This past Sunday, the world got to see the BeBe and CeCe Winans reunion on the season finale of BET’s Sunday Best. Gospel’s dynamic duo performed a song entitled "Close To You" from their upcoming album. In addition, it was announced that BeBe and CeCe will be launching a reunion tour.
First, let me say that I have great respect for BeBe and CeCe as artists and ministers of the gospel. However, I am praying that their new CD contains songs that are actually clearly identifiable as gospel songs. When they were together in the past, BeBe and CeCe recorded a number of what I like to call "gray area" songs. Instead of using words like "God", "Lord" or "Jesus", they used words like "you" or "something". I consider "Close To You" another one of those "gray area" songs.
You’ll hear may hear me say this time and time again. Just because a gospel artist sings a song, that does not make the song a gospel song.
I absolutely love it when gospel artists cross over to pop music charts. What I don’t like is when they compromise to do so. I can’t say that I firmly believe that BeBe and CeCe are compromising. I just wonder why they don’t make a clearer message in some of their lyrics.
Yes, it is possible to sing "love" songs with a clear message. For instance, take "Just To Be Close To You" by Fred Hammond. During the chorus, he clearly ad-libs the words "to the king of kings and Lord of lords." He also does it again with the song "Your Love". Near the end of the song, Fred boldly states "don’t get me wrong, I’m talking about the love of Jesus."
This is just my opinion. What do you think? When BeBe and CeCe sing together, do you think that sometimes they are not as clear with their message as they could be?
