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Monday, March 19, 2007
The gospel according to ‘Idol’
It’s easy to hear the influence of gospel music in the voices of many current and former ‘“Idol” contestants. The Sacramento Bee takes a look at how they balance the sacred and the secular:
Now they sing in front of millions on “American Idol,” but until recently many of this year’s contestants could be found performing in church.
Chris Sligh is the worship leader at Seacoast Church in Greenville, S.C., where he and his wife, Sarah, are active in the congregation. Sligh leads the music during services and fronts the church band. The son of missionaries, Sligh attended Bob Jones University in Greenville and regularly seeks out his pastor for musical advice.
But don’t expect him to perform praise music on the hit Fox TV show.
“Chris doesn’t want to be the Christian singer; that’s not how he sees himself,” says Seacoast pastor Chris Surratt, who flew to Los Angeles last week to see Sligh perform. “He’s a musician who’s a Christian. He doesn’t want a label.”
How do you mix the sacred and the secular? Very carefully, especially if you’re vying for the top spot on the most popular TV show in the country.
Many of this year’s contestants honed their skills in church. Now they find themselves in the middle of “Idol” worship.
But those who know them say they can handle it.
“Chris has got his head on straight,” says Surratt.
Churches have long influenced pop music — from who sings it to how it is performed. Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles are just a few who got their singing chops with church hymnals.
This year, several “Idol” contenders follow this tradition. For example, Melinda Doolittle performs regularly for her congregation in Nashville, Tenn. Phil Stacey, a pastor’s son, grew up singing in church. Jordin Sparks was the 2004 “spotlight” winner for the Gospel Music Association. Lakisha Jones still sings in the choir at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Flint, Mich. She began singing at the church when she was 5. “She came up singing,” says Herbert Dixson, senior pastor of Mount Zion.
He says Jones returns to the church every week.
“She was here last Sunday, sitting in the front row like she always does,” says Dixson. Jones’ 4-year-old daughter now sings in the children’s choir.
Churches are good training grounds because budding singers can learn how to read music, how to sing harmony and how to perform in front of an audience. And if the singer makes a mistake, well, the audience is usually pretty forgiving.
The style of singing in churches, especially African American churches, has changed pop music.
“It’s a style that has been copied so much that it is now a cliche on these type of shows,” says Paul Harvey, a professor of American religious history at the University of Colorado and the author of “Black Spirituals: From Folk Songs to Concert Hall.”
Harvey describes the style. “It’s when all the notes are elongated and they go up and down the scale and go for the big note,” Harvey says. “It’s a historically black gospel sound that’s now expected in pop music.”
Churches were often the only avenue available to African American singers, according to Harvey. He says there are more opportunities now.
“But a lot of people know the churches are still good training grounds.”
Many previous “Idol” contestants have spoken about their church backgrounds, expressing gratitude for the opportunity. Churches have held “Idol” viewing parties for these hometown favorites.
One contestant, Sabrina Sloan, received an endorsement from Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Orange County, Calif., one of the largest churches in the country and the author of the best-selling “The Purpose Driven Life.” Warren jokingly reminded his congregation to vote for Sloane, who grew up singing at the church.
The pastor’s support wasn’t enough — Sloan was voted off.
Viewers may feel comfortable with contestants talking about their faith — to a point.
Last year, Mandisa Hundley spoke openly about her Christian beliefs on the show. Although one of the stronger singers in the competition, she was booted off earlier than expected. Afterward, Christian bloggers wondered if her outspoken religious views played a role. (Mandisa is releasing a gospel album in May.)
This year, some of the contestants’ bios on the show’s Web site refer to their beliefs
Jones’ pastor doesn’t expect her to discuss her religious beliefs on the show. After all, he said, it is a singing contest.
“I just expect her to act like the humble young lady that she is and be a good witness for her faith,” says Dixson, who says he has known Jones almost all her life. “We’re all immensely proud of her.”
What if she sang lyrics that he considered inappropriate? The pastor laughs. “She knows better.” Dixson adds, however, that he agreed with a criticism made by judge Simon Cowell a few weeks ago.
“That skirt was too short.”
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Taylor does Texas
The Soul Patrol blew through the Lone Star State over the weekend.
Not that you care, apparently.
Shows in San Antonio and Dallas were sparsely attended, according to newspaper reports, but critics gave the “least successful ‘Idol’ ” high marks.
From a review in the San Antonio Express-News: “Even curmudgeonly ‘American Idol’ judge Simon Cowell would have been tapping his foot Saturday night at the Majestic Theatre when Taylor Hicks took the stage, charming the audience with a voice as smoky as his hair and an obvious passion for blue-eyed soul.”
And from the Dallas Morning News: “Starting off with ‘Gonna Move,’ from his debut album, he displayed that strong, clear voice that any ‘Idol’ fan would recognize but tapered down his herky-jerky dance moves for something, well, cooler. It could be that he possesses far more rhythm than we ever saw on the show.”
Taylor also made a stop in Austin Thursday, performing at the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo. If you were there, we’d love to hear what you thought.
Idol chatter …
- Speaking of Taylor: He’s apparently dropped quite a bit of weight.
People reports he’s shed 22 pounds in recent months, going from 215 to 193. How’d he do it? By cutting back on fried chicken and other greasy foods. In their place, he’s downing fish, salads and soups.
“It’s good for your throat,” he told the magazine. “It’s also comforting, but it’s light.”
Exercise also played a key role. Taylor claims to run 45 minutes every other day.
- Sanjaya Malakar isn’t one of the top singers on “American Idol” this season.
Not even close, in fact.
Yet, somehow, he manages to score enough votes to return week after week. Why? Maybe, just maybe, it’s the hair.
Check out his MySpace page to see the many, many styles Sanjaya’s sported over the years.
We guarantee you’ll have a good laugh. Or two.
- An alert reader points out that the SimonCowellSucks.com domain name is up for auction over at eBay.
Minimum bid is $1. No takers just yet.
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