Kirk Franklin, Father’s Day | Album Review 💿

Ever consistent, Grammy-winning gospel musician Kirk Franklin delivers another anointed, contemporary gospel LP with Father’s Day.

Innovator. 🏆 Grammy winning gospel artist 🎙 Kirk Franklin has proven himself to be innovative in the gospel music realm time and time again.  Even deep in his career, Franklin always seems to have a few tricks up his sleeves. He has a knack for penning and delivering powerful, faith-based songs. Once again, Mr. Franklin impresses with his 2023 album, 💿 Father’s Day.  Father’s Day is comprised of just 10 tracks, but all 10 prove to be worthwhile.

“Welcome Home” 

“Imagine the sound when we all get to heaven / Each nation will sing in harmony.” That is a beautiful, truly celestial lyric! It hails from the opener, 🤩 🎵 “Welcome Home”, one of the best moments from Father’s Day.  “Welcome Home” is characterized by exuberant production and sunny vibes from the onset. The sound is a nice blend of contemporary R&B and contemporary gospel/Christian pop. Besides thoughtful lyrics, the melodies sung by the choir are tuneful, with some pop/R&B sensibilities. The chorus is quite ear-catching and memorable despite its simplicity: “Welcome home / I’m home / Feels like home / Glad I’m home.” Running north of five minutes, Franklin keeps “Welcome Home” engaging with a contrasting bridge (or interlude if you will), unique, intense outro (which shifts to a minor key), and some instrumental sound variations.

“This is your day love / This is your day that you can’t get away / I been waiting all day love (How ya doin’ love) / Waiting for your embrace love…” The enjoyable, thoughtful 🤩 🎵 “Try Love” was released as a single in advance Father’s Day.  At the onset, the choir provides amorous, exuberant vocals in the eventual chorus, setting the tone. The record is filled with positivity, emphasizing the power of love: “Get out and touch somebody / Love somebody / Hold somebody / Don’t you know that you just may be the only Jesus that they see.” As far as sound, it features sweet melodies and a solid, highly effective harmonic scheme.  Also, there are delightful vocal harmonies.  While the chorus is the section to beat, the bridge is notable, providing a distinct change of pace, following the brief second verse. Here, the tempo is quicker, while the message of love remains constant:     

“I been around the world and I-I-I, know it’s going crazy  

I cried so many nights and I-I-I, need someone to save me  

No greater love or sacrifice (Love)  

Love on the cross You paid the price (C’mon)  

That’s why I trust You with my life, and I take the chance and try love  

Don’t say goodbye love.”    

As always, throughout 🎵 “Try Love”, Franklin plays the role of encourager, minister, preaching L-O-V-E ❤️ ❤️ ❤️.   

Appears in 🔻:  

• Try: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 70 (2023)
• 11 Songs That Make You Wanna Try (2023)
• Awesome Songs: September 2023

 “All Things” 

Prior to 🎵 “Try Love”, 🤩 🎵 “All Things” arrived as the first single from Father’s Day. A tight three minutes and change, this marks another well-rounded Kirk Franklin record. Franklin ministers on the intro (spoken word), accompanied by piano (“Can I talk to ya? / I know you got some questions / What’s the hardest thing you’re going through? / Let’s talk about it”). Soon enough, the choir takes the reins, backed by slick contemporary / urban gospel production. Throughout, Franklin encourages the listener and choir, as he has done for years through his music. The chorus marks a huge selling point, with the essence being God can do all things 🙌. The evolution of the sound is #winning to, bringing in more gospel elements (the organ, in particular).  “All Things” is at its best when it reaches that fever pitch.

Keeping the advance singles coming, 🤩 🎵 “Needs” marks another potent, satisfying, and tight record.  Franklin penned the song, produced by a team consisting of 🎛 Maxwell Stark, Ron Hill, Justin Pearson, and Demetrius Smith.  Once more, we get encouragement from Franklin on the tone-setting intro: “There’s so many voices out there right now… I found the answer’s really simple / And it’s been there the entire time.” The answer is Jesus, something made abundantly clear in the first verse.  Prior to uttering Jesus, Franklin’s choir names things Christians associate with Him – peace, grace, strength, patience.  In the soulful chorus, accompanied by keys, organs, and harmonized vocals, where non-needs are highlighted:   

“I don’t need another love song 

For the radio to play 

I’m at the end of myself 

When I talk to myself 

I have nothing left to hear me say.”

