Dove Awards recap part one

The 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards are in the books. Here’s the list of official winners, if you can’t wait for the Sunday broadcast or you don’t get GMC. Instead of spoiling Sunday’s show completely, I offer the following account of the night that was through my limited lens. Call it a teaser, not a spoiler.

The GMA took a risk moving the Doves outside of Nashville, and it’s clear that Atlanta is very proud to be hosting the ceremony this year. The pre-show included a proclamation read by the Atlanta City Council chair…

…and the main show included footage of the new artists performing at various Atlanta landmarks and welcomes from Atlanta-based GMC (it’s just letters now – they’re no longer the Gospel Music Channel) and Georgia Governor Nathan Deal.

But no one came to see the governor. They came for music, and Chris Tomlin ushered in the sound with “Our God”. This was the version from the new Passion: Here for You album, and Tomlin brought the crowd to their feet, declaring, “Rise up, church!”

Host Sherri Shepherd continued the theme and brought the gospel into the house. She seemed particularly thrilled to be able to declare her love for Christ in a very public and vocal manner.

[Rick Diamond/Getty Images]

She was remarkably comfortable, energetic, and engaging. Shepherd was the first non-musician to host, but seems to have been an excellent choice.

Mary Mary followed with “Never Wave My Flag”, adriving anthem performed through the fog in front of a cavernous backdrop. The flag in question is a flag of surrender to fear. I should make a mix tape and add that song to “No Surrender” by Springsteen and that awesome “Never Surrender” song by Corey Hart. But I digress.

The Stage was built out in three sweeping arcs over the theater’s orchestra pit, leaving two small pits loaded full of drums and guitars.

This was clearly not a live show, with long pauses for set changes and repeated intros to fix sound or lighting issues. The energy gradually waned in the audience over the four-plus hour event, and the pauses did not help. It would be fantastic if GMC could manage to air it live in the future.

During the lulls, comedienne Chonda Pierce entertained the crowd. The feed was piped into the press room, and she often had the whole room in stitches, even via closed circuit. I do wonder if any of that material will make it on the broadcast. One example: “Don’t you wish Jesus would come right now, just so you could see who would really be taken?”

You know how when CBS hosts the Grammys and they trot out presenters because they’re “the stars of the hit new CBS comedy series…”? Well, GMC does that too, apparently. But their “stars who have no serious musical affiliation and are mainly there to plug new shows” are actually really cool. To wit:

Yes, that’s right, Tootie!! Bonus points if you recognized Kim Fields right away. Is it too juvenile to point out that she was not wearing roller skates in the press room? I bet she’s sick of those references. Kim actually delivered a wonderful quote to the musicians in the audience: “Your gift is medicine, and your gift is uplifting, and God knows the world needs that right now.”

Next non-musical actor:

That’s right, Hercules!! Tootie and Hercules in the same night! That’s a party! Kevin Sorbo is a handsome dude with a speaking voice that says, “Hollywood, baby”.

Part Two is here, and I promise it does not include the words “Tootie” or “Hercules”.

The Dove Awards are Here

The Doves are here! Today is the day. I’ve packed up my Netbook and my Nikon to bring you live coverage all day long.

This will be my first Dove Awards ceremony, so I’m heading into the day with several questions:

1) How well will the ceremony run? This is the first time the Doves have left the friendly confines of Tennessee, and with a new venue in a new town there will surely be glitches. There’s also a good chance of thunderstorms this evening, so that won’t help.

2) What will the media room be like? This part is particularly new to me. The media stay in a completely different area of the Fox Theater and only watch what’s going on in the ceremony on TV monitors. Presenters and winners are ushered in for press conferences and one-on-one interviews. I’d rather watch the whole ceremony and do the interviews afterwards, but I guess that’s not practical. Got a question you want me to ask? Let me know.

3) And by the way, what do media wear? Writers and photographers always seem kinda sloppy to me, but this is a fancy event. I’ll sneak some pictures and let you know.

4) What’s the vibe like? This event is often described as Christian Music’s Grammys, but I suspect (and hope) it will be quite different. It’s good to celebrate a year’s worth of Christian music, but the narcissism of awards shows would be out of place in a room full of people who claim the words of John 3:30: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” I’m curious to see how that tension can be resolved.

