The Gospel MUSIC channel?

In these times when we ALL seem to be cutting back on things in our lives to survive, one thing I've been able to retain is the Gospel Music Channel in my TV package.

But I'm wondering these days if music is really part of the channel's programming plans.

Seems that whenever I tune it in these days, I'm treated to some family themed movie, unsuccessful TV retreads like "Sister, Sister", or a show featuring music videos(which I NEVER got into)of songs that are barely Christian, much less gospel.

Already shows like "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman"(a perfectly good show, BTW)are staples of the channel's daily programming. I'm expecting reruns of "Misterogers' Neighborhood" any day now.

It's bad enough that the GMC, like the GMA, relegates southern-styled gospel music to token segments and treats it like an ugly stepchild in the gospel music world....now music itself seems to be less and less of a programming feature there.

And even the so-called family programming(the old TV shows and movies)are not about the gospel per se so much, which makes me wonder if both "gospel" and "music" should be removed from the channel's name.

I can understand Christian rock or rap not getting competitive ratings in the cable and satellite TV world, but to give up on music...and the gospel...altogether to freshen up the programming schedule? I don't think so.

Anyone out there feel the same way?

More random NQC thoughts

Again, I wasn't there for this year's National Quartet Convention, but that doesn't mean I don't have reactions to what I've read and heard about it. Now that it's history, I'll share a few of those.

One of these days before I go home to glory, I hope to be there to see it.

A number of artists had impressive sets.

Although it must have been nice to see Tim Riley sing bass once more with Gold City, don't expect that to be a regular tradition. Although there are a lot of fans who love and enjoy Tim and understandably so, the group(and Tim)has the right to chart its' own future. In all the stuff I read, I never see anyone wonder aloud, "What's best for Tim? Does he really want to do dates again...even on a semi-regular, limited basis?" Until I read that, I can't take these constant pleas for Tim to come back one more time seriously. One more time may do it, indeed.

But we're fans...and we have the right to selfishly indulge a little bit...I understand that.

The original Couriers(Dave, Duane, and Neil)knocked it out of the park, just as I'd expected they'd do. It must have been a thrill for fans and the guys alike to be witness to the reception they got at both their Showcase and their set on the main stage Friday night. It makes me wish all the more that I could have been there to see it...no doubt people will be talking about it for many years to come.

And will people stop griping about who gets to be on the main stage and who doesn't? The bottom line is, it's the people who run the NQC who have the authority and right to decide who does and who doesn't. It's their money...and their business. If somebody thinks someone else is more worthy, let them prove it by getting the humbers out there so the board can't help but notice that people want to see them, and will subsequently add them on.

Sure, there may be politics involved on occasion...the board is made up of people, after all. But no one running a business for profit is able to afford to stay in business for too long by ignoring the tastes of the market. So to those who make it their place to make a yearly ritual of complaining about such things, I want to share the one-word sign I've read many times in various places over the years...

Kwitchurbelyakin!

Random NQC thoughts…

You'll rightly ask...John, how can YOU have any thoughts on this year's NQC? You're not even there(again)!

And I say, true...I'm not there...but I can comment on what I read about it on the internet about it...because I AM there.

And that's what I'll do briefly here.

At one well-known blog, a comment thread on the NQC was derailed by an anonymous commenter's caustic evaluation of one of the singers that brought a spirited defense of that singer by one of his fans. All I can say about that sort of thing is that it gets tiring to read that sort of dialogue about something so irrelevant. It even brought out a comment by another poster about how "Christians" can carry on about things like that...and I agree, that is unfortunate.

But last I checked, Christians are all human...and all humans are wont to act like that...so we turn the page, move on, and live OUR lives as best we can...what more can we do?

Stop reading that blog? I could...but there are some things there that I enjoy, and since I'm also human, and given to the same kinds of reactions, I read on...and live on.

Elsewhere, it's nice to know that David Bruce Murray CAN enjoy the Inspirations! There IS power in prayer!:-)

That's all I've got for now...maybe someday I can enjoy it first-hand myself!

NQC is nigh, and…

...I wish I were more enthusiastic about it.

