This week's edition of Sunday Best started off with the first sing-off, which consisted of each of the three finalists singing Jesus Loves Me without any practice. The organ was the only instrumentation allowed.
Latice Crawford went first and took it straight to the Baptist church. She slowed it down and sang it in a real traditional manner.
Jessica Reedy, who has been jazzy throughout the competition, caressed the song and put those low notes in it that she's known for. I would call her version the nondenominational one.
Y'Anna Crawley, meanwhile took it to a very COGIC place. I thought she was gonna bust out with that timeless classic, Yes, at any moment.
While each of the ladies did a great job, Latice was eliminated -- leaving Jessica and Y'Anna to compete for the grand prize of a recording contract and a 2009 Lincoln MKS.
After a rousing performance by Rickey Dillard and the New Generation Chorale, Y'Anna put her spin on Yolanda Adams' The Battle is Not Yours. In my opinion, it wasn't her best performance, but it was still good. The judges pretty much agreed with me. Bebe Winans liked it, Tina Campbell wasn't impressed, and Erica Campbell said that she was still amazing even when she's not doing well.
I Won't Complain was Jessica's choice, and baby, it was a good one for her. The pain and the passion in her voice caressed that thing, and we finally heard the church girl peeking out from behind her jazzy exterior. I thought she was gonna get her shout on -- and I was gonna have to join her. The judges were in full agreement that she was awesome and necessary in the industry.
Crystal Aiken, the winner of the first season of Sunday Best, returned to the scene of the crime to perform the first single from her self-titled debut album, I Desire More.
The finalists closed out the evening by singing The Commodores' classic, Jesus is Love. The general audience gets to vote now, and we'll find out next week who'll be Sunday's Best.
Showing posts with label Sunday Best. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sunday Best. Show all posts
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
No Eliminations on "Sunday Best"
Family was the theme for this week's edition of Sunday Best, and The Williams Brothers' Living Testimony was a perfect way to open the show. The ladies left standing at this point performed two songs each. Here's how it went down...
Jessica Reedy -- She opened the competition with The Winans' classic, The Question Is. While it was obvious that she was dealing with some hoarseness, she still did her thing. Her lower register defied description and her jazzy style was absolutely awesome. I loved her, but I didn't think it was one of her best performances. Judge Tina Campbell mentioned her vocal problems, but still liked it. Erica Campbell, on the other hand, wanted more from her. Finally, Bebe Winans said that she took his brothers' song and made it her own. In addition, he called her a professional who really understood the craft of singing.
Reedy's second choice was I'm Still Here. Her take on The Williams Brothers was a jazzy groove that really worked. The judges loved it, too.
Latice Crawford -- The Clark Sisters' Is My Living in Vain? was her choice, and she put a jazzy swing on it that was really nice. Bebe called her a tiny hurricane. He appreciated the fact that she didn't try to be a Clark. Erica loved her interpretation of songs and said that she'd be giving the gospel industry a lift once she became a part of it. Tina, meanwhile, wanted more from the performance.
Latice's second choice was I'll Take You There, originally done by The Staples Singers but remade by Bebe and his sister, Cece Winans. I personally wasn't impressed, but for the most part, the judges liked it. They sensed a disconnect in her, but overall they thought it was great.
Y'Anna Crawley -- She sang Mary Mary's Heaven -- a really bold choice considering that they were judging her. She put her usual bodaciousness on it, and it was wonderful. Bebe called it incredible. The sisters of Mary Mary loved what she did, and Tina told her that they should get together and do the song in the future.
Ain't No Need to Worry was the way Y'Anna closed out the night's competition. She showed another side of her talent when she slowed The Winans' classic down and sang the soup out of it. Again, the judges were in awe of her talent.
The Anointed Sisters closed out the family tributes with their song, It's Already Done. As if they weren't already tearing things up, their sister, LaShun Pace, came and helped them bring the house down!
In the end, all of the ladies were invited back for the first-ever Sunday Best "Sing-Off." Not quite sure what that's gonna look like, but we'll be here to figure it out.
Jessica Reedy -- She opened the competition with The Winans' classic, The Question Is. While it was obvious that she was dealing with some hoarseness, she still did her thing. Her lower register defied description and her jazzy style was absolutely awesome. I loved her, but I didn't think it was one of her best performances. Judge Tina Campbell mentioned her vocal problems, but still liked it. Erica Campbell, on the other hand, wanted more from her. Finally, Bebe Winans said that she took his brothers' song and made it her own. In addition, he called her a professional who really understood the craft of singing.
