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KISSVIEW - VGMAs2016

Kissview- VGMAs 2016

I had to wait for my parents to finish watching their favorite telenovela before I could watch the VGMAs. So I don’t who wore who but I saw photos of Joe Mettle, Adina, Efya, Obaapa Christy and they looked splendid. Say what you may about Gifty Osei’s mosquito net couture or Hammamat Montia’s begging Lupita channeling, they made fashion statements I’m certain they are proud of so back off young world! Oh and did you see Nadia Boobuari? Ha! The saints forget this is not the CCMAs, screaming Fix it Jesus.

Anywho, I will talk about the most important issues…. Gospel issues of course. If Kinaata, Bisa, Mugeez or even Wizkid sang any notes that could top what Joe Mettle did, maybe then we would fit them somewhere in the conversation. No shade! They are talented artists…. talented recording artists. I have to congratulate my girl Adomaa on such a beautiful performance. I’m in awe of her refreshing sound and her gallant stage presence. Watch out Efya! If you’re going to be covering Obianuju in 2016, then you really need to watch out girl! I mean diva by all means, but check those notes girl. Anyway, we love her too much to be bothered. Did anyone also hope YaaYaa would win the best female vocalist thingy? Oh but when they played MzVee’s song on her way to get that award it was clear why. MzVee doesn’t play in these streets; she was busting her spleen on that record. Soon YaaYaa, soon!

Now can we take a minute to gush over Joe Mettle’s performance? He is effortless and consistent. He really can do no wrong. He is so legit, isn’t he? I applaud his background singers and Overflow for their angelic presence and powerful output. It’s like the best backing the best. You know it’s going well when the singers are drawing out swells with their hands or when Isaac Ackah is gleefully gyrating those loins! Good contemporary gospel! Good for Ghana Gospel. People like Joe Mettle, Cwesi Oteng and Sonnie Badu are blurring that needless line that lies between the main stream/ traditional gospel artists and the contemporary ones. Additionally, they are reintroducing contemporary gospel to the main stream which is very essential for this subgenre.

A lot of people were openly disgusted by the gospel wins on the night. Many wondered why Aposor by Nicholas Omane Acheampong won gospel song of the year. Nicholas reminds me of Donald Trump. You know when people don’t take you seriously until *ish* gets serious? That’s what it is. I think of a lot of Christians and gospel music lovers need to be reminded that he is a full gospel singer in his own rights. I think we are too quick to call anything we are uncomfortable with a joke and discard it without actually testing what it is. So he uses funny jargons and way too many punches in his songs which exposes the formula he is using (and is either creative or alarming, depending on how you see it lol). Yes he does the most ridiculous videos. However have you taken time to listen through his music to test for substance? Just like you, I don’t find the time but most people who listen to him claim he says some truths, bible truths. I think some people especially in contemporary gospel live a bubble and are just too quick to judge. He may not pull down the presence by you, but he must be doing something right to have most of these stations play his songs and get gigs to fend for himself and his family. That said, a lot of people don’t even know the text line for the VGMAs. If you didn’t vote, maybe you shouldn’t flare up when your favorite doesn’t win. I was rooting for Joe Mettle or Obaapa Christy (love that lady), however I cannot conclude the system corrupt when I did nothing but wish.

SP Kofi Sarpong also received some heat about his win (and maybe for his cleavage lol). The same argument works here. This is an artist who has the resources to push his music across the country. He is one of the biggest names in gospel and he has a heavily marketed album out, certainly, he has fans who voted. Maybe he bought 5000cedis worth of airtime and got himself the win, that is not cheating, that is the power of wealth. Of course he didn’t do that but you get my point. He may not be at our (contemporary gospel) Bread Praise, Butter Praise, Sugar Praise, Guargantuan Praise, Hot Praise, Shakira Praise, Becca Praise and all our little praises and worship nights but I’m sure he’s been somewhere.

We all needed Joe or Preachers to win badly. Joe’s brilliant performance worsened our longing, however I think this calls for harder work….in Joe’s case, active support. In contemporary gospel, we believe and promote the notion that our ministry is not about awards. I know a lot of people who don’t focus on recognition which is perfect (so I wonder why some of you were pressed lol) however, I think some of us don’t work hard enough. We are content with the concerts (which is fine if that is the goal), but being a recording artist involves a lot of money and sacrifice. We cannot minister to 5000 people and expected to win against some artist who reaches 10000 people. Arguably, contemporary gospel singers and well gospel singers in general are way better than some of their hiplife, hiphop, afro pop counterparts, but unfortunately they perform for bigger crowds. Does that mean anything? Maybe not but awards are a popularity contest. It’s not always the best that wins- it’s about the powerful. Let’s get powerful. Let’s push our ministries. If you have a single, don’t merely push it online and hope it will blow up. Maybe, get to the peace fms, the adoms, oks, joys, citis, stations in Wa, Tamale, Sunyani, OB Tv, whatever Tv and pray that God blesses the nation with it. That means a lot of planning and cost counting. Gospel music lovers need to actively support the artists. I know some singers and producers who got mad when contemporary singers started pushing free music and free downloads. I understand their concern. Unlike most contemporary singers, a lot of the mainstream gospel artists make money off album sales. They are entitled to it. Clearly this was an unfortunate move for quick and cheap fame so that the pay back would be through concerts. Is it really working? It’s hard to discuss this issue because we all benefit from the mess in some way. I’m going to pause here. May the Lord help us and afford us wide reach. We will get there.