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Sunday Edition


01
Jan
2006
2005 A Forgettable Year


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I have been looking over the new Southern Gospel Songs that charted in 2005 and to be quite honest, I am disappointed. I think 2005 will stand as a banner year for some of the most forgettable songs ever published and recorded. Now I'm not saying that there weren't any good songs released last year. There were a few. But I have not heard one that I think will stand head and shoulders above the rest in years to come and still be sung many years from now. In 2005 I did not hear a song that I believe would stand in the same ranks with "BECAUSE HE LIVES", "THE LIGHTHOUSE", "MIDNIGHT CRY", "WE SHALL BEHOLD HIM" or "LEARNING TO LEAN". I realized that this could be a tall order to fill, so I searched again. I still didn't find anything that would compare in quality to "WHEN HE WAS ON THE CROSS (I WAS ON HIS MIND), "CORNERSTONE", "WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE", "STATUE OF LIBERTY", "HE LOOKED BEYOND MY FAULT AND SAW MY NEED", "THE KING IS COMING", "GOD ON THE MOUNTAIN", "HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME", or even "FOUR DAYS LATE".

So what has changed? Why aren't songs of this quality still showing up frequently in our industry. I know that a lot of things have changed since these songs were first introduced to us. But as I look at what we are producing today, I think its time we change things back. I know that the industry was far from perfect when these songs first came out. But even with an imperfect system, the quality of music was incredible. Songs of this quality showed up every year. So who's to blame for the change? The answer is quite simple. We all are.

My friend Mike Speck writes a monthly article for the Singing News magazine titled, Into The Choir. In his article this month he states "No one can predict which songs will still be sung by the generations who will be living 100 years from now". Well, while that may be true, I think I can say with some degree of certainty what songs will NOT be sung 100 years from now, or even 5 years from now.

I attend quite a few Southern Gospel concerts in each year. One thing that I've noticed is that most major groups compile their performance from what they have recorded in the last three years. For them to pull out a song that is older than that, it had to be a huge radio song for them. But even then, most big radio songs fall away from the program within a five year period. The life of a radio hit is extremely short. How can we expect the coming generations to sing these songs when the artists who introduced them are tired of them after five years?

All of the classic songs that I mentioned above were first introduced by Southern Gospel artists. Those songs got into the churches immediately. Church congregations were using these songs in their worship services. I remember when the Lanny Wolfe Trio released "SURELY THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD IS IN THIS PLACE" in 1977. I got that album the week it hit the stores. I thought that I would be the first to introduce this song to my congregation. I was wrong. They had already heard it. It was already everywhere. Congregations all over the country were already singing it. It saturated the church market as soon as it was released.

The church market has definitely changed since then. Praise and Worship music has become the ONLY music that many churches will even consider using today. As a songwriter, this makes me very sad. Most of the Praise and Worship music being performed in churches today, falls even farther below the quality level of the forgettable Southern Gospel songs that are charting today.

Many Praise and Worship songs are based on an elementary theology. God is Holy. That's it. He is worthy and He is Holy. Now, while that is perfectly true, we are not the first one's with this information. God already knows it. Subjects like the resurrection, His Life, His Ministry, the Cross, the Blood, the Second Coming or an eternal home prepared for the believer, are seldom used in Praise and Worship music.

I have seen Praise and Worship teams walk off the stage with an arrogance that suggested that God was High and Lifted Up because they put Him there. I've even heard it stated from the platforms that we (the congregation) need to lift Him up where He belongs. As if He wouldn't be God unless we put Him on that throne. I've got news for them, HE'S GOD ALL BY HIMSELF. He doesn't need any help to be God, and He's not running for office to get elected God. He doesn't need our pep rally to encourage Him. Should we praise Him? Should we worship Him? Absolutely YES! But don't ever think that it is our praise that makes Him God.

Many of the modern Praise and Worship songs performed in churches today have just a few lines to them, and then there will be numerous repetitions of a single phrase or line. Such as: yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes Lord, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, Lord, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, Lord. That is not good writing, no matter what style of music you put to it.

The numerous repetitions and chant like melodies are very similar to the worship style of Eastern religions. And scriture does warn us about vain repitition in our worship.

