The Southern Gospel “Screaming” Industry
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Written: 04/30/2005 
Author: Nick Bruno
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The Gospel Truth
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Since school is almost over for this year, I thought it might be educational to keep our minds sharp and focused over the summer months. Remember back in grade school when our teacher would require us to learn the spelling and dictionary meaning of a few words? Then we would have to use those words in a sentence? I've chosen three words and I've used them in a sentence. The words and their meanings follow:
Sing – to use the voice to produce words or sounds in a pleasing musical way.
Scream – to utter a loud piercing, high-pitched cry, especially in fear or pain.
Disgusting – tending to repel and sicken people; completely unacceptable or disgraceful.
Using those words in a sentence – I think it's DISGUSTING that so many of our Southern Gospel Artists SCREAM their songs instead of SINGING them.
Welcome to the SGSSWI
We've had discussions in the past about changing the name of this industry we call Southern Gospel Music. It's all been just discussion. But now I sincerely believe it's time to actually do it. In fairness to the consumers and in the interest of abiding by the Federal Full Disclosure Act, we should call ourselves “The Southern Gospel Screaming Industry.” In reality, if we renamed our industry “The Southern Gospel Screaming Soiled and Wrinkled Industry”, it would be a more accurate reflection of the sad state of affairs in the world of SGM.
The catalyst for my campaign toward a name change is that I was able to get out of the office and attend some concerts this month. I must tell you that I owe my ears an apology, and I hope my eyes don't file a lawsuit against me. I apologize to myself for putting myself through it. Much of what I heard was not “Music” and what I saw was not “pleasing to the eye”.
What I heard and saw this month gave me a “pit” in my stomach – group after group screaming at the top of their lungs from beginning to end. I saw red-faced men with veins bulging in their necks, bending over and singing to the floor. I saw ladies with looks of agony on their faces that would certainly rival anything you might see in the labor and delivery section of the maternity ward in your local hospital.
Keeping in mind that our ultimate goal in this endeavor we call Southern Gospel Music is to win the lost; I find it difficult to believe that any unbeliever would be drawn to the foot of the Cross by what I saw.
I left those concerts thinking, “How in the world did we get to this”? Based on what I heard, it is no wonder that our sales and attendance are down, and the Southern Gospel “Screaming” Industry is dead last in every category.
Before you send me your emails of protest I qualify that by saying that it's true that we do have quality artists that are as good at singing as anyone in any genre of music, but sadly, they are fast becoming the minority. Our industry has been overtaken by a new breed of “screamers” that couldn't sing their way out of a wet paper bag, even if you cut a hole in the top.
“IN STYLE” DOESN'T MEAN “INCONSIDERATE”
I was at an awards ceremony recently and saw a SG artist accept an award in an outfit that looked like he just finished changing the oil on the bus. I'm talking about filthy jeans, a wrinkled shirt, and hair that looked like the artist used a hand grenade instead of a comb. I'm not talking from the standpoint of a seasoned old-timer who is criticizing younger styles. I understand that the younger artists dress “young”. There's nothing wrong with being “in style”. I'm talking about artists who are so arrogant about their appearance that they don't feel the need to honor the audience members who took time out of their own busy lives to come to a concert. If I invited you to my home for dinner and when you arrived, I opened the door and hadn't even bothered to clean up and make myself presentable, I'm sure you would feel less than honored as a guest in my home. Artists need to remember that the audience is there because they were INVITED to be there, just like when you invite someone to your home for dinner. They need to be treated as the honored guests they actually are. It scares me that this seems to be the current trend – artists who look like homeless derelicts singing the Gospel of our Saviour. Even to identify them by using the word “artist” is an insult to those who truly are.
WHERE IS OUR PRIDE? WHERE IS OUR DIGNITY?
Our mission is to sing the Gospel in song, to minister and entertain, and through that, win the lost. Philippians 3:14 says, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the HIGH CALLING of God in Christ Jesus”. Ours IS a high calling and I believe we have lost sight of that and taken our eyes off the prize. In last month's column I took the time to answer some of your questions. This month, I've got questions of my own. Maybe you can answer them.
Does it bother you when an artist or group goes on stage in dirty wrinkled clothes? Does it offend you?
- Have you attended a concert where the screaming was so bad you could not understand the lyrics?
- Do you like it when a singer screams?
- Do you think that the words “pride” and “dignity” matter at all anymore?
- Do you feel that the SG music industry treats its audience with the respect it should?
- As a consumer, do you ever think about complaining to the record companies who are foisting these artists upon us and ruining our industry so they can make a buck? If not, why not?
As always, I welcome your comments.
