In the spirit of Christmas 2022, we’re counting down the biggest singles with a religious theme that charted in Australia since 1950. The final list has been formulated using the following three rules:
- Songs with a title featuring words more associated with religion, than not, were an automatic qualify. Examples of these are Heaven, Angel, God and, of course, Christmas. This also includes the names of religious figures.
- Songs featuring a word that can be associated with religion, but also used in non-religious contexts, were included, only if the rest of the lyrics of the song mention other religious associations. For example, George Michael’s “Faith” and Madonna’s “Papa Don’t Preach” did not qualify as their use of “faith” and “preach” were in non-religious ways, with no further mention of religion in the songs.
- I have also included songs that don’t mention religious words in the song title, but do have a strong religious association by using relevant words throughout the lyrics. Songs such as Lenny Kravitz’s “Are You Gonna Go My Way” and Helen Reddy’s “I Don’t Know How To Love Him”, while have strong religious associations, are not included in the list due to no actual religious buzz words being used in the lyrics.
| 1. ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU Mariah Carey (1994 – HP: #1, WEEKS IN TOP 100: 59) |
| 2. THE PRAYER Anthony Callea (2004 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 25) |
| 3. ANGELS BROUGHT ME HERE Guy Sebastian (2003 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 15) |
| 4. RUNNING UP THAT HILL (A DEAL WITH GOD) Kate Bush (1985 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 45) |
| 5. GOD’S PLAN Drake (2018 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 60) |
| 6. SPIRIT IN THE SKY Norman Greenbaum (1970 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 26) |
| 7. RIVERS OF BABYLON Boney M. (1978 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 24) |
| 8. MY SWEET LORD George Harrison (1971 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 29) |
| 9. ANGEL Shaggy featuring Rayvon (2001 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 19) |
| 10. LIKE A PRAYER Madonna (1989 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 28) |
| 11. LAST CHRISTMAS Wham! (1984 – HP: #2, WEEKS: 52) |
| 12. VAYA CON DIOS (MAY GOD BE WITH YOU) Les Paul And Mary Ford (1953 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 20) |
| 13. TAKE ME TO CHURCH Hozier (2014 – HP: #2, WEEKS: 69) |
| 14. Y.M.C.A. Village People (1978 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 29) |
| 15. LIPS OF AN ANGEL Hinder (2007 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 45) |
| 16. JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE Jimmie Rodgers (1960 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 41) |
| 17. CRYING IN THE CHAPEL Elvis Presley (1965 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 22) |
| 18. DO THEY KNOW IT’S CHRISTMAS Band Aid (1984 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 33) |
| 19. HALO Beyonce (2009 – HP: #3, WEEKS: 69) |
| 20. A MAN CALLED PETER Darryl Stewart (1955 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 27) |
| 21. SLICE OF HEAVEN Dave Dobbyn & Herbs (1987 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 27) |
| 22. WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL The New Vaudeville Band (1966 – HP: #2, WEEKS: 26) |
| 23. ANGEL Amanda Perez (2003 – HP: #2, WEEKS: 28) |
| 24. CRYING IN THE CHAPEL Rex Allen (1953 – HP: #2, WEEKS: 23) |
| 25. THE MILLENNIUM PRAYER Cliff Richard (1999 – HP: #2, WEEKS: 14) |
| 26. SHOW ME HEAVEN Maria McKee (1990 – HP: #3, WEEKS: 26) |
| 27. ANGEL OF THE MORNING Merrilee Rush (1968 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 23) |
| 28. LOVE…THY WILL BE DONE Martika (1991 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 22) |
| 29. GHETTO GOSPEL 2Pac featuring Elton John (2005 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 27) |
| 30. DAY BY DAY Colleen Hewett (1971 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 24) |
| 31. ANGEL EYES Paulini (2004 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 26) |
| 32. LOCKED OUT OF HEAVEN Bruno Mars (2012 – HP: #4, WEEKS: 48) |
| 33. MY LITTLE ANGEL William Shakespeare (1974 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 23) |
| 34. HEAVEN IS MY WOMAN’S LOVE Col Joye (1973 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 26) |
| 35. HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH Belinda Carlisle (1988 – HP: #2, WEEKS: 21) |
| 36. ONE OF US Joan Osborne (1996 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 24) |
| 37. UNHOLY Sam Smith & Kim Petras (2020 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 12) |