There are some Praise and Worship songs that stand out from the rest. The song "LORD I LIFT YOUR NAME ON HIGH" contains the entire gospel message in the bridge.

You came from heaven to earth to show the way
From the earth to the cross, my soul to save
From the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky.
Lord, I lift Your name on high

The first three lines of this bridge contain the Gospel story in a nutshell. It tells us why we should Lift His Name On High.

I also enjoy "I WORSHIP YOU, ALMIGHTY GOD". That song lyric explains that there is no one like Him and that because He is my righteousnes, I long to praise Him.

I feel like both of these song are well written. Musically, they will work in just about any style you want to sing them.

A few years ago my group (Daryl Williams Trio) was booked in a church that had recently changed their traditional worship style to a more modern, contemporary style. We had worked for this pastor before, when he was in another state. When we arrived, we were first greeted by the Praise and Worship leader. He informed us that they were a Worshipping church and that the new pastor should have never booked a group like us to come there. How's that for a warm welcome?

Before the service started, the pastor told me that his praise team would open the service with two songs. Then we would have the rest of the service, and he asked me to give the invitation at the end.

When the service began the Praise and Worship team took their place and began. One hour a fourty five minutes later, after they gave an invitation, they turned the service to us, at 11:45 AM. The congregation was worn out from being on their feet so long. So I began with our closing song. It is a beautiful song that the Speer Family recorded in 1992, called "HE STILL REIGNS". As we got to the last chorus, people in the congregation began to stand up and worship God.

The praise team had taken their seats about half way back in the auditorium. When they saw people begin to worship, the praise team got furious. They couldn't believe that this congregation was "dumb" enough to worship God during a Southern Gospel Song. The entire team got up and walked out. Unfortunately, that is not the only time we have witnessed that kind of attitude from a praise team because we were in their church to sing Southern Gospel Music. But there have been some good experiences too. One praise leader got up after we sang and publically thanked us for coming and said that we had changed her mind. She thought that Southern Gospel had nothing to do with honoring Jesus.

Last year I was speaking to a young man (approx 20 years old), and he was a Praise and Worship leader. He was getting ready to teach a class, training other Praise and Worship leaders. He asked me if I had any advice. I told him to ask his students why God is Holy and Worthy to be praised. He said that he had never thought about that. I asked him to tell me why Jesus should be praised and exalted above other gods. He told me that he would research that. This kid had a great heart, and loved the Lord, even though he couldn't tell my why.

God is looking for people who worship in spirit and in truth. How can we have the right spirit, if we don't know the truth about why we worship God in the first place? That 20 year old, who had been raised on Praise and Worship music, could not give me one reason why we worship Jesus instead of someone else.

In my travels I hear a lot of complaints from members of congregations that simply don't like the music that is being performed in their services. The statement I hear the most is, "I thought there was something wrong with me. It doesn't make me want to worship, in fact, it hinders my worship" or "I don't feel any Spirit in it". I am also asked frequently "how long do you think this trend of Praise music will last?" Well, like it or not, it's here for a while, and this is why.

The church market is the absolute biggest market for Christian Music. Some will argue that the unsaved or secular markets are bigger. I agree that they are bigger, but they don't buy our products. It's not because of the quality. There are Christian Music products on the market that are of the highest quality found in any music form. The secular market won't buy our products because of the message in it. It has been proven that if we dilute the message where it is unrecognizable as a Christian lyric, then they will consider buying it. But blatant Christian lyrics seldom sell in the secular marketplace. Although there are exceptions. Yes, I have heard of Mercy Me and "I CAN ONLY IMAGINE", which is an awesome song. But that kind of success is a God thing, not a marketing thing. We can, and must reach the lost through evangelism. But we'll never do it through clever marketing strategies. Unsaved people don't want our product, period. So we market to the Christian crowd.

Praise and Worship music style has saturated the marketplace. And with the development of CCLI, a royalty licensing agency exclusive to Christian music, they have learned to charge churches for performances of their music. It is an extremely profitable business. And the Praise and Worship song makers don't intend to back down, go away, or even think about letting go of their stronghold on the church. It is far too profitable for them. They will fight to hold their place. There are many churches being split today over this very subject.

