๐ง 11 Songs Filled with Immense Praise ๐ features BRELAND, Carrie Underwood, Kanye West, Marvin Gaye & Natalie Grant.
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raise is what I do / When I want to be close to you / I lift my hands in praise.โ Say that, say that ๐ Shekinah Glory Ministry (๐ต โPraise is What I Doโ)! As for ๐ Grammy nominee ๐ Marvin Sapp, he asserts that โPraise will confuse the enemyโ and because God has โgiven me a second chance,โ urges us all to ๐ต โPraise Him in Advanceโ ๐ ๐ ๐. ย Years earlier, ๐ Kirk Franklin asserts on ๐ต โPraise Joint (Remix)โ โAnybody that knows somebody, if ya got deliverance / Get up and tell everybody, get ya praise on!โ #Nu Nation Project!While all three examples were religious, not all ๐ง 11 Songs Filled with Immense Praise ๐ are religious โ or that religious at least! But as we all know, praise is often tied with religion, spirituality, and specifically, G-O-D. ๐ง 11 Songs Filled with Immense Praise ๐ features praises courtesy of ๐ BRELAND, ๐ Carrie Underwood, ๐ Kanye West, ๐ Marvin Gaye, and ๐ Natalie Grant among others. So, we have some Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), country, rap, and soul. Thatโs well-rounded in my mind! So, get prepared to send your praises up on ๐ง 11 Songs Filled with Immense Praise ๐!!!
1. BRELAND, โPraise the Lordโ (Ft. Thomas Rhett)
๐ต โPraise the Lordโ โข ๐ท Bad Realm / Atlantic โข ๐ 2022
โPraise the Lord for southern women, Hemi engines, crispy chicken.โ Um, sure, ๐ BRELAND โ if you say so!ย The black country musician represents a new breed of country music.ย Is it a bit polarizing? Perhaps, but if nothing else, heโs interesting. He collaborates with ๐ Grammy-nominated country standout ๐ Thomas Rhett on the laudatory ๐ต โPraise the Lordโ.ย What else does BRELAND praise the Most High for? โEast Atlanta, Country Grammar, and my nana.โ Again, to him I say, sureโฆ
The colorful chorus, excerpted above, is the first section of โPraise the Lordโ the listener hears.ย Next, BRELAND drops the first verse, which continues the praise.ย Itโs not all Christian of course, as he offers up praise โfor my bartender, turns a single into two / We went crazy out there last night, we need saving in this pew.โ JESUS!ย Thomas Rhett enters the fray in the second verse, thankful for his children, his Chevrolet (of course), and โcold beer conversation and broken cowboy boots.โ I guess thatโs how they do it in country music!ย The music supporting BRELAND and Rhett is bombastic, energetic, and a blend of hip-hop, pop, gospel, and country.ย It is something to hear for sure! Tongue-in-cheek to the nth degree, โPraise the Lordโ is certainly entertaining if nothing else.ย
2. The University of Notre Dame Folk Choir & J.J. Wright, โPerfect Praise (Live)โ(Ft. Chris Dingman, Emorja Roberson, Godwin Louis, Ike Sturm, Karen Schneider & Mark McLean)
๐ฟ Catch the Spirit (Live) โข ๐ท The University of Notre Dame Folk Choir โข ๐ 2020
There are some songs that are truly PERFECT and never grow old.ย One of those is the gospel classic, ๐ต โPerfect Praise,โ penned by ๐ผโ Brenda Joyce Moore.ย Sometimes referenced as โJesus is Excellent,โ this gem has been covered by numerous choirs and even arranged for marching band as well โ AWESOME ๐.ย ๐ The University of Notre Dame Folk Choir and ๐ J.J. Wright deliver a truly excellent rendition, recorded live in 2020, which appears on their album, ๐ฟ Catch the Spirit (Live).
What makes this version so excellent, you ask? The awesome lead vocals by ๐ Emorja Roberson is a huge selling point.ย Of course, beyond his lead, the Folk Choir provides great supporting vocals, with the harmonies fully locked in, while the instrumentalists all shine in their respective roles.ย You can tell just listening to this recording that this is indeed a favorite of the University choir โ they do it justice.
Appears in ๐ฝ:
- Perfect ๐ฏ: 5ive Songs No. 74
- The University of Notre Dame Folk Choir, โPerfect Praiseโ: Sunday Refresh ๐ 1 (2021)
- 13 More Songs That Provide That Spiritual Refresh
3. Carrie Underwood, โJoyful, Joyful We Adore Theeโ
๐ฟ My Gift โข ๐ท Capitol Nashville โข ๐ 2020
โJoyful, joyful, we adore Thee / God of glory, Lord of love / Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee / Opening to the sun above.โ ๐ต โJoyful, Joyful We Adore Theeโ has been covered numerous times in several different ways. ๐ Carrie Underwood opts for balladry on this ๐ผโ Ludwig van Beethoven, a praise-giving gem from her 2020 holiday album, ๐ฟ My Gift.
