R&B to Ambrosia's breezy '70s soft-pop hit "Biggest Part of Me," transforming the tune from romance to rhapsody. Christian rocker Steven Curtis Chapman makes a joyful noise for the Lord with heartland-rock holler "Live Out Loud." It's all about reaching a higher place, and you know you're headed in the right direction when you hear the gentle jangle and feathery croon of Sixpence None the Richer, famous for diving dewy-eyed into the mainstream with their frothy, chart-scaling '90s smash, "Kiss Me."

Sing a summer song of loud, proud, and punky faith, in Deep Cuts.

While the summer sun is beating down, bask in the glow of some soul-warming songs of faith. Skanking for the Lord sounds like the perfect cure for the summertime blues when Five Iron Frenzy unleashes the ska-punk explosion of "All That Is Good." Christian pop-punks Audio Adrenaline add a spiky edge to Edgar Winter's riff-rock anthem "Free Ride," but they're singing about the journey of the soul. And if you're really ready for a raging shout-out to the Lord, turn up the volume on the rampaging guitars and breakneck drumbeats powering Mxpx's "You Put This Love In My Heart."

Whether you're kicking back at the beach, camping out under the stars, or enjoying summer in the city, faith-based tunes with a bright, openhearted feel will keep your heart and soul on the sunny side. This is the spot where you can soak up the sounds of hard-hitting Christian rockers like Switchfoot, gospel giants like Fred Hammond, or spiritual singer-songwriters à la Amy Grant, all guaranteed to keep that Labor Day weekend feeling going all year round. We've combed the beach from surf to shore with our summertime sound detectors, pulling up one Christian-pop pearl after another. So snap up this set of sonic soul power to make your summertime soundtrack a devotional delight.