Not Natural

Album: Bold (1997)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Running to 3 minutes 34 seconds and credited to producers Cedric and Victor Caldwell with Cedric's wife Angie Winans and sister Debra, this down-tempo gospel number ruffled a few feathers. What's not natural? Homosexuality, according to the song. The song was inspired by an episode of the American TV series Ellen. According to Debbie Winans in the November 24, 1997 issue of Jet: "It was written that day after [Ellen Degeneres] came out... The Lord inspired the song."

    Predictably, the LGBT community kicked up a storm; the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation branded it a song of "deep hate" and lobbied the Winans' record company, to no avail.

    Although it takes a swipe at homosexuality, "Not Natural" is similar in content to Joni Mitchell's "Sex Kills," and is broadly an attack on sex outside marriage, the commercialization of sex, etc., just the sort of thing one would expect from the sisters given their background with the church. Said Debbie: "We want to point people back to Jesus and his way of doing things." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

David Bowie Lyrics Quiz

David Bowie Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

How well do you know your David Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes

Chris Robinson of The Black CrowesSongwriter Interviews

"Great songwriters don't necessarily have hit songs," says Chris. He's written a bunch, but his fans are more interested in the intricate jams.

Country Song Titles

Country Song TitlesFact or Fiction

Country songs with titles so bizarre they can't possibly be real... or can they?

Facebook, Bromance and Email - The First Songs To Use New Words

Facebook, Bromance and Email - The First Songs To Use New WordsSong Writing

Where words like "email," "thirsty," "Twitter" and "gangsta" first showed up in songs, and which songs popularized them.

Chris Frantz of Talking Heads

Chris Frantz of Talking HeadsSongwriter Interviews

Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz on where the term "new wave" originated, the story of "Naive Melody," and why they never recorded another cover song after "Take Me To The River."