An editorial from Associate Editor Troy Lilly…

It may be hard to believe but it’s been 30 years since Bobby Jones Gospel debuted, making its host, Dr. Bobby Jones, more popular on Sunday mornings than most preachers in the pulpit.

When Bobby Jones Gospel first aired on BET in 1980, the network’s first year, I wasn’t even alive. My parents weren’t married until the following year, and Martin Luther King’s birthday wasn’t a national holiday. Albums were still called LPs then, and everybody’s home entertainment center consisted of a deluxe turntable. Remember those days? Okay, neither do I, but I’ve done some research.

Anyway, what I’m saying is that it’s been really long time since the cameras started rolling on the set over there, and things have changed. A lot.

We’ve come a long way.  We have Sunday Best now, which is the gospel equivalent of American Idol. Singers (and pretenders) belt their hearts out in front of the judges for weeks, and at the end the home viewing audience  votes to decide who wins a recording contract. And then there’s the yearly Celebration of Gospel where gospel and secular artists make music on the same stage while host Steve Harvey tries to tell clean jokes. How’s that for progress? I know some of you are disenchanted with Sunday Best but this isn’t a comparison, so hear me out.

Long before the competitions and musical soirees went mainstream and hit primetime, Bobby Jones Gospel put a face with the music and gave the industry its first national platform. Dr. Jones expanded that platform across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans , earning the title “Ambassador of Gospel.” I hold him in the highest of regard for everything he’s done for gospel music, and I’m sure you do as well. I just have a couple of questions, and I want to know what you think.

Although the music and mediums have changed over the years, those changes haven’t affected the show very much. You can still find it airing on the same network, on the same day, in the same timeslot, same format, and still hosted by Dr. Jones. In fact, Bobby Jones Gospel is the longest-running show on BET and one of the longest in cable television history. However, do you find it strange that the show has stuck to the same formula for three decades?

I mean, Bob Barker did the same thing with The Price is Right, so maybe it’s not a bad thing. But I’m leaning against it.

Consider this: traditional radio and television viewership is declining; digital music sales via iTunes and online music retailers will eclipse physical sales this year; internet marketing through social media is rapidly becoming the most effective way to market and sell music, aside from the music itself. Let us also remember the rise of blog sites in the last five years, sites like GospelPundit.com (which we love, right?).

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m well aware that many artists who were introduced on Bobby Jones Gospel went on to achieve unprecedented success. Gospel heavyweights like Yolanda Adams and Kirk Franklin, who are two of the best-selling gospel acts of the last 20 years, both got their start there.

I’m just asking you, when was the last time you saw a new artist on the show Sunday morning and headed to Best Buy or jumped on iTunes to cop their album? I’m curious to know.

If anything, I feel like the show has become sort of a rite of passage. It’s the place every major gospel artist must go to pay their respects at some time or another, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

I think it’s very appropriate for us to take this time to appreciate (and congratulate) Dr. Bobby Jones for all he’s has done for gospel music. By introducing the look and sound of gospel to households across the nation, Bobby Jones Gospel has allowed countless artists to share their ministry with the world. And I love a good ole’ gospel jamboree.

As we celebrate 30 years, however, I’m just wondering– will you still be skipping Sunday School to watch?

Few people can nail a live performance like Yolanda Adams can.  She stands tall and regal, all glammed up, with a voice that just won’t quit.  If I were a betting man, my money would typically be on Yolanda when it comes to near-flawless live performances.

This particular performance is from a tribute to Patti LaBelle.  In fact, I remember posting something about it when it happened and, because she also did a duet with Brian McKnight, folks glossed over how dope this performance was, opting instead to go at each other about whether she should’ve or shouldn’t have, whether it’s right or wrong, whether Yolanda’s a sinner or a saint.

I don’t wanna go that route this time– let’s just focus on the performance, cuz it’s great and worth a watch.

Whatd’ya think???

Is it just me, or aren’t we ready for a new album from Yolanda Adams?

