Best things 2015

I love making lists. Every year in my personal journal, I come up with a list of the best things that happened in the year. Here's my list of the 10 best things related to praise and worship in 2015 in no particular order.

1. Finding Planetshakers
2. Tiff Joy's self-titled album
3. Singing one of the songs I wrote at one of our district church services
4. The iLead Escape frontliners calls
5. Listening to K-Love
6. Attending Chicago's Gospel Fest
7. Crushing my New Year's goal to consistently update this blog
8. Being able to attend a culturally different church and experiencing P&W there
9. The funny memes
10. Getting a church musician. God is still in the miracle business!

Here's to a great year and an even better 2016 - in Jesus's name! :)

What had happened was...

It's almost the end of the year and time to answer the question of whether or not I accomplished my goals with my praise team in 2015.

My main goal was to make the praise team a priority. Did I do that? Yes and no.  I definitely stopped working with the youth department to try to focus. That helped. We had some rehearsals, but the last half of the year we really dropped the ball. I could go into all the excuses, but they don't seem change: conflicts with work schedules killed us. When rehearsals stop, that's the death of a praise team.

My main objective was to get 12 new or retired songs back into our play list. Did we do it? Not exactly. I think we successfully added ~ 3 or 4. Wamp wamp waaaamp!

Not exactly a stellar year, but there were moments of greatness and things are looking up. We finally got a musician. Somehow, my younger brother decided to get off his end and take lessons from my older brother. He's learned about 6 songs and he's really coming along. I'm confident that next year we'll be able to retire our tracks. Gloray!!! We also debuted one of the songs I wrote and then the district praise team sang it as well. Finally, last Sunday someone mentioned wanting to join the team.

Needless to say, we have long way to go. Becoming consistent with rehearsals is going to be my main focus for 2016. No more excuses.

Here's to wishing all of us a triumphant 2016 with our praise teams!

Cheers!

Endless Praise - Planetshakers

I love, the love, the upbeat energy this song brings. So fun. Enjoy!

Songs for Thanksgiving

I have to admit, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. No presents to buy. All of your favorite comfort foods. Spending time with family and loved ones. Watching/playing football. Going to the movies. Being thankful for another year. This is a holiday everyone can get behind.

Here's a short list of songs for you to consider this month as we celebrate all of the blessings God has given us.

Grateful - Hezekiah Walker - My favorite song on this list. Brings me to tears almost every time.
Oh Give Thanks - Judith McAllister

I Just Want to Praise You - Maurette Clark Brown
Thank You Lord for All You've Done For Me - Walter Hawkins
I Just Want to Thank You Lord - Everybody and their momma :)
And one I just stumbled upon that is really nice... Thank You Jesus - Hillsong

Jessica Love ft. Todd Dulaney "I Draw Near"

I heard this song for the first time today and couldn't wait to share it. Enjoy!

I love me some hymns (in my Toni Braxton voice)

Don't you just love it when you go to church and the leader says, "turn to page 109 of your hymnal and let's sing I Come to the Garden Alone"? Man, I love me some hymns!

The funny thing is, the church I came from, didn't sing them as they were written. We remixed them until they sounded Pentecostal. And then when I went to a predominately white church down south and heard how they were really written, I was like "Oh, that's kinda lame."

You know what else is funny about hymns, everybody uses the lyrics. I've heard preachers preach hymns and singers ad lib using hymns. They're like the Christian version of Kyle Korver. You pull them off the bench and it's a score! (Go Bulls! I know KK is with the Hawks now.)

The other thing that's funny is that no one is really coming up with new hymns. I'm not sure why. Total Praise by Richard Smallwood made it in the New National Baptist Hymnal, but I can't think of very many other game changing, tried and true, new songs. And Total Praise is like 20 years old so I guess it's not new. Then again, I'm not a hymnal connoisseur. Maybe there are more.

So, why aren't we making new songs that fit in this genre? These are the songs we sing at funerals to comfort families, at Christmas to celebrate the true meaning of the holiday, and during worship services to reflect on the many aspects of God. I think it's time to dust off those books and bring them back en vogue.

I pitched long ago that we should have an "old school" Sunday where we give the hymns some play. After all, these oldies but goodies deserve their props, much like Kyle Korver.

6 Sneaky Little Ways to Become a Better Musician (That Don't Involve Picking Up Your Instrument)

This is a repost from a blog called SONICBIDS. Here's the link to read the entire post, but I'll leave the goods below.

6 Sneaky Little Ways to Become a Better Musician (That Don't Involve Picking Up Your Instrument)

1. Make use of commutes, lunch breaks, and waiting in line.
2. Analyze music as you listen to it.
3. Turn concerts into learning experiences.
4. Wake up just 30 minutes earlier.
5. Watch footage of your practice sessions.
6. Download music-related smart phone apps.

