Kirk Franklin, Lean On Me | Music Lifts 🎶 🏋

In the 40^th edition of Music Lifts (2023), we’re uplifted by Kirk Franklin, and an all-star cast performing, “Lean On Me.”

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 40^th edition of Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 (2023), we highlight 🎵 “Lean On Me” as performed by 🎙 Kirk Franklin.

“This is for that little child with no father / For that man that doesn’t have a place to stay / For that little boy living with AIDS…” When you hear the name 🎙 Kirk Franklin, you instantly characterize him as a gospel music icon.  In the 1990s, Franklin was a true pioneer in the industry.  He showed a knack for making the genre alluring to a younger audience, incorporating hip-hop and R&B, while delivering inspirational and uplifting messages. Franklin’s 1998 album, 💿 The Nu Nation Project, is epic – one of the finest gospel albums of the decade.  The biggest song from The Nu Nation Project was 🎵 “Lean On Me”, which featured an all-star cast of musicians: 🎙 R. Kelly, 🎙 Crystal Lewis, 🎙 Mary J. Blige, and 🎙 Bono – yes that Bono of U2 🤯! “Lean On Me” is that rare gospel record that crossed over onto the pop charts – it peaked at no. 79 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Furthermore, “Lean On Me” – categorized as an R&B song – was nominated for three 🏆 Grammys: Song of the Year, Best R&B Song, and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.  Ultimately, The Nu Nation Project’s win for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album would secure Franklin with one of his 19 🏆 Grammys (to date).

Enough background though – what makes “Lean On Me” such a musical lift 🏋️‍♀️? The encouragement, the spirituality, and of course, those marvelous vocals. This song right here – it’s just a spiritual experience, analysis or nah. R. Kelly, long before becoming disgraced, is the first singing voice heard, and he sounds stellar.  He paints a picture of a homeless man going through a great trial, concluding the verse with “And his blue skies are gone / Can’t you hear him cryin’ out.” Think to yourself – have you ever cried out to friends, family, and God? From there, Crystal Lewis provides the perspective of a girl, searching for someone to lean on, prefacing the powerful chorus, performed by the choir stupendously:

“I, am here

You don’t have to worry

I can see, your tears

I’ll be there in a hurry when you call

Friends are there to catch you when you fall

Here’s my shoulder, you can lean on me.”

The “I” represents dedicated, true friends, with none bigger than The Most High, God.  Mary J. Blige arrives in the third verse, continuing to depict scenario of folks in need.  Bono adds his unique, nuanced voice to the fourth verse, singing with the choir, and Kirk serving up his usual brand of ministry.  Later, the bridge marks a truly magnificent moment, with lines performed by Kelly, Bono, Lewis, 🎙 Dalon Collins, and Kirk. It leads into the most dynamic, powerful chorus of them all, including a fitting key change.  Listening to 🎵 “Lean On Me” the big takeaway is showing humanity, lending a helping hand, and of course, putting faith in an all merciful God, who can do anything.  25 years later, this song remains a blessing 🙌 🙌 🙌.

🎙 Kirk Franklin • 💿 The Nu Nation Project • 🏷 GospoCentric • 📅 1998

Kirk Franklin, Lean On Me: Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 No. 40 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; GospoCentric; cottonbro studio, Itzel  Sandoval, Neeraj Nagdeve via Pexels]