Music Video Monday: It Feels Good

Welcome back to Music Video Monday. We seem to be somewhat erratic in our schedule lately. Let's see if we can get more studious now that school is in session again.

Those of you who have been with me for a while know that I pretty much despise Country Music. There are some exceptions, and that is notably Bluegrass. One genre that is greatly improved by Bluegrass is rap. When Bluegrass Meets Rap you get Whosoever South, who will release their third album in October. They're from Georgia.

Children's Music is a tough genre. Usually while the Kids are kept amused, the parents are driven crazy. The trick is to do the former while avoiding the latter. The last time it was done to perfection was on Groovy (2011) by Denver and The Mile High Orchestra. Eight years later we have done it again, with the somewhat unorthodox Modern Worship band from Northern Ireland of all places, hereby dubbed Rend Collective Kids. From their recently released album Sparkle Pop Rampage, this is Feels Good (it's an Upbeat Song).

We're mixing things up here this week Wilder Woods is the eclectic side project of Needtobreathe's Bear Rinehart. It is classically sounding music not made much anymore. It grows on you. This is Supply and Demand.

That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. Until next week, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: July 2018

"Come on baby, let's do the twist". Hey I'm milking this for all its worth, just like the media and the politicians. Never has so much energy been spent on so little. July is in the bag and its time for our review of the releases. It was definitely "The Big One". We begin with the individual songs released in the month.

The Singles Scene

• Antarctic Wastelands - First Light 4.75 Emeralds
• Before After - Come Thou Fount 4.50 Emeralds
• Dru Bex - Whole Lotta Trouble (ft Alex Faith) 4.50 Emeralds
• Antoine Bradford - Liar 5 Emeralds
• Celldweller - Last Night On Earth (FreqGen Remix) 5 Emeralds
• Clockvice - Disgrace 4.75 Emeralds
• Aaron Cole - Down Like That (ft Koryn Hawthorne) 5 Emeralds
• Lauren Daigle - You Say 5 Emeralds
• MH Eternal - Monsoon Season 4.75 Emeralds
• For King and Country - God Only Knows 4.75 Emeralds
• Austin French - Born Again 5 Emeralds
• The Gray Havens - Storehouse 4.75 Emeralds
• London Gatch - You Never Walk Away 5 Emeralds 
• GAWVI - Fight For Me ft Lecrae 4.75 Emeralds
• Gradience - Frontline 3.50 Emeralds
• John Hanni - Let Go 4.50 Emeralds
• JJ Heller - God Is Still Here 4.75 Emeralds
• Humanware - Love U (With U) 3.75 Emeralds
• Imagine - Too Kind 5 Emeralds
• Hillary Jane - Replay 4.50 Emeralds
• Shelly E. Johnson - Home 5 Emeralds
• Lecrae and Andy Mineo - Didn't I 4.50 Emeralds
• Leeyou and Danceey - Love So Amazing 5 Emeralds
• Branan Murphy - My Life 4.75 Emeralds
• Newsong - Can't Keep a Good Man Down 4.75 Emeralds
• Neon Feather - Between You and Me (ft Chris Chron) 4.75 Emeralds
• PoetiCS, Xay Hill and Eli PLM - Rumble 3.75 Emeralds
• Sarah Reeves - Just Want You 5 Emeralds
• Scandroid - Red Planet (Instrumental) 4.75 Emeralds
• Allan Scott - Run To You 2.0 5 Emeralds
• Southville - All The Praise 5 Emeralds
• Stars Go Dim - Never Enough 5 Emeralds
• Stars Go Dim - You Know Me Better 5 Emeralds
• Tedashii - Dum Dum (BRN Remix) 5 Emeralds
• Toby Mac - Everything 5 Emeralds
• Jhonny Vergel - Hopeful 5 Emeralds
• Veridia - Numb 4.75 Emeralds
• Jeremy James Whitaker - Portion 4.75 Emeralds
• Phil Wickham - How Great Is Your Love 4.75 Emeralds
• Xtravert - Lies (MSHO Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
• The Young Escape - Love Me Like You ft Nobigdyl 4.50 Emeralds

