There are two aspects of worship: the passive listening and the active singing. Both are important but play distinct roles.
Listening to worship is suited for a beaten down Christian. A Christian who is out there living a life that’s surrendered to Jesus but is under constant attack from the ruler of the air and his minions. A believer who in his quiet place, in his prayer time, wants to sit down and sob saying “God, I’m trying to live my life for you, but I feel so beaten down by this world. Please come comfort me.” This is when listening to worship music shines. Listening to worship is to the soul what a hot shower is to a sore body. It soothes the aches and pains of the soul, and gives it rest and comfort and eventually builds up courage enough for the believer to come into agreement with the worship and begin to sing!
As for singing, singing is not a tool that a Christian uses to mend a hurt soul.
Worship is a weapon used to remind the ruler of the air that he will be crushed under our heels like a garden snake, and that the creator God of the Universe, who wills Satan’s very existence, will cast him into the pits of hell where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth for all eternity.
Worship is a weapon used to proclaim at the powers of mammon and pornea that the comforts and pleasures of this world are not what we find rest in or delight in, but that we find our rest in the Good Shepherd who takes care of His sheep and take delight in the Good Father who gives great and wonderous gifts to His children.
Worship is a weapon used to taunt sin, death, and hades saying “Oh, death where is your sting? Oh, grave where is your victory?” The all-powerful creator God of the Universe beat you by His death on the cross and purchased me with His blood. Your power is broken over me!
Singing worship is special, because it is proclaiming God’s spiritual truth into the physical realm. And darkness cannot be in the same room as the light and truth of our Glorious Father.
Regarding style of music… I will speak quickly and very personally. I don’t think you need to necessarily listen to contemporary worship or Christian music or sing these songs to have victory. I think what matter is that the objective truth of God is being proclaimed without any compromises. Go for hymns, go contemporary radio hits, go for Hillsong or Bethel, or old school Catholic Gregorian Chants. It doesn’t matter so long as the truth of God is being proclaimed and it resonates with your soul. I have listened to many contemporary worship songs and felt very little but irritation. I have listened to death metal Christian song (my preferred genre) and been moved nearly to tears because it resonated with my soul and sang about the sovereignty and power of our Lord. So long as your worship is biblical, it doesn’t matter how it sounds. Just proclaim God’s truth to the heavens and expect Him to change things, both on the inside and outside.
“The rams’ horns sounded and when the army heard the signal, they gave a loud battle cry. The
wall collapsed and the warriors charged straight ahead into the city and captured it.”
– Joshua 6:20