Look for articles and exclusive photos, and be sure to watch our live tweets during the event at @thesoundopinion.

Finally, some late-breaking news: Third Day, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Mark Hall will be performing “Children of God” together tonight. All are advocates of adoption. If you haven’t seen the song’s video, the message is powerful.

Dissecting the Doves: New Artist of the Year

New Artist of the Year is always one of the most significant awards of the evening. More times than not, a New Artist win indicates the next buzz-worthy act and is an accolade that has propelled the careers of many well-known artists. Case in point? Through the years, this award has been given to artists as diverse as Take 6, Point of Grace, Jars of Clay, Jaci Velasquez and Avalon. Recent years have seen The Afters, Brandon Heath and Tenth Avenue North nab the award. Last year, Sidewalk Prophets carried home the trophy. So who will leave with the New Artist bird tomorrow night? We have our opinions… There’s still time to make your opinion heard. This is one of two categories open to fans. So head on over to www.watchgmctv.com/fanvote and vote for your favorite new artist!

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

• Audrey Assad
• Chris August
• forever JONES
• John Mark McMillan
• No Other Name
• Kerrie Roberts
• Kristian Stanfill

SHOULD WIN: AUDREY ASSAD

Audrey is one of the most poetic, thoughtful female singer/songwriters to come along since Nicole Nordeman. She writes in the vein of cherished female counterparts like Nordeman, Sara Groves, Jill Phillips and Brooke Fraser. Her lyrics are eloquent, and her lilting voice envelops the listener in sunny warmth. Above all, her smart debut, The House You’re Building (Sparrow), was a superb introduction to a timeless artist who has a long career ahead of her. Unfortunately, Assad stayed a bit under the radar this year. While everyone from Jars of Clay to Natalie Grant and Chris Tomlin raved about her, some of the other nominees experienced far more commercial success, which will put this year’s New Artist Dove just out of reach for Assad.

WILL WIN: CHRIS AUGUST

“Starry Night” (also nominated for Song of the Year) details a turning point in the life of newcomer Chris August. It also tells our story. August’s debut, No Far Away (Fervent), is filled with other chapters of the human condition and the bigger story God is authoring. Honestly, August was one of the biggest surprises of the year. He’s poised to run in the big leagues with fellow pop singer/songwriters Brandon Heath, Matthew West and Jeremy Camp. He’ll win the New Artist Dove by a landslide.

WHO’S MISSING: TOOTH & NAIL ARTISTS
For fans of harder rock, it comes as no surprise that Tooth & Nail Records isn’t represented in the list of New Artist nominees. In fact, they aren’t really represented in any of the major categories. Although Tooth & Nail prides itself on being an indie, under-the-radar label, they introduce more new artists each year than all the major labels combined. If nothing else, they should be recognized for continuing to seek out and champion new artists and for consistently being a pioneer in signing hard rock acts.

You can check out a full list of nominees for the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards here.

Artist of the Year Predictions

Song of the Year Predictions

Male Vocalist of the Year Predictions

Female Vocalist of the Year Predictions

Group of the Year Predictions

Who do you think will win the Dove for New Artist of the Year? Who do you think should have been nominated who wasn’t? Leave your comments below.

Dissecting the Doves: Group of the Year

Let’s face it. There are a lot of bands in Christian music, which makes Group of the Year one of the most crowded categories. There’s never enough room to honor all of the worthy contenders. However, the seven nominees up for this year’s Dove all have reason to be in this category.

GROUP OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

• Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
• Gaither Vocal Band
• Sidewalk Prophets
• Tenth Avenue North
• MercyMe
• MIKESCHAIR
• NEEDTOBREATHE

SHOULD WIN: MERCYME

MercyMe is arguably one of the biggest bands in Christian music history. While much of the band’s success stems from mega cross-over hit “I Can Only Imagine,” MercyMe is far from a one hit wonder. Bart Millard & Co. have proven time and time again that the band’s talent is no fluke but a God-given talent. With each successive release, the band seems to churn out powerful songs that are creative, cohesive, memorable and timeless. “All of Creation” (also nominated for Song of the Year) is simply a recent example. The band hasn’t won Group of the Year since 2004, and they’ve contributed a wealth of quality songs to the genre since then. This would be a well-deserved win for the band, especially considering The Generous Mr. Lovewell (INO)–MercyMe’s latest release–garnered the biggest street week of the band’s career.

