When I was driving home from work the other day there were a bunch of people on a street corner with signs that said Honk If You Love Jesus. I’m not sure exactly what the point was but enough drivers were honking to keep them happy.

I’m a lapsed Catholic so I don’t especially love Jesus the historical/religious figure, but I don’t have anything against him either. But there are a bunch of other Jesuses (Jesii?) that I do love. Here’s a sample.

Billy Idol “Plastic Jesus” (Goldcoast Singers)
A lot of folks know this song from Paul Newman’s performance in Cool Hand Luke. It’s a great song that explores my biggest question about having a plastic Jesus on your dashboard: why is he watching me instead of the road ahead? I also like the fact that you can use him as a flask, although the group on the street corner probably wouldn’t appreciate that.

Eric McFadden “Jesus Is Just Alright” (The Art Reynolds Singers)
Quite a few people think that the Doobie Brothers wrote this song, and most of the covers out there are really covering the Doobies cover. I really like this low-down boogie version. It reminds me a little bit of “Spirit In The Sky.”

This song has always reminded me of the song lyric that “Oklahoma Is Okay.” Not great, not pretty good, just okay. Needless to say, the folks on the corner thought Jesus is more than just alright.

The Jesus & Mary Chain “Reverberation (Doubt)” (Roky Erickson)
This comes from the very wonderful Roky Erickson tribute album Where The Pyramid Meets The Eye. It’s how I was introduced to Mr. Erickson’s music and I’m so very glad I was.

Jesus Jones “Go Buddy Go” (The Stranglers)
I used to live in an apartment with an interesting couple next door. They were huge drunks and they would get hammered and have protracted screaming fights. As if that weren’t bad enough the woman would play “Right Here Right Now” by Jesus Jones on her stereo at wall-shaking volume and shout along tuneslessly. Over and over, for hours on end. I grew to hate that song and I still cringe when I hear it. Fortunately you don’t hear it too often these days.

So that’s why I can’t make myself post a cover of that song. So instead please enjoy Jesus Jones covering the Stranglers. Feel free to crank up the volume and holler along. It’s tradition, after all.

Steven Hexx “Chocolate Jesus” (Tom Waits)
There are so many great covers of this song that I could do a whole post of nothing else. And one day I just might. This is a wonderful arrangement, how could you not love gospel backing vocals and a vibraphone solo?

Mrs. Freak is much more fond of chocolate than I am but I could get behind a Chocolate Jesus as long as he’s solid chocolate. I’m always disappointed when I bite into one of those hollow chocolate Easter bunnies.