Bene Highway to Heaven

There are numerous points of contact between biblical stories and pop and rock music. The treasures of faith can be discovered and unearthed in many pieces of music and songs, and the theologian and publicist Uwe Birnstein and social scientist Volker Eichener - both ardent music lovers - have been searching for these treasures for many years. They are driven by curiosity about what lies behind the lyrics and melodies that we have often heard and that speak to our inner selves in a special way. Birnstein and Eichener share these background stories in such a beautiful and easy-to-understand way that even those who think that God and faith do not play a role in their lives will be touched. The book is about the following songs: AC/DC, Highway to Hell (hard rock, 1979) / Black Sabbath, God Is Dead (doom metal, 2013) / Johnny Cash, Peace in the Valley (gospel, 1963) / Tracy Chapman, Heaven's Here on Earth (folk-rock, 1995) / Eric Clapton, Tears in Heaven (folk-rock, 1991) / Leonard Cohen, Hallelujah (folk-pop, 1984) / Sinead O'Connor, Theology (folk rock, 2007) / Depeche Mode, Personal Jesus (synth rock, 1989) / Bob Dylan, Every Grain of Sand (folk rock, 1980) / Genesis, Jesus He Knows Me (rock, 1991) / Herbert Grönemeyer, Stück vom Himmel (German pop, 2009) / Sarah Lesch, Testament (2016) / Udo Lindenberg, Interview mit Gott (German rock, 2008) / Madonna, Like a Prayer (dance pop, 1989) / Joan Osborne, One of Us (pop, 1995) / Rolling Stones, Sympathy for the Devil (rock, 1968) / Lady Gaga, Sweet Sounds of Heaven (gospel rock, 2023) / Patti Smith, Gloria (rock, 1975) / Bruce Springsteen, Jesus Was the Only Son (rock, 2005) / U2, I Still Haven't Found (rock, 1987) / Led Zeppelin, Stairway to Heaven (hard rock, 1971).