Reedy's second choice was I'm Still Here. Her take on The Williams Brothers was a jazzy groove that really worked. The judges loved it, too.
Latice Crawford -- The Clark Sisters' Is My Living in Vain? was her choice, and she put a jazzy swing on it that was really nice. Bebe called her a tiny hurricane. He appreciated the fact that she didn't try to be a Clark. Erica loved her interpretation of songs and said that she'd be giving the gospel industry a lift once she became a part of it. Tina, meanwhile, wanted more from the performance.
Latice's second choice was I'll Take You There, originally done by The Staples Singers but remade by Bebe and his sister, Cece Winans. I personally wasn't impressed, but for the most part, the judges liked it. They sensed a disconnect in her, but overall they thought it was great.
Y'Anna Crawley -- She sang Mary Mary's Heaven -- a really bold choice considering that they were judging her. She put her usual bodaciousness on it, and it was wonderful. Bebe called it incredible. The sisters of Mary Mary loved what she did, and Tina told her that they should get together and do the song in the future.
Ain't No Need to Worry was the way Y'Anna closed out the night's competition. She showed another side of her talent when she slowed The Winans' classic down and sang the soup out of it. Again, the judges were in awe of her talent.
The Anointed Sisters closed out the family tributes with their song, It's Already Done. As if they weren't already tearing things up, their sister, LaShun Pace, came and helped them bring the house down!
In the end, all of the ladies were invited back for the first-ever Sunday Best "Sing-Off." Not quite sure what that's gonna look like, but we'll be here to figure it out.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Two More Go Home on "Sunday Best"
This week's edition of Sunday Best found the contestants getting makeovers and G1 mobile phones. Here's how it went down...
Zebulon Ellis was announced as the wildcard contestant and he opened the show. He sang Donny Hathaway's A Song for You. Even though I'm usually of the mind that folks need to leave Donny's music alone, Zeb did an okay job of it. Since he was trying to gospelize it, he dragged it out in places that really didn't need it. However, he brought it together with some beautiful high notes at the end. Tina Campbell called his rendition fantastic. Bebe Winans echoed my sentiments about touching a Donny song, but said that he made it his own. Finally, Erica Campbell called his performance perfect.
Jessica Reedy came next with Just As I Am. Her smooth alto gave life and beauty to the song. Host Kirk Franklin had to bow. Erica loved everything about her singing. Bebe loved her tone, and Tina was almost rendered her speechless.
John McClure Jr. did You Are My Life. The Fred Hammond song was provided a smooth backdrop to showcase the loveliness of his voice. Erica thought he did a great job, and Bebe called his performance a quiet storm. Tina wanted him to hold some notes so we could fully experience his voice.
Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand was Latice Crawford's choice this week. Even though it was obvious that she was hoarse, her voice was still in fine form. In fact, she ministered that song like it had been a Sunday morning staple. Bebe acknowledged her hoarseness, but still said she was spectacular. Tina was completely impressed and promised to buy her records. Erica called her performance anointed and incredible.
Dontavies Boatwright did Chris Tomlin's How Great is Our God. While it wasn't bad, I don't think it was his best performance. However, Bebe, Erica, and Tina loved it.
Y'Anna Crawley finished off the night with her rendition of Waiting on the World to Change. Even though John Mayer probably wasn't thinking anywhere near gospel when he wrote this tune, Y'Anna's take on it changed the game completely. While Tina and Erica didn't think it was her best performance, they still liked what she did with the song. Meanwhile, Bebe told Y'Anna to forget the sisters better known as Mary Mary and listen to him. He was completely impressed with her version of the song.
After a stellar performance from Ann Nesby, Dontavies Boatwright and John McClure Jr. were eliminated. That leaves Y'Anna Crawley, Jessica Reedy, Latice Crawford, and Zebulon Ellis to duke it out for the title.