WILL WIN: TENTH AVENUE NORTH

When NEEDTOBREATHE was announced as last year’s Group of the Year, everyone was surprised. It wasn’t that NEEDTOBREATHE wasn’t worthy of the win. They consistently release music that is beloved by industry insiders and fans alike that is relevant, unique and creative. However, after winning Song of the Year, everyone figured Tenth Avenue North would likely snag Group as well. This will likely be the year that prediction comes true. While the popular pop/rock band won’t likely walk away with Song of the Year this year, they have a great chance at Group. With a string of No. 1 hits to their name in a relatively short time, a slew of high-profile touring slots, two best-selling albums and a live CD/DVD, the men of Tenth Avenue North are fast becoming the future of Christian music.

WHO’S MISSING: THIRD DAY

There are several deserving names noticeably absent from the Group nominee list this year: Casting Crowns, Sanctus Real and David Crowder Band, to name a few. However, most surprising is the absence of veteran rock band Third Day. In many ways, this band has helped define the pop/rock genre of Christian music; and with each successive release, the band seems to reinvent itself and find a broader audience. They continue to serve up substantial material that pushes creative boundaries and defies the limitations of one particular fanbase. With the release of new album Move (Essential) this past year, along with continued non-stop touring from the band, it was disappointing not to see their name on the final ballot.

You can check out a full list of nominees for the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards here.

Artist of the Year Predictions

Song of the Year Predictions

Male Vocalist of the Year Predictions

Female Vocalist of the Year Predictions

Who do you think will win the Dove for Group of the Year? What band or group do you think should have been nominated who wasn’t? Leave your comments below.

Dissecting the Doves: Female Vocalist of the Year

Earlier this week, we took at look at the Male Vocalist of the Year category for the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards. It’s now time to shine the spotlight on the ladies of Christian music. Every year, this is a consistently tough category. With the Male Vocalist category there aren’t enough spots to adequately honor the talent that comes from the male-dominated genre. With Female Vocalist, it’s quite the opposite. The females are few and far between in Christian music. However, this year’s list is a combination of some old favorites and some new up-and-comers.

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

• Audrey Assad
• Francesca Battistelli
• Natalie Grant
• Britt Nicole
• Janet Paschal
• Kerrie Roberts
• Laura Story

SHOULD WIN: BRITT NICOLE

To see Britt Nicole’s name on the final nominee list for Female Vocalist of the Year is both refreshing and a long time coming. Britt is as genuine as they come, and her mix of colorful, fun hooks combined with straightforward Christ-focused lyrics is finally getting the attention it deserves. Britt’s second album, The Lost Get Found (Sparrow), caused a few radio programmers and new fans to take notice. The title track, along with “Walk On the Water,” became No. 1 hits and have allowed Britt a fine run at radio this past year. While she doesn’t quite have the strong fan base that Franny does, Britt is definitely one to watch and a reminder that we need more female heavy-hitters like her committed to sharing the Gospel through song in a relevant way.

WILL WIN: FRANCESCA BATTISTELLI

Francesca walked away with this award for the first time last year ending Natalie Grant’s Female Vocalist streak. Once again, Battistelli will no doubt repeat the win this year. She had an unprecedented ride this year, thanks to the continued longevity of her debut release as single after single from My Paper Heart (Fervent) soared to the top of the charts. The popularity of “Beautiful, Beautiful” allowed the singer/songwriter to not lose any momentum as she took time off to have her first child and record her second album, Hundred More Years (Fervent). The new album’s first single, “This Is The Stuff,” is already a No. 1 hit. By the end of Wednesday night’s ceremony, the songstress will easily have another trophy to add to her growing collection.