When the Gospel Music Association first developed a Dove award catagory for Best Praise and Worship Music Project, the criteria was that the project had to be about the songs, and not the artist who is singing the song. When this started, the artists name was usually in small print on the back somewhere. But today, most of Praise and Worship Music is Artist driven, rather than song driven. Their name is usually in bold print on the front Cover. We now have Praise and Worship stars. The artist is what sells the project, not the songs. If a Praise and Worship Artist is a hot seller right now, then it is their songs that are getting the greatest amount of lisences for church use.

It is time that Southern Gospel songwriters step up to the plate and start writing the absolute best Christian music ever written.

We have to abolish the mindset in our churches that Southern Gospel songs are sub-standard and not Christ honoring.

We need to fast and pray and seek God for the music and lyrics we write. Then Southern Gospel Publishers need to be as aggressive as God will allow, in putting this music back into the churches, and getting it sung by the congregations. When the congregations sing it, it will get into their mind, their heart and their spirit. Those are the kinds of songs that will last and be sung many years from now. Radio hits will simply be gone with the wind.

Until next time, keep on writing! Daryl Williams http://www.darylwilliamstrio.net

Reader Comments

Mrs. Crow:
My first question to you is: when did any sinner ever lean over to you and ask the question, "What am I yessing to?" Is this a simple scenario you came up with to prove a point? I mean, I spent a long time in the world, and if I'd heard that song, I'd think you all were either goofy -- or I'd join in the party. ("Father Abraham, had many sons..." style).
I share in your sentiments, nevertheless -- in the fact that we must be aware and sensitive to those closest to the heart of Christ: the sinner.
There's not a sinner anywhere in America that doesn't know the Gospel. What has kept them from coming to the Lord -- primarily -- are the Christians. There's not a person reading this that -- in their heart -- can disagree in all honesty.
The Bible says that "if I be lifted up, I will draw all men to me.." That sums it up. Music wasn't even mentioned. It's the petty, self righteous Christians who argue senslessly about what music is more suitable for worship. It's appaling. WAKE UP, PEOPLE!!
I came back to Christ by singing an old song I sang as a child "Into My Heart Lord Jesus". I was in a bar, stoned. Where were most of you? Fighting about who is right and wrong in your little churchy circles?
Christian music has lost it's salt, because those that are writing it have lost their salt. We've let God down considerably, not just in our watered down music.
Anyone who has spent any legnth of time in "the world" will concur.
AGAIN I SAY, Gospel music needs revival! It boils down to our walk with Christ, and our heart for the lost. Bottom line!


Commented by Kevin Wicker On 01/06/2006
As a worship leader and former member of a quartet for nine years, I have been a part of southern gospel music, as well as, praise and worship. I like both types of music.

Personally, I believe worship should be biblical and not be considered traditional or contemporary. It should not matter wheter a song was written two hours ago or two hundred years ago. The song should glorify God and be used as a tool to worship and honor Him.

The songs Daryle mentions talk about God. Because He Lives is a great song. The song talks about God, not to Him. If the song was written, Because You Live, I can face tomorrow, it would be talking to God.

At our church, we try and sing to God. Does that mean we can't sing about Him? No. But, our purpose is to worship God. He is the audience. The people in the church, should consider themselves the performers, singing to God. After the service, was He pleased with your worship of Him? We use Southern Gospel, as well, as Praise and worship, and traditional music.

Daryle wrote a great song in Nobody's There. You can place a flower on the grave...etc. That is a great song. I don't understand why he chose to criticize one type of worship music against another in the article. I thought the point of the article was to question the types of songs written by Southern Gospel writers last year. It was almost like the article was meant to make Southern Gospel writers feel better about the proposed lack of good songs by criticizing another form of music, i.e. Praie and Worship.

Why do we have that attitude in the church today? You may like Southern Gospel Music and that be your way to worship, but that does not mean it is the only way to worship. People that enjoy Praise and worship music like that way. Some people just like music, it does not matter which type.