I’m not talkin’ about any sort of album, either– I mean an album with some jazzy cuts like “The Only Way,” some gospel ballads like “The Battle Is the Lord’s” or “Through the Storm,” some downright churchy cuts like “In The Midst Of It All,” and I’ll even take an urban track or two like “Already Alright.”

I so badly want the quintessential Yolanda Adams project– the total representation of every musical area in which she’s excelled.  Maybe that’s what we should want from all of our artists, but I feel especially anxious for her to deliver it on her next project.

Is it just me?

Word has it that Marvin Sapp took home a BET Award last night– he won in the category for Best Gospel Artist.  I think we all called this one and could’ve seen it comin’ a mile away.  But I’m THRILLED for him!

Also nominated in the category were Vickie Winans, Kirk Franklin presents Artists United (for Haiti Relief song), Tamela Mann and The Anointed Pace Sisters.

By the way, did anyone catch the show???

An obvious highlight for the gospel industry was Kirk Franklin’s performance of “Are You Listening?” with Fred Hammond, Marvin Sapp, Kim Burrell, Yolanda Adams and Karen Clark Sheard.  Everyone was in great voice and looked great and all that.  I could’ve used a BIT more Karen Clark Sheard on the ad libs– but couldn’t we all?

But before all that happened, we had another dope-for-gospel type of moment. I was thrilled to hear Alicia Keys, in the middle of her medley of hits, introduce Kim Burrell, who joined Keys in singing “If I Ain’t Got You” (Burrell changed the lyrics to say ”if it ain’t you, Jesus… if I ain’t got you, Jesus…”).  It was an incredible moment– the audience went BANANAS as if they, too, were die-hard Kim fans since the days of her indie release of Try Me Again (y’know, with the short haircut on it).  I’m glad for where God’s taking her.

(An aside: El DeBarge wasn’t doing gospel, but that medley ministered to my VERY SOUL, so… yeah.  Just needed to say that cuz I grew up on DeBarge.)

OKAY, tell me what you thought of the show, if you caught it, and blah blah blah…

Go!

Word has it that the BET Awards will feature a handful of gospel artists that I’m pretty sure you folks will enjoy…

Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, Kim Burrell, Fred Hammond and Karen Clark Sheard have been announced as performers on this year’s annual awards broadcast, which will air LIVE this Sunday, June 27th at 8pm ET/7pm CST on BET.

Who WASN’T tuning in before, but WILL BE now?!

Troy Lilly has HELD IT DOWN for the past several weeks, writing awesome recap after awesome recap of BET’s nationwide talent competition Sunday Best.  What better way to discuss the season finale at GospelPundit.com than in Troy’s own words?  Without any delay, here’s Troy Lilly…

*     *     *

It’s official – the people have spoken and the results are in.

LeAndria Johnson is the winner of BET’s Sunday Best for season three. Thousands from around the country auditioned, but in the end there could be only one. She won the title after viewers like you took to the Web and phone lines, casting votes online and via telephone and text.

She will receive a national recording contract and a 2010 Ford Taurus SHO.

But she didn’t have time to get caught up in celebrating. Immediately after she was named the winner, LeAndria debuted her first original song, “I Shall Leap Into My Destiny.” Sounds like she’s ready to leap forth into her new recording career.

LeAndria beat out the unlikeliest Sunday Best contestant yet, 79-year-old Elder Goldwire McLendon. Elder McLendon defied the myth that you have to be young to win a singing competition, and that age works against you. He showed that his seven decades of experience only helped him. That, and the anointing.

The show was awesome, too. The theme for the evening was “seasons.” Host Kirk Franklin said there’s a time for weeping. “A time to weep a time to laugh and a time to sing.” 

Representing the East Coast, Bishop Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Choir opened the finale with their ubiquitous choir-favorite “Souled Out.” Choir members appeared in the audience and ran up on stage with Hezekiah Walker. They really got the house rockin’.