After all, since 1957, the National Quartet Convention has been gospel music's premier annual event...a place where almost all of the genre's top artists are in one place for days running, performing for and mingling with their loyal, loving fans. Why wouldn't a guy like me be absolutely ecstatic about the event, in a way reminiscent of football fans on Super Bowl Sunday, or during the week leading up to it?

Well, one reason is that I can't be there...I've never been able to attend the NQC, and things won't be different this year. And for those of you raising your hands wanting to chime in with this, I can't afford to pay the $60 to get it streaming in my home, either. Besides, due to my work schedule, I wouldn't be able to watch it from beginning to end each night anyway.

Another is...due to certain elements in the gospel music industry, there seems to be a conscious attempt to get away from the second word in the event's official name...quartet...even though concert statistics, record sales, and fan polls all agree that quartets are still the most popular form of the genre.

But the quartets featured, with the arguable exception of EHSSQ, are not nearly as interesting from the stage as they've been in bygone days.

Now don't flood my comments section with comments like, "But (insert quartet name here) is GREAT onstage! They have tremendous singers in (blank), (blank), (blank), and (blank), and they're great people of God as well! And besides, isn't saved souls what's REALLY important?"

Well, in the larger picture of life, saved souls are THE most important thing, period...no exception! And I have no doubt that virtually ALL the singers featured at this year's NQC(be they in quartets or not)love God with all their hearts, and do their best to further the Kingdom here on earth.

But the NQC is a business, run for profit. It's not church. Nor is it a fancy revival tent disguised as a convention center to attract the worldly to come in and get their souls saved.

As simply as I can put it, the NQC is an entertainment event designed to present and spotlight the best gospel singers available, to feature them being exactly what they are, and doing what they all do best to further the art of gospel music.

Now if that means that quartets aren't as important in all that as they used to be, then so be it. But I don't think that's the case at this point.

Now it may look as to this point, I've been focusing on negatives, and I really don't want to. Watching the music with the most uplifting message in the world IS a positive thing, and here's why I will be sad to miss the NQC once again.

1)I would really love to be there Friday night(the 18th)...for Dave, Duane, and Neil(formerly known as the Couriers)will appear on the main stage for the first time in 30 years. Not only are they living legends of the genre and among the genre's greatest artists historically, but they are still among the better singers therein after 50+ years of singing and travelling all over the world...and they have become good personal friends as well. I'm always proud to see ANY friends of mine on center stage, and these guys deserve it.

2)Always, no matter how I may be doing circumstantially, or whatever spirits I'm in, I invariably find that after watching a night of the best gospel singing available, my spirits are raised, I feel good, and I gain hope. And really...isn't THAT a big part of the whole appeal of gospel music? Anything that can do that for a person is a worthwhile endeavor.

So I'll miss(in every sense of the word)the NQC again this year. My loss. For that, I suppose I can muster at least SOME enthusiasm!

Much ado about nothing, most likely

Much has been made about an address President Obama intends to make to the schoolchildren of America tomorrow morning.

Too much, I think.

It is understandable that those who oppose our President politically would be skeptical about anything he intends to say to our nation's children...particularly when the President is frantically trying to push his controversial health care reform program through Congress.

But what that has to do with an address President Obama is planning to read to schoolchildren tomorrow is hard to imagine.

Especially since advance copies of said address have already been released to the public, and judging by that, there is no effort being made to unduly influence or "brainwash" our schoolkids whatsoever.

Look, I'm no supporter of the President politically. I have my fears and concerns about the short and long-term effects of the majority of his policies, just like a lot of you.

But is it really fair to assume what the President's motives in such an address are before even knowing what he'll say? I sispect that most of the President's critics who are so opposed to this gesture by President Obama have no idea what he will say...but are merely being swept up in the angry and acrimonious rhetoric of this acrimonious age we live in.

From what little I saw of it today, my suspicion is the toughest struggle our schoolkids will have with our President's address is sheer boredom, and the overwhelming urge to go to sleep. not to be hypnotized into an Obamamantra of some kind.

Before we angrily condemn our President for trying in some underhanded way to corrupt our children, why don't we wait and see what he actually says first?
Is that too unreasonable?

To the intellectually honest, I don't think so.

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