5 pop artists that inspire me

Sorry guys - there are only women on this list! :)


Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift is every woman. Her songs are the every-day-girl's anthem yet she's such a glamazon! I love how it seems like you know her, but you don't. She seems really humble. Hats off to anyone who can still be cool with Kanye after he took over her moment when she won video of the year. (No hate - I like Kanye.) One of the most remarkable things about Taylor is what she wrote in the inside cover of the 1989 album where she talks about change. That really inspired me to continue to grow as a person and as a new artist.

Favorite Taylor Swift song - Today was a Fairytale

 

Jennifer Hudson - No one today has a voice like Jennifer Hudson. (Ok, maybe Aretha Franklin.) You can't even put her into a category. Her voice is so big and unfaltering. She doesn't cower down because big voices are not in. She's gone through terrible tragedy with a lot of grace. She's transformed her body and looks great. She's sounds great live! She's a bonafide actress and a bonafide artist. This girl makes you proud to be a Chicagoan.

Favorite Jennifer Hudson song - No One Gonna Love You

 

Sia - This girl's voice is off the wall and her songs tell a great story. I've only heard the 1,000 Forms of Fear album, but I'm sold. She has a song that goes from 4/4 to 3/4 time. Who does that anymore?! She even has a song where she switches back and forward between two keys that seem counter-intuitive, but work. I think the song Chandelier is a musical monster! That album is so creative with the music and storytelling. It inspires you to expand your sound.

Favorite Sia song - Chandelier



P!nk - I've always loved P!nk, but when I saw her perform Glitter in the Air, all I kept thinking is "this girl just sung the crap outta this song upside down!" That performance was MA-GI-CAL! Her voice is so gritty. She's always sounded like a polished artists that's been singing for 20+ years even when she first came out. One of the things that inspires me about P!nk is that she is this rebel, hard-shelled gal singing about fighting and partying who is also comfortable being soft and singing about pain. Through her, I see that I can be firm and assertive and still graceful and lovely.

Favorit P!nk song - Try




Whitney Houston - No one disagrees about Whitney's talent, but there are two special things that inspire me. First, you can see her change with the times, yet she always sounds like herself. That's really hard to do successfully. When she came out with "It's Not Right, but it's OK" she sounded so current, but you instantly knew it was her. Second, Whitney never shied away from her roots in the church. I read that when making the movie The Bodyguard, she insisted that they include the song Jesus Loves Me. It was a tender moment in the movie. I think of Whitney as someone who had great struggles, but knew she could rely on God. If that's not inspiring, I don't know what is.

Favorite Whitney song - Lover for Life



Others who almost made the list: D'angelo and Eryka Badhu. Both of these artists came in under the R&B umbrella, but each album pulls them further away. D'angelo is like the Godfather of funky soul and Eryka Badhu takes jazz to someplace galactical. Love them both.

Blessings

The Anthem - Planetshakers

Now that I've heard this song, I can't get it out of my head. Guess that's why it's titled "The Anthem." Enjoy!

P.S. - God is doing something awesome in Australia and Planetshakers is one of the great groups hailing from there.

Insecurity issues

I must admit I have issues as a lead worshiper.

I am an average singer. Don't have a great vibrato. Have average range. Don't always sing from my diaphram. I also don't think quick on my feet and my voice sometimes goes out when its hot in my church and the fans are on full throttle. But the average singer thing is my main issue.

It is extremely easy to be intimidated as a lead worshiper when you can't blow. I wish I could rip and run across the scale, but that isn't my strong suit. I love singers who run effortlessly, but that's often the measure we hold everyone by. At least in black church culture. Why is that?

As I've grown in my Christian journey, one of the things I'm more cognizant of is not being wooed by rhymes, runs, and physical attractiveness of something or even an edifice. This goes for a sermon, as well as the music. We (including myself) have got to move past some of the superficial stuff and get to the heart of worship. Don't get me wrong, it's hard to go in when things are pitchy, but it shouldn't be easy to go in just because of someone's ability to sound like Beyonce. (No shade... I love Halo! :)

I may not be able to do the Jason Nelson warm up challenge, but dang it, do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do ain't never hurt nobody. That, I can do all day, every day.

Blessings

P.S. Go on Instagram and check out Jason Nelson's warm up challenges. Some of these people are dope and some are just flat out funny.

