Black Talk On A Bishop Marvin Winans YouTube Comment Thread

Edited by Azizi Powell

My observation is that when African Americans post on YouTube comment threads and other blogs we often purposely "put on the Black". By "put on the Black" I mean that African Americans sometimes purposely use “downhome”[old Southern] words, or African American Hip-Hop vernacular, or some other form/s of African American vernacular English (AAVE) to signal to other posters that we are African American, and/or as a way of enjoying ourselves and basking in (taking great pleasure & satisfaction in) the company of other persons who are assumed to also be African American.

My contention is that African American Vernacular English exclamations such as "Lawd have mercy!" and "Sang it!" (Sing with a lot of soul) not only express one's approval in how a person sings (or someother action or aspect of what is observed or heard). Those types of African American vernacular expressions also have dramatic, even playful elements and they are used to show off one's Blackness-even among other Black folk. But phrases like "That man's a beast." (That man is superhuman, i.e. He's very very good at what he does.) and "He's bad" or "That's sick" (with both "bad" and "sick" in that context meaning "very good") are statement of opinions which don't have the dramatic, playful elements as the previous examples. However, while those descriptors may be used in "regular" conversation, the persons using them still may be purposely demonstrating that he or she is "hip" to the latest Black vernacular. Therefore, he or she is still "putting on the Black".

Readers who aren’t aware of these types of Black “languaging” activities may think that some these comments include grammatical errors and/or spelling errors. However, such comments are actually examples of code switching.*

Some examples of this vernacular content are African American originated Black words & phrases, the spelling of those words & phrases, vernacular grammar, and the use of “in-family” references such as “my brother” or “my sister”.

Of course, in spite of the fact that a few of the contributors to YouTube viewer comment threads have photograph icons that might indicate their race, there's no assured way of verifying the race of persons posting to those discussion threads regardless of how "Black" a person's comments may appear to be.

YouTube comment threads for African American religious music often offer prime examples of this type of languaging. To demonstrate & document this type of internet posting, I've compiled selected comments from the following YouTube video:
"Pastor Marvin Winans singing ole' hymn".

*By "code switching" I mean the purposeful use of one or more forms of African American vernacular English words & phrases and/or AAVE grammar instead of Standard American English words, phrases, and/or grammar.

I contend that the custom of "putting on the Black" is done by other Black people online, and off-line. One example of "putting on the Black" by Black West Indians is the use of the exclamation "Tune!" or "Chune!" - sometimes spelled with elongated letters such as "Tuuune!" or "Chuuune!" - to indicate that the record in question is very good. Of course, that usage may be an example of marking oneself as West Indian instead of "putting on the Black" since all West Indians aren't of Black African descent.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Pastor Marvin Winans singing ole' hymn



alphaape1, Uploaded on May 9, 2009
-snip-
Bishop Marvin Winans briefly sings a combination of the Spiritual "I Want To Be Ready (Walk In Jeruslem Just Like John)and the Hymn "Never Grow Old" in order to give members of the congregation who brought their Bible to church a chance to find the Bible verse (Ezra 8] that he is basing his sermon on.

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SELECTED COMMENTS from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLQN6ALwF28

These comments are presented in chronological order with the oldest dated comments posted first except for replies to comments that are dated in a subsequent year. With only three exceptions, these comments are presented without any editorial comment. I've numbered them for reference purposes only.

1. ArieElyse, 2010
lawd take us back to the Hymns of zion!!!! The annointed destroys the yolk...there is something to the old hymns of zion...young singers go get you a hymn book and learn some of the hymns

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2. lasemcbride,2010
tHAT oRGANIST

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3.Lu Phel, 2010
[in reply to lasemcbride]
i know right?

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4. doublenickelzeta, 2010
Actually he sings two different songs here.
He begins with "I Want to Be Ready" and throws "Never Grow Old" right in the mix.

All I can say is "My, my, my, my, my!!!"

Those songs take me back, and I don't consider myself THAT old!! LOL

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5. theJIMMYJAMM, 2011
Sho nuff Baptist Screamin' right now!
(N 1st Saprana'!)
YES SUH, THANK YA'!
YES SUH, THANK YA'!
YES SUH, THANK YA'!
(rubbin My legs!)
WOOO, THANK YA'!
(just rockin' right now)

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6. DisTRAINbound4GLORY, 2011
[in reply to theJIMMYJAMM]
LOL u gave me visual wit the rubbin of the legs & rockin.. too funny!