Each of the contestants performed a medley of songs that comprised their best showing during the competition. 

LeAndria Johnson sang, “I Love the Lord,” “He Was There All the Time,” and “In the Midst of It All.” 

Asked why she sings they way she does, LeAndria simply answered, “pain!” Before coming to Sunday Best she lost her house. In the audition she wore flip-flops and socks because that’s all she could find. She said at one point she had chosen death over life. But one song got her through: Yolanda Adams’ “In the Midst of It All. How ironic that she also sang it during the show. Yolanda was honored and said she feels the pain, but more importantly, the victory of LeAndria.

 Elder Goldwire McLendon began singing a few bars of  “Yes, Jesus Loves Me” with barely any music, and moved right into “The Battle Is The Lord’s,” another Yolanda song. He finished up with a characteristically energetic rendition of “He’s Keeping Me Alive.”

 One week before Elder McLendon auditioned for Sunday Best he heard God say he was moving into a new season of his life. “God will set you up if you stay in His will,” Elder McLendon said. Throughout the competition, it seemed like Elder McLendon had been set up by God to win. And he was certainly a worthy contender. Judge Tina Campbell said, “every time I experience you I experience the God that you love and live for.

Season Two mentor Donald Lawrence returned with a few special guests to showcase his quintessential hits. Season two contestants, Jessica Reedy and Latice Crawford, sang “Seasons,” and “Encourage Yourself” respectively. And Season Two winner, Y’Anna Crawley, sang a stripped-down version of “The Blessing of Abraham.” Together, they did a few bars of “Let the Word Do the Work.”

 But no one could have prepared for the special treat that came next.

God answered my personal prayer and this year’s mentor, Kim Burrell, FINALLY performed. And the wait was so worth it. She remixed “Oh, Lord” from her Everlasting Life album, freestyling the words up to recognize Sunday Best contestants Martha Buries, Dathan Thigpen, Tiffany Carlin-Laird and Orlando Wright. Her musical acumen is undeniable and reaches across so many genres. I would go as far to say she’s the finest gospel-jazz singer of our time.

In addition to the prizes given to the winner and runner-up, Kirk presented a generous donation of $30,000 on behalf of BET to the New Orleans’s Ellis Marsalis Center for Music. New Orleans native and saxophonist Calvin Johnson was the featured local musician this week. 

Season three of Sunday Best will go down in the books as a competition that redefined what a contestant should look like. It also showed, yet again, that the power of gospel music has no limit, and the healing power can often touch the person who sings it as much as those who hear it.

LeAndria Johnson’s win this year was a triumph over the competition, but equally a triumph in her personal life. As Kim Burrell warned her, she’ll have to start preparing for life as LeAndria “after the fact.”

*     *     *

Great recap, Troy.  Thanks!

NOW, what are we gonna do on Sunday evenings?!

Leave a comment and lemme know what you folks liked/disliked about the season finale!  And what do you think about how it all turned out?!

Who rocks the recaps?  Troy Lilly rocks the recaps.

And he’s back with more this week.  Without delay… here’s our buddy, Troy Lilly, with his take on last night’s episode of BET’s Sunday Best…

*     *     *

After weeks of watching the judges voice their opinions and make – at times – controversial cuts from the lineup, it’s time for YOU to decide who will become Sunday Best this year.  No more blaming the judges, people.

So, the show last night began by reminding us what the winner walks away with besides a whole bunch of votes: a national recording contract – and a 2010 Ford Taurus SHO! Exciting, right?

The episode also introduced music directors, Stanley Brown and PJ Morton, and featured an instrumental by trumpeter Shemar Allen as a tribute to New Orleans, Louisiana, the host city for this season’s show.

Ledisi, another phenomenal R&B singer, opened the show with “Higher Than This,” a song from her latest album. I was sure the “high” she refers to was, well you know, that of a man. Ledisi (almost) convinced me the song was written about God. There are only two words for her singing style last night: church bred. I’ve been following her on Twitter, too, and she’s got a little word in her.