Zebulon Ellis was announced as the wildcard contestant and he opened the show. He sang Donny Hathaway's A Song for You. Even though I'm usually of the mind that folks need to leave Donny's music alone, Zeb did an okay job of it. Since he was trying to gospelize it, he dragged it out in places that really didn't need it. However, he brought it together with some beautiful high notes at the end. Tina Campbell called his rendition fantastic. Bebe Winans echoed my sentiments about touching a Donny song, but said that he made it his own. Finally, Erica Campbell called his performance perfect.
Jessica Reedy came next with Just As I Am. Her smooth alto gave life and beauty to the song. Host Kirk Franklin had to bow. Erica loved everything about her singing. Bebe loved her tone, and Tina was almost rendered her speechless.
John McClure Jr. did You Are My Life. The Fred Hammond song was provided a smooth backdrop to showcase the loveliness of his voice. Erica thought he did a great job, and Bebe called his performance a quiet storm. Tina wanted him to hold some notes so we could fully experience his voice.
Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand was Latice Crawford's choice this week. Even though it was obvious that she was hoarse, her voice was still in fine form. In fact, she ministered that song like it had been a Sunday morning staple. Bebe acknowledged her hoarseness, but still said she was spectacular. Tina was completely impressed and promised to buy her records. Erica called her performance anointed and incredible.
Dontavies Boatwright did Chris Tomlin's How Great is Our God. While it wasn't bad, I don't think it was his best performance. However, Bebe, Erica, and Tina loved it.
Y'Anna Crawley finished off the night with her rendition of Waiting on the World to Change. Even though John Mayer probably wasn't thinking anywhere near gospel when he wrote this tune, Y'Anna's take on it changed the game completely. While Tina and Erica didn't think it was her best performance, they still liked what she did with the song. Meanwhile, Bebe told Y'Anna to forget the sisters better known as Mary Mary and listen to him. He was completely impressed with her version of the song.
After a stellar performance from Ann Nesby, Dontavies Boatwright and John McClure Jr. were eliminated. That leaves Y'Anna Crawley, Jessica Reedy, Latice Crawford, and Zebulon Ellis to duke it out for the title.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Five More Go Home on "Sunday Best"
The theme of this week's edition of Sunday Best was Sowing Seeds of Faith and Overcoming Doubt, and Kirk Franklin's performance of his Grammy Award winning song, Help Me Believe from The Fight of My Life album fit in nicely.
The ten finalists were competing for five spots. Here's how it went down...
Dontavies Boatwright kicked off the competition with Glory to Glory to Glory. His rich baritone was well complemented by the Fred Hammond tune. Judges Bebe Winans, Erica Campbell, and Tina Campbell all agreed that his rendition was the bomb. Erica even went so far as to say that there wasn't a voice in Gospel like his at this moment.
Jessica Reedy was next with a jazzy rendition of Kirk Franklin's Brighter Day. This Saginaw vocalist has a smooth tone that really made it work. Kirk was outdone -- and it showed. The judges loved it.
Clifton Ross III sang Total Praise. His take on the song was beautiful and smooth. He took it all the way up and brought it back down on the chorus, which was nice. Even though Bebe mentioned his nervousness, he said that Clifton brought it home. Erica said that while the restraint and low-register singing he used in the beginning was nice, she thought he could've distributed the power of his voice more. Meanwhile, Tina was of the opinion that he could've used his middle range more. Overall, though, they liked it.
Long Island, New York's finest, John McClure Jr., gave his testimony in song, and it was pretty good. Bebe wanted less growling and movement and more singing. Both Tina and Erica liked the way he took them to church.
Y'Anna Crawley wore out Grandma's Hands. And when I say wore out, that's exactly what I mean. Kirk said it just don't make no sense. She rendered Erica and Tina practically speechless. Bebe called her sassy and said it was great to be her because she has "it." Kirk asked her to do that last line and she hit it on the money. Incredible.
Zebulon Ellis' take on He's Able was a little different. The arrangement was familiar, but just barely. He did a good job, but I wasn't impressed. Bebe wasn't, either. He thought it wasn't the greatest performance, but he enjoyed it. Erica enjoyed it, and Tina said that he brought the experience to the people.
Jeff Spain's performance was, by far, the weakest one this week. His take on Mary Mary's version of Yesterday was dry at best, and his expression was very bland. Erica wanted more intensity, more energy, and more audience connection. Tina wasn't impressed at all. Bebe said he lost the connection but remained smooth.
