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Torrence’s Take On Sunday Best, The Finale!
May 10th, 2009This one might be long or short. I just won’t know until I’m done typing. My apologies for not posting this immediately after the show Sunday like I normally do, but last night I was spent. Watching this season unfold from the online auditions that started last year, to in person auditions, to the “birth” of this blog, and watching each weekly episode, I became very “close” to all of this. I had met at some point almost all of the contestants, even if it was just by phone or email. I had gone back and forth with myself and friends (and some of you 
), trying to guess who would win, who should win, etc. So by the final episode after all we’d been through, I was a bit of a mess. After finally discovering who would be named our Season 2 Sunday Best winner, I just needed to breathe. So now that you’ve heard that melodramatic rant and have accepted my apologies (better had!)…. On with the show!
Kirk Franklin brings out our two finalists. Both Y’Anna and Jessica give us some heartfelt testimonies about how far their lives have come just in the last year. It was a bit of a “moment.”
But boyyyyyyyyyyyy was that moment ruined with that romanticized MKS infomercial they threw in there! Kirk wore me thin with that one. “Ooh look at it, it’s just so beautiful. Touch it.” Subtle much? Ha! OK let me stop, we love the folks at Lincoln. And the car is hot! (Hehehe)
Next up, this season’s mentor and one of my favorite gospel artists, Donald Lawrence and Co. performed their hit “Back II Eden.” Those of you who know me and/or follow me on twitter (twitter.com/TorrenceG) know that this is one of my favorite new songs but also a song that gives me much grief. Why? Because it is such a painful reminder that although I can carry a little tune, I cannot play an instrument. (I’m told my tambourine skills from back in the 80’s/90’s don’t count.) Donald and his crew killed it though. They’re so professional! Oh yeah, special shout out to Latrice Pace! I don’t know how she does it. She sang background vocals the entire season, sang background for The William’s Brothers on the show, performed with her family group “The Anointed Pace Sisters” a few weeks ago on the show, AND then performed with Donald Lawrence last night. That woman works and you know she’s good, because she’s singing with EVERYBODY! Latrice, take a vacation! You surely have worked for it.
We then got to hear Y’Anna and Jessica do a remixed version of New Edition’s “Can You Stand The Rain.” Interestingly enough, that’s one of my favorite New Edition songs too. Johnny Gill used to go OFF on that thing! Ha! But anyway, I think the ladies sounded amazing on it. I know some folks were probably disappointed that they didn’t sing a traditional gospel song, but I’ve learned that there can be ministry in places where you LEAST expect it.
Next, Y’Anna comes back to perform Donald Lawrence and Tri City’s hit “Encourage Yourself.” Miss Y’Anna was still very hoarse but she just has a way of powering through!
Right after that, Jessica Reedy returned to perform the hymn “I Surrender All.” Jessica, Jessica, Jessica is all I can say. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house in ATL and neither was there in my house! Something very, very special happened there and I have to be careful as I type this. This blog post could end right here if I think about it too hard. Call the usher!
Next up was another special guest performance. BeBe and CeCe Winans reunite to perform their new song “Close To You” and announce their new album and tour. It was good to see them together again, but didn’t you get the feeling that they were still kind of learning the song? Haha. I know most of us probably wanted them to sing “Heaven” or one of their classic songs, but that’s what the tour is for! You can sit next to Tina Campbell of Mary Mary. She’s bought enough concert tickets this season to have some show to attend everyday for the next 6 months!
Next up, the moment of truth. Y’Anna Crawley is declared the winner of Sunday Best!
I want to end by giving a huge congratulations to both Jessica Reedy and Y’Anna Crawley for making it to the finals and for being an awesome set of finalists. I don’t know if you noticed but last week when each of them guest blogged, neither one of them specifically or explicitly said “vote for me.” That says a lot about the character of these young ladies. You both are awesome!
Y’Anna, congratulations are due to you for a hard sung competition. You sang us up, down and your gift CANNOT be denied. Make sure to keep singing ‘em crazy!
Jessica, I told you “You Got This” when I first met you in DC and not a single thing has changed. YOU STILL GOT THIS! I mean that, it’s really only the beginning for you. Gospel NEEDS you and we’re glad you’re here!
Well folks, that’s it for me…today. Thanks for coming for the ride, but this is just the beginning. The blog and ME are sticking around, so now that the show is over, don’t disappear. I’ve got some surprises in the coming days and weeks as well as just more good gospel interviews and views from yours truly. Trust me, gospel is about to blow up on BET & BET.com, I can’t say everything, but there’s some good stuff coming.
I’m out!
Torrence
Well, america once again voted and proved who should have won. Congratulations to Y’anna, job well done! Jessica, I absolutley love that hymn ” I Surrender All”. You sang it effortlessly and with such an annointing. I think the first taping should have been cut and pasted so we would have seen Y’anna’s initial reaction to her win, and heard the song without vocal struggle, but I understand from my SB connections that Jessica had a little mess up on her song so they had to re-tape, that’s why Y’anna’s reaction was so strange to everyone. But all in all, it was a good show.
