The nominees for the 40th Annual Dove Awards are in! Some major gospel artists have been nominated in the biggest categories: Marvin Sapp is nominated for Artist of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year, Mary Mary is up for Group of the Year, and Jonathan Nelson is a nominee for New Artist of the Year.
Other notable nominees include Damita Haddon, Grits, J.R. (remember him? he’s the dude that performed at the Urban Soul Cafe during the Stellar Awards weekend that I came back raaaaving about), Kirk Franklin, Bishop Paul Morton, Regina Belle, Hezekiah Walker, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Take 6, Tye Tribbett, Deitrick Haddon… gee whiz… a little of everybody.
I’m annoyed by the absence of two groups from the list of nominees: Ashmont Hill and 21:03. Both groups are awesome and gave us some great music in the past year. So… what’s going on here?! But, I’m not boycotting… yet. 
Click here to see the full list of nominees! Fan voting, which commences later this week, will determine the winners in the Artist of the Year and New Artist of the Year categories. More on that later.
Thoughts, anyone???
Oh, by the way: the show airs LIVE on Thursday, April 23rd at 8pm ET on Gospel Music Channel.
Is it just me, or is something 'missing' from a lot of Gospel artists? maybe this is not the thread for this question..sorry..?? congrats to the nominees...I guess. I've always had mixed feelings about these Gospel award shows...it has taken the 'heart' out of Gospel (in my opinion). Gospel Artists (some) do what will get them recognition and make them money more so than trying spread the 'Gospel' via song. (juss my opinion)
Damita received 2 Dove Nominations too ... her first as a solo artist! Its cool that her and her husband are in the same categories, Urban Recorded Song and Urban Album.
Hmmm, wow, I guess we still agree on some things, cause Ashmont Hill should have definitely been nominated. Their project is great.
@luda: thank GOD! i can still value what you say. ;-)
Bill, I hear what you saying, but what you're saying couldn't be further from the truth. Those award shows have come a long way. Now they have mixed ethnic groups singing on each show, and the songs that are being written either by the gospel artists or by whomever, they have more ministry in the songs now than ever before. They are ministering through song on those award shows. It's good that those shows are there so that people can be uplifted and encouraged in places where gospel music is either never heard or the artist may never get a chance to go and travel to, but the music reaches there. God uses everything for His glory even when we can't comprehend with our little finite human minds. So like I said, I'm glad that they have those award shows, because I believe that what those artists do in secret, God is rewarding them openly and that's what He said He would do and that's just one avenues that God is using to reward every last one of them who give up their personal lives and family time to go and travel this world to minister to people for the sake of the call on their lives. So the best thing you can do is just pray for the artists that the Lord will continue to cover and bless and strengthen them to continue to do what their doing, because man it ain't easy being out there and ministering for the Lord through song and sometimes getting rejected. So don't talk about the christian/gospel artists, just pray for them. Cover them in prayer, and if you see something that doesn't sit right with you in one of them, just pray for them, cause Lord knows that none of us are perfect and we ALL HAVE ISSUES, WHICH MAKES US ALL IN NEED OF THE HELP OF THE LORD!! Love ya man, but just pray!
I hear what both of you are saying. On one hand, I see what Bill is saying because I have witnessed, first-hand, some artists get REALLY miffed when they don't win an award, as if that's what they were doing it for in the first place. On the other hand, Yvonne, you're absolutely right (and WELCOME by the way!)-- we've gotta pray for the music ministers that God has in place. We've gotta pray that they always have the proper perspective, that they're encouraged to continue their course... and we've gotta be supportive of them. It's an insanely hard course to walk, especially if the saints ain't got your back! Awesome discussion... keep it going!!
People are giving 21:03 toooooo much credit.....Stop with the jumping around the stage, let a person understand what you are saying....dress for success.....stop following the trends and set the trends....Yes, they may have harmony, but I don't and I am sure other's don't understand a word they say...How can you feel the spirit or the anointing when you are bouncing around like a ball...
Wanda I agree with you on that. I mean come on lets be real, it seems like all the attention has been put on dancing rather than ministering. now theres nothing wrong with making yourself stand out from other artists but to jump the entire time is distracting. At the end of the day what seperates the performance from an R&B artist? A few mentions of Jesus? Im not a hater but seriously there must be a focus and it must be Jesus alone and it must be portrayed through music and not jumping like bouncing balls lol.