Carolyn Johnson White sang Karen Clark Sheard's A Secret Place. The elder stateswoman of the competition wasn't as impressive this week as she was last week, but it wasn't the worst thing I've ever heard. The judges liked her restraint and professionalism.
Kalind Hayes' Balm in Gilead really did bring a healing to the competition. His smooth yet intense delivery made the song work. Bebe didn't like the song selection, but he liked how he sang it. Erica said that his smooth voice would be a welcomed addition to the Gospel industry. Tina didn't think it was his best performance, but appreciated his skill.
Latice Crawford finished it off with another Karen Clark Sheard tune, A Praying Spirit. This New Yorker sang the song well, but the last note wasn't that great. Tina called her amazing. Bebe went into tongues, and Erica said she was blessed have experienced her voice.
The five singers that advanced to the next round are:
Jessica Reedy
Dontavies Boatwright
Y'Anna Crawley
Latice Crawford
John McClure
Kirk said that one of the singers was a wildcard. He said we'd have to tune in next week to find out who that person was and what that would mean. And that's just what we'll do.
The ten finalists were competing for five spots. Here's how it went down...
Dontavies Boatwright kicked off the competition with Glory to Glory to Glory. His rich baritone was well complemented by the Fred Hammond tune. Judges Bebe Winans, Erica Campbell, and Tina Campbell all agreed that his rendition was the bomb. Erica even went so far as to say that there wasn't a voice in Gospel like his at this moment.
Jessica Reedy was next with a jazzy rendition of Kirk Franklin's Brighter Day. This Saginaw vocalist has a smooth tone that really made it work. Kirk was outdone -- and it showed. The judges loved it.
Clifton Ross III sang Total Praise. His take on the song was beautiful and smooth. He took it all the way up and brought it back down on the chorus, which was nice. Even though Bebe mentioned his nervousness, he said that Clifton brought it home. Erica said that while the restraint and low-register singing he used in the beginning was nice, she thought he could've distributed the power of his voice more. Meanwhile, Tina was of the opinion that he could've used his middle range more. Overall, though, they liked it.
Long Island, New York's finest, John McClure Jr., gave his testimony in song, and it was pretty good. Bebe wanted less growling and movement and more singing. Both Tina and Erica liked the way he took them to church.
Y'Anna Crawley wore out Grandma's Hands. And when I say wore out, that's exactly what I mean. Kirk said it just don't make no sense. She rendered Erica and Tina practically speechless. Bebe called her sassy and said it was great to be her because she has "it." Kirk asked her to do that last line and she hit it on the money. Incredible.
Zebulon Ellis' take on He's Able was a little different. The arrangement was familiar, but just barely. He did a good job, but I wasn't impressed. Bebe wasn't, either. He thought it wasn't the greatest performance, but he enjoyed it. Erica enjoyed it, and Tina said that he brought the experience to the people.
Jeff Spain's performance was, by far, the weakest one this week. His take on Mary Mary's version of Yesterday was dry at best, and his expression was very bland. Erica wanted more intensity, more energy, and more audience connection. Tina wasn't impressed at all. Bebe said he lost the connection but remained smooth.
Carolyn Johnson White sang Karen Clark Sheard's A Secret Place. The elder stateswoman of the competition wasn't as impressive this week as she was last week, but it wasn't the worst thing I've ever heard. The judges liked her restraint and professionalism.
Kalind Hayes' Balm in Gilead really did bring a healing to the competition. His smooth yet intense delivery made the song work. Bebe didn't like the song selection, but he liked how he sang it. Erica said that his smooth voice would be a welcomed addition to the Gospel industry. Tina didn't think it was his best performance, but appreciated his skill.
Latice Crawford finished it off with another Karen Clark Sheard tune, A Praying Spirit. This New Yorker sang the song well, but the last note wasn't that great. Tina called her amazing. Bebe went into tongues, and Erica said she was blessed have experienced her voice.
The five singers that advanced to the next round are:
Jessica Reedy
Dontavies Boatwright
Y'Anna Crawley
Latice Crawford
John McClure
Kirk said that one of the singers was a wildcard. He said we'd have to tune in next week to find out who that person was and what that would mean. And that's just what we'll do.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Ten Finalists Named on "Sunday Best"
This was the second competition installment of Sunday Best, and this was the week they made eliminations. After a stellar opening by Byron Cage and the contestants singing I Will Bless the Lord, the festivities began...