What’s up with all the haters out there. There were many who loved Y’anna and many who loved Jessica. I, for one, Love Both. So Y’anna won Congrats to her, and Jessica is going to be great so Congrats to her as well. Why can’t we just be happy for both and support our choice when their cd is released and stop with all the negative comments. God Bless.
Sunday’s Best is Sunday’s Best. Y’anna deserved to win. Jessica’s voice is more of a jazzy sound. Latice was my Sunday’s Best, but didn’t make it the finale because of Mary/Mary. They are the reason Jessica made it the finale, she was not that good to me.
To God Be the Glory…Congratulations to both finalists, both of you have the Favor of God-WOW. Stay prayerful and focused on fulfilling His purpose! I am looking forward to what is next…
although i thought jessica sang lovely, my issue was that i felt there werent being fair with the songs they picked jessica to sing, she always got to sing slow songs which suited her voice as opposed to the other contestants who had to show different sides and sing fast, slow, and in between….LOVE LATICE CRAWFORD, MY SUNDAY BEST
Jessica Jessica Jessica you won me over at the audition. Its truly amazing what our God can do. Be encouraged b/c God in his infinite ways has proven that his will will be done when it comes to those who surrender all and trust him. Thank-you for bringing me back to where I belong w/ God. Congrats Y’Anna. Latice and Dontavis Boatright you’re awesome. I’m looking forward to all of your CDs
I remeber when she sung at Woodson Senior Graduation she had the whole audience cryiing with that spiratual voice that lifted up the whole audience she’s really a blessing from god
I see where the previous entries indicate that Y’Anna seemed cocky on the show last night. First of all, she was not cocky but confident and you need to know the difference.
Nevertheless, God prevailed and the Sunday Best was chosen for just who she is. You cannot stop God’s work…when He ordains it…it is a done deal. There was no doubt that Y’Anna would win as Sunday Best…after all, she is.
It is no way that Jessica should have won and America knows that and has spoken. Y’Anna is and she just is…..
This was my first experience with a show of this type. The finale seemed a bit commercialized and lack. However, I do congratulate the winner. I also offer support for the other two finalist. I believe Latrice was awesome and Jessica offered something new. I would have like to seen all three names submitted for Public vote. And finally, I hope the other two get a record deal too because there are varities of Gospel music preferences,there is room for all three of them in the REAL WORLD !
I was so disappointed that my Girl Jessica didnt win! BUt like so many of us are saying, this is not the end, Oh we will hear Jessica again Ok? That girl is so filled with the Holy Spirit and I feel something everytime I hear her sing. She touches. Sunday Best is Just Title.Jessica, you will still get your chance to ministry to us, with your Beautiful, Annointing and Amazing Gift.
God Bless you.
Oh and I agree with the other’s about Y’anna’s cockiness, Not a good luck boo boo.
DONT CARE WHAT ANYBODY SAY… THIS SHOW WAS RIGGED THIS YEAR… I JUST READ A COMMENT OF SOMEONE SAYING THAT Y’ANNA WAS IN THEIR CITY AND THEY FOUND OUT FROM HER ENTOURAGE THAT SHE HAD ALREADY WON BUT THEY WERE TRYING TO KEEP IT QUIET. I BELIEVE THAT WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
1. I LOOKED AT Y’ANNA MYSPACE PICTURES WHEN THE SHOW STARTED AND SHE HAD ALREADY TAKEN PICTURES AT A RECORD COMPANY. AND EVEN THOUGH THAT DIDN’T SIT RIGHT WITH ME I WAS STILL HOPING THAT THE SHOW WASN’T RIGGED
2. IF YOU LOOKED TROUGHOUT THE SEASON THEY KEPT GIVING Y’ANNA LIL SPOT OF FAME ON THE COMMERICAL ADDS
3. ON LAST NIGHT’S SHOW HER SINGLE THAT SHE SUNG JUST DIDN’T SEEM LIKE THIS WAS A SURPRISE….
4. AND AT TIMES SHE EXHIBITED AN UNSUAL SENSE OF COCKINESS… IT WAS MORE THAN CONFIDENCE…. IT WAS MORE LIKE (I SING BACKGROUND FOR BET.J ALREADY AND I GOT CONNECTIONS WITH BET AND I KNOW I’M GONNA WIN…)
SO DISAPPOINTED AT THIS SEASON.. CONGRATS TO Y’ANNA BUT I HOPE SHE FINDS SOME TRUE ANOINTING ALONG THE WAY…..