I encourage you if you like Southern Gospel, to read some of the lyrics writtn by Praise and Worship writers. I believe you'll find the gospel message. Some names: Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, Lincoln Brewster..etc. If you are a Praise and Worship person, look at Bill Gaither, Daryle Williams, and others.


Commented by On 01/07/2006
I've been reading and thinking how interesting it is that people read into the article what they want to see. There's been a lot of comments about what Daryl wrote that I don't believe he intended, but I may be wrong, too! Personally, I think he was just challenging songwriters to write songs with stronger lyrics that go beyond 2 or 3 word repetitions. I'd be careful of such a song in any genre.


Commented by Susan Jones On 01/07/2006
There are poorly written (i.e. boring) songs in P&W;, SG, CCM, and any other genre you can name. There are also well written songs that have decent hooks, melodies, even decent theology, in all these genres. I feel that a problem with the lack of quality songwriting in SG is, as someone mentioned, songwriters trying to write radio hits. It's also in the way groups pick the songs they record. Back in the day, when technology was not as good, artists were willing to listen to demos that were basic guitar/vocal or piano/vocal arrangements with the idea that, if the song was strong enough, that the song's quality would shine through the simple arrangement. Now, we have songwriters going out and having full blown studio demos with that "Nashville sound" that are horrible songs, but, since it sounds commercial, the artists go for that song instead of the well written but sparsely arranged song. It's human nature.


Commented by On 01/07/2006
L HAYNES's avatar I agree with everything you said about the P/W music. However, I would like to point out one song that I think WILL be around for a while...."FOREVER CHANGED" It was a number one song, it is very powerful and very well sung. Just my two cents.


Commented by On 01/07/2006
Dear Daryl,

I do agree with you to some extent. The question that must be asked is why were the songs of yester-year so great? I believe that there are many reasons ... so I won't attempt to put everyone to sleep. I feel that we often put emphasis on the past. At one point I am sure the writer of "Amazing Grace" John Newton was somewhat looked upon with disdain for his attempt to write in song of the great and awesome grace of God. And yes, it is a great, as a well an awsome song. The problem I have is that we work in an industry that is progressive in nature. How many people have cut a standard like the ones mentioned in the last 5 years. I think that would be interesting to research. What I am saying is that in this industry that can be so hyper critical of ever style of music accept southern gospel ... it will not give songs on the outside ... of it's pre-supposed idiology a chance. Honestly ... how many songs that were mentioned are being re-cut. The truth of the matter is not many. I can't begin to tell you how many groups have called me for new material in the last week ... because they want to get away from an industry for the most part that shuts them out. My thought is that more great songs would be written if more great songwriters took the lead and determined that they would write only what God lays upon their heart to write. But God will only use a submitted and committed Christian who will be willing to give the glory to Him as well as be emptied of themselves. Not to be hyper critical here, but how many groups have a true Christlike spirit of humility. A lot of groups I talked to personally at NQC this year had their nose in the air as if it all revolved around their group. I know this is not going to make me popular ... but I am not in a popularity contest.
I think that this industry needs a good dose of God.

I am afraid that if changes aren't made here first ... I've got to wonder how long our music will be around at all. Oh well, Blessings to all.

Sincerely,
In Christ
Steven Cheney


Commented by On 01/07/2006
Mr. Cheney:

The reasons why the songs of yesteryear were great were because (1) the SGM market wasn't following a "copy-cat" system like the one we tolerate here in Nashville; and (2)the songs were written by people living the song -- and not an out-of-college wanna-be who sat in a writer's room for 8 hours w/ a guitar (or a spiritually shallow Gospel singer).
There are no standards being written today, because -- again -- evryone's trying to sound like the current trend. It has spawned musical impotence. The reason why the current songs aren't re-cut, is because they are boring and shallow -- musically and lyrically.
My young friend, if you want to write Gospel songs, write them for yourself and do your own thing. That's the wave of the future anyway. You're spinning your wheels dealing with the egocentrics in SGM.
SGM is on the verge of a major change anyway. Write your own way. People aren't wanting to hear anymore songs about going to heaven. They are looking for music that communicates. I think "I Can Only Imagine" is a good example (although it's extremely boring musically -- with only 5 notes in the whole song. I loved the lyrics, loathed the melody.)
Study Daryl's songs, or Kenny Hinson. Or some of the writers of the 1960's like Mosie Lister and Dottie Rambo. All things come full circle in this racket. Get ahead of the game and emulate their songs. Time and life experiences will make you a better writer.