God Bless You
Nick Bruno
Reader Comments
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Hey Nick,
I was a little disappointed in this months article. I have loved your articles in the past and applauded your passion for the industry to move forward and reach the masses. Unfortunately, it seems as someone else was writing this article. It seemed you took a turn for the "old folgie" point of view rather than the "blazing trails" point of view that I am used to from you. I myself have a big voice and, at times, I have to push to hit the higher notes. You have to put the breath support behind your singing or the notes aren't going to be as good, or even worse you will damage your voice. I agree with the comment above about when is it "power singing" and when is it "screaming". There are mechanics to singing which use muscles all over the body. And I would much rather see a singer open-mouthed, looking at the floor, giving 110% to reach their potential than some bump on a log standing around a mic stand boring me out of my mind. You will see some of the greatest singers in SGM red faced, and bent over sometimes to reach upper-ranged notes. How about names like Jonathan Wilburn, Gerald Wolfe, Arthur Rice just to name a few. So if we are talking about this so-called "screaming" please be more specific. As for the dress of some artists. Probably the two hottest groups in SGM fit the discription you gave. You will see members of the Crabb Family and GVB wearing untucked shirts and jeans on many occasions. And yes Signature Sound had the hair grenade blow up on their bus. But at least it is something different!! And according to Sales and attendance at their concerts I believe that your opinion is outnumbered. I constantly hear people tagging on David Phelps because of his attire and now their not even at the NQC(We Won't elaborate on that mess). But it wouldn't matter if he were wearing a toga, I would still be annointed when I heard him sing "Let Freedom Ring" or "I Believe In A Hill Called Mt. Calvary" or "These Are They". The bottom line is I don't remember Christ wearing a "quartet suit" when He preached the sermon on the mount, or reading in the Gospels of anyone there commenting on his haircut. I think you have lost sight Nick. I think that dress is something that changes with the ages. It is a tool by which to appeal to different types of people. Reverence, Humbleness, Grace, Love, Praise are all character traits that are shown by our actions not by the tag on the back of our shirt. These "new" groups are trying to reach people who are not in tune with traditional SGM. I respect and love both old and new SGM and I think whether we like it or not, we should lift ALL those singing the gospel up in prayer. After all we are to be fishers of men.
LOL,
Dan Graf -
Nick;
Just read your article on Southern Gospel Music. The last time I remember you being this upset was when you drove our bus through New York City during rush hour on our way to your mama’s for the best spaghetti I have ever had. I feel that you were much too harsh and critical with some of your comments. There are still a few groups out there who do not fit into your general classification. But, you have never been known for diplomacy and to bring it to everyone’s attention, as you have done, was the right thing to do.
As one of the “Old Timers”, I can remember when our style of music was just “Gospel Music” and not always referred to as “Southern Gospel Music” Although it had its roots in the South, it wasn’t really Southern, Northern, Eastern or Western – it was universal, and it was great! You could clap your hands, pat your feet, laugh, cry, be happy, blessed and entertained. No one had to “apologize to their ears” for what they heard. The harmony was smooth, blended and balanced – a lost art with most current groups. But, even back then, we belted out some pretty loud and high endings – an accepted, and often expected way to end an up-tempo song. Nick, is there a difference between “belting out” and “screaming”?
I have seen Southern Gospel Music go through some drastic changes over the years. We have lost, and continue to lose, our past Gospel Music “greats”. The influence of these men and women has been critical to the success of Southern Gospel Music, and the declining influence due to their loss is obvious. The saddest part of this is that there are so few “quality artists” to take their place.
As for appearance and dress, I remember when every group wore the same suit, shirt, tie and shoes when they went on stage (except for ol’ J.D. and of course, the ladies). The Prophets wore tuxedos at every Saturday night concert for years – not to show off, but to present the best image they could for the people who were honoring them with their presence and support. This mode of dress also showed “unity” and a spirit of “togetherness”, two great spiritual qualities. I’m not saying that we need to return to this, but the “come as you are” approach is, as you say, disgusting – “completely unacceptable and disgraceful”.
Nick, my love for Gospel Music has not changed, but my support has. I have only attended one concert in years, and it was a former group reunion. The image of Gospel Music has become more like attending wrestling matches and holds no attraction for me. It seems that groups compete to see who can get the crowd more stirred up, excited or emotional through THEIR OWN efforts and antics. I fear that many singers fail to realize that the excitement and emotion should be created by the Holy Spirit ministering to the listener.
Finally, I do agree that there are some very serious problems, and the image of Southern Gospel Music is suffering as a result of these problems. The old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” applies. Southern Gospel Music has some broken parts that need fixin’. What is the cure? I don’t claim to have the answer, but it would help to look back to a time when it wasn’t so broken and didn’t need so much fixin’. What are the differences between then and now? Each group should examine themselves objectively and try to see themselves as others do, and especially as God does. THIS IS BIBLICAL – 2 Timothy 2:15. Take this business approach:
A.Realize that you are involved in God’s business, and God’s business is “Big Business”.