I do believe that 21:03 should have gotten a Dove Award nomination. They are one of the few groups out there that can articulate their relationship with God, and still be hip and fresh. As a teenager, there are so many different artist out there there and I don't feel like hearing "going up yonder" all the time. With their songs, "Holding on to you" and "Everybody can't go" I'm reminded that I have to lean on God and get rid of friends that will hold me back from what God wants me to be. Any artist that could get that message across and not put me to sleep, is someone that I want to be listening too. I've let my friends (who aren't Christians) hear the music, and not only did they KNOW that it was a gospel record with JESUS in the center, they couldn't believe it! 21:03 creates music you could worship, pray, workout, and drive too. Their music is for everyone, everywhere and that's what makes me listen to them. I hope to see them one day, to let them know that they've taught me that I could be a Christian and have fun too without compromising. Their the TRUTH!
Wanda and Deon, I disagree with you. 21:03 put out and awesome anointed album this past year. They don't jump around ALL the time, you clearly must not have their albums or have never seen them in concert. I am never confused about who/what they are singing about. They are called for this generation, and I can definitely understand what they are saying. From what I've witnessed Youtube, and in person, they are worshippers at heart, and it's not fair to judge them on one three minute performance you saw on BET or the Stellar Awards lol.. (Sidebar) Ashmont Hill should have been nominated too.. I agree E.J Why is it a problem for 21:03 to dance, but not Tye Tribbett and Ricky Dillard? The "SAINT'S" are so selective/political and picky. I wish the gospel community would stop being "BIPOLAR" lol.. Who said the anointing can't be made manifest if one has on jeans? Israel and New Breed always has on T-shirts and jeans and yet the Lord honors their praise. .. they dance around in the joy of the Lord always, DANCE is an expression of praise.. is it not? Last thing.. in every other music genre it seems as if the youth set the trends. Gospel is the only genre where the youth are alienated and forced to conform. In other genre's people are allowed to be who they are, everyone shouldn't have to wear ugly passe' GOSPEL suits. GOSPEL is always 2-3 years behind the trend actually lol.. go to a midnight musical and look at the fashion :-)
LOL. I guess he got YOU together!
Seriously, though, what is it that we would like from young groups? Can we actually articulate it, or are we just content to complain about them with cliche' arguments we heard as teenagers ourselves? Are we just saying things because it is "our turn" to look at the youth and disapprove? It's really gotten a bit unfair. Maybe we should also use this space to come up with some real criteria and encourage our younger brothers and sisters as ministers of the gospel. I mean, aren't they the voice of the Gospel for tomorrow (sorry for the corny phrase, but just being real)?
@all: MANNN, I step away from the computer for a MINUTE and y'all get to discussing all sorts of stuff! @Wanda and @Nehemiah: Welcome! 'Preciate y'all for stopping thru and I hope you continue to do so cuz you both make great points. For me, I think that WE, as gospel consumers, often make up criteria and standards for the way things should go, but they don't really exist in the Bible. Here's a double-standard that I'd love for someone to weigh-in on: Why do we see 5 women dancing, wearing white robes with ribbons on sticks, and call them "anointed praise dancers," but we see a group of dudes or females dancing and call them "secular wanna-bes"??? Aren't the little praise dance girls some ballet wanna-bes? We don't question THEIR hearts, their ministries or their love for Christ... ...just an observation. Any thoughts???
@EJ regarding double standards. In the Bible there are plenty of instances/examples of priestly 'garments.' Musicians/singers had certain attire also (OT). The reason for this was you could not go before a Holy God any kind of way (presentation). The same is true today (in my view, based on Bible). Very simply put (at least for me), when I see Gospel Artists who resemble and always mimick to a 'tee' secular artists its a turn off for ME!! I don't know how else to put it!! (lol) I heard a preacher say last week he actually spoke with some hip hop artists and asked them when they come to church what kind of church would they like to see. Their answer was, well we don't want to see what WE do (and how we look) when whe come to CHURCH!!! Enuff said....at least for me...!! So yea, those 'anointed praise wanna be ballet dancers' (lol) have a better presentation in a lot of eyes because of their garments. There covered and their gestures indicate a sence of holiness. As opposed to watching Gospel artists do the SAME dance moves as secular artists. It's really kinda plain/simple!!! Again this is based on 'appearance' as I have previously stated.
