Wanted to toss some Goodies your way real quick. This was one of my favorite performances from this year’s BET Celebration of Gospel.
It’s Kirk Franklin’s “Little Boy” featuring Lowell Pye, Isaac Carree and Rance Allen. ALL FOUR of ‘em are giving it to us, for real.
Enjoy:
After watching, I had a thought: what’s the difference between the showmanship of Rance Allen as compared to some of the urban gospel artists who dance and entertain, as well, in their performances? How come gospel consumers seem more willing to accept HIS entertaining than the entertaining of younger artists (i.e., G.I., 21:03 or V3)?
Anyone wanna weigh in???
I think that there is a certain level of respect most people have for Rance to the point that whatever he does is "acceptable"; He's been at it for a long time and has earned that respect; plus the fact that he is a full sized man that is able to move like that is entertaining to many. I know I cant speak for everyone, but that is an off the top of my head thought.
I dunno about evryone else, but personally i feel that artist like Rance Allen are LEGIT in the gospel game and more than their actions on stage.. their words have been speaking volumes for years. so it's like we see Rance and be like yea that's rance who cares what he's doing he been around so long we know him and we know what he's singin about, but newer artist i guess have to grow on us before we can really enjoy their performances, they might perform great but that's just it.. for younger artist it's a performance, they have the pressure of their record execs sayin we need to win over so many ppl, so we can sell so many records.. and etc.. but for people like Rance you know he's doing this thing as Ministry and he doesn't have that pressure b/c he's been around he has established a certified fanbase
Well, like Ray said, Rance Allen has paid his dues and can do no wrong. Man that brotha was sangin in that video. I think people have a problem with the younger artists because the beats are hip hop influenced, but then the lyrics are sometimes so border line. They have no mention of scripture, God, or Jesus, so I dont know if you are singing about your girlfriend or what, lol.
@luda hahaha you are so right, I call those switch hitters lol u have no clue whether they talkin bout Jesus or the girl they met outside
@all: I hear that, I suppose, but is it Biblical? Is it fair? I mean, to say that "we don't mind Rance Allen doing it cuz he's full-sized" or "cuz he's been in the game longer..." Is THAT the standard for what's right? Or, why do we (as Christians) make others PROVE themselves? Isn't that kinda... counter-intuitive to the whole point of God's grace and unconditional love? How come we don't give younger artists the benefit of the doubt-- believing that they ARE talking about God unless they show us otherwise? Just throwin' ideas out there-- no one is right/wrong. Just curious. GIMME MORE COMMENTS! LOL
@EJ lol you really know how to keep a convo going bro good job lol I don't think that it's we wait for them to prove themselves, it's just we don't know what were getting with new artist and that's not our fault neither is it theirs, and it's not like we write them off either ....personally i give new artist a listen but it all has to do with peoples own taste Artist like Rance Allen and John P Kee whose been around don't need us to say whether their good or not b/c if they haven't been good would we still be talking about them or buying their music? I guess it's just the fact when we see a seasoned artist release a cd we can kinda figure out what we r gonna get. Everyone has their own opinions and that's just human nature. it's like shopping... are you going to shop with a trusted seller that you have been shopping with for years or this store that's new, of course you might give him a try but will they deliver YOUR Wants/Needs, it all depends on the person
Did you guys know that Kirk is having auditions to be his opening act when he comes to Texas and the Southwest this summer? Check it out: http://www.fightofourlife.blogspot.com/
Wait..hold up a sec....you can do the cabbage patch, the tootsie roll, get jiggy wit it, whateva (showing my age), but at the end of the day if you dont have the anointing and the spirit mixed in there somewhere, you're just a distraction to the message you're trying to relay over to your audience. Look I'm not saying anything's wrong with dancing but dont be so into choreographing everything that people cant follow what you're saying for focusing on what you are doing. HE"S suppose to get the glory, not you! Make sense?!
I think it comes down to what we've been desensitized to think is ok. I think this topic makes Christians appear fickle. Just like Dr. Deborah Smith Pollard mentioned in her interview a couple of days/posts ago, people didn't want Mahalia Jackson singing gospel because she was a large, shapely woman. Back then, that was too sexual. How did it all of a sudden become not so sexual today? Doesn't Dottie Peoples look like a contemporary Mahalia Jackson? Why don't we have these conversations about Mrs. People's clothes the way we talk about MaryMary? Plus, did voluptuousness all of sudden not become the problem when the world moved on to desire something else? Is God changing his mind about standards or are we? What is sounds like is that the church can't make up its mind. Seriously, we must be careful, because the world is watching. And I must say, they often have legitimate evidence with which to conclude that Christians are often hypocrites. We can't even come to a solid conclusion on this post as to why certain showmanship/clothes/songs make us uncomfortable. We kind of need to get it together.
Until the younguns show us otherwise that they are serving some other God, let's give them a chance and let God be praised! It does seem as if new artists have to prove themselves to be worthy of the established artists and some consumers. It shows at the conferences, concerts, award shows, etc. And lately most of the best albums came from the underground or indie artists. Just like the link Glen sent for the Kirk tour, labels don't care who you open up for on a tour, they concerned about how many units you can sell. Kirk aint gonna sign you and he'll most likely be backstage in his room till its his time to get on stage, so what's the point of auditioning and once again trying to prove yourself for 10 minutes on a stage. I know I going into other territroy/subject, so I'll pause right here.
@gospelfan: LOL @ "the younguns"... and I agree. Give 'em the benefit of the doubt. Truth be told, if a BUNCH of these artists ACTUALLY wanted to sing R&B, they could have done so-- they have better vocals and writing ability than most of the secular artists that are out today. So, can't we pretty much assume that they love the same God that the traditionalists love?