Pete Robinson was first up. The Vineland, New Jersey resident sang Through it All. His delivery started off pretty shaky, but it came together in the end. Judge Tina Campbell didn't think it was his strongest performance and she thought he didn't connect with the audience. In addition, there were pitch problems. Both BeBe Winans and Erica Campbell agreed. Erica also thought it would be good if he sang the chorus -- the known part of the song -- along with the background singers.
Y'Anna Crawley did Mt. Rainier, Maryland proud with her rendition of For Every Mountain. To let you know how good it was, the audience gave the 31-year-old a standing ovation. The judges had no choice but to agree. BeBe went so far as to say that she was a great singer that he could listen to all day.
Maurice Griffin had a great voice that was showcased nicely with In the Midst of it All. This 22-year-old minister of music from Chicago came out in a low-key fashion, but brought it together as he sang. BeBe said Griffin sounded like a grownup, but he looked like an elementary school student. All the judges liked him.
One of the shakiest performer of the night was Sharon Gomez. The Baltimore, Maryland resident Great is Thy Faithfulness. While her sincerity shined through, her voice wasn't that impressive. While the judges thought her voice was nice, there weren't impressed with her performance. Tina blamed it on her nerves, and Erica agreed.
I'm Lost Without You was John McClure Jr's choice of song. While I wasn't impressed with his take on the BeBe and CeCe Winans classic, the judges liked it. Of course, BeBe reminded us why we loved the song by taking his turn on it.
Host Kirk Franklin liked the arrangement of Melodies From Heaven that Crystal Holland chose to sing. The Chicagoan gave it a jazzy feel that was really nice. Erica thought there was something inconsistent about Holland's performance, Tina thought she didn't connect, and BeBe felt like it was mechanical.
While I realize that Sunday Best is a singing competition, I think it's important to look good when you sing. Unfortunately, Sacramento native Ian J. Knighton obviously didn't agree. Even though his take on The Presence of the Lord is Here was good, his suit didn't fit him well. Erica liked the way he engaged the audience, BeBe thought the song was too short, and Tina invited him to her church.
Another shaky singer was Cecoya Burch. The Atlanta, Georgia native's weak performance of Mary Mary's In the Morning left a lot to be desired. While Tina and Erica were kind and said decent things, it was obvious to me that they weren't overjoyed at Burch's rendition.
Kirk called Dontavies Boatwright a Black Pavarotti -- a reference to the great operatic singer, Luciano Pavarotti -- and he was absolutely right. Boatwright's take on What the World Need Now is Love was awesome, and the judges agreed.
The final performance of the night was Los Angeles' own Carolyn Johnson White. This seasoned singer took it old school with I Know I've Been Changed. Even though she had some pitch problems in the beginning, she managed to pull it together before her time was up, and that note she hit at the end was well worth the wait. Jesus showed up, and the audience almost went in. The judges were thoroughly impressed with the 60-year-old, and when she talked about how grateful she was to be in the number with all the children, the audience went wild.
In the end, ten singers were eliminated. They were Tammy Turner, Cammille Betton, Jonathan Johnson, Audrey Lewis, Pete Robinson, Maurice Griffin, Sharon Gomez, Cecoya Burch, Crystal Holland, and Ian J. Knighton.
Here are the ten Sunday Best finalists:
John McClure Jr.
Kalind Haynes
Jessica Reedy
Zebulon Ellis
Y'Anna Crawley
Carolyn Johnson-White
Dontavies Boatwright
Latice Crawford
Jeff Spain
Clifton Ross III
Tune in next week to see how this thing turns out...
Pete Robinson was first up. The Vineland, New Jersey resident sang Through it All. His delivery started off pretty shaky, but it came together in the end. Judge Tina Campbell didn't think it was his strongest performance and she thought he didn't connect with the audience. In addition, there were pitch problems. Both BeBe Winans and Erica Campbell agreed. Erica also thought it would be good if he sang the chorus -- the known part of the song -- along with the background singers.
Y'Anna Crawley did Mt. Rainier, Maryland proud with her rendition of For Every Mountain. To let you know how good it was, the audience gave the 31-year-old a standing ovation. The judges had no choice but to agree. BeBe went so far as to say that she was a great singer that he could listen to all day.
