Are y’all watching this show?!?! If you’re not, I cannot explain how much you’re missing out. It’s a free weekly gospel concert series that you get to enjoy while sitting in your pajamas. What’s better?!
Okay, so as always, I was updating on Twitter. The Twitter server kept crashing cuz it said it had too many tweets, which I’m convinced was due SOLELY to the gospel folks watching Sunday Best and commenting together. If you’re not following me yet, you’re missing out. Click here: http://www.twitter.com/gospelpundit.
NOW, the show:
Fred Hammond opened up with a new haircut (we love it) and an incredible performance of “No Weapon,” a throwback classic. He flipped it into a medley by adding “This Is The Day,” reminding EVERYONE that he is gospel royalty. Why do folks still sleep on Fred? Has he EVER let us down, musically?!
Anyway, next came the performances. They said they were honoring the “Godfathers” of Gospel Music– Thomas A. Dorsey, James Cleveland and Bobby Jones. Didn’t know we had given them those designations, especially since Thomas A. Dorsey created what we consider gospel music (we call him the “Father”) and the entire industry calls Rev. Timothy Wright the “Godfather of Gospel,” but he wasn’t even recognized… whatever. I’m glad whenever we honor gospel greats, so that’s kewl. I DIGRESS!
The performances:
Latice Crawford – “Soon I Will Be Done…”: MA’AM! You look flawless and your performance was incredible. The judges mentioned a “disconnect,” which I noticed a bit too– right when the beat came in, she didn’t seem like she FELT like delivering it… But she demolished that song from note one at the VERY TOP of the stairs, all the way until her Whitney Houston-lookin’ self got to the end of the song. Fantastic performance.
Y’Anna Crawley – “No Ways Tired”: It may have been my favorite performance from her to date. I know everybody is still buckin’ and shoutin’ over “Grandma’s Hands” from a few weeks back, but the MINISTRY that was there last night… we haven’t really seen her in that way yet, so I’m all about last night’s performance. And when she got to talkin’ about how she’s raising her kids on her own… she meant that thing. Awesome job!
Jessica Reedy – “God Has Smiled On Me”: I’ve said it from day one and I’ll say it until the end of this competition– JESSICA REEDY IS MY FAVE. She always looks incredible, she has this sweet, humble demeanor (which she tastefully flips to a “commanding confidence” on stage)… she’s better than she even realizes, I think, which is awesome. I say it all the time about her– it’s the MUSICAL CHOICES she makes… she’s tasteful, daring, unique, not easy to imitate… AND THE RANGE. She was hitting notes in her lower register that some dudes can’t even hit. And with precision… and with tone and color… and with… ALL THAT. Jessica Reedy, you are… well, you just ARE!
Zebulon Ellis - “Precious Lord”: I didn’t feel like hearing nobody’s “Precious Lord.” In fact, I walked away for a minute. But I’ll be doggoned if Zebulon Ellis didn’t make me RUN back into the room with dropped jaw and wide eyes… that man sang that song. Still, the performance was not as stellar as those of his female counterparts. He sings well, but he doesn’t PERFORM as well as they did. And ultimately, I think that’s what made the distinction.
In the end, Zebulon was sent home, which I think is the right decision. He gave it his all and has gained a BUNCH of people who are gonna support him. Great work, brother!
Now, it’s down Jessica Reedy, Latice Crawford and Y’Anna Crawley. 
At this point, any one of these three ladies could win and I’d say “ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.” I am, of course, hoping for one in particular, but I’ma be buying albums from each of ya. EACH OF YA, I say!
Some general notes:
1. With fewer contestants on the show each week, we’re getting to hear longer songs from them, which is GREAT. The fact that they don’t have to start at the bridge and end with the chorus means that we get a better picture of how they perform a full song, which is kinda important.
2. Ummm… Donald Lawrence is a musical mastermind who is bringing out the absolute best in each of these singers. O, to be a fly on the wall of those vocal coaching sessions– he’s got the midas touch.
3. My wife pointed out (and I concur) that the show’s STYLIST is on their J-O-B. Everybody looks like a gazillion bucks. Get it!
4. I didn’t PERSONALLY need Wynonna Judd’s performance, but the beauty of God’s plan is that SHE needed it… and that’s enough to shut all of our mouths (a little). After she gave her tearful performance of “How Great Thou Art,” she said that her grandmother had died the night before. That performance was pure worship for her, and I have nothing to say about that. AND, I’ll add: she’s a singing somebody anyway. For proof, listen to her duets on Kelly Price’s Christmas album or Patti LaBelle’s recent gospel album. She holds her own with both singers, which is no small feat.
All in all, an EXCELLENT show.
Thoughts???
Up first is Kelly Price. She released her Christmas album One Family: A Christmas Album in 2001. She’s got some great arrangements of classic songs, plus some good original ones.