Missing The Mark

• Brian Campbell - Born Again 3.75 Emeralds
• K- Drama - Whetherman 3.75 Emeralds

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Koryn Hawthorne - Unstoppable 5 Emeralds
• Lexi - Just Listen: The Remixes EP 5 Emeralds
• The Protest - Legacy 5 Emeralds
• Martin Smith - Love Song For A City (Live) 5 Emeralds
• Upperroom - Moments II 5 Emeralds

Semi-Precious Metals

• Jor'dan Armstrong - BLSD EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Jor'dan Armstrong - 2BLSD 4.75 Emeralds
• Pat Barrett - Pat Barrett 4.50 Emeralds
• Benjah - PainTings EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Brvndnon P - Better Late Than Never 4.50 Emeralds
• Celldweller - Wish Upon A Blackstar Remix Contest Compilation 4.75 Emeralds
• Eisley - I'm Only Dreaming of Days Long Past 4.75 Emeralds
• Highlands Worship - You're Here EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Hillsong Worship - There Is More: Studio Sessions EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Laity - Still EP 4.75 Emeralds
• William McMillan - My Story 4.75 Emeralds
• Needtobreathe - Forever On Your Side (Niles City Sound Sessions) EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Planetshakers - Heaven On Earth, Part 2 EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Skrip - Field Trip 4.75 Emeralds
• Chris Sligh - A Modern Liturgy 4.75 Emeralds
• Aaron Strumpel - Mighty Refuge 4.50 Emeralds

That does it for July. At least it isn't September yet. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

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Dove Songs in an Open Field

I am going to try to cover both the Recorded Song of the Year and General Field Awards in a single post. It may be long, but I don't think a third post would be worthy.


Let's begin with the General Field. I think the GMA really blew it this year. Jason Crabb ARTIST OF THE YEAR!!?? With Casting Crowns, Laura Story and Lecrae in the mix. Then you let him double dip as Male Vocalist when Tomlin and SCC would have been far better choices. Not sure on Kirk Franklin for MV. Never thought the award should go to someone who can let a choir do the heavy lifting. Or a band frontman either, unless they do ALL the vocals. Female Vocalist went to Natalie Grant. No, wrong. Based on pure power I would have gone Mandisa.


New Artist went to Jamie Grace. It was a good pick though I would have went with The City Harmonic. Group of the year went to Needtobreathe. Again, a goog, but not perfect, pick. Definite would have gone Crowder Band here.


Now, to the Song Awards. Urban Song went to Kim Burrell and Sweeter from The Love Album. Personally, this should have been a no brainer. Window by Canton Jones.

When I originally looked up the nominees Rock Song looked unusually long, and it was called Rock/Contemporary. Considering they pulled two winners out of the list I think it was an error on their part. The Dove Judges went with Switchfoot and Dark Horses from Vice Verses and Slumber by Needtobreathe from The Reckoning. It's hard to argue against Switchfoot here but I will try. Just being contrary I will go with Invisible by Disciple on Power, but it's a weak argument. Excellent Choice here. On needtobreathe and the softer rock. One out of Two ain't bad. The Obvious Choice here would have been Lucy by Skillet.

Now to the rest of the awards:

The General Field Awards

• Artist of The Year - Jason Crabb (Complete Fail)
• New Artist - Jamie Grace (B+)
• Male Vocalist - Jason Crabb (Complete Fail)
• Female Vocalist - Natalie Grant (C)
• Group of The Year - Needtobreathe (C-)

Recorded Song of The Year Awards

• Song of The Year - Blessings, Laura Story (C)
• Rap/ Hip Hop - Hallelujah, Lecrae (C)
• Pop/Contemporary - Blessings, Laura Story (C)
• Urban - Sweeter, The Love Album, Kim Burrell (C)

That concludes the Night Beat Coverage of the Dove Awards. Until the next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.