Maurice Griffin had a great voice that was showcased nicely with In the Midst of it All. This 22-year-old minister of music from Chicago came out in a low-key fashion, but brought it together as he sang. BeBe said Griffin sounded like a grownup, but he looked like an elementary school student. All the judges liked him.
One of the shakiest performer of the night was Sharon Gomez. The Baltimore, Maryland resident Great is Thy Faithfulness. While her sincerity shined through, her voice wasn't that impressive. While the judges thought her voice was nice, there weren't impressed with her performance. Tina blamed it on her nerves, and Erica agreed.
I'm Lost Without You was John McClure Jr's choice of song. While I wasn't impressed with his take on the BeBe and CeCe Winans classic, the judges liked it. Of course, BeBe reminded us why we loved the song by taking his turn on it.
Host Kirk Franklin liked the arrangement of Melodies From Heaven that Crystal Holland chose to sing. The Chicagoan gave it a jazzy feel that was really nice. Erica thought there was something inconsistent about Holland's performance, Tina thought she didn't connect, and BeBe felt like it was mechanical.
While I realize that Sunday Best is a singing competition, I think it's important to look good when you sing. Unfortunately, Sacramento native Ian J. Knighton obviously didn't agree. Even though his take on The Presence of the Lord is Here was good, his suit didn't fit him well. Erica liked the way he engaged the audience, BeBe thought the song was too short, and Tina invited him to her church.
Another shaky singer was Cecoya Burch. The Atlanta, Georgia native's weak performance of Mary Mary's In the Morning left a lot to be desired. While Tina and Erica were kind and said decent things, it was obvious to me that they weren't overjoyed at Burch's rendition.
Kirk called Dontavies Boatwright a Black Pavarotti -- a reference to the great operatic singer, Luciano Pavarotti -- and he was absolutely right. Boatwright's take on What the World Need Now is Love was awesome, and the judges agreed.
The final performance of the night was Los Angeles' own Carolyn Johnson White. This seasoned singer took it old school with I Know I've Been Changed. Even though she had some pitch problems in the beginning, she managed to pull it together before her time was up, and that note she hit at the end was well worth the wait. Jesus showed up, and the audience almost went in. The judges were thoroughly impressed with the 60-year-old, and when she talked about how grateful she was to be in the number with all the children, the audience went wild.
In the end, ten singers were eliminated. They were Tammy Turner, Cammille Betton, Jonathan Johnson, Audrey Lewis, Pete Robinson, Maurice Griffin, Sharon Gomez, Cecoya Burch, Crystal Holland, and Ian J. Knighton.
Here are the ten Sunday Best finalists:
John McClure Jr.
Kalind Haynes
Jessica Reedy
Zebulon Ellis
Y'Anna Crawley
Carolyn Johnson-White
Dontavies Boatwright
Latice Crawford
Jeff Spain
Clifton Ross III
Tune in next week to see how this thing turns out...
Monday, March 23, 2009
The Competition Begins on "Sunday Best"
If last night's edition of Sunday Best was any indication of what we have to look forward to for the rest of the season, we are in for a real treat. Mary Mary and Kierra Sheard opened up the show with God in Me, the newest single from Double-M's latest album, The Sound. After that, the 20 finalists did the reprise -- which we REALLY could've done without.
Ten of the 20 singers performed last night. Here's how it went down...
Tammy Turner opened up the competition with her rendition of Tramaine Hawkins' classic, Look at Me. The lady from Jessup, Maryland did a very good job, and the judges -- BeBe Winans, and Erica and Tina Campbell -- agreed.
Next up was Washington, DC's Clifton Ross the Third. His take on Behold the Lamb was good, but it sounded like he was on the upper end of his range. I personally thought he sounded like it was a strain. The judges, however, thought he nailed it.
Cammille Betton of Columbus, Ohio took us back to the old school with Just a Closer Walk With Thee. Her rich alto was a good fit for the song. While Erica and BeBe liked her performance, Tina thought the song didn't showcase her best talents.
Jeff Spain brought in a quiet anointing with his version of Seasons. While the New Yorker's vocal performance wasn't necessarily the most powerful, his anointing certainly was. BeBe thought it was smooth, Tina liked the sincerity in his eyes, and Erica thought his approach was gentle, but great.
