Several years back, I watched VH1 Divas Live as Bishop Paul Morton joined Aretha Franklin on stage to kill “Precious Memories” before the masses.

I love this performance today as much as I did back then.  Check it out–

What’dya think???

Who cares about gospel music videos these days?  I don’t mean that flippantly, I actually want an internet “show of hands” if you care.

I don’t think I do.  Not much, at least.  But then, I don’t care much for music videos in general anymore…

It was one thing when Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video came out… a music video MEANT something.  And for a decade or so to follow, people were creative and imaginative, making visual experiences out of something that was, at one time, purely auditory.  For a time, we loved to watch music videos over and over again, to see cool shots, maybe even learn choreography.  But now, seen it once, you’ve seen it enough.

These days, people treat music videos like another checklist item on the record label “to do” list.  Even music television stations like MTV, VH1 and BET show more original programming than music videos.  And if they do show a music video, you tend to only get a snippet of it, not the full thing.  And that’s in mainstream music.

Glance over at the smaller niche genres, like gospel, and I really have to scratch my head at artists and labels who are so quick to make (and PAY FOR) a music video.

I think many gospel artists think that a music video means you’ve “made” it.  But where, in the current state of our industry, do you think you’re making it to?  It doesn’t necessarily translate to a wider audience or an increase in sales.  And to the artist who says “I’m not doing it for those reasons… I just want someone to be blessed by the video footage,” I say “QUIT IT.”  It’s a tool and it’s okay to view it as such.  And given that it is one, it might do us well to assess whether it’s a wise tool in which to invest.

And once you have it, to whom are you showing it?  The reality is that, for most gospel fans, the only time we CAN see a gospel music video on television is on Sunday mornings, between 10am and 12 noon.  And guess where most gospel fans will be during that time?  Church.  So, artists and labels spend time and money to create a product that can generally only be experienced at a time when their core audience can’t actually experience it!  Not wise.

And for those of you who’d say “but, what about getting it featured on gmc.com or posting it to YouTube?”  Maybe.  But I’m someone who sits in front of a computer all day.  In fact, I make my living that way.  And I’m not watching a music video.  I might do it once, but I definitely won’t do it a second time.

I’m not writing this to gripe.  Really I’m not.  I honestly am serious and quite curious– who cares about gospel music videos these days???

Kirk Franklin will be appearing on The Mo’Nique Show tonight, on BET, at 11pm ET.  I hear that he did very well, so you don’t wanna miss it!

Kirk Franklin has also been added to the performance line-up for BET’s Haiti relief concert/telethon, SOS Saving OurSelves – Help For Haiti, which will be broadcast live TOMORROW night at 8pm ET on BET, Centric, MTV and VH1.

The event, hosted by Sean “Diddy” Combs, Queen Latifah and Pharrell, will feature performances by a who’s-who list of artists, including  Wyclef, Mary J Blige, Robin Thicke, Chris Brown, Monica, Ne-Yo, Justin Bieber, and more.

Congrats to Kirk for the tremendous opportunities that the Lord is trusting you with!  Thanks for reppin’ the Kingdom of God and the gospel community.

In the year 2000, Tarralyn Ramsey entered the gospel music industry with the release of her self-titled album on Verity.  We marveled at the beautiful tone and maturity of the teenager’s voice and many predicted that she’d be the next HUGE female voice of the gospel industry.

After being released from her recording contract, she competed in, and WON, the nationally televised Born To Diva singing competition on VH1.  Many accused her of leaving gospel, and even worse, leaving God.

This Tuesday, September 15th, Tarralyn Ramsey will release Beyond The Darkness, her first full gospel album in nearly 10 years, on her own record label.

In my interview with her, we chat about the new album and she responds to the criticism that she alleged strayed away from gospel and Jesus Christ.  Her responses demonstrate determination and sincerity in what she’s doing.  I think you’ll enjoy what she has to say, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy her album.

Folks, I give you Tarralyn Ramsey…

*     *     *

EJ:  Hi!  How are you?

TR:  I’m great, thank you.

EJ:  Thanks for taking a minute to chat.  I really appreciate that.

TR:  Thank you for having me!

EJ:  It’s my pleasure.  I want to tell you, first, that I still listen to your debut album like it came out last week.  From the songwriting and production to the vocal performances, it was great.  And I’m glad to see you back.

TR:  Thank you.

EJ:  Absolutely.  Ok, well let’s get right to it and chat about your new project, Beyond The Darkness, due in stores next Tuesday, September 15th.  How would you characterize this album in comparison to your debut album?

TR:  I think it’s definitely different.  My older gospel record was more of a choir-tinged record.  This record has no choirs.  Every lead and background vocal has been done by me, solely.  It’s traditional, but still pop.  It’s not very urban, though… it’s kind of like a worship/church/pop record.  That’s the best way I can describe it. *laughs*

EJ:  *laughs* Alright.

TR:  I think that, for me, this is my best record yet.  Ever.  Vocally, arrangement-wise, lyrically… to me, it’s definitely my best work yet.

EJ:  Nice.  What would you say is the message of this new album?  What was your goal?

TR:  Well, the title is Beyond The Darkness and, basically, it’s a prophetic declaration over my life, your life, everybody’s life… you may be going through certain things right now, but if you speak out of your mouth that you’re beyond the darkness, you’ll ultimately find yourself in a place that puts you beyond the situations and trauma.

There’s a brighter future that lies ahead.  Things don’t stay dark always and there’s definitely a light at the end of the tunnel.

EJ:  That’s such a necessary word for these times.  I wanna take a minute to address something that I know readers have questions about, and for which I know you’ve got answers.  I’ve had A LOT of people asking me “where has Tarralyn Ramsey been?”  And I’m sure you’ve heard it all before– how do you respond?