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7. Jeazy1977, 2011
[in reply to theJIMMYJAMM]
Now you know you bout to get fanned and taken out if you don't quit!

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8. kimluvshoes1, 2012
[in reply to theJIMMYJAMM]
....Oh goodness, you out here just actin' like that in public! LOL! YES SUH, THANK YA!

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9. Monica Jackson, 2011
Marvin Winans can just sang up something without even trying. The greatest gospel singer ever.

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10. Talbatha Claridy, 2011
Lord Have Mercy ...This Man Is Just Blessed

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11. toreymack , 2011
This man is off the chain

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12. khalon, 2011
man my copastor sings this, and i love it. man i love these hyms....aint nothing like a hym

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13. ada627, 2011
sang Pastor, I wanna be ready,,,,,,,,,
-snip-
Editor comment: “Sang” here means “Sings very well” and isn’t the past tense of the infinitive "to sing”.

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14. ShareMyWorld28, 2011
Yes Lawd!

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15. AQtePie, 2011
Bebe aint got nothin on his big brotha Marvin!
-snip-
"Bebe" is Marvin Winan’s younger biological brother (Gospel vocalist) Bebe Winan.

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16. mikekeys91, 2011
Dude is killin the organ

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17. Revolutionary36, 2011
[in reply to mikekeys91]
You ain't lyin homie.

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18. RoddieKing, 2011
I miss ol time church like dis!!! Dis is wat we need now days songs wit meaning not just nice music behind a show!!!

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19. Amber Rowl, 2011
MY God now that ole school right there

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20. MrADT92, 2011
marvin is bad yall!!

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21. vangoleft2, 2012
yes suh!!!! I love it. thk ya thk ya thk ya

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21. lkernsjr , 2012
This is my dude! I used to hate that song until I heard this.

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22. johnaism, 2012
organ is killin! feel the oil!! getting the house in order!

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23. johnaism , 2012
that organ is killin it! something about that sound!!!! and marvin is a beast!

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24. jacquita33, 2012
anyboy know the name of this song i bee lookin for it

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25. lovewhitney02, 2012
I heard of a land on the far away strand,’Tis a beautiful home for the soul;
Built by Jesus on high, where we never shall die,
’Tis a land where we never grow old.
-snip-
Editor's comment: This is an excerpt of the song "Never Grow Old" that Bishop Winans sung.

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26.Jabez Clark, 2013
[in reply to lovewhitney02]
you say a mouth full my sister

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27. ministerzel, 2013
It's Sunday morning...I am playing and replaying this...gonna try to sing this in church today as Bro. Marvin Winans did. Can't sing it as well good he can - there is only one Rev. Winans - but Lord just put the anointing in my spirit and it will still touch somebody. In the name of Jesus.

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28. jonathanchau111, 2013
Powerful, this always blesses my soul. Bless him lawd!!!!

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RELATED LINKS
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/03/puttin-on-black-online-black-talk-code.html "Puttin On The Black - Online Black Talk & Code Switching"

http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/11/cant-nobody-do-me-like-jesus-black-talk.html "Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus (Black talk in Gospel song & comments)"

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Thanks to composers of those songs & thanks to Bishop Marvin Winans for his musical legacy. Thanks also to all those whose comments are quoted in this post.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

The content of this post is presented for religious, folkloric, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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A Hymn Rendition & A Black Gospel Rendition of "Revive Us Again"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases one hymn rendition & one Gospel rendition of the song "Revive Us Again". The standard lyrics and the lyrics to a Gospel arrangement of this hymn are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for religious and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

STANDARD LYRICS TO "REVIVE US AGAIN"
composer - William Paton Mackay (1839-1885)

We praise Thee, O God!
For the Son of Thy love,
For Jesus Who died,
And is now gone above.

Refrain:
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Revive us again.

We praise Thee, O God!
For Thy Spirit of light,
Who hath shown us our Savior,
And scattered our night.

