The BMI Trailblazers Awards take place during Stellar Awards weekend and they are always the hottest ticket in town (perhaps moreso than the Stellars!). This year, I spoke to soooooooo many industry folks who said it featured some of the greatest performances they had ever seen in their LIVES. EVER!
I was so excited for last night, when Gospel Music Channel aired the awards show, full of tributes for and from gospel’s finests. But ummm… somewhat lackluster for me. And it wasn’t cuz the performances weren’t brilliant– it was cuz they kept cutting off the people!
I get that we have to do commercial breaks and the editors had to contend with the dragging on of gospel vamps (some folks NEVER end a song). But still… that’s the genre. And many lovers of the genre appreciate, no… LOOK FORWARD TO the vamps!
Case in point: Kierra Sheard. She sang “Jesus Is A Love Song” like it was her own song and, right when she was about to demolish the vamp “Je-sus is… a love song… love… song…,” they went to commercial and that was it. So, we’ll never know how that ended. And they kept doing it! 
I get that there’s a limited amount of air time for the show, and that they have to capture as much as possible… but can’t y’all make it a three-hour program? 
LOL I’m being unfair and unrealistic, and I realize that, but I’m just sayin’…
In spite of my frustration with that, the show was PHENOMENAL. Karen Clark-Sheard sang “Couldn’t Tell It If I Tried” like it was the original recording from Finally Karen, Kim Burrell gave new life to “Prayer of Jabez (Bless Me)” and reminded everyone why she’s oft-imitated, but never matched. And Lalah Hathaway… God gives gifts and favor as He sees fit, but I’m just a little jealous. Like… we’re creating human beings with voices like THAT?! Maaaaaan!!!
Other great performances came from Israel Houghton & Tommy Sims, BeBe Winans, Donnie McClurkin (with an impromptu mic-pass to Darwin Hobbs, who I believe to be severely underrated by consumers), and Twinkie Clark, who plaaaayed that B3 organ!
If you missed it, it’s airing again TONIGHT on Gospel Music Channel at 10pm EST.
Anyone else catch it? WHAT DID YOU THINK?
I hope some clipes make it to youtube.....!! gotta c Twinkie shred dat hammond organ!!!!!!!
I totally agree!! The show was packed with some of gospel's best...but as soon as the glory was bout to fall...the big cut off!!! I got frustrated quickly! But the Kim Burrell..."boom-boom" on Jabez was worth the time! Grace & Peace!
I really wanted to see how the Kierra performance ended (they coulda shaved some of Lalah's time down and gave it to her). I enjoyed her and Kim Burrell (who is growing on me) -- wrecked shop. I love Crystal Lewis so I'm glad she took part. Karen was all over the place -- definitely love the CD version more. and Vanessa.. :-/
Missed the broadcast, is there another broadcast date beyond February 24th that anyone know of?
@Michael Alexander: I don't see any more encore air dates on their schedule, but check YouTube for several clips from it-- I just posted Kierra on the homepage of this site. Enjoy!
Thanks so much EJ, you da man!
no doubt, man. i aim to please! :-)
I really enjoyed the show...I love Karen Clark Sheard and she really did sing like the finally cd. I read an article speaking on how emotional she was before starting the song. She gave props to Twinkie, Ce Ce and of course Donald. I do hear the emotional side when she is singing this song and it's all good. The woman is still one of the best gospel vocalist there is.