Jessica Reedy has the distinction of being the youngest singer this season. Even though the Saginaw, Michigan native's chronological age is 20, her voice is extremely mature. Yolanda Adams' Just a Prayer Away was her song choice. She pitched it lower and took some liberties with the melody, but overall, it was good. While Erica thought she could've stretched more, BeBe liked it. Tina thought Jessica's take was gentle but sure, powerful but light.
Jonathan Johnson showed his Louisville, Kentucky roots with his take on He's Always There. The 22-year-old's voice was very traditional sounding. Bebe called it husky. Overall the judges liked it, but Tina called him out for being pitchy.
Latice Crawford's large voice was in direct contrast to her sleight frame. Even though the Queens, New York native's take on Peace Be Still was reminiscent of Vanessa Bell Armstrong, she made it her own. The background singers were completely on-point, too. It was so good that Latice almost got her shout on! The judges went crazy. Erica mentioned the anointing in her singing, Tina was rendered speechless, and BeBe started speaking in tongues.
Richard Smallwood's Center of My Joy was Kalind Haynes choice of song. Even though he sounded like a Will Downing knock off, his voice was really good, and the background singers really brought it together for the Chicago resident. BeBe called him his type of singer because he could understand what he was saying. Erica called it musically excellent; while Tina called it clean, confident, and sure.
Another Chicagoan, Audrey Lewis, really did her thing on He Looked Beyond My Faults. Mama Lewis was your typical old school singer, and she was great. Prior to singing, host Kirk Franklin revealed that she'd recently quit her job to sing full time. After her performance, BeBe told her she should've done it long time ago. Both Tina and Erica agreed.
The final singer of the evening was Atlanta's own Zebulon Ellis. He came out like an old-school preacher as he sang God is Standing By. The judges absolutely loved the way he owned the stage.
In the end, everyone was so good that they weren't able to eliminate anyone. Stay tuned next week to see how this thing turns out.
Ten of the 20 singers performed last night. Here's how it went down...
Tammy Turner opened up the competition with her rendition of Tramaine Hawkins' classic, Look at Me. The lady from Jessup, Maryland did a very good job, and the judges -- BeBe Winans, and Erica and Tina Campbell -- agreed.
Next up was Washington, DC's Clifton Ross the Third. His take on Behold the Lamb was good, but it sounded like he was on the upper end of his range. I personally thought he sounded like it was a strain. The judges, however, thought he nailed it.
Cammille Betton of Columbus, Ohio took us back to the old school with Just a Closer Walk With Thee. Her rich alto was a good fit for the song. While Erica and BeBe liked her performance, Tina thought the song didn't showcase her best talents.
Jeff Spain brought in a quiet anointing with his version of Seasons. While the New Yorker's vocal performance wasn't necessarily the most powerful, his anointing certainly was. BeBe thought it was smooth, Tina liked the sincerity in his eyes, and Erica thought his approach was gentle, but great.
Jessica Reedy has the distinction of being the youngest singer this season. Even though the Saginaw, Michigan native's chronological age is 20, her voice is extremely mature. Yolanda Adams' Just a Prayer Away was her song choice. She pitched it lower and took some liberties with the melody, but overall, it was good. While Erica thought she could've stretched more, BeBe liked it. Tina thought Jessica's take was gentle but sure, powerful but light.
Jonathan Johnson showed his Louisville, Kentucky roots with his take on He's Always There. The 22-year-old's voice was very traditional sounding. Bebe called it husky. Overall the judges liked it, but Tina called him out for being pitchy.
Latice Crawford's large voice was in direct contrast to her sleight frame. Even though the Queens, New York native's take on Peace Be Still was reminiscent of Vanessa Bell Armstrong, she made it her own. The background singers were completely on-point, too. It was so good that Latice almost got her shout on! The judges went crazy. Erica mentioned the anointing in her singing, Tina was rendered speechless, and BeBe started speaking in tongues.
Richard Smallwood's Center of My Joy was Kalind Haynes choice of song. Even though he sounded like a Will Downing knock off, his voice was really good, and the background singers really brought it together for the Chicago resident. BeBe called him his type of singer because he could understand what he was saying. Erica called it musically excellent; while Tina called it clean, confident, and sure.
Another Chicagoan, Audrey Lewis, really did her thing on He Looked Beyond My Faults. Mama Lewis was your typical old school singer, and she was great. Prior to singing, host Kirk Franklin revealed that she'd recently quit her job to sing full time. After her performance, BeBe told her she should've done it long time ago. Both Tina and Erica agreed.
