Wondering what Christian music kids like? Same here. Years ago, I surveyed youth leaders, asking which Christian and worship songs kids enjoy…and would play for their friends.
The response was overwhelming. And the key word was variety. Yes, some common denominators were clear. Kids said they liked Lecrae, Hillsong, 21 Pilots, For King and Country, Skillet, and more.
Yet participants also said kids’ musical tastes vary…and awkwardly. Sometimes people don’t see beyond their own tribes. For example, someone made a derogatory comment about Skillet. But I’ve encountered kids all over the U.S. who like Skillet’s sound.
Christian Music Kids Like: Tastes Vary!
Sometimes people don’t realize that tastes vary beyond their own circles of influence.
A youth worker shared a similar complaint…but from a different perspective. She questioned me for using a Justin Bieber song to provoke biblical discussion. It wasn’t relevant, she said, because “kids today just don’t listen to Bieber!” Really?
What she should have said was, “I don’t hear my kids listening to anything like Bieber.” Maybe in her church, or even in her town, kids don’t like Bieber. She might think “kids today just don’t listen to Bieber.” But his music sales, YouTube views, and chart ranking show otherwise. I’m sorry if you don’t like his sound or offstage antics—teens still love him!
My point is this: Don’t assume “all kids are like this” just because “your kids are like this.” Yes, I strive to keep my thumb on the pulse of mainstream influences. But I realize that individual “tribes” have varied tastes.
Examples of Christian Music Kids Like
So which of these Christian songs have a mainstream sound? Which sounds most like what kids are listening to today?
The easiest answer? Anything by Twenty One Pilots. That’s because they are actually on the charts. And kids with all kinds of musical tastes uniquely accept them.
Lecrae also has a mainstream sound and is recognized by secular personalities and played in secular venues.
Hollyn also boasts a mainstream sound, with songs like “Alone.” She provides a sound not unlike many in the Hot 100 today. (Count how many raspy-voiced females sing like Sia, accompanied by powerful base on the downbeat and a finger snap on the up.)