Question...why is it that alot of our "gospel" music sounds like seculas music and not the other way around? If it wasnt for some of the lyrics we wouldnt be able to tell the difference. Shouldnt it be the other way around? If anything, the secular artists should be gleeming from the gospel arena. Yea I know about how back in the day certain styles of music got its sound from gospel but that was very lil. But for the past several years now its been the former. Im just sayin. Secular artists write music to reach their particluar audience whether it be country, R&B, blues, jazz, or hip hop. But the gospel arena tends to pull all forms together to draw the outside and I understand why, it's to draw the unsaved to Jesus Christ. Why dont or why cant the other genre of music pull from the gospel styles or sounds? Makes sense to anybody? And just to make it clear, I love contemporary gospel so by no means am I knocking any form of gospel; just asking a question.
I know that I am kinda late, but first off about the older singers vs. the new singers--- my beliefs are as long I can see God through them let them go on and do them. Most traditionalist believe that if a song doesn't sound like what they are used to then it's wrong, but I beg to differ because one thing that Kirk said was "we don't wanna see your crack" that is teaching; see most traditionalists forget to be real with themselves and while they are caught up in their world, their children are being introduced to a multiple of things and they are so stuck on tradition that they can't even fight back. Why not get some gospel artist to sing and talk about what is going on the world with a Godly perspective. Secondly, if the artist takes his or her career as a ministry the cds will sell themselves. Sorry, if I offended anyone, but I am a person who doesn't like people's tradition. It is just Jesus with me because tradition is not judging me God is... @EJ I totally agree with you! I agree with some others as well.
you guys know what the song said, i got carried away bout the pants on that part!!! lol!! I love that song!!!!
@Alaina: never too late for comments. turn to your neighbor and say "revive us again." lol I hear ya and agree with ya. Though, I have to say that I didn't know WHAT in the name of the Lord you were talkin' about with "we don't wanna see your crack" until you came back and commented again. HAHAHAAAAA... It's "let him see your mind, not the crack of yo' behind." LOL You're hilarious. Y'all bring me joy.
i know after I hit send I was like whoaaa!!! oops!!!! I am sorry got carried way started thinking about our young men who wear their pants to knees not knowing what it signifies or having their own reason of doing it!!! I am waiting for part 2 with Ton3x....
I'm super late but God Bless Alaina! Amen to your comments. I know that the view is that we as Christians are "compromising" but I do beg to differ. Back in the day when Mahalia Jackson was singing I'm sure the concern was "she's too sensual" and I'm not knocking that but because the world we live in today has changed and the level of demonic satanic things that we are faced with, our children are faced with etc, has changed which I would interpret that we as the church must adjust so that we can "reach" the lost. When I think of the many many many people I come in contact with who don't have a relationship with God because they have the perception that you must be "perfect" to go to church/give your life over to Christ. This mistaken concept was and still is projected in some churches. I am not knocking the wisdom of the saints who have paved the way because without them we would be lost. Btw... Dottie Peoples is one of THE most classiest ladies ever! Not just as a gospel artist but ever!!!
The older saints, and the older artists should be encouraging the younger and newer artists to grow in the Lord, walk out their faith, and mature as ministers and artist, instead of shunning them because they don't understand or appreciate the expression. WE do make the younger and newer artist PAY if you will, dues, and jump through hoops, and prove their anointing. I agree with EJ.. WE have no idea the hearts of the artist because we don't give them a chance, and they could very well be singing RnB/Pop or whatever else they chose. Tonex said it best, KiKi, 21:03, MaryMary are all artistically, sonically, and nice looking enough to do whatever genre they choose. Gospel if you haven't noticed is not the easiest form of music to sing (vocally, or commercially). And trying to please THE CHURCH definitely gives one a MOTIVE CHECK. It would have to be for Kingdom Building. I'm sure for them it's a heart motive, and not for fame/money cuz let's be honest folks.. the gospel industry ain't BALLIN or prospering like that. CHECK SOUNDSCAN lol.. If they wanted all that then they would sing other genres.. It saddens me because ONE DAY, the body is gonna look up, and the whole OLD guard is gonna be gone, and we would have totally destroyed the spirits of the younger artists, there won't be a future FRED H. YOLANDA, KIRK, WINANS, CLARK SISTER, to carry on the gospel through song. Let's lift them up ya'll, not put them down. OH AND LAST THING.. EJ mentioned something about entertaining.. QUICK QUESTION.. Don't most of us, consume some form of entertainment on a daily basis? (Tv, movie, music, board game, phone conversations) - all of these are not SACRED programs or activities.. So what is EXACTLY wrong with entertainment that speaks about GOD, AND is entertaining? We are entertained by everything and everyone else.. Can we only watch Christian movies? Play Christian Uno? Watch TBN and the WORD network ALL DAY? Not Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, or The GAME? Ya'll know ya'll got Beyonce's last CD, saw SlumDog Millionaire, and watch OPRAH lol... Ok.. I'm done :-)
@Highly Favored: Where YOU been?! LOL Good points and I love your Dottie Peoples shout out. @Justin: True True True. I agree with you on all points. In fact, I may have to take the last part of your comment and turn it into a "ChitChat" question for the site... I'd be curious to know what people think about Christian entertainment... Does every Christian art form have the PRIMARY PURPOSE of ministry, or can it be for the sake of ART first, and ministry later?
@ Highly favored, Justin, and EJ I agree with you guys!!! EJ to answer your question I think ministry is first and foremost and then entertainment. To me ministry is a type of ART because you are allowing God to use you to take something that is imperfect and help make it perfect(look more like Christ), so there is a changing of appearance taking place. It is the same even in music. If God gives me song and says do it like this, this, and that and I do it: the entertainment will be there. I might not reach the crowd that I(self) wants to reach but i would have reached the crowd that needed to be reached.