And then later in the show, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, who is nothing less than a gospel music legend, sang “Good News,” a song EJ premiered on GospelPundit.com last year before anyone else.  But on to the contestants…

Elder Goldwire McLendon – “I Know It Was the Blood” and “Jesus Be a Fence Around Me”

I wanna be like Elder McLendon when I grow up. He’s got Holy Ghost swagger! And he strutted it all over the stage yet again. Although I feel he was shortchanged a bit by the communion song (he could’ve really handled something far more challenging), he still managed to make “I Know It Was The Blood” his own.  I would have loved another song like “Jesus Be a Fence,” which Elder sang next.

On this song he showed more of the energy and vitality we saw last week during his performance of “He’s All Over Me.” Particularly during the vamp, he added some nice adlibs and, of course, hop scotched like a pro. Last night Elder said something that stood out to me: “I am not singing to people, I sing to God.” It’s clear that knowing who you’re singing to makes a world of difference.

LeAndria Johnson – “Running Back to You” and “Set Me Free”

Judge Donnie McClurkin asked last night if there’s anything LeAndria can’t sing.  I’d have to ask the same question because, if there is, I haven’t heard it yet. LeAndria tackled a classic Commissioned song first with stunning results. It may have been difficult for another singer to deliver a signature song without sticking to the original artist’s style. Not LeAndria. One of her greatest attributes as a singer, in my opinion, is her ability to interpret songs in a unique way. As I said a few weeks ago, song interpretation is what makes a singer an artist.

She was clearly up for the challenge on her second song as well. Not only did she interpret Myron Butler & Levi’s “Set Me Free,” she shared a personal testimony at the same time.  “I may have lost my house,” she sang, “but God’s got a mansion for me.” I believe he has so much more.

The Faceoff

The true faceoff of the evening, however, came in the form of a duet between Elder McLendon and LeAndria. They teamed up and sing “I’ll Take You There” to close the show. Hand in hand for the majority of the song, the pair played off of the large age gap between them and marched around the stage cheerfully in a performance that was rather harmonious for them to be going against ach other for the Sunday Best title. It was definitely a highlight of the show.

Their fate is now in your hands. You’ve been watching every week. You’ve seen the good and the not so good. You’ve seen each of them leap across the stage and bring the judges to tears.  Now you must decide who is Sunday Best.

Remember, you can vote until Saturday June 19, 2010 at noon EST. To vote online at the Sunday Best page on BET.com, click here.

What’s the verdict?

This is a video performance from the 2001 Essence Awards in NYC– it was at the HEIGHT of crossover-ness by Donnie McClurkin and Yolanda Adams.

Here, they’re singing their hits “We Fall Down” and “In The Midst Of It All”… great performance:

And I LOVED that ending! What do you think???

This is Part Two of your weekly Sunday Best recap. If you haven’t seen Troy Lilly’s editorial on last night’s program, click here… great perspective! If you’re all set, let’s go…

This week’s episode brought us one step closer to knowing who would be crowned Sunday Best as the judges made a tough decision, dismissing who many thought could win this year– Durward Davis. I had planned to recap it all again, but Troy did such a great job– no need to reinvent the wheel.

What I would like to chat about it, instead, is the root of our “shock” over the results portion of the show.

Full disclosure– I was shocked last night. I thought LeAndria and Durward were going to the finals. I thought that Elder Goldwire McLendon had done above and beyond what most expected, but that the end of the road was nigh. And I was going to be fine with that. When Kirk announced that Durward Davis would be going home, I was surprised. And the social networks immediately went to buzzin’, too.

But I’ve given it a little thought since last night, and I guess I have gotten to the point where I’m NOT so shocked anymore. Hear me out…

Many have said that Elder Goldwire McLendon, while a true treasure and an incredible contestant on this show, may not experience widespread commercial success in the gospel music industry and, as such, should not/will not win.  I, for one, think I would be more inclined to see him live than to purchase a full album of his.