Here, Underwood wows us with her beautiful voice, period.ย She simply sings the song, preserving the melody, incredibly expressively.ย This take isnโt characterized by its groove or its spiritually rousing vibes, but it does give you chills hearing that superb, country tone.ย Furthermore, the production by ๐ Greg Wells is simple but definitely fitting.
Appears in ๐ฝ:
4. Kem, โPraiseโ
๐ฟ Love Always Wins โข ๐ท Motown โข ๐ 2020
โDo you wanna feel my love? / Hey, yay, lift up your praise.โ Refined R&B singer/songwriter ๐ Kem (Kem Owens) remained classy and incredibly consistent on his fifth studio album, ๐ฟ Love Always Wins, which arrived following a six-year hiatus. Among the highlights from Love Always Wins is the praise-worthy fifth track, ๐ต โPraise.โ
Within the context of the Love Always Wins, โPraiseโ keeps the momentum going strong.ย The script is remains familiar:ย classy, grown folks R&B thatโs chill and pleasant to the nth degree.ย โPraiseโ is totally inoffensive, features a catchy chorus, not to mention some of the most overt vocals weโve ever heard from Kem during the final minute of the record.
Appears in ๐ฝ:
5. Natalie Grant, โPraise You in This Stormโ
๐ฟ No Stranger โข ๐ท Curb โข ๐ 2022
โI was sure by now / God, you wouldโve reached down / And wiped our tears away / Stepped in and saved the day,โ ๐ Natalie Grant sings on the relatable ๐ต โPraise You in This Stormโ, a ๐ Casting Crowns cover (๐ฟ Lifesong, 2005). In the first verse of this gem from her 2020 album, ๐ฟ No Stranger, Grant wonders why God hasnโt interceded on her behalf โ good, reasonable question! Those of us who identify as Christian have been in a similar position where the road is quite rough, and our prayers have yet to be answered.ย Grant continues this gorgeous, moving Contemporary Christian ballad singing, โBut once again, I say โAmenโ / And itโs still raining.โ
So, what Natalie is saying is, we continue to have faith and praise Him even when it seems itโs not working? THATโS RIGHT! โPraise You in This Stormโ suggests that even when โI barely her You [God] whisper through the rain,โ I ALWAYS remain faithful.ย Thatโs easier said than done but itโs important to have faith the size of a mustard seed, as โThe Good Bookโ says. Essentially, the Christian walk isnโt an easy one, even with God in your corner.ย Grant makes it crystal clear on this soaring ballad sure to touch souls worldwide.
โAnd Iโll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
โCause You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear Iโve cried
You hold in Your hands
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm.โ
Appears in ๐ฝ:
6. A$AP Rocky, โPraise the Lord (Da Shine)โ (Ft. Skepta)
๐ฟ Testing โข ๐ท RCA โข ๐ 2018
Testingโฆ1,2,3โฆ testingโฆ1,2,3โฆ In the context of his third studio album, ๐ฟ Testing, ๐ต โPraise the Lord (Da Shine)โ gives ๐ A$AP Rocky a much-needed banger. He raps capably over banging percussion and fluty synths.ย Amen, amen, amen! While Rockyโs on fire, it is ๐ Skepta that gets the best part of the record โ the hook.
โI came, I saw, I came, I saw
I praise the Lord, then break, the law
I take, whatโs mine, then take, some more
It rains, it pours, it rains, it pours.โ
In addition to delivering the crowning achievement, Skepta also gets his own verse, as well as collaborating on the third verse with Rocky.ย Praiseworthy? You bet!
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7. Kanye West, โPraise Godโ (Ft. Baby Keem & Travis Scott)
๐ฟ Donda โข ๐ท Getting Out Our Dreams II / Def Jam โข ๐ 2021
โWe gonโ praise our way out the grave, dawg / Livinโ, speakinโ, praise God / Walkinโ out the graveyard back to life / I serve, follow your word, see with new sight, into the night.โ Woo! Few will dispute that ๐ Kanye West is great at making music โ call him a musical genius if you wish. The question marks about West as his career has progressed havenโt been about his craft but about his many, um, idiosyncrasies. ย Musically gifted or not, West is a polarizing man, period.ย Regardless, his 10th studio album, ๐ฟ Donda, named after his late mom, Dr. Donda West, has some compelling moments (and NO SWEAR WORDS).ย Among those moments is the praise-filled ๐ต โPraise God.โย
โThe devil my opp, canโt pay me to stop (Itโs lit)
My God at the top.โย
On โPraise God,โ Mr. West is assisted by ๐ Baby Keem and ๐ Travis Scott.ย Call it a Christian rap banger, I guess!ย Again, there are NO SWEAR WORDS (โOh man!โ), though Keemโs colorful, extended verse features some edits ๐.ย Even with amended salty language, Keem is profound when he says, โYโall treat the Lord and Savior like rentersโ insurance, you know what I mean?โ He has a valid point! Save for his chorus (excerpted above) and a few collaborative moments, West lets Keem and Scott do the heavy lifting.ย He produces alongside ๐ Eric Sloan, ๐ The Twilite Tone, ๐ Ojivolta, ๐ MIKE DEAN, ๐ Zen Tachi, and ๐ 30 Roc.
