A Review of CeCe Winans' NPR Tiny Desk Concert.

Excerpt:

CeCe Winans’ Tiny Desk concert is a heartfelt celebration of her 30 years in music. With her calm strength and soulful presence, she carries each song with grace and a steady rhythm that pulls you in. From the tender moments to the joyful finale, this performance is a reminder of why her music has touched so many hearts. It lit up my day, and I hope it brings the same light to yours as mine.

I still remember the first time I heard CeCe Winans. I was about thirteen, in my third year of secondary school, and she had already been making music for years. But to me, she felt brand new. Her voice had this calm strength that caught my attention right away. I didn’t understand everything she was singing about back then, but I knew it mattered. Her music made a lasting impression on me that’s never really left.

Watching her celebrate thirty years of music in this Tiny Desk concert brought all of that back. It didn’t feel like just a performance. It felt like a return to something meaningful. Something solid. Something you didn’t even know you’d missed until it was right there in front of you again.

When she sang “Goodness of God,” I felt completely present. There was something so peaceful and powerful in the way she carried that moment. Her voice, the atmosphere, the way the band supported her and it all came together in this beautiful, steady wave. Not loud or showy. Just full of grace.

Every Beat, Every Breath.

What made this performance so moving was how she handled time and space in the music. Nothing rushed. Nothing overdone. The groove was steady and warm, and she let it guide her.

In “Pray,” the rhythm sat gently in the pocket, and her call-and-response with the band made the whole thing feel alive. “Alabaster Box” was breathtaking from the very first note. She came in just before the downbeat, and it made the entire song feel suspended for a second, like time slowed down so she could deliver that first line.

“Believe For It” built slowly and powerfully. Each layer of rhythm added something deeper, and by the end, it felt like the music had grown around her voice like a halo. It was so fluid and full of feeling.

And then came “Goodness of God.” The entire room seemed to breathe with her. That moment didn’t just connect the songs—it connected everyone watching. It was soft but commanding, emotional but clear. It was everything.

A Joyful, Glorious Finish.

And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, she closed with “That’s My King.” What a finale. The groove kicked in, the energy lifted, and I found myself smiling, moving, just vibing along with it. It was joyful, bold, full of praise, and totally infectious.

That song brought it home with so much joy and rhythm, it stayed with me all day. I didn’t want to analyze it. I didn’t want to pause it. I just wanted to enjoy it, and I did.

That’s why I’m sharing this. Because it was beautiful. Because it was honest. Because it lit up my day. And sometimes, that’s exactly what music is for.

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

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