But does that mean he shouldn’t win this year? Not necessarily…

The reality is that we, the viewing audience, don’t really know WHY Sunday Best exists. We love it, for sure, but it’s not easy to pinpoint the program’s end goal, at least not by way of their actions. And because we can’t pinpoint the end goal, it’s hard to have a reasonable expectation of the criteria it will use to get there.

With American Idol, for example, we know that the end goal is to create a superstar that will do well commercially. Everything points to it and they make no qualms about it. Everything that they decide speaks to it. Sunday Best, however, has never said that the commercial success of its winners is its paramount concern. And while skeptics and cynics will say “of COURSE that’s their chief concern… it’s a BUSINESS,” you have to admit that we’ve got a unique situation on our hands.

We’ve got a television program that will take 30 seconds of otherwise valuable air time to show people shouting and dancing, and where the judging criteria is based on an otherwise nebulous, but oh-so-common-for-us, term called the “anointing.” And time after time, this season and in season’s prior, the judges have sent several packing who have looked the part and had the vocal chops in exchange for something… different.

Even beyond that, we’re in an industry where most of the biggest names and highest-selling artists are closer to 40 years of age than 20 years of age, in complete contrast to the mainstream music industry.  We’ve got an industry where– and I’m just being honest– you don’t have to be a certain look or size in order to participate.  In fact, if you’ve got a lil’ meat on your bones, you’ll probably get a better response… again, diametrically opposed to mainstream music.  So is it far-fetched to believe that, even in a talent competition that mimics a mainstream music contest in some respects, there would be some aspects of it that are diametrically opposed to the mainstream music biz?

The reality is that Elder McLendon, whether he floats your musical boat or not, is making a big impact on folks.  The judges have been excited about his vocal delivery, but also about how God has preserved him and how he takes you back to old time holiness.  He’s a throwback of sorts, the sheer intrigue of which we can’t quite pinpoint, but can all feel a little bit.  Dunno if that’s what you’re looking for in your Sunday Best winner, but I’m curious to know what’s not ‘gospel’ about what he brings to the table?

Full disclosure #2– I’m not saying this to say that he should win.  I’m still rootin’ for Tiffany Carlin-Laird, and she ain’t even ON the show anymore.  I’ll have to pick a fave by the finale.

I dunno.  I just think it’s kinda hard to say that a contestant shouldn’t progress just because people might not really buy the album. People won’t really buy the albums of some of the biggest names in gospel music anymore.  Perhaps the criteria, or ultimate question is, will this person be a vital addition to the gospel music industry?

In that light, it becomes incredibly difficult to say. Who, among our finalists, would be the greatest asset to the industry? How do we even measure that? Is that even the goal of Sunday Best? If not, then what is?

No answers are right or wrong… these are just my random thoughts.

Anyone?

This week, I wanted to give you a Sunday Best double-recap of sorts… I have a little somethin’ to say about the show, and will do so later, but first, Troy Lilly is back with another great recap of last night’s episode…

*     *     *

We’re now very close to crowning a winner for season three of BET’s Sunday Best, and last night there was more impressive singing and even a little dancing.  But not without a couple surprises.  More on that later, though.

If you’ve been watching this season you know how the show works– Kirk Franklin introduces the guest musical artist for the week, they perform, and then the contestants hit the stage, right?  Well not when the guest artist is Israel Houghton.  The man behind the success of Israel and New Breed ushered the audience into worship with his version of “Moving Forward.”  For a moment it looked like we wouldn’t be able to move forward but, after a short reprise, we returned to the regularly scheduled programming, for a while.

The two-part show was graced with another great performance by Brian Courtney Wilson, who stopped by to sing “All I Need” from his breakthrough debut album Just Love.  As Kirk said, if you haven’t heard of him you’ll certainly be blessed by his music.