Commented by Kevin Wicker On 01/08/2006
Chris D. Unthank's avatar Mr. Wicker, Steven Cheney is one of the best and most sought after songwriters in the industry today. I don't think he needs to be schooled on how to write a good song. If I needed help with a song that I was writing, he would be one of the first that I would go to, along with Daryl, Rebecca Peck, Twila LaBar, Joel Lindsey, Zane King, etc.

About Daryl's article: I don't see any problem with the songs written today. We won't know if they are going to be remembered 10 years down the road until 10 years down the road gets here. I've never heard a couple of songs that Daryl listed as being standards.

I personally like the fact that we don't have 10 different versions of "He Saw It All" or "There Is a Remedy" floating around there (two songs that I feel have the potential to be these kinds standards). I think it's easy to look back at all those songs and say "man, where are those truly great songs now?" However, those weren't the only songs being sung back then. What happened to the hundreds and hundreds of other songs that were being sung back then? Why aren't they remembered? They aren't remembered because that truly great song only comes along every once in a while.

In the meantime, I'm enjoying the songs that are readily available to us right now. I'll take the "Just One Touch" or "In the Sky" or "It Looks Like Love to Me" or "You Are Loved" or "Wandering Heart" anyday. These songs speak to me now, just as much as the great standards do. Will they go down as classics? Maybe not - but that still doesn't invalidate the ministry potential that each of these songs has for TODAY.

Regarding praise & worship music - let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater just yet. Sure, there are some very repetitious songs out there, and they are the easiest targets, because they have the most flaws. I'm not a huge fan of "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever" or "Trading My Sorrows", but they have their place. I mean, let's not forget how many times that we have worshipped in a corporate or private setting to songs like "God Is So Good" or "Hallelujah" - songs that also used repetition. How many times have we gone into "Praise God" during "Amazing Grace" over and over again - or let's look at the repetition in the chorus of "I Surrender All". For every modern praise and worship song out there that uses extreme repetition, there are 10 more that don't. The church is being blessed today by songs like "Holy Is the Lord" or "O Praise Him (All This for a King)" or "Friend of God" or "Say the Name." I don't know about you guys, but when I'm worshipping, sometimes all I can say is "Hallelujah" or "I Love You Lord" or "Jesus." If that phrase is where the anointing is at that time - then that's all there is to it. If God is being blessed by it - then there is no need to worry if it is 100 words or 2 words.


Commented by On 01/08/2006
Mr Wicker,

I've kept an eye on your posts for awhile now. You seem to have much disdain for the SGM industry, an industry you state you love.

My first comment to you is that if you have a problem with the way someone behaves, why don't you go to them privately, as the bible states. What's the purpose of posting on a public site, all about how you know there are C-O-R-R-U-P-T people in SG? All this does is cause strife and makes nosy people wonder who you are talking about (which in turn causes gossip). Remember next time you post your sermons here, that you may be doing more harm than good.

My second comment to you is that if you truly believe there aren't any songs worthy of ministry in SG, WRITE ONE YOURSELF!

It's so irritating to see people as yourself who want to post all about how awful SG is, but they won't do anything about it, except post on a public site. GET UP and do something about it yourself.

Stop PREACHING and start MINISTERING!


Commented by slowpoke On 01/08/2006
In talking about P&W;songs and Southern Gospel, there is one thing that all of you have seemed to have forgotten. That is a little movement called Vertical Praise. All the praise leaders seem to have bought into this with its idea that ALL music must be directed toward God or Jesus or the Spirit. There are a few but very few Southern Gospel songs that meet this criteria. There are still people, writers and performers, that believe in the scripture that talks about speaking to one another in songs, hymns and spiritual songs. Our praise leader has begun using some of the old hymns but they are ones that speak directly to God. He would never sing "Amazing Grace" because it gives a testimony rather than speaking to God.


Commented by On 01/08/2006
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