| 38. AMAZING GRACE The Pipes And Drums And Military Band Of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (1972 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 18) |
| 39. LADY MADONNA The Beatles (1968 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 18) |
| 40. (IT’S NO) SIN Al Morgan / The Four Aces (1952 – HP: #2, WEEKS: 16) |
| 41. HEAVEN (MUST BE THERE) Eurogliders (1984 – HP: #2, WEEKS: 24) |
| 42. ANGEL OF THE MORNING Juice Newton (1981 – HP: #2, WEEKS: 18) |
| 43. HOLY Justin Bieber featuring Chance The Rapper (2020 – HP: #4, WEEKS: 40) |
| 44. OUTSIDE OF HEAVEN Eddie Fisher (1953 – HP: #4, WEEKS: 19) |
| 45. MY PRAYER The Platters (1956 – HP: #4, WEEKS: 21) |
| 46. THE LORD’S PRAYER Sister Janet Mead (1973 – HP: #3, WEEKS: 28) |
| 47. FRIENDLY PERSUASION (THEE I LOVE) Pat Boone (1957 – HP: #4, WEEKS: 21) |
| 48. CRYING IN THE CHAPEL Peter Blakeley (1989 – HP: #3, WEEKS: 30) |
| 49. SNOOPY’S CHRISTMAS The Royal Guardsmen (1967 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 15) |
| 50. SPIRIT IN THE SKY Dr. And The Medics (1986 – HP: #3, WEEKS: 22) |
| 51. LIVIN’ ON A PRAYER Bon Jovi (1987 – HP: #3, WEEKS: 43) |
| 52. ORDINARY ANGELS (from the “CLUNK” EP) Frente! (1992 – HP: #3, WEEKS: 24) |
| 53. TOO MUCH HEAVEN Bee Gees (1978 – HP: #5, WEEKS: 22) |
| 54. THERE MUST BE AN ANGEL (PLAYING WITH MY HEART) Eurythmics (1985 – HP: #3, WEEKS: 17) |
| 55. SPEAK TO THE SKY Rick Springfield (1971 – HP: #5, WEEKS: 20) |
| 56. BLUE ANGEL Gene Pitney (1975 – HP: #2, WEEKS: 27) |
| 57. MORNING HAS BROKEN Cat Stevens (1972 – HP: #4, WEEKS: 21) |
| 58. HEAVEN DJ Sammy (2002 – HP: #4, WEEKS: 21) |
| 59. THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY The Harry Simeone Chorale (1959 – HP: #3, WEEKS: 23) |
| 60. CHURCH OF THE POISON MIND Culture Club (1983 – HP: #4, WEEKS: 18) |
| 61. TEEN ANGEL Mark Dinning (1960 – HP: #3, WEEKS: 21) |
| 62. HOW DO YOU TALK TO AN ANGEL The Heights (1993 – HP: #3, WEEKS: 14) |
| 63. HOLLY HOLY Neil Diamond (1969 – HP: #3, WEEKS: 17) |
| 64. ANSWER ME, LORD ABOVE Frankie Laine (1954 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 22) |
| 65. SING HALLELUJAH Dr. Alban (1994 – HP: #5, WEEKS: 24) |
| 66. NOW YOU’RE IN HEAVEN Julian Lennon (1989 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 20) |
| 67. IT’S A SIN TO TELL A LIE Gerry Monroe (1971 – HP: #9, WEEKS: 34) |
| 68. FROM A DISTANCE Bette Midler (1990 – HP: #8, WEEKS: 30) |
| 69. I WRITE SINS NOT TRAGEDIES Panic! At The Disco (2006 – HP: #12, WEEKS: 48) |
| 70. HEY ST. PETER Flash And The Pan (1976 – HP: #5, WEEKS: 34) |
| 71. SEND ME AN ANGEL Real Life (1983 – HP: #6, WEEKS: 28) |
| 72. PRAY M.C. Hammer (1990 – HP: #7, WEEKS: 23) |
| 73. HEALING HANDS Conrad Sewell (2018 – HP: #7, WEEKS: 28) |
| 74. KNOCKIN’ ON HEAVEN’S DOOR Guns N’ Roses (1992 – HP: #12, WEEKS: 40) |
| 75. MY PRAYER The Vibrants (1967 – HP: #5, WEEKS: 22) |
| 76. IN THE CHAPEL IN THE MOONLIGHT Dean Martin (1967 – HP: #5, WEEKS: 16) |
| 77. I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER Diana King (1997 – HP: #6, WEEKS: 26) |
| 78. PRAYING Kesha (2017 – HP: #6, WEEKS: 27) |
| 79. DOMINIQUE The Singing Nun (Soeur Sourire) (1963 – HP: #3, WEEKS: 14) |
| 80. SON-OF-A PREACHER MAN Dusty Springfield (1969 – HP: #5, WEEKS: 17) |
| 81. MY SPECIAL ANGEL Bobby Helms (1957 – HP: #6, WEEKS: 26) |
| 82. THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO Nick Noble / Don Cornell (1956 – HP: #7, WEEKS: 20) |
| 83. THE EDGE OF HEAVEN Wham! (1986 – HP: #2, WEEKS: 12) |
| 84. CHRISTMAS IN KILLARNEY Percy Faith And His Orchestra with The Shillelagh Singers (1951 – HP: #5, WEEKS: 12) |
| 85. ROYAL TELEPHONE Jimmy Little (1963 – HP: #10, WEEKS: 24) |
| 86. HEAVEN KNOWS Rick Price (1992 – HP: #6, WEEKS: 18) |
| 87. I WANT A HIPPOPOTAMUS FOR CHRISTMAS Gayla Peevey (1953 – HP: #5, WEEKS: 11) |
| 88. THE VILLAGE OF ST. BERNADETTE Andy Williams (1960 – HP: #6, WEEKS: 23) |
| 89. PRAYER IN C Lilly Wood and the Prick & Robin Schulz (2014 – HP: #7, WEEKS: 36) |
| 90. UNDERCOVER ANGEL Alan O’Day (1977 – HP: #9, WEEKS: 23) |
| 91. ALL I NEED IS A MIRACLE Mike + The Mechanics (1986 – HP: #8, WEEKS: 23) |
| 92. IN THE CHAPEL IN THE MOONLIGHT Kitty Kallen (1954 – HP: #8, WEEKS: 15) |
| 93. KEEP THE FAITH Bon Jovi (1992 – HP: #10, WEEKS: 21) |
| 94. PRAY Tina Cousins (2000 – HP: #8, WEEKS: 20) |
| 95. LOSING MY RELIGION R.E.M. (1991 – HP: #11, WEEKS: 24) |
| 96. JESUS TO A CHILD George Michael (1996 – HP: #1, WEEKS: 10) |
| 97. HEAVEN Bryan Adams (1985 – HP: #12, WEEKS: 23) |
| 98. ANGEL OF MINE Monica (1999 – HP: #12, WEEKS: 24) |
| 99. AMAZING GRACE Judy Collins (1971 – HP: #6, WEEKS: 19) |
| 100. ANGEL FACE The Glitter Band (1974 – HP: #15, WEEKS: 28) |
100 Songs 