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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
Alright church folk. We are supposed to be light and salt. All of the contestants did well. Jessica has an unusual talent and God is going to continue to bless it. I certainly enjoyed her as well as her testimony. I believe Yanna not only had power but anointing as well. I feel she took us to church. I’m not critiquing anyone only to say that both exhibited excellence and anointing as did some of the other contestants.
(Howard University director certainly got me out of my seat.) Let us be thankful that God was glorified . These young ladies were humble and I believe knew who and what they were singing about. . Shout out to Zebulon as well. Let’s just be glad that another opportunity was given to an aspiring person. By the way Anne Nesby can really sing. And of course the Anointed Pace Sisters were awesome!
Torrence you said gospel is about to blow up at BET right? can you talk too somebody about bringing back 106 and gospel!!
I concur with Christopher. I actually watched 106 and Gospel and it was cool seeing the videos and KiKi’s Corner and stuff. There just wasn’t enough promotion of the show and they probably need a different time slot because I would always miss the first half of the show because I was just getting out of church. I really thought that the show was a great idea though. The gospel community needs a show as great as 106 and Park.
All I can say is I am ready to buy Jessica’s cd. I had no idea who would win, I had hoped Jessica would.
the truth is latice should have won she was annointed the others were gifted. It’s funny in a gospel contest the two finalist for 2weeks didn’t sing gospel songs and moved on. All 3 judges are crossover singers and are looking for the same. Why does gospel always have to cross over to win. Jesus stayed Jesus and people crossed over to meet him. All 3 singers were good I felt Latice was the better of the 3 and she could have song the same styles as them. Trust me Jessica reedy was 1 dimentional she only song one style the same style every week. Y’anna was 2dimentional I will giver her that. But latice was 3 dimentional in all areas and could sing either way. And even when she was off the annointing made up and the difference. She was robbed! I hope we get new judges with new views.
Wow, I cannot believe all of the “Christians” on here saying that Y’anna did not deserve to win. Obviously, all who voted felt otherwise. This is just ridiculous for you all to get on here to say that she did not deserve to win. She sang her heart out. Y’anna is a great singer and deserves everything that God has in store for her. You all who keep saying that she didn’t deserve to win need to pray for yourself. Congrats to both women on their journey on Sunday Best.
Hey Torrence. I love your blog and congrats to Y’anna. Torrence, can you please do an interview with Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary. I would love to hear their take on the Sunday Best result.
I JUST NEED TO SAY THIS…………JESSICA IS AMAZING!!!! DONT GET ME WRONG, Y’ANNA IS AWSOME AS WELL BUT THERE IS THAT ANOINTING THAT COMES THRU JESSICA THAT U JUST CANT SHAKE………….I KNOW SHE WILL CONTINUE TO BE BLESSED AND WE WILL SEE HER AGAIN…Y’ANNA U BETTER GET IT GIRL!!! LOL…….STAY BLESSED
A’YANN WAS AWSOME AND YES JESSICA WAS ABSOLUTLY FABULOUS EITHER WAY U LOOK AT IT ITS ALL IN GODS WILL AND HE SAW FIT FOR HER TO WIN SO AT THE END OF THE DAY THATS ALL THAT REALLY MATTERS
why my comment was’nt posted what’s up with that TORRENCE!!!!!!
CONGRATS to all Sunday Best contestants to reach that far you’ve got something inside you. Y’anna won Jessica did’nt anyone could’ve won but their can be only 1 winner Y’anna has such a beautiful voice and that Jessica something different her voice is out of this world. Ya’ll stop hating. CONGRATS to the both finalists you both were awesome. GOD has given you both amazing voices use it for his glory and honour. I pray that GOD will continue to guide your footstep from now on live for him, their are no limitation in you’ll future the sky is the limit. GOD bless you both you both are winners in my book I speak many many blessings over your life and Great Success first in your walk with Christ and your career GOD BLESS YOU BOTH and your family. Luv ya………………..
Semi snatching the car keys from Kirk Franklin?? Not impressed with Y’Anna at all! The only thing good about the finale was Jessica Reedy and BeBe and CeCe. Y’Anna was a tad bit ghetto!
Congrats to all the SUNDAY BEST contestants to reach that far you got to have something inside of you. Y’anna won Jessica did’nt to me anyone of them could’ve won but their could be only one winner. Y’anna and Jessica you two are great singers but that’s not all you must be an even greater minister. God has given you both awesome voices please use it for his glory and honour don’t start in the church and cross over to the secular. I pray that GOD will continue to be your focus keep your eyes on him. Their is no limit in the future for you’ll ,the sky is the limit. I pray that you will have first a closer relationship with GOD and secondly an awesome career PUT GOD first. I declare blessings upon you and your family & your babies!!. This year I have two Sunday Best WINNERS and they are Y’anna Crawley and Jessica Reedy GOD BLESS YOU. Luv ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CONGRATS first to all this year SUNDAY BEST contestants you got to have something inside you to reach that far hats of to you. Y’anna won Jessica did’nt to me anyone of them could’ve won the are both great singers. To Y’anna and Jess you both are great singers but you must strive to be an even better minister when you minister to others. God has blessed you both with great voices please use it for his glory honour don’t start in the church and cross over to secular always remember who gave you that voice. I pray that first your relationship with God will grow and secondly your career will be limitless, the sky is the limit for you both. Continue to focus on God. I pray a great blessing upon you and your family & babies!!!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS you both. This year I have two SUNDAY BEST WINNERS and they are Y’ANNA CRAWLEY & JESSICA REEDY you both are winners in my book. Luv ya much………………………
MY comment was not posted again SHAME on you TorrenceHey check your system it’s messed up.