WHO’S MISSING: MEREDITH ANDREWS

In an industry void of female talent, it was hard to determine who was “missing” in this category. Amy Grant is a perennial nominee in this category–some year’s only because there’s such a huge lack of females. However, even though Grant saw some success this year with “Better Than a Hallelujah,” it would actually be nice to see worship better represented in this category. Aside from Laura Story (who incidentally didn’t even release a new album in the eligibility period), there’s a lack of straightforward female worship artists. Though nominated in a few other minor Dove categories, Meredith Andrews is an oft-overlooked talent. Her knack for writing poignant vertically-slanted lyrics is matched only by the incredible strength of her voice. She’s definitely underrated, and her sophomore album, As Long As It Takes (Word), ranks right up there with Nicole and Battistelli in terms of quality and vocal prowess. Brooke Fraser and Jenny Simmons (Addison Road) could easily fit in with the other nominees in this category as well.

You can check out a full list of nominees for the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards here.

Artist of the Year Predictions

Song of the Year Predictions

Male Vocalist of the Year Predictions

Who do you think will win the Dove for Female Vocalist of the Year? What artist do you think should have been nominated who wasn’t? Leave your comments below.

Dissecting the Doves: Male Vocalist of the Year

The 2011 Dove Award Male Vocalist nominees form a diverse list representing everything from Southern Gospel and Black Gospel to R&B, pop and worship. Baritone Doug Anderson’s nomination also reminds us that the category is not limited to solo artists. Anderson is a part of Southern Gospel quartet Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. A member of a group can be nominated if eligible, which then shines a spotlight on others who could have just as easily been nominated (i.e. Mac Powell, Bart Millard, Mark Hall, Bear Rinehart, Mike Donehey, etc.). Nevertheless, solo artists dominate the category this year. Let’s take a look at who’s up for Male Vocalist of the Year.

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

• Doug Anderson
• Chris August
• Jason Crabb
• Brandon Heath
• Israel Houghton
• Marvin Sapp
• Chris Tomlin

SHOULD WIN: CHRIS TOMLIN

Last year, Tomlin was noticeably absent from many of the major categories. This was largely due, in part, to the fact that he was working on a new album. Following the release of And If Our God Is For Us… (sixsteps)–which just missed the eligibility period–a mega hit song with “Our God,” and a current radio single in heavy rotation (“I Will Follow”) fresh on the minds of voters, Tomlin is poised to take home this trophy. His latest studio release is one of his best yet; he continues to tirelessly tour both domestically and abroad; and the sheer popularity of the Passion single should be enough to propel him to the forefront of this category. Tomlin is a multiple Male Vocalist winner. However, competition is stiff with reigning Male Vocalist Brandon Heath and immensely popular newcomer Chris August right on his heels.

WILL WIN: BRANDON HEATH

The talented singer/songwriter will no doubt go for a three-peat, winning his third consecutive Dove in this category. So why will Heath walk away with the trophy again? First off, he’s just plain likable. He’s beloved by fans and industry critics alike. Although Leaving Eden (Reunion) released too late to be eligible for this year’s awards, the success of “Your Love,” the first single from Heath’s third album which stayed at No. 1 for eight weeks running, will give him the extra momentum he needs to snag this Dove. And no one will begrudge him the award. He is fast becoming a leader in the industry and is extremely well-respected by his peers. (However, fans should keep their eye on Chris August. This year, Heath will win out of seniority, but next year August might give the three-time winner a run for his money.)

WHO’S MISSING: JEREMY CAMP

The list of those who are MIA in this category is actually a long one. Most notably, Jeremy Camp’s name is nowhere to be found. Camp released a critically-acclaimed worship project this year, garnering a radio hit with “Jesus Saves” and toured the country extensively. He’s consistently a fan favorite, yet he somehow got overlooked on this year’s ballot.

WHO’S MISSING: MATTHEW WEST

One of the biggest misses of the whole event is overlooking the incredibly talented Matthew West. He is without a doubt one of the most underrated artists in Christian music. He’s nominated for Short-form Video of the Year, but there is no reason West shouldn’t be a major nominee in this category as well as a contender in the Songwriter of the Year category. He released a landmark album this year with The Story of Your Life (Sparrow), which has to be one of the most compelling and creative undertakings the industry has seen in recent years. West is a leader in his own right. Fans of the singer/songwriter know it to be true, so it’s a shame that the nominations don’t bear witness to this fact.

You can check out a full list of nominees for the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards here.

Artist of the Year Predictions

Song of the Year Predictions

Who do you think will win the Dove for Male Vocalist of the Year? What artist do you think should have been nominated who wasn’t? Leave your comments below.