Gospel Dream: Third Round Highlights
By Deborah Evans Price, Senior Music Editor, GospelMusicChannel.com
On the third episode of Gospel Dream 2008, nine nervous but enthusiastic contestants prepared to take their place on stage hoping to impress the judges and studio audience.
The evening began with Kymm Lowery serving up her version of Karen Clark Sheard’s “Authority.” “It’s all about seizing the moment,” judge J. Moss told her, “and I think you bought yourself another seven days baby!”
J. Moss also had words of praise for the next contestant, James Scott. “You threw down today,” he exclaimed. “You’ve got something great in you.”
While the cameras were getting ready for the next contestant, host Matthew West got to know the audience a little better and invited two-year-old Jaden to sing for the crowd. The pint-sized chanteuse delivered a version of “Jesus Loves Me” that had the audience roaring with applause.
Next up on the stage was Melinda Watts wearing a gorgeous green and black dress. She started her performance a cappella then brought down the house with her rendition of “Oh How I Love Jesus.” The performance wowed the judges, leading Big Jim to tell the singer he would be at the store buying everybody a copy of her CD. “Everybody is going to love you from CCM to gospel,” enthused Martha Munizzi.
Christina Perrin, who traveled to Nashville to participate in the competition despite the recent death of her mother, was the next contestant to take the stage. She sang “We Need a Word from the Lord” and her performance prompted J. Moss to comment, “You have a lot of moments when you’re singing that can pull people in.” Martha complimented Christina proclaiming, “I love your voice!”
Bernard Williams also earned Martha’s praise. “We just crossed over into church,” she said after his exuberant performance.
After contestant John McKoy performed “Dance Like David Danced,” J. Moss exclaimed “You killed that song!” Martha referred to him as the Rocky Balboa of the competition for his ability to keep coming back stronger.
“I think you’re starting to get it and let your inhibitions go,” J. Moss commented after Sunshine Matthews sang “Mercy Said No.” “You personify your name,” added Martha. “You have a beautiful voice. I think a lot of people will buy your record.”
Next up was contestant Anita Levels. “You have an incredible voice, but this performance tonight, I found myself drifting,” commented Big Jim. The evening’s final contest was Kayla Brooks performing “Shout to the Lord.” “It didn’t connect for me tonight,” said Martha and Big Jim added, “You were last and had a chance to prepare and I didn’t see confidence.”
During the judges’ deliberations, West grabbed a guitar and serenaded the crowd with a little bit of his hit “More.” Contestants who had been eliminated during the first two nights of competition were present in the audience cheering on the new friends they had made along the way in the Gospel Dream journey.
“What I’ve learned is not only can you make lifelong friends, but you can even connect more with Jesus than I ever expected just through other people’s passion and just the wonderful people you are around,” said contestant Tony Sweet, a Kansas native who now makes his home in Los Angles.
At the close of the evening the contestants gathered nervously on stage as West began announcing the names of the those who would be back to compete another week. Kymm Lowery, Melinda Watts, Bernard Williams, Sunshine Matthews, John McKoy, Jr. and Anita Levels are now heading to the next week of Gospel Dream.