It’s there now….
I was disapponted with this season. I thought Latice anointe , appointed and could blow. I a still stunned that she was kicked out. What were the judges thinking. I was hopeful that Sundays Best would represent Gods Best not only in voice but with HIs anointing to minister to His people. The finale didn’t take you to their church homes or families seeing their impact on the people around then like last year with the final two. This year left me with the impression that God was left out and the winner was about getting paid. Soooooooooooo sad. Last year was powerful and anointed. The winners were powerful, anointed and not ashamed to share Christ. Y’anna can definitely sing. I personally missed the presence of God in her performance. I pray that next years winner will not only be Sundays Best but just maybe Gods Best.
Hello everyone let me start by saying you people are supposr to be gods people and you guys are living in a dark world.It is quite sure that Yanna is SUNDAY BEST .You can not call all the shots because everyone is entitled to their own opinion and thats nothing but a part of life. Well on other hand YANNA was as beautiful as she could be ,dress was perfect and she rocked it because its the god in her cant noone tell you how to praise god because everyone is different ,people praise in dancing ,smiling ,shoutong ,crying and all others ways but if you never been through anything than you wouldnt know so alot of you guys needs to grow up and congratulate and be happy because everyone has a season an dyou have to wait on yours it will come just keep praying a god is a firgiving god .TRY HIM TRY HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Now we all need to stop all this unecessary mess because they both are god people and hell fight the battle.Now on other hands YANNA probably was home a little sad ceying dissapointed and everything else you guys dont know so let it go.THATS 365DAYS AGO PEOPLEWHAT WAS YOU DOING SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE QUESTION ,ASK YOIURSELF SO LAY OFF YANNA SHES THEN NEXT SHIRLEY CEASAR WATCH AND SEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!AND AS FAR AS THE KEYS SNATCHING IT WAS NOT LIKE THAT YOU GUYS WILL MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING CHILL OUT PEOPLE YANNA IS SUNDAY BEST 09 NOTHING YOU CAN DO YANNA REGARDLESS OF SOME FAKE PEOPLE KEEP YOUR HEAD UP AND SHOW UP AND OUT LET THEM SHE WHATS UPLOVE YA SUNDAY BEST 09 DO YOUR THING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
First of all I would like to congratulate Y’Anna for winning!! God bless you & your boys!!!!!
Secondly, after reading all of these blogs, I seriously have a question: Why is it considered judging if you are merely stating your impression of a person? I mean really, haven’t we all been in a store/restaurant and received excellent service & said, “wow, that salesperson was so nice & personable, etc”? Or the flip side of that, “wow, I’m never going there again, that lady/guy acted as if he/ she didn’t even want to be @ work. They had a bad attitude, etc”! Now, we don’t know these people personally, all we’re going by is the impression that was made to us either through a face to face encounter, or even watching them from week to week on a television show. What I’m trying to say is that everyone gives an impression to people, sometimes good, sometimes bad. But you can’t change the fact that people form opionions of you based on that. Now, with all of that being said, a lot of people on here were giving opinions of Y’Anna. Some were just totally disrespectful, and EXTREMELY unChrist-like! I didn’t vote for Y’Anna, not because I didn’t enjoy her singing, because I did, but because I truly did not feel a spiritual connection with her. My favorite from the start was Latice, and after she left I voted for Jessica because, TO ME, she seemed more sincere in terms of her relationship with God. No, she wasnt a BETTER singer than Y’Anna, but her spirit seemed genuine to me & she seemed extremely focused on ministering & I feel that, more than having a GREAT voice that’s what true ministry is all about. I’m not judging Y’Anna, this is just my first impression that I received….
Tony, I hope you have your suit ready because Y’Anna will be at The Temple of Praise on Friday, May 15 at 7:30pm.
In case you missed the show, America has spoken Y’Anna Crawley is the winner of BET’s Sunday’s Best! Nobody can change this!
Some people loved Jessica, Some people loved Latice, Some people loved the other contestants but everyone couldn’t win! God doesn’t make mistakes!
If you listened to the judges like she did you, they wanted her to connect with the audience and that she did! Watch the re-runs, after each performance the audience was standing. I didn’t see that with everyone! I would buy all of their cd’s because they all had great voices!
This girl worked hard for this and she was going to get a deal with or without Sunday’s Best! She had my 400 votes because I felt the anointing and if you didn’t it wasn’t for you! Amen