The Secular Music Industry Profits From Pimping Gospel Artists

Church sounds in the secular world

Many popular singers, including Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Justin Timberlake, and Little Richard, began their careers by singing in church. Even when they go secular, there is a distinctive sound that can't be denied, and you can hear their soulful gospel roots in their music.

Harry Casey, the founder of KC and the Sunshine Band said that his gospel roots in a Pentecostal church and the Holy Spirit are evident in his music. One of my sons recently told me he attended a secular concert where he could tell the artist had a Pentecostal background.

We discussed how gospel choirs often are asked to back up secular singers because the music industry likes the sound but cannot duplicate it.

Mixing the secular with the holy

Consider Billy Joel. who is currently battling a brain issue. He is a lifelong Atheist but uses gospel singers as backup because he likes the sound. His hit River of Dreams, had a full gospel choir in the background and was based on Psalm 23:4.

He lifts his hands and talks about being saved,and keeping the faith although he has none. Isn't this hypocritical to not believe in the God of the Bible but use His scripture and those who sing with His Spirit to enhance your own music?

Famous entertainers explain the unexplainable

In the above video, Denzel Washington said Director Penny Marshall kept yelling "Cut" during the filming of The Preacher's Wife as Whitney Houston was singing I Love the Lord.

Whitney said the people in the pews and the choir were experiencing the Holy Spirit and were shouting and dancing. Washington said he told Penny that she could not shout action and cut because it was deeper than that, and God was moving.

Marshall gave up and allowed the moment to continue. The film was edited so you don't get the full effect. You can listen to the recorded version of I Love the Lord in the following video.

Let go and let God

Marshall is amusing in the following video as she explains that she was saying "cut" and the people kept singing and the musicians continued playing, so she just let them.

In certain church denominations, this is called a move of the Spirit. Sometimes during church services, pastors don't get to do their sermons because the people keep singing, the band continues playing, and the Spirit is moving strongly. This is considered allowing God to have His way.

Two things can be true at once

Madonna had a choir wearing robes backing her in her hit Like A Prayer. Some people said the song and video were blasphemous, which can be confusing.

You may feel the presence of heaven, because of the gospel singers, and yet the visuals of the video were considered by some to be straight out of hell. This reveals that two things can be happening simultaneously.

Certain keys on a piano are used for horror music and bring an ominous feeling. Likewise, specific keys are used for the sounds from heaven. Along with voices of praise to the Creator, they make a joyful noise.

Pimping the heavenly sounds

If the secular music industry were able to duplicate and replicate this heavenly frequency on its own, it probably would not utilize gospel singers. Why else would Joel and others who don't believe in God and Madonna, who openly mocks the crucifixion of Christ incorporate Gospel choirs in their music and videos?

The answer can be found in a quote by Kim Reese (Charnel Brown) in the A Different World episode Baby I'm A Star. Kim, who had become popular singing in a nightclub, was asked by Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy) why her bio indicated she grew up poor when she didn't. Kim replies, "Because Dahling (darling) It Sells."

While gospel singers may feel honored to sing backup for famous secular artists, there is another line of thinking on this situation. Some say the music industry is pimping those who sing for heaven and prostituting their gift because it sells. Readers, what do you think?