Refrain

All glory and praise
To the Lamb that was slain,
Who hath borne all our sins,
And hath cleansed every stain.

Refrain

All glory and praise
To the God of all grace,
Who hast brought us, and sought us,
And guided our ways.

Refrain

Revive us again;
Fill each heart with Thy love;
May each soul be rekindled
With fire from above.

Refrain
-snip-
From http://www.sharefaith.com/guide/Christian-Music/hymns-the-songs-and-the-stories/revive-us-again-the-song-and-the-story.html
That website also includes this Biblical verse which may have been the inspiration for this song:
"Wilt Thou not revive us again: that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?” (Psalm 85:6)

VIDEO OF A HYMN RENDITION OF "REVIVE US AGAIN"

Revive Us Again - Prestonwood Choir & Orchestra



Josephpianoplayer, Uploaded on May 3, 2011

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VIDEO OF A GOSPEL RENDITION OF "REVIVE US AGAIN"

Revive Us Again (Perry's Temple Choir-Wilson,NC)



Joseph Baker, Uploaded on Nov 28, 2009
-snip-
I echo several commenters on this video's viewer comment thread that this rendition is very much like the one that I recall hearing and singing at my church in the 1950s and early sixties. (an African American Babtist church in Atlantic City, New Jersey). The only difference is that we also sang the last verse of the standard lyrics, and I can't recall us singing the section that I labeled the 2nd refrain.)

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LYRICS TO THIS FEATURED GOSPEL RENDITION

REVIVE US AGAIN

Verse:
Altos -We praise Thee, O God!
For the Son of Thy love,
Sopranos- For Jesus Who died,
And is now gone above.

1st Refrain:
Sopranos- Hallelujah!
Other Voices- Hallelujah, Thine the glory.
Sopranos- Hallelujah!
Other Voices- Hallelujah Amen.
Sopranos - Hallelujah!
Other Voices- Hallelujah, Thine the glory.
All- Revive us again.

Sing same verse as above [add claps after the first line, continue that clapping pattern throughout]

Sing 1st refrain.

Sing 2nd refrain:
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Revive us again.

Sing verse.

Sing 1st refrain.

Sing 2nd refrain.
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah !
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah
Revive us again.

[repeat this entire section 3x and then end with]
Revive us again.
Revive us again.
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from the video given above. Additions and corrections are welcome.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to William Paton Mackay for his composition of this song. Thanks also to the arrangers of these renditions, and to the vocalists and musicians who are featured in these videos. My thanks also to the producers of and publishers of these videos.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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Three Gospel Versions of "Jesus Lover Of My Soul"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases Gospel interpretations of the song "Jesus Lover Of My Soul" by the Reverend James Cleveland & The Voices of Cornerstone Church Choir, The Edwin Hawkins Singers, & the Les Humphries Singers. This post also includes the lyrics of that song as composed by Charles Wesley, lyrics as sung by the Les Humphries Singers. In addition, this post included general information about the hymn "Jesus, Lover Of My Soul", as well as brief information about the featured vocalists of these three Gospel interpretations of that hymn.

The content of this post is presented for religious, historical, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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INFORMATION ABOUT "JESUS LOVER OF MY SOUL"
From http://biblestudycharts.com/HH_Jesus_Lover_of_My_Soul.html

Note: This website includes an instrumental sound file of this hymn as it is often performed & sung.

Of the 6500 hymns written by Charles Wesley, this is generally considered to be his finest. It is still found in nearly every published hymnal and has been translated into almost every known language. It is interesting to note, however, that when Charles first presented this text to his brother, John for approval, it was rejected as being too sentimental. It was not until after the author’s death that the song came into general use. It was first published in 1740 in a collection of 139 hymns know as Hymns and Sacred Poems.

-snip-
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Wesley for information about Charles Wesley.
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LYRICS: JESUS LOVER OF MY SOUL
(Charles Wesley)

Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of Thy wing.