Travis Greene - Living Water (starring Kel Mitchell)

Review of Tasha Cobb's One Place Live

I don't do a lot of reviews because it's rare that I purchase a full album. However, as a huge fan of Tasha Cobb's first album, I went ahead and purchased the sophomore project. Here's what I think of One Place Live:

1. Immediately- thumbs wayyy up!
2. Jesus Did It - eh
3. Fill Me Up - thumbs up
4. Overflow - thumbs up
5. Jesus Saves - eh
6. One Place - thumbs wayyyy up!
7. I love This Place - thumbs wayyy up!
8. This is Freedom - thumbs up
9. Sense It - thumbs wayyy up!
10. Sense It Reprise - thumbs wayyy up! This is battling for my favorite song on the album. "I am not the same, I've been changed in Your glory." Such simple and beautiful lyrics that anyone can sing.
11. Put a Praise on It - eh Shocked that I didn't like this song more. I like the concept of the song, but it's just Ok for me. I also can't differentiate between Tasha and Kierra. That's kinda strange too.
12. Christmas Praise - thumbs up
13. I'll Do It Again - thumbs wayyy up! This song reminds me of an old school Kirk Franklin and the Family type of song. I love hearing the individual voices even though they're all singing together.
14. Solid Rock - thumbs wayyy up! Love Jamie Grace's voice.
15. You Still Love Me - thumbs up
16. I Will Run - thumbs up This song has a rock vibe and Tasha pulls it off well

Bottom Line - I don't dislike any of the songs and I love 4 of them. Buy this album.

Blessings!

Review of self-titled albumTiff Joy

This is the last of the Tiff Joy takeover installation. The album dropped today so check out my review and then go cop it.

1. YOU are - thumbs up
2. Almighty God - thumbs up
3. The Promise -thumbs wayyy up! Love the words, the chorus sticks with you, and the music is perfect.
4. Oh How We Love YOU -thumbs wayyy up! I love this upbeat song. I think musicians will love it too.
5. All that YOU do - thumbs wayyy up! This song is beautiful and the music is reminiscent of a Stevie Wonder tune.
6. Holy -thumbs wayyy up! Another beautifully composed song.
7. Healer -thumbs wayyy up! Another beautifully composed song, yet again.
8. Hallelujah -thumbs wayyy up! Another beautifully composed song.
9. Altar Call - thumbs up
10. I'm All YOURS - thumbs wayyy up! You guessed it. Another beautifully composed song. It's crazy there are this many!
11. Amazing - thumbs wayyy up! But you already knew this one goes hard. She did rearrange it a little to keep it fresh. And whoever the drummer is snapped at the end, like frfr!
12. Hope - eh - I'm not crazy about this song, but after 10 great songs, there's not much else I can ask for.

Bottom Line - This album is a praise and worshiper's delight! Tiff Joy has a great tap on the sound of worship. You can hit play and worship through the entire album. It's kinda impossible to buy an album with so many good songs these days, but that's exactly what this is. Buy this project. Like now.

I'm gonna go ahead and project a nom for new artist of the year for the next Stellar Awards. You gotta speak those things that are not as though they are!

Leggo Chicago!

Blessings
 

Tiff Joy takeover continued

Today's post is re-post of an interview of Tiff Joy facilitated by Soul Prosper Radio. Click the link and enjoy!

http://www.spradioshow.com/tiff-joy-interview.html

TIFF JOY - THE PROMISE (Audio)

A Tiff Joy Takeover

Hey Guys,

My Godsister, Tiff Joy, is dropping her solo album in a few days and I know you're going to love her work. You already know her from the Stellar Award winning song "Amazing" and she's been putting in a lot of work hitting the road and getting her song out "The Promise." Thought I'd help get her name out there cuz she's the truth! Support a talented, anointed, and Chicago-based artist with strong roots and a humble heart.

Follow her on twitter and instagram @1tiffjoy and on FB!

Pre-order the album Tiff Joy - I sure did. ;)

Byron Cage - Great & Mighty

I love this worship song. Enjoy!

Back in the day when things were cool (in my Erykah Badu voice)

One of the most memorable theme songs ever!

Just for kicks, I thought I'd talk about how we used to do things "back in the day." Mind you I was a member of my church choir and a community choir. Most of these are things my praise team doesn't do any longer.

• We used to have Bible study before choir rehearsal.
• We used to be late and end up missing Bible study. (convenient, eh?)
• We used to eat during rehearsal sometimes. (Chips, pop, candy. So sad.)
• Before closing prayer, we'd each have to recite one verse from the Bible. You couldn't say "Jesus wept."
• We used to always wear uniforms on Sundays. Black and white, all black, all white for first Sundays, and rainbow colored blouses if we were really feeling jazzy. lol
• We used to host or sing at midnight musicals Memorial and Labor Day weekends. Those were the days!
• We considered congregational songs praise and worship. (e.g., God is a Good God, Lord I'm Running Trying to Make 100, etc.)

Can you think of anything you used to do back in the "good old days?" Comment and let's reminisce together!