BILL! You know you are my dude on this site and I've got mad love for you, but you MADE THAT UP. LOL How do gestures indicate a sense of holiness? What does a sense of holiness even LOOK like and who decided what it would be?! Now, I will agree with you that a lot of "unchurched" people want the "churchy" experience when they come to church or hear gospel music. But you made that up! LOL
lol@EJ...u a nutt bruh!!! You ever heard the scripture 'try the spirit by the spirit?' guess that's what i'm tryna say (sense of holiness) attitude, heartfelt, movements can be for God or for Satan. So I guess i'm not 'just' referring to the moves as a sense of holiness, but the entire performance suggests 'this is for God' again...as long as I don't see the same dance moves i'm good. That does NOT mean everyone who does not mimick secular dance moves is holy (lol)...but I hope you get the point. Spirit knows Spirit (good or bad..lol)...but cmon EJ lets not be too 'literal!!' lol....again its the entire presentation (for me) you honestly don't see a difference in praise dancers/mime (some of them..lol) as opposed to the Gospel BET dancers....LMBO!!!
@EJ..r u serious about what does a 'sense' of holiness look like and who decided what it would be? It's based on the Bible right?? **looking at u cross eyed** (be ye holy saith the Lord; touch not handle not that which is to perish; come out from among them an be separated...light and darkness hath no fellowship...a few scriptures that come to mind....)
for the record..i'm NOT always right, but I do have a good 'foundation' based on the word of God. I will be the first to admit when I'm wrong, but there are some things (to me) that are just obvious. When I have my unsaved peers laughing at how some of us do 'church' there like bruh dats da same thing we do at the club, y should I come to church, it really hurts me. Then us church folks say the usual, o well it's okay, we gotta reach the youth, let go of tradition, etc. It's just sad..but hey, God is good!!! lol
@Bill: I hear what you're saying. And I agree that a lot of folks don't want their gospel message to be packaged that way... but some do. For some, the dancing is exactly what they want, and it's how they came to Christ. So, how can we say that it's not of God, if souls are saved by it? I'm definitely not doubting your Biblical foundation cuz I trust that you know the Word of God. In the end, Christ said (in Matthew 7:18) that a bad tree CANNOT produce good fruit. If we agree that salvation is "good fruit," and people have gone on record to say "I was saved though their ministry," then it's not a bad tree. It's serving its purpose-- even if it's not for me. For example, I'm not a fan of praise dancing. AT ALL. Like... AT ALL. LOL But I know that folks are blessed by it, so I say "go for it." I may get up and go to the bathroom at that point of the service (lol), but I'm not surprised or upset when I get BACK from the bathroom and folks are slain in the spirit. However God wants to use 'em, y'know? But I do hear you, bro.
Ok, what is this about young gospel artists doing the "SAME moves as secular artists?" It seems like therepresentation of the definition of secular is quite limited. So, when you see the praise dancers in their white garments doing certain moves, where do you think they got those moves from? They got them from ballet, which is clearly not sacred, therefore it must be called secular. So the "sense of holiness" that is spoken of, is often times just a poor imitation of little children who haven't had training in ballet. Which is fine, but let's not get it twisted. It still comes from a "secular" source. So the question is, why is it more accepted in the church than what really looks like what is called hip-hop dance. Is it that the church has had a love-hate relationship with hip hop since its beginnings in the Bronx, when it came out of desperate situations and lifestyles? Then let's say that. But let's not just brand only that which is R&B or hip-hop as secular. Is country music secular? Is the medical profession secular? Is teaching secular? (especially since we can no longer say "Jesus" in the classrooms) These are all accepted examples, yet they are still secular (according to the actual definition) because they are not sacred. Furthermore, this discussion was made literal by comments that suggested that groups like 21:03 are not acceptable because they do certain moves. Let's remember that. So, if we're going to be literal, let's go all the way.
@EJ..i hear you also bruh! I'm not a fan of praise dance/mime either, but I don't knock it (agreed). But what's really paining me (as a young brutha) is my hip hop peers be cracking up at 'us church folks.'...that's all I'm saying...as always EJ thanks for listening (even though we don't agree on everything..lol) God bless erbody!!!! lol
Hey Justin, in response to your comment. I dont just mean them either. Its other gospel artists who are doing it as well. I have seen 21:03 perform also.Now, I still feel that attention is being placed on movements, I am a young person myself and I like there music thats just my opinion on the subject matter. But its nothing wrong with getting excited about God. All im saying is dont loose focus on God within your performance and think about what seperates it from an RnB artist's performance thats all im saying. I still like them all. Be blessed.