B.Recognize that there are problems and ask God to reveal them to you.
C.Identify the most critical issues that need to change, realizing that everyone’s opinion will not be the same, but give the opinion of others careful consideration.
D.Initiate any necessary changes. Recognizing a problem does not correct or cure it. I can get rid of my headache with an aspirin. As long as the aspirin is in the bottle, I’ll still have a headache.
E.See what happens. When you put pleasing God and ministering to His people first, everything else just falls in line!
Chico -
Dan,
I don't think Nick is saying what you THINK he is saying. I don't find him to be the "four men in four matching suits" kind of thinker. I think this month's article is CONSISTENT with what he has been saying all along - that we need to be diligent in SGM to keep our standards high. I think the MAIN point of this article is something you might have missed: If we continue to act like the audience doesn't matter in an industry that is DEPENDENT on and gets is life-blood from an audience, then we shouldn't wonder why our industry isn't growing. I don't think his main focus is dress and singing style..but that the underlying theme is our consistent mediocrity. This month he is using the way some SGM groups are performing and appearing to emphasize the damage the record labels who are signing untalented people are doing to this industry.
You mention, rightfully so, two groups who are VERY successful. I think Nick is always trying to address the twenty five thousand others who are NOT.
He clearly says: "I not talking from the standpoint of a seasoned old-timer who is criticizing younger styles. I understand that younger artists dress 'young'. I'm talking about artists who are so arrogant about their appearance that they don't feel the need to honor the audience members who took time out of their own busy livees to come to a concert".
I think that once again, as in all his writings, the thread that runs through it is the arrogant attitude that SOME.. (please note the word SOME) record labels and artists have. The labels who don't care that they are signing people with no talent just so they can make a buck... and the artists who mistakenly believe they are not hurting SGM with their mediocrity. I read this article and see someone who is saying, "please stop being mediocre". I DON'T SEE THIS ARTICLE AS NICK TELLING ANYONE.. ANYWHERE.. WHAT TYPE OF CLOTHING THEY SHOULD WEAR.
Dan, I have never heard you sing and so my following comments are not meant as a put-down. Perhaps the reason this month's article from Nick isn't sitting well with you is because maybe it comes a little too close??
You describe yourself as having a "BIG" voice and sometimes have to "push" a little to get the note.
Take it from an audience member: one singer's "pushing" may be an audience member's "screaming". I don't know you.. so perhaps you are not a "screamer" but if anyone cares about the opinion of a SGM listener I'd like to say to many of the groups that I've heard over the past few months: Maybe the plain and simple truth is that if a note is too high for you to hit without "pushing" maybe the note is too high for you to sing... and too high for us to have to endure hearing.
My sincere apologies if I have offended anyone (especially you Dan) with my comments.
Lord bless,
Dee -
Nick.. Nick..
Why do you subject yourself to this?
Why do you care about SGM?
How do you feel about people misinterpreting your words?
I think your article's focus this month is being completely overlooked by some of these posts. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the point that we need to care about the AUDIENCE?
Aren't you trying to say that if we SCREAM at the audience and we don't even LOOK GOOD to the audience we will LOSE the audience?
How is it that some people are trying to put you in the "I hate them youngsters?" category.
Isn't your point this month about how we are treating the audience... RATHER THAN YOU BEING AN OLD GUY WHO CANNOT DEAL WITH THE NEW STYLES?
Isn't your point that if you cannot SING you cannot be a singer?
I am lost by how lost so many readers seem to be.
I am thankful that I am not brave enough to put my neck out there to be misunderstood like you are.
I remember you from some camps in New Jersey.
Greetings,
Mike the Music Man -
Nick,
Good job. Great article.
I don't think you are being critical.
I don't see the article as "angry"...but rather "truthful". -
CHICO,
Nice post. I think you must not have been reading Nick's articles over the past year or so because you bring up many points... almost verbatim.. that he has been trying to get across.
You agree with almost everything he says.. and HAS BEEN saying.
Maybe you and he could write a column together?
Dee -
All I have to say is it probably costs more to buy those "dirty jeans and wrinkled shirts" than to buy a nice three piece suit.
Wouldn't that then be our "best" since we spent so much money on it?
Just a bit of food for thought. -
As for the screaming concept - I understand how undesirable it can be to sit through an entire service of that. HOWEVER, there are times when the "SCREAMING" is used for effect. Sometimes the "scream" is used in reaction to a certain style or phrase in a song.
I agree and am also not a big fan of it if it is done throughout the entire service, but done in moderation, it is perfectly acceptable in a concert setting. -
Don't see the words "three piece suit" anywhere in Nick's article. Do you?
-
Hmm. You're right. But I also don't believe that I attributed those words to him either, did I?
I was just making a comparison in prices between the two - something that is seen as casual and something that is seen as formal.
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