Wilt Thou not regard my call? Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall—Lo! on Thee I cast my care;
Reach me out Thy gracious hand! While I of Thy strength receive,
Hoping against hope I stand, dying, and behold, I live.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name, I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity. Amen
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ONE INTERPRETATION OF THE HYMN "JESUS LOVER OF MY SOUL" BY CHARLES WESLEY
There are a number of tunes used for the hymn "Jesus Lover Of My Soul". Here's a sound file of one way of singing this hymn:

Jesus, Lover of my Soul



sesamonte, Uploaded on Nov 2, 2008

A Christian hymn written by Charles Wesley in 1740. The tune used in this rendition is by Joseph Holbrook (1862). Sung by Altar of Praise Chorale.
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FEATURED GOSPEL EXAMPLES
These examples are presented in chronological order.

Example #1: Jesus, Lover Of My Soul - Edwin Hawkins Singers



vijaypush, Uploaded on Jan 20, 2011

Groupe célèbre pour leur extraordinaire interprétation de "Oh! Happy Day"
-snip-
Here is information about the Edwin Hawkins Singers from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Hawkins

Edwin Hawkins (born 18 August 1943, Oakland, California) is a Grammy Award-winning American gospel and R&B musician, pianist, choir master, composer, and arranger. He is one of the originators of the urban contemporary gospel sound. He (and the Edwin Hawkins Singers) are best known for his arrangement of "Oh Happy Day" (1968–69), which was included on the Songs of the Century list...

Altogether Hawkins has won four Grammy Awards...

In 2007, Hawkins was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame and attended the formal awards show in 2009.

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Example #2: Les Humphries Singers - Jesus Lover of my Soul 1970



fritz51326, Uploaded on Jan 24, 2009

Les Humphries Singers - Jesus Lover of my Soul 1970

Jesus, lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high.

Jesus, lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high.

Hide me in your heart in your heart
Till the storm of happiness;
Safe me to my heaven's God
and receive my soul at last
and receive my soul at last.

Hide me in your heart in your heart
Till the storm of happiness;
Safe me to my heaven's God
and receive my soul at last
and receive my soul at last.

Jesus, lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high.

Jesus, lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high.

Hide me in your heart in your heart
Till the storm of happiness;
Safe me to my heaven's god
and receive my soul at last
and receive my soul at last.

Hide me in your heart in your heart
Till the storm of happiness;
Safe me to my heaven's god
and receive my soul at last
and receive my soul at last.

Jesus, lover of my soul,
Jesus, lover of my soul,
Jesus, lover of my soul,
Jesus, lover of my soul....
-snip-
Here is information about the Les Humphries Singers from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Humphries_Singers

The Les Humphries Singers was a 1970s musical group formed in Hamburg, Germany in 1969 by the English born Les Humphries (born John Lesley Humphreys, 10 August 1940, in Croydon, Surrey, England - died 26 December 2007, in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England), who had been inspired to do his own version of the Edwin Hawkins Singers... The Les Humphries Singers performed a mix of popular music and gospel covers and had some success in Europe with this approach...

The Les Humphries Singers at the time brought something from the flair of the hippie movement into contemporary German-produced (but English-sung) pop music, especially due to their mixed ethnic background and peculiar fashion sense...

Years active: 1969 – 1980

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Example #3: "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" (1980)- Rev. James Cleveland and the Voices of Cornerstone.



JayEm86, Uploaded on Apr 21, 2009
-snip-
Here is information about Rev. James Cleveland from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Cleveland

The Reverend Dr. James Cleveland (December 5, 1931 -February 9, 1991) was a gospel singer, arranger, composer and, most significantly, the driving force behind the creation of the modern gospel sound, bringing the stylistic daring of hard gospel and jazz and pop music influences to arrangements for mass choirs. He is known as the King of Gospel music.

Born in Chicago, he began singing as a boy soprano at Pilgrim Baptist Church, where Thomas A. Dorsey was minister of music and Roberta Martin was pianist for the choir. He strained his vocal cords as a teenager while part of a local gospel group, leaving the distinctive gravelly voice that was his hallmark in his later years. The change in his voice led him to focus on his skills as a pianist and later as a composer and arranger. For his pioneering accomplishments and contributions, he is regarded by many to be one of the greatest gospel singers to ever live.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the featured vocalists and musicians. Thanks also to those who posted online information about these vocalists and thanks to those who uploaded the videos and the lyrics to this song.

Finally, thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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