Nothing these days irks me like the feeling that I have just wasted my hard-earned living. We have all done it….bought something that seemed to have great promise, but returned such a small reward.
I was reminded of this a few weeks ago when I purchased the latest CD project from one of (usually) gospel music’s finest. I had just lost my mother and I desperately needed to refocus, so I approached the checkout stand at the Christian book store and plunked down $17.99, plus tax, for what I believed would be the highlight of my day.
I skipped my planned stop at the department store and dashed on out to my car. I dumped out the contents of my purse, searching for something sharp enough to rip off the shrink wrap and finally located a nail file. I wiggled the file under the corners of the plastic wrap, jabbing myself in the process, and after considerable frustration the wrap was finally removed. Then, of course, I had to pry up that confounded sticky security seal that NEVER comes off cleanly but in shreds that stick to your fingers and ultimately your clothes.
“What a pain to get into, but at least now I can enjoy it“, I thought. I started up the car, popped in the CD, and took off. I live just over ten miles from the mall, and by mile two I was feeling indifferent, by mile five I had grown bored and by mile ten I was thoroughly disgusted that I had just spent $18.00 on a southern gospel CD. I popped it out of the player and tossed it in the back seat.
“Perhaps I’m being too hasty“, I thought, as I pulled into the driveway. “I should listen again.” So I did….and again came to the same conclusion. I could barely make it through the entire CD without either yawning or rekindling my anger that I had just parted with that much money…again… for such a lackluster project.
I love southern gospel music. I always have. I always will. I loved it even before it was called southern gospel. But the sad thing is that on a day when I really could have used some encouragement, the music that I had always sought out first let me down. I needed to hear songs with a familiar musical ring and a lyrical message of hope. Instead, I was met with ten not-so-southern-gospel songs that were so over-processed the words were barely distinguishable from the droning hum of a Sunbeam mixer. Only two songs out of the ten said anything memorable and the others were just a collection of rehashed current day Christianese, buzzing guitars, and WAY too contemporary production.
The tenor spent most of his time in the mid-range, the bass was given a token solo, and although it was a good song, his delivery was more milk toast than masterful. The usually dynamic lead singer had been tamed to the point of near whispering and all the character I was accustomed to hearing in his voice had been stripped away by filters and effects. The whole thing was about as exciting as a wilted lettuce salad.
Helloooooooooooo????????
Does anybody out there ever bother to ask what southern gospel fans want? NO.
Can I speak for all southern gospel fans? Of course not. But I can tell you what I want. I want to hear songs with a simple, straight forward message. I don’t want to have to wade through two verses of gossamer-winged, heady ideology before I learn what the song is really trying to say. That stuff may fly in high church, but not where I come from. It’s like inviting Ma and Pa Kettle over to dinner and then serving them pheasant under glass. It’s a nice gesture, but it ain’t Kentucky fried and they won’t get it.
I’m bored with the fluffy lyrics that are straight out of the “I’m okay-You’re okay” handbook. Sure, they will offend no one. They will also effect no one. They’re a whipped cream pie … beautiful, but no substance.
I want to hear the lead singer pour his heart into a soulful ballad, and I occasionally want to hear the baritone do something besides just hold down the third part. I want to hear beautiful chords and four parts blended to perfection.
I want to hear music that is familiar, yet interesting. I want the instrumentation to sound full, but still sound like southern gospel. There are still keyboards in Nashville, aren’t there?
I want to hear clever musical arrangements that use each singer’s voice to its full potential. I want to hear hand-clapping, foot-tapping convention songs that revive the old counter melody. I want to hear a group that hasn’t been brain-washed into believing that somehow key changes are “evil” and should be avoided. The modulation has served southern gospel well and, frankly, I miss hearing songs like “Looking for a City” that push the tenor high and then higher still. Groups wonder why they can’t move their audience …. sing a great old song and see what happens!
Call me crazy, but I still want the bass singer to rattle the windows and vibrate the floor. I realize that some believe that in these modern days southern gospel has outgrown its bass singing “britches“. We are just too sophisticated now. Don’t get me wrong. There are some wonderful trios in southern gospel, and some of them hold top honors in my heart and in my CD player. But if you’re going to parade four guys across the stage, one of them better be singing bass southern style……low down.
I’m afraid in its quest to appeal to a younger, iPod buying, song-downloading, ear-budded crowd southern gospel as an industry has forgotten who buys their CD’s. Look around at your next concert. You won’t find very many iPod-toting youngsters, but the aisles will be jammed with white-haired Soldiers of the Cross, and those of us not far behind, who just want to hear J.D. sing “Just a Little Talk with Jesus” one more time.
I’m not advocating singing old cover songs. I’m just saying give us something that reminds us of what southern gospel used to sound like. Don’t be so busy chasing that cross-over dream that you ignore your true audience. If you want to record for the kids, there are plenty of outlets; but if you’re going to call what you do southern gospel, then don’t alienate the people who actually do care about it. It’s like the rancher who’s so obsessed with catching the elusive stallion that he leaves the corral gate open and the work horses wander off.
I’m tired of having the southern gospel sound hijacked and re-routed in the studio by people who have no real love for this music, don’t care what the fans want, and wouldn’t know their Denver Crumpler from a hole in the ground.
Mostly, I’m tired of paying good money for bad CD’s.
Irked in Illinois
Janice
Author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Written: 02/06/2010
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Category: Janice Crow
Comments: 7
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Amen Janice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was great getting to meet you this past weekend. Great article and I can see that we have very similar values when it comes to Southern Gospel Music.
hello, im Adam burdette , from procious wv. i agree we need to seek out the old paths and walk there in !!! im 25 i sing SOUTHERN GOSPEL on the road full time and im doing what i can to keep its heritage alive !!! i greatly enjoyed your article !!! it's true the artist need to step back and take a good look at who the fans are and deside are we gonna sing southern gospel or not and quit trying to play both sides of the isle !!!
Stand up and be counted sister. The lone voice in the wilderness. I would know Denver Crumpler from lets say David Phelps. I am with you here. I would like to off set your bad experience with So-Go by sending you a free CD we made a while back, but only if you would review it and tell me what you think. You are the kind of folks we are aiming to please. Give us your tired, your burned out, over processed , yearning to be free from a plug in. Now on most of the tunes we are a trio but we do find a low note from time to time. As a matter of fact we are all baritones but we try real hard. If you want a free CD . just look me up. Im easy to find. send me an e-mail where you want it sent and it's yours.
Some of The Same People(Producers)who put out The CD's you are referring to are some of The Same People(Producers) who are putting out (Producing) This so called "Country Music" that is on The Market today.I am hoping that they will not be able to Hi-Jack SGM as They have The Country Music Industry!
SoundMan
Thanks for your comments. I probably should clarify, though, that I do believe vocal processing can be a great tool; but I also believe there is a fine line between enhancement and distortion.
I KNOW you feel better now! =) My thoughts and prayers are with you over the passing of your mother. God bless.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. - Proverbs 3:5-6
I AM LOOKING FOR THE CD OF EDDIE LEE & ANNOINTED BEING LOOKING TO BUY IT FOR A FEW YEARS NOW DO YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN TY
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