Smokie Norful, Um Good | Music Lifts 🎶 🏋

In the 12^th edition of Music Lifts (2023), we’re uplifted by pastor and gospel singer Smokie Norful performing, “Um Good.”

“If I never see the ruins / Of that city they call ancient Rome / I’m not worried because I can still say / God, I know that you been good.” 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 12^th edition of Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 (2023), we highlight 🎵 “Um Good” as performed by 🎙 Smokie Norful.

“If I never own a mansion / Way out on the hills / If I  never see riches / Lord, I’ll serve you still.” 💿 Life Changing.  That is the title of the 2006 album by pastor and gospel singer, 🎙 Smokie Norful.  One of the best, most moving, and most uplifting songs from Life Changing is 🎵 “Um Good”.  What makes “Um Good” so good is the messaging, the vocals, the spiritedness, and the production.  Honestly, everything about “Um Good” is um good, with God being primary!

Essentially, what the 🏆 Grammy-winner ministers to us is, despite what happens in his life, whether its attainment of material things, or the loss of everything, he will still praise God (“In the midst of my despair / I can still say, Lord, you been good”). On this utterly sublime 🎼 ✍ Percy Bady– penned gem,  there’s great balance.  This is a gospel record, but the R&B cues and sensibilities made it sound incredibly fresh in the aughts – and still marvelous in the 2020s for that matter.  Smokie sings with incredible authenticity, truly selling this message of never giving up on God despite the circumstances.  There are no more high-flying moments than the chorus, where Smokie is backed by a truly anointed choir, while he riffs and ad-libs along the main melody.  His faith sounds unshakable!

“You been good

Good, um good

So as long as I live I’ll tell the world, God is good

Good, um good

I’m so glad to say right now

God is good.”

🎙 Smokie Norful • 💿 Life Changing • 🏷 Motown Gospel • 📅 2006

Smokie Norful, “Um Good”: Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 No. 12 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Motown Gospel; cottonbro studio, Itzel Sandoval, Neeraj Nagdeve via Pexels]