CeCe Winans, Holy Forever | Music Lifts 🎶 🏋

In the 20^th edition of Music Lifts (2024), we’re uplifted by gospel artist CeCe Winans performing, “Holy Forever.”

Welcome to Music Lifts 🎶 🏋, a column that seeks to highlight songs that encourage, inspire, and uplift the spirit; songs that exude fortitude, positivity, and resolve, even in the face of adversity.  Featured songs aren’t genre-specific; songs may or may not be faith-based. The goal is for these songs to make you feel better – be LIFTED to new heights!  So, for the 20^th edition of Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 (2024), we highlight “Holy Forever” as performed by CeCe Winans.

“And all who’ve gone before us and all who will believe / Will sing the song of ages to the Lamb.” 🙌 The Lamb, of course, is God. CeCe Winans has proven to be versatile in the Christian music space.  Winans can belt out traditional gospel as well as effectively shine on CCM (contemporary Christian music) songs.  On “Holy Forever”, the fifth track from her 2024 album, More Than This, Winans opts for the latter.  “Holy Forever” is a Chris Tomlin cover, penned by Tomlin, Brian Johnson, Jason Ingram, Jenn Johnson, and Phil Wickham. In Winans’ hands, the spiritual and musical lifts are exceptional.

The main takeaway from “Holy Forever” is the awesomeness of the Savior. In the pre-chorus, Winans asserts, powerfully, “Your name is the highest / Your name is the greatest.” Your is another pronoun for God.  The pre-chorus is a fabulous preface to the soaring chorus, where CeCe sings, “And the angels cry, holy / All creation cries, holy / You are lifted high, holy / Holy forever.” The rest of “Holy Forever” focuses on the excellence of God with Winans superbly bringing authenticity, energy, and expressiveness.  A fine crossover moment, Christian and gospel music fans will appreciate the holiness of this song. Most important is the message of “Holy Forever” which transcends the song.

CeCe Winans // More Than This // Pure Springs Gospel, Inc. // 2024

CeCe Winans, Holy Forever: Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 No. 20 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Pure Springs Gospel, Inc.; Hamid Tajik, Qamar Rehman, vansh mehta, Viridiana Rivera via Pexels]