8. Josh Groban, โCelebrate Me Homeโ
๐ฟ Harmony โข ๐ท Reprise โข ๐ 2020
On ๐ฟ Harmony, ๐ Josh Groban serves up the praise-associated song, ๐ต โCelebrate Me Home,โ as the third track (NOTE: celebrate is a synonym for praise). On the beloved ๐ Kenny Loggins classic, there are a plenty of gospel-tinged cues and soulfulness in play.
No, Groban doesnโt supplant the original by Loggins or the memorable cover by ๐ Luther Vandross, but he definitely reminds us just how timeless the song is. Furthermore, that gospel choir backing him contributes to the chills experienced while listening.
Appears in ๐ฝ:
9. Mary Mary, โShackles (Praise You)
๐ฟ Thankful โข ๐ท Sony BMG Entertainment โข ๐ 2000
โTake the shackles off my feet so I can dance / I just wanna praise you / (What you wanna do?) / I just wanna praise you.โ Say that, Mary Mary! We need to feel those encouraging vibes ala 2000 when yโall were incredibly ๐ฟ Thankful unleashing ๐ต โShackles (Praise You).โ Honestly, the chorus โ the most memorable part of the record โ sums things up perfectly.ย God has been merciful and allowed ๐ Erica Campbell and ๐ Tina Campbell to break free from various things, so therefore, they want to give thanks and praise him. Even those who donโt ascribe to religion should be able dig the positive vibes.
โTake the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise you
(What you wanna do?)
I just wanna praise you
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
(Feel me?)
And Iโm gonna praise You
(What you gonna do?)
Iโm gonna praise You.โ
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10. Marvin Gaye, โPraiseโ
๐ฟ In Our Lifetime โข ๐ท Motown โข ๐ 1981
โBaby, why donโt you / Just let your light come shining through?โ On ๐ต โPraise,โ beloved soul icon ๐ Marvin Gaye balances romantic love and love for God. Itโs interesting, to say the least.ย The record appears on Gayeโs 1981 album, ๐ฟ In Our Lifetime, the follow-up to the brilliant though commercially unsuccessful classic, ๐ฟ Here, My Dear (1978). ย Yes, Mavin Gaye is before my time (I was born a couple of years after his untimely death), but I feel like I know enough about him and his music. That said, I was unaware of this song or albumโฆ Worth noting, I even asked my parents, huge Marvin Gaye fans about the project and they were unaware of itโฆ
Listening to the under-appreciated โPraise,โ thereโs plenty to like.ย Like most of Gayeโs work, his voice oozes with soul โ once in a lifetime.ย Furthermore, the music grooves something fierce, with awesome production work that keeps that 1970s aesthetic is alive and well.ย Yes, I realize this arrived in 1981, but you still hear shades of his (and soulโs) glory era.ย As stated earlier, while itโs clear that Gaye is addressing a woman, he also leans on his faith, a theme that has appeared throughout his music:
โOh, praise Him when you go to work
Praise Him when your feelings hurt
Praise Him when youโre feeling bad
โฆPraise Him by the love you give
Praise Him by the way you live
Praise Him even when you dance & make romanceโฆโ
11. Richard Smallwood, โTotal Praiseโ
๐ฟ Adoration โข ๐ท Zomba โข ๐ 1996
โLord, I will lift mine eyes to the hills / Knowing my health is coming from you.โ Those are some powerful words penned by the great ๐ ๐ผโ Richard Smallwood, a phenomenal gospel musician and composer.ย ๐ต ย โTotal Praiseโ has become a standard worship song in many churches.ย Why? Itโs reverent sound, spiritually charged songwriting, gorgeous melodies, and lush, choral harmonies.ย Truly, it sounds as if Mr. Smallwood intended all who perform โTotal Praiseโ to take it to heart โ truly believe and sell it.ย โTotal Praiseโ graces Smallwoodโs 1996 album, ๐ฟ Adoration, recorded live in Atlanta with ๐ Vision.
One of the best parts of this contemporary gospel classic is the chorus, which โbreathes on youโ while being performed:
โYou are the source of my strength
You are the strength of my life
I lift my hands in total praise to you.โ
Man, oh, man, those are soul-stirring words and radiant music.ย In addition to that marvelous section, the extended โAmenโ section serves as the cherry on top.ย As Iโve said many times of the entries in Sunday Refresh ๐, even if youโre not chief amongst believers, you can appreciate the feels given off by โTotal Praise.โ It yields a special listening and spiritual experience.
Appears in ๐ฝ:
๐ง 11 Songs Filled with Immense Praise ๐ [๐ท: Atlantic, Bad Realm, Brent Faulkner, Capitol Nashville, cottonbro, Curb, Def Jam, Getting Out Our Dreams II, Luis Quintero, Mikhail Nilov, Motown, The Musical Hype, The University of Notre Dame Folk Choir, Pavel Danilyuk, Pexels, RCA, Reprise, Ric Rodrigues,ย Sony BMG Entertainment, Zomba]