Positive Daily Commentary on Southern Gospel
Here are two videos from a group called Daves Highway. The first is an acapella medley, the second a Martins’ song.
Could they make it in Southern Gospel?
My answer is an unequivocal yes. Yours?
(Note: I did notice a video from this group being discussed on Averyfineline; in point of fact, though, I’ve actually had this bookmarked for a future post since before then—yes, I know, even with daily posts, my back burner backup can be ridiculous at points.)
A few weeks ago, I started a series of posts about soloists and groups from other genres, asking if they had what it took to make it in this one.
Part of my original plan was to get around to Susan Boyle, who became an overnight Internet sensation thanks to this video, eventually on a slow news day.
The announce of her debut album, entitled (to nobody’s surprise) I Dreamed a Dream, has pushed this up the priorities list. Sound clips, up on her website, show that the track list will include “How Great Thou Art” and “Silent Night.” Just yesterday—oddly—the track list also included, and included a clip of, “Amazing Grace.”
So . . . does SuBo have what it takes to make it as a Southern Gospel soloist, to stand alongside the likes of Ivan Parker and Mark Bishop, in the unlikely event she should choose to try?
Pros: Stylistically, her choice of instrumentation isn’t that far off from what our genre uses—piano-driven reflective songs, and big orchestrated ballads.
Cons: I can’t think of any besides, perhaps, her personality. She cracked under the stress of the Britain’s Got Talent final in a pretty public way. Granted, there is nothing quite so stressful in our genre, but an NQC mainstage meltdown is not what our genre needs! Other than that, I don’t see her use of vibrato as a drawback; after all, our genre has had its share of singers who employ vibrato extensively, notably James and Jimmy Blackwood.
So what’s your call?
Most of the entries in this series focus on a specific singer. In this entry, the question is partly the singer and partly the song.
Here’s a video of Don Francisco singing one of his 1980s classics, “Too Small a Price.”
Could Don Francisco make it in Southern Gospel?
And how would this particular song work as a Southern Gospel quartet song? Obviously, its length excludes it from radio airplay. Also, groups wouldn’t regularly do a song this long. But if Triumphant Quartet could do the CCM song (Aaron • Jeffrey) “He Is” as a concert staple, could Triumphant or another quartet pull this song off?
Just for fun, every now and then, we’ve been taking a video of a group from a different genre and discuss how they would fare if they tried their hands—or, more precisely but less idiomatically, their voices—at Southern Gospel.
Today’s entry: The Von Trapp Children. They are the grandchildren of Werner Von Trapp of the Trapp Family Singers, the group immortalized in the classic film The Sound of Music.
Two other songs from, evidently, the same taping: Down to the River and Edelweiss.
Pros: With their name and family history, they could probably make it in any genre they wanted. Also, with their focus on folk songs, they already sing a number of classic spirituals and hymns frequently sung in the genre. Their tight sibling harmonies would also be a great fit.
Cons: The simple arrangements on their projects would probably need to be beefed up a bit for the genre—though, overall, they could probably make it with their current style on most tracks. The genre has room for more simple Americana/folk stylings. Also, the biggest change they would probably have to make would be pulling the less Gospel-oriented folk songs from their programs.
What do you think?
Just for fun, every now and then, let’s take a video of a group from a different genre and discuss how they would fare if they tried their hands—or, more precisely but less idiomatically, their voices—at Southern Gospel.
Pros: Female vocalist Amy Perry, taking the lead here, has a voice that would fit well in the genre. Unlike the ofttimes overly breathy vocals of some female CCM vocalists, her powerful, confident vocals would fit well. Also, their song selection would generally fit within the genre’s bounds. It could be fairly said that their projects are less progressive than, say, Gold City and Brian Free & Assurance.
Cons: Duos don’t go as far as trios in this genre. It would help if the pianist sang on this song (though, apparently, he either sings or provides some onstage banter, since a microphone was set up for him.)
So . . . what’s the verdict?
Blame it on whatever you like! Fact is, my reason is simple enough: I have no interest in any secular music. 
(jealous pout) (( But, I wish them the best non-the-less and I sure hope they continue to appear on some...All 410,886 words in all 1470 posts are © 2009 by Daniel J. Mount.
Theme designed by MainCore and modified by DJM.