AND I HOPE THAT THE STANDARDS FOR JUDGING NEXT YEAR ARE MORE BASED UPON WHAT REALLY MATTERS——”THE ANOINTING”
Well I guess what we all wanted to see was some HUMLITY on Y’anna’s part. There is nothing at all wrong with being confident, but there is a such thing as being GRATEFUL & HUMBLE, and she displayed neither of the two! No one is hating on her for winning. I think she’s an AWESOME singer, but actions speak louder than words & anyone who was watching the show saw the somewhat ARROGANT spirit she showed. & no, I’m not mad because she won, Latice was my favorite from the start so really it didn’t matter to me who won once she was eliminated.
@ YANNA DIDN’T DESERVE IT… I heard the same thing in my area… WOW.
I heard pictures and etc was being posted and she was making different comments. Sometimes it’s who you know not what you know Hmmm….
Sunday’s Best should be Star Search LOL!
hey now—-that makes sense that Yanni’s entourage would know that. AT some point they knew who had the most votes because they had to get the show ready to air. It only makes sense that Yanni would know before if she was the winner. Her show in Maryland was at 6, the SB finale aired at 9. That doesn’t mean it’s rigged? Of course they would call her before the show aired, that’s only fair.
What record company is on her myspace? Is it the one that has signed her? C’mon. Either way it went someone was gonna cry out RIGGED, so I agree with one of the other bloggers that says, let’s congratulate them both! Jessica will be signed, trust and believe and will do GREAT things for the kingdom.
I was dissapointed but not surprised by the outcome of the show. Y’anna is EXTREMELY talented, but there are some things about her that bother me. I think if these things had come to light, some of the christian viewers may not have voted for her. I have been a fan of Jessica since the beginning. I just like her style of singing. I can’t wait to get her cd!
Why are so many people hating on Y’anna? Jessica was allowed to sing slow songs the entire show to fit her voice. Everyone else was picked songs that was outside of their comfort zones by Donald Lawrence. It seemed that Y’anna was giving Jessica a break during those duets because if she really wanted to blow her away with that voice of hers, she could have. This was a singing competition people. If this was American Idol Jessica would have been gone a long time ago because she sings one way. All of these so-called righteous people on here. Casting stones on this woman and don’t even know her. She was the best singer on there and Latice Crawford was right behind her. Again, this was a singing competition and you can’t cry every week into winning like Jessica. She’s a good singer bu can’t get pass the runs. I would tell her to listen to Nicki Ross, Kim Barrell, Kierra Sheard and even Fantasia because she can run with the best of them when she’s not screaming. The best singer won, period. Y’anna could have sang a song similar to Grandma’s Hands and blew everbody out of the water. But she didn’t and tried to be diverse…
Ain’t this a gospel show? I wish these people would sing gospel. “Can You Stand the Rain?” was a hit for New Edition. THey call everything gospel. Y’anna sang “Waiting ont he World to Change by John Meyer (secular artist) Doesn’t she know that the world ain’t gona change according to the scripture? Please all this is is a marketing ploy by the Record Company. It’s fun to watch but the Sunday’s Best IMO was the elder woman who sang under the real anointing of GOD. I think he rname was Carol somethin gor other. She was too old to be marketed “outside of the church” to quote Tina. Wht even call it Sunday’s Best? Aint that what we do on Sunday, Church?
I have an inde if they really want to make a competition. Throw these singers some songs; give then 1 hour to work it out with the band; and then sing it. You give them the song and they sing it. Most of them would have to go home and go back to choir rehearsal.
Lastly, They need to add some diversity up in the panel. All those three are looking for is contemporary gospel music with jazzz vocal jazz inflections, runs and turns. That older woman would have blown most of those kids AWAY. Can’t y’all see the closer they get to the finale the more naked the ladies become? Shoulders out, backless dresses, etc. It’s all about show biz. “A Song For You.” another secular song sung by the male wild card. He did an excellent job BUT IT AI’NT GOSPEL! Both singers were good.
YANNI won the show. She is sunday best. Stop hating…
No disrespect to Y’anna..I guess she just hollered her way thru.She can sing and holler very well. Jessica’s voice was much to me as an instrument. She is different and beautiful. Everything she sang I felt in my soul..she had me crying with every show. it was her voice yes..but you could tell she believed in everything she was singing..she knew the hard times and she came thru them with the grace of GOD. Who of us hasnt been there? I am sorry, but I honestly think you will see Y’anna shaking her money maker in a “lil wayne” video…I just didnt see much sincerity with her. And when they were singing together she would always try to outsing Jessica. But dont worry Jes. GOD has bought you this far..the pearl is GOD given..its yours..what he puts in your hand not even sunday best can take away..you are wonderful in my book and i will continue to follow you. you have help me renew my faith. you are wonderful
oh yeah..the judges were VERY upset and surprised at the decision..that should say something in itself…bebe’s voice broke…then i cried again as usual…
Will you still keep us informed, Torrence?