Blog
This article came from a blogging site talking about gospel music and the direction it’s going today. Leave comments and let me know how you feel about this.
Courtney
Site Administrator
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————
I have a strong dislike for this new gospel sound and I’ve had it for quite sometime. This sound has seemingly gotten worse with Kirk Franklin sampling R&B beats for his gospel songs. Now, Deitrick Haddon has the same sample in his song “Count Your Blessings” as UGK! I remember gospel artist, CeCe Winans (such a beautiful and talented singer, right?), saying that she wouldn’t allow her children to listen to secular radio stations. However, much of CeCe’s financial success comes as a result of having her “gospel” songs played on those filthy, secular radio stations. It’s unfortunate but many artists going for the gospel genre will not be successful unless they begin as secular music artists or are willing to have their music played on secular radio stations. Ginuwine, Tri-ni-tee 5:7, Michelle Williams (from Destiny’s Child for those of you saying, “Who?!”), American Idol Ruben Studdard, and even the rapper turned actor turned rapper (again) Lil Zane have little in common if you listen to a 30 second clip of their songs…BUT they all started out singing “secular” songs (some filthier than others) and now, whaddaya know – they’ve found the Lord & have released gospel singles and/or albums. I don’t necessarily mind this transistion, it’s jarring to your ears initially but after a while you kinda get used to listening to the same guy that helped you get pregnant, now help you get saved. But the real humdinger as of late is this autotune trend. Not that I have a problem with autotune…I think it’s pretty neat when used sparingly (an entire CD of autotune filled B-side tracks is a no-no. Yes Mr. West, I’m talking about you). So when I heard Mary Mary’s smash hit, “God in Me” I couldn’t help but dance and song along. I love that song! “Think I’m so fresh…think I’m so clean…Think I’m so sweet…” I could go on forever. And the song is in heavy rotation in the DMV…I’ve heard it on our gospel radio stations and the stations known for playing Hip-Hop and R&B.
Now, let’s fast forward to a couple of weeks ago. I’m in my car changing radio stations – like I always do. I stumbled upon LeToya Luckett’s new single, “Regret” or something like that. And I could have sworn that it was “God in Me.” This, I don’t like!! Gospel music should have a distinct sound…it used to have one – where did it go? This sound has been replaced by an R&B sound. On Pandora, you’re likely to get a few Mary J Blige cuts thrown into your Contemporary Gospel mix because Mary J Blige and Yolanda Adams have the same musical characteristics as noted by the “Genome Music Project” (whoever they are). My point is simple, I don’t want to get so caught up in the secular sound of my GOSPEL music that I find myself winding my hips to lyrics about Jesus. But what is a girl to do?! I guess the moral of the story is I should not listen to secular music as a Christian anyway, right? Don’t be so damn judgmental! I’m a work in progress.
Jesus, if You’re not too busy, please stop pass here and help me. I need deliverance. Amen.
Posted by: imablackpoem on: September 16, 2009
http://blackpoemsunite.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/thats-gospel-music/
