Sunday Worship - Aretha Franklin

Is there anything more spiritual than Miss Aretha Franklin singing a gospel version of the Simon & Garfunkel song Bridge Over Troubled Water?

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Sunday Worship - The Prayer

I am crazy for Anthony Callea's voice, it is just gorgeous. I learned about the Australian when he was competing on Australian Idol in 2004, and he performed the song The Prayer. The video went on YouTube and it mesmerized me, and I have followed him since, including buying both his CDs. The fact the young man walked on stage and performed this well live just makes me stand in awe of his talent.



For the life of me, I still have not figured out how he did not win the competition. He has, however, sustained a career and has another album coming out soon. Damn, there is another one I will have to import.

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Sunday Worship - Shine

Shine was written by the boys from Collective Soul, the Georgia-based rockers who might not be well known for their gospel tunes, but when put in the hands of Dolly Parton, this song goes from a spiritual rocker to bluegrass gospel. The magnificent Dolly recorded it for her Little Sparrow album.

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Sunday Worship - Just In Time

Jason Warner, left, and deMarco DiCiccio, right.

Jason & deMarco are favorites of mine, and are the first to make multiple appearances in the Sunday Worship posts. This selection was taped at the Joy Metropolitan Community Church in Orlando, Florida, in 2007. Jason and deMarco are adorable and talented boys, and I have all their secular releases. I have yet to see them perform live, but hope to at some point. Anyway, they are a couple, and found one another while performing in the Christian music area. They perform both secular and Christian songs, and are proof that being gay does not automatically prevent people from living good Christian lives.



To discover more music and information about Jason & deMarco, see their website here or their Angel fan club here.

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Sunday Worship - Swing Low Sweet Chariot

Swing Low Sweet Chariot is an old spiritual written by all accounts sometime before 1862. It is considered a 'Negro spiritual,' thought to come out of the slave community and passed along the generations through worship. It was first recorded in 1909 by the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Despite this rather traditional roots of the song, I am offering up a somewhat less traditional version, by the reggae band UB40. In 2003, UB40 recorded Swing Low Sweet Chariot as the official song for the England Rugby Wold Cup. Enjoy.

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Sunday Worship - Joan Osborne - One of Us

Well, not only do I like Joan Osborne as a singer, but I love this song. It was written by Eric Bazilian, a member of The Hooters, on of my favorite Philly bands. And I think the sentiment behind the song speaks to me these days, a point in time when people are voting on whether 'other' people should have rights the voter already has.

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Sunday Worship - Amazing Grace

If this isn't spiritual, I don't know what is. The Lee Brothers performing Amazing Grace in Denver, Colorado. The description with the video says the following:

The Lee Boys perform their Sacred Steel version of the traditional song "Amazing Grace" at the Bluebird Theater in Denver 2009. (featuring Aubrey Ghent)



I found the video from MoBoogie, a website dedicated to the music in Denver. I found MoBoogie when they posted a fantastic video I used for Tom Goss. I have followed them since, and have to say they have a wonderful selection of all kinds of music. If you love music and are interested, check them out here. It would be well worth your while.

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Sunday Worship - San Fransisco Gay Men's Chorus

They perform Oh Happy Day.



You can learn more about the San Fransisco Gay Men's Chorus by clicking here.

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Sunday Worship - Caravan Of Love

I love the Housemartins, who were together for far too short a time. But this a cappella version of Caravan of Love certainly had me thinking they were special. Part revolutionaries, part Christian soldiers, the Housemartins did their thing in the mid 80s, preaching God and Karl Marx as the answer.

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Sunday Worship - Jason & deMarco

Not only are they precious as anything, a couple that is young and in love, Jason & deMarco are Christian boys who firmly hold to their beliefs. So this Sunday morning I offer you Jason & deMarco singing Be The Light at Wallingford United Methodist Church in Seattle.




Also, here is deMarco of J&D singing Ave Maria at the Kansas City MCC Spirit of Hope Church earlier this summer.



You can find the Jason & deMarco website and store here.

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Sunday Worship - Levi Kreis

This is Levi Kreis singing God Is Here in a church in West Hollywood a few years ago. While the quality of the video might not be too good, it is impossible to question the quality of Levi's singing. Here is his soulful and heartfelt performance.

You can find more on Levi at his website here, or in a post I had done a few weeks ago.

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Sunday Worship - Church by Lyle Lovett

Lyle Lovett might be an odd looking man, but dammit, he can sing. He can write, he can play, and he can sing. He can sing Country, Pop, and even Gospel. His work with The Large Band had been rather good, and certainly worth a listen.



Lyle must have something going for him beside the talent - he managed to be married to Julia Roberts for a couple of years. He has been dating April Kimble for the last 10 years.


Lyle Lovett with Julia Roberts & April Kimble.

But, like I said, the boy can sing. So here he is performing with The Large Band, along with some special guests. Together, they perform his song, Church.



Amen, brother. Sing it.

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