Music
YouTube Top 10: Gospel
Here is our top ten list of timeless gospel videos from the YouTube horde. Hallelujah!
Religious people are at their best when singing. As Tim Minchin puts it: “I’d rather break bread with Dawkins than Desmond Tutu … but I quite like the songs”.
God (and his sizable baggage) aside, the remarkable impact faith singers have had on their successors, from the earliest signs of the delta blues up to contemporary R&B has left all of us, regardless of taste, never too far from a touch of gospel.
Here we take a look back at some of the sweetest harmonies, the most passionate, honest lyrics, and those groups that do such a glorious job that even the weariest atheists find themselves compelled to their knees, eyes moist with joyous tears as they raise their hands to the heavens and cry “praise the Lord!”
10. Run On – The Blind Boys of Alabama
Sometimes known as God’s Gonna Cut You Down, this track is familiar to most from Moby’s gospel-flavoured electronica album Play (though Johnny Cash’s posthumously released version is a compulsory listen too).
Here we see The Blind Boys of Alabama belting out their version seventy years after the formation of the original band. It’s just a shame that Jools can’t keep his boogie-woogie finger touretts under control.
9. Down by the Riverside – Mahalia Jackson
In this clip from the Nat King Cole Show (1957), the legendary Mahalia Jackson demonstrates why she’s known as the first Queen of Gospel. The extraordinary control she has over her voice is unparalleled, and there’s not a vocalist in the world you’d rather have tuck you in, take your temperature and tell you you’re too ill to go to school.
8. I Trust in God – The Harmonizing Four
Given the mystery surrounding The Harmonizing Four this is a particularly valuable video: a rare opportunity to see them doing the business with a swift rendition of I Trust in God. Fine support from the big ole’ gospel choir means great voices are taken for granted, and we can sit back and enjoy the groups enviable collection of glasses and teeth.
7. Oh Happy Day - Elvis Presley
This surreal clip of the King rehearsing Oh Happy Day during a soundcheck in Vegas is a reminder of what a natural and wide-ranging performer he was. Brought up on gospel and always dedicated to his roots, it would be a great injustice if Elvis is forgotten as one of the finest gospel singers of the twentieth century.
6. Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho – The Delta Rhythm Boys
This performance by The Delta Rhythm Boys would make the list on choreography alone. These guys can pull some serious shapes while singing in tune (today’s popstars don’t know they’re born), and they pull off a massively over-the-top ending with an elegance rarely achievable while singing “and the walls come a-tumbling down”.
5. Way Down in the Hole – The Blind Boys of Alabama
This song has the extraordinary power of being able to reduce fully grown fans of The Wire to a palpitating mess. Memories of McNulty and Bunk, Stringer and Avon come flooding back at the sound of the reverent, soulful blues of the Blind Boy’s. For the benighted, a different version of Tom Waits’ Way Down in the Hole was used for each series (including the original), David Simon choosing variations to match the shifting focus of the programme. Warning: will bring back unquenchable Wire cravings. It’s all in the game.
4. Take Care of Me – The Dixie Hummingbirds
This inexplicably cool footage of hard gospel group The Dixie Hummingbirds rehearsing around the table comes from the film “We Love You Like a Rock”. It’s badass and soothing at the same time, and watching James Walker decide “oh we’re ready to record this!” is a treat. “That’s mighty nice”.
3. Go to Sleep You Little Baby – Gillian Welch, Allison Krauss and Emmylou Harris
In this trippy scene from Coen brothers epic Oh Brother Where Art Thou? we hear Gillian Welch, Allison Krauss and Emmylou Harris collaborating on an enchanting version of the lullaby. For full redemption, hunt down the live version entitled Didn’t Leave Nobody but the Baby.
2. Packin’ Up – Marion Williams
This is a legendary clip of the much-adored Marion Williams tearing into Packin’ Up with all her might. Fantastically pure trills and the kind of raw energy you only get from the genuine article. Thank god for Marion Williams.
1. Dig A Little Deeper – The Fairfield Four
Don’t let that fact that there are five singers in the Fairfield Four put you off. The way this song builds is phenomenal, Isaac ‘Dickie’ Freeman’s filthy bassline taking us to the perfect false ending at 2:55. Look out for George Younce (a prominent gospel singer) in the background going gaga at the harmonies. This is the most raucous, dynamic and rousing gospel clip around. Hell, they’ve even kept their dungarees on under their black ties.
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This is rad post! Thank you so much! this music is so amazing, even for the non-Christian and non-religious.
good stuff!
Enjoyed the clips but especially loved the write ups that went with them.If the writer ever reads this message I’d like to tell you that you are very funny. Cracked up, especially at the ‘Enviable collection of glasses and teeth.’ And the piece on the ‘Delta Rhythm Boys.’ I read it before watching it and when I’d stopped laughing-{no disrespect to them or the song I hasten to add.)
I feel I have to agree with you. We’re talking Fred Astair on crack here. Hats off to the Choreographer-(Violet.The lead singer’s great aunt.} Anyway.msg me if you’ve written anything else. I like your humour.