In the second and third verses, like the first, it’s all about Him – J-E-S-U-S. Post-third verse, there is a high-flying refrain (or bridge), which separates itself from the chorus (“I trust you won’t let go / You live to catch each dream that falls”). “Needs” concludes beautifully with an outro, where the only thing that Franklin needs that he has is – you guessed it – Jesus.   

“You Still Love Us”

The inspiration continues on 🎵 “You Still Love Us,” another moment that combines positive, uplifting messaging, elegant singing, and a fabulous, urban backdrop. A cool 😎 left hand piano line marks a defining characteristic of the instrumental.  Furthermore, melodically, the rhythmic, tuneful melodies go a long way. Also, worth noting, is the switch to a minor key during the bridge, accompanied by contrasting sound that maintains engagement. Another awesome happening at the end of the bridge is a well-executed key change. Notably, Franklin takes a more active role within the last part of the record. We all continue to listen on 🎵 “Listen,” which initiates with a warm, melodious piano intro. Likewise, the vocals by the choir are reverent and spiritual. The vocal production is sensational too. Compositionally, the music is well-rounded – sound to the nth degree. Lyrically and thematically, Franklin continues to do what he does – compose encouraging contemporary gospel. The resonance of the organ truly hits the soul once it enters the picture. Franklin enters around the three-minute mark, delivering poetry (an interlude). Post-interlude, “Listen” grows more intense, contrasting what precedes it.

Another electrifying moment from Father’s Day arrives courtesy of 🤩 🎵 “Unconditional” featuring 🏆 Grammy-winning gospel singer, 🎙 Le’Andria Johnson. “Unconditional” starts off with rich, soulful electric guitar accompaniment. I ❤️ the robustness of Johnson’s vocals which are rich, smoky, and soulful. Johnson speaks of how the Lord loves her unconditionally. The second verse finds her upping the ante, digging in more vocally. I love the support Johnson gets from the choir; those background vocal harmonies are stellar. Mostly percussion-less, the instruments superlatively carry the groove and ensure there’s rhythm. The harmonic scheme, and modulating vocal harmonies, during the bridge section is, celestial!

“Again”

More guests join Kirk Franklin on 🤩 🎵 “Again,” a six-minute-plus juggernaut featuring 🎙 Chandler Moore, 🎙 Tori Kelly, 🎙 Jonathan McReynolds, and 🎙 Jekalyn Carr. What an anointed (and award-winning) group! “Again” has some CCM vibes, at least initially, but with more oomph. All vocalists deliver nuanced performances, giving their best 👏. Much like the vocals, the pen game is pitch perfect. As “Again” progresses, it assert itself more, reach that spiritual peak. For example, after the 2:40 mark, organ enters the mix, amplifying the gospel identity. As to be expected, the ending – the final minute or so – is nothing short of grandiose. 

🎵 “Again & Again,” the penultimate record, is an extension of 🎵 “Again,” featuring 🎙 Kelontae Gavin and 🎙 Maranda Curtis. Is it a reprise? Honestly, no. It builds off of what we heard in the previous track but clearly separates itself. Only within the final 30 seconds, do we hear something closely related to “Again.” Notably, Kirk Franklin sings, which is a rarity.  He also sings on the closing cut, the touching 🎵 “Somebody’s Son”.  A moody, slower, reflective cut, “Somebody’s Son” feels like the fitting coda of Father’s Day.  Are Franklin’s sung vocals perfectly sung? No, but you feel the authenticity and the emotions, which is most important.

Final Thoughts 💭 

All in all, Kirk Franklin brings those melodies from heaven on 💿 Father’s Day.  Do we expect any less from this decorated gospel artist? Absolutely not. Even if one believes that Franklin’s most innovative days are behind him, he still manages to churn out a contemporary gospel album that sounds truly fresh. There are no misses, and the message is always, 💯.

🤩 Gems 💎: “Welcome Home,” “Try Love”, “All Things,” “Needs”, “Unconditional” & “Again”

🎙 Kirk Franklin • 💿 Father’s Day • 🏷 Fo Yo Soul Recordings / RCA • 📅 10.6.23

[📷: Fo Yo Soul Recordings / RCA]