TR:  Simply stated, I have a song on my album… it’s actually the intro of the record.  And it says “I am well.”  I’ve been here.  I’ve been working.  I haven’t gone anywhere.

I absolutely took a few years, though, to regroup and seek God’s clarity, to figure out where He wanted me to be.  At the end of the day, that’s most important to me.  And He asked me, specifically, to give Him this album.  And so that’s what I did.

EJ:  Mmm-hmm.

TR:  I didn’t sign with a label.  Not because I couldn’t, but because he asked me to give him this record.  And if I was gonna do another gospel record, it was gonna be done my way.  And that’s what we did.

I’ve been here, though.  I’ve read everything that they write.  I go on YouTube and see all the comments, I read the MySpace page… I’ve been very abreast of what people are saying and what’s been going on.

EJ:  I gotcha.  Lemme ask you– a lot of people don’t understand it, but artists in the gospel industry often have it rough in many ways that don’t often come to light.  Did you become at all bitter or angry with the gospel industry after your experiences in it?  Did anything happen that made you want to take a break from it?

TR:  Oh, no.  I’m a person who, I’ve learned to chalk up things to life experiences.  Even in a bad situation, you have to find something good in it.  I got into this business very young– I got my first record deal when I was 14 years old.  From 14 to 21, I was signed to Verity.

I had kinda grown up and wanted to do something different.  I got released from my agreement and went to [compete in] Divas.  But no, it was what it was– it was a good album.  People enjoyed it, learned who I was… I don’t have any bitterness about it.

EJ:  You mention going to do VH1′s Born To Diva.  I’m gonna ask you to also respond to a criticism that you probably already know is coming.  Someone is going to say “she left gospel for more money and fame… she didn’t do as well in secular music as Beyonce or Rihanna, so now she’s back trying to get rich in gospel.”

TR:  Mmm-hmmm.

EJ:  Now, I can see SO many misconceptions in that statement alone, but I want YOU to respond to it because I’m sure you’ve heard it all before.

TR:  Right.  First of all, I didn’t leave God and I didn’t leave gospel music.  Number two, even though people think I crossed over, I actually just went and won a reality show.  It was on a major network– VH1.

First of all, there was NO record deal in the beginning.  We never knew of a record deal when we started.  It was only to have the opportunity to sing on Divas.  And once we got INTO the competition, that’s when they said “you’ll win a record contract.”

EJ:  Oh wow.

TR:  So, I continued to the next round and, ultimately, won the competition.  But when you win that kind of competition, people fail to realize that you’re already signed to some form of agreement IN THE PROCESS of doing the competition.

EJ:  Right!

TR:  So, once I won, if I said “oh, I don’t want to do it anymore,” I couldn’t have because I had already been signed to something.  So, I continued to do the record.  The record was supposed to be an urban inspirational pop record.  And it started out that way.

For me, I don’t consider it that I left God.  I never left God.  I was still a praise and worship leader in the church, still singing, recording my record… I just expanded my horizons.  And I had the opportunity to do things and to meet people that I never would’ve had the opportunity to meet.

Half of the world didn’t know who Tarralyn Ramsey was, now more people do.  So, it was a great experience for me.

EJ:  Sure.  Would you say it gave you a greater platform to do what you feel called to do?

TR:  Absolutely.  I do music.  I do LIFE music, world music… I do music that touches people in the church and in the world.  Because everybody doesn’t know about Jesus and they NEED to know about Him… some kinda way.  And it may not be through a flat-out churchy song.  But if they can get inspired by finding hope in a “Yes You Can” or in a “Dreamer,” then that’s okay.

So, yeah, I definitely feel like it gave me a greater platform.  I still feel blessed by the opportunity to have been able to sit with music mogul Tommy Mottola, to be able to work with some of the top-rated producers in the world, who’ve worked with everyone from Celine Dion to Whitney Houston.  I feel blessed.

EJ:  Awesome.  Are you touring for this project at all?  Where can people see you soon?

TR:  I am!  I’m gearing up for an in-store at WalMart on September 19th, from 1pm to 3pm, in Orlando, FL.  It’s a live performance and autograph signing. [Editor's Note: Click here to see the flyer for this event!!!]

EJ:  Wow.  That’s hot because WalMart has become a leader in music retail.

TR:  Yeah!  And we’re gearing up for a mini promo tour, which will probably start at the end of September.  And… I’m excited because the single, “Faultless,” is doing pretty well at radio.

EJ:  I’m liking the single!  It kinda reminds me of the vibe of “Peace of God” from your first album, kinda worshipful…

TR:  Yeah!  I never thought of that, but it absolutely does.

EJ:  Are you excited to be on the “artist grind” again?

TR:  Yeah, I am psyched.  It’s definitely from a different perspective because I’m not only the artist now, but I’m the CEO of the record company, so I tend to take a lot of things to heart… What’s that?

*a non-distinct voice speaks in the background*

RIGHT!  My mother says she’s gonna have to take some Xanax because I stress her out!  *laughing*

EJ: *laughing*  I love that!

TR: *laughs* But yeah, I am excited to get on the road and really let people know what Beyond The Darkness is all about.

EJ:  Well, I’m excited for it!  I think people are glad to have another gospel project from you.  I wish you all the best.

TR:  Thank you so much!

EJ:  No problem.  And I’ll talk to you soon.

TR:  Okay, bye-bye.

 *     *     *

So, there you have it folks.  What did you think???

Don’t forget that I posted her single, “Faultless,” on the PunditPlayer today, so make sure you check that out.

Also, visit her website at http://www.tarralynramsey.com and follow her on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/tarralyn.