For last night’s episode the theme was “crossover,” blending traditional gospel songs with secular songs that feature inspirational messages.  Each of the three contestants were to sing a “secular” song during the first half and a “gospel” song in the second half.  I was quite curious to see how this week’s theme would play out as I believed it would further distinguish each singer’s versatility – or lack thereof.  But hey, what do I know?

Tina Campbell, Yolanda Adams and Donnie McClurkin held it down as judges once more.  Kirk also mentioned there would be “hard judging.” I’m not so sure that’s what we got. But this is how it went down:

Durward Davis – “Change the World” and “I Need You Now”
Earlier this year, EJ explained in a post on Sunday Best rules that contestants have little say in what songs they sing.  Durward was given an Eric Clapton song from a movie soundtrack to sing first.  I am certain he would have chosen a different song.  That being said, he made the most of an unusual song choice.  For the limited amount of time he had, Durward really brought “Change the World” to a climax and embraced the melody.  He was clearly uneasy after the performance, though he maintained a smile while singing.  For round two, he took on Smokie Norful’s gospel ballad which is no easy task, but he nailed that, too (in my opinion).  Even after his voice was about to give out, he kept giving his all until the very end.

LeAndria Johnson – “Heaven Help Us All” and “I Love the Lord”
I’m guessing a lot of folks are happy the judges don’t kick people off the show when they forget words, because if that were true LeAndria would’ve gone home tonight.  During “Heaven Help Us All – a song made famous by Stevie Wonder – the normally unflappable LeAndria stumbled through the lyrics of both verses.  But her voice remained intact (for the most part), and if I wasn’t such a huge Stevie fan I may not have realized she shuffled and omitted words. It surely never showed on her face.  LeAndria’s second performance was a victory lap – figuratively and literally. This time her words and vocals were in sync. The surprise wasn’t the judges’ reactions but hers.  After her stirring rendition of “I Love the Lord” she dropped her microphone and danced across the stage for about 30 seconds.  Yolanda and Donnie cut a step, too.

Elder Goldwire McLendon – “Falling in Love with Jesus” and “Oh, Happy Day”
Elder knew he had to rise to the competition a bit after a less-than-stellar performance last week.  I’m happy to report that that he didn’t forget the words last night!  However, I’m not sure how his first song qualified as secular since it’s a love song about Jesus.  I still have a big question mark in my mind here– “Change the World” vs. “Falling in Love with Jesus”?  Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t get it.  Aside from my gripes with the song, Elder McLendon certainly conveyed his love for God when he sang.  His tone and approach mirrored what we’ve seen from him every week, and of course, the anointing was on him.  Wrapping up the performance portion of the night, he sang the Edwin Hawkins song that introduced gospel music to the mainstream.  Again, I was amazed at how tight and consistent Elder’s delivery was in relation to other weeks on the show.  He continued to wow judges.  Donnie was reduced to tears.

At the end of the night only LeAndria Johnson and Elder Goldwire McLendon advanced to become the final two.

While I wish both LeAndria and Elder Goldwire the best going into this season’s final round, I strongly disagree with Durward Davis being eliminated.  The best way I can defend my opinion is with the judges’ own words.  From the start of this competition the judges have repeatedly praised Durward’s ability to paint pictures and take people on a journey with his songs.  He especially rose to the challenge last night by tackling a vague secular song.  He might as well have sung “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper…he may have even been better off singing that.  I believe his performances are always complete while other performers give me 1:30 that feels exactly like 1:30 into a song.  I’m sad to see him go, but I’m confident he’ll be successful.  Again, I’m so thrilled for LeAndria and Elder Goldwire.

Furthermore, the judging has lacked tangible content to me. I’d love to hear more advice for improvement that is applicable for the folks who go home as well as the folks who stay.  Everyone is in a position to improve.  We all love gospel music and we want singers to be balanced – trained and anointed so the anointing doesn’t have to do ALL the work.

It’s very exciting to see this season drawing to a close.  So, between LeAndria and Elder McLendon, who’s it gonna be?

I KNOW you guys have a lot to say.  And we want to hear you!