The final singer of the evening was Atlanta's own Zebulon Ellis. He came out like an old-school preacher as he sang God is Standing By. The judges absolutely loved the way he owned the stage.
In the end, everyone was so good that they weren't able to eliminate anyone. Stay tuned next week to see how this thing turns out.
Friday, March 13, 2009
BeBe Winans Accused of Pushing Ex-Wife
Say it ain't so! Sunday Best judge BeBe Winans has been accused of assaulting his ex-wife, Debra, on Valentine's Day weekend.According to the Chicago Tribune, BeBe went to pick up his 13-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son on February 13th. He and Debra got into an argument over custody issues when she alleges that he pushed her to the ground in front of their children. He was booked on a misdemeanor domestic assault charge and released on a thousand-dollar bond. He's due back in court on Wednesday, April 29th.
BeBe posted the following statement on his website:
“To be accused of these allegations, which arose out of a child custody right dispute and my desire to spend time with our children as court ordered, is nothing less than heart wrenching. Since I choose to say nothing negative about my children’s mother, I will make no comment other than to say the allegations are inconsistent with my character and the foundation upon which I was raised and I am prayerful that the matter is straightened out very soon for the sake of our children.”
BeBe and Debra were married for 16 years before they divorced in 2003. While it's easy to rush to judgement -- especially in this era of domestic violence -- I would ask that we all be in prayer for this family at this difficult time.
Monday, March 9, 2009
My Take on "Sunday Best"
The second season of BET's Sunday Best premiered last night with a theme of change. While the players -- host Kirk Franklin, and judges Tina and Erica Campbell of Mary Mary and Bebe Winans -- stayed the same, the venue was moved from Los Angeles to Atlanta.
This year's winner will receive a recording contract and a 2009 Lincoln MKS. We were allowed to watch the audition process, which started in ATL and ended in Chicago.
There were some interesting characters. Most notably was Margaret Fowler. This woman from the Atlanta audition was dressed from head to toe in pink -- and let's just say it wasn't pretty. Her intention was to sing Amazing Grace, but Erica asked her to do a song that would utilize the bells on her shoes. After her not-so-rousing rendition of Joy Bells Ringing in My Soul, she was sent away.
Naturally, there were some inspirational moments. One that stood out for me was a young lady named Danielle. Even though she was a stutterer from way back, she could sing. Even though her take on When the Saints Go to Worship didn't make the cut, the judges gave her some encouraging words.
When all was said and done, ten finalists made the cut:
Dontavies Boatwright
Sequoia Burch
Zebulon Ellis
Maurice Griffin
Ian Knighton
Jeff Spain
Kaylon Haynes
Audrey Lewis
Crystal Holland
Jonathan Johnson
Tune in next week when Sunday Best finishes up the audition process in Washington, DC.
This year's winner will receive a recording contract and a 2009 Lincoln MKS. We were allowed to watch the audition process, which started in ATL and ended in Chicago.
There were some interesting characters. Most notably was Margaret Fowler. This woman from the Atlanta audition was dressed from head to toe in pink -- and let's just say it wasn't pretty. Her intention was to sing Amazing Grace, but Erica asked her to do a song that would utilize the bells on her shoes. After her not-so-rousing rendition of Joy Bells Ringing in My Soul, she was sent away.
Naturally, there were some inspirational moments. One that stood out for me was a young lady named Danielle. Even though she was a stutterer from way back, she could sing. Even though her take on When the Saints Go to Worship didn't make the cut, the judges gave her some encouraging words.
When all was said and done, ten finalists made the cut:
Dontavies Boatwright
Sequoia Burch
Zebulon Ellis
Maurice Griffin
Ian Knighton
Jeff Spain
Kaylon Haynes
Audrey Lewis
Crystal Holland
Jonathan Johnson
Tune in next week when Sunday Best finishes up the audition process in Washington, DC.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
"Sunday Best" Returns!
Sunday Best is returning to the BET lineup. The second season of gospel's answer to American Idol will debut on Sunday, March 8th at 9pm ET/PT. Last year's team -- host Kirk Franklin and judges Mary Mary (Erica and Tina Campbell) and BeBe Winans -- remains intact.
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