Saturday, 13
February 2016 10:13
The lines
between gospel and secular music have been blurred over the years with a number
of secular artistes venturing into the gospel scene.
A notable
name is Daddy Lumba (DL), who has released at least one gospel album and
recently joined forces with Isaiah Ampong to release another gospel album.
 |
| Ofori Amponsah |
Some secular
artistes also make sure to include at least one gospel track on their albums
and musicians like Kojo Antwi, Sarkodie and Kwabena Kwabena (who has also
written songs for gospel artistes such as Ohemaa Mercy), easily come to mind.
Hiphop artiste, EL has recently added to the list with his hit track Koko.
There are
also the collaborations between gospel and secular musicians like Gifty Osei
and Dadie Opanka, Herty Borngreat with Sarkodie and Trigmatic, Lady Prempeh
with Asem and Richie while some secular artistes like Lord Kenya who have also
become born again have also taken up gospel music and all these have succeeded
in bringing both worlds much closer together.
However,
recent comments by highlife artiste Ofori Amponsah, who tried his hands at
gospel music after he revealed he was born again and even had a church, that
creating secular music was way easier than gospel music, has stirred up some
debate.
Ofori
Amponsah, who has returned to the highlife circuit with his single Alewa,
said in terms of making music, highlife, came easier to him than gospel music.
 |
| Kwabena Kwabena |
According to
the Mansa hitmaker, “Everything about a gospel song is readily available, found
and taken from the Bible. The words are all found in the Bible.
“However,
for the secular song, the artiste has to sit and carve out everything from
scratch. The words are non-existent, and the artiste has to put them together
out of nothing to suit the exact message he wants to put out there and also
sell himself.
“Anyone who
says writing a secular song comes easier than a gospel song does not know what
he or she is talking about.”
Highlife
artiste, Kwabena Kwabena, who has a hit gospel song, Bue Kwan, also seems to
agree with Bisa Kdei. The Tuamuda singer told Showbiz “We cannot compare,
though music is music. However, these are two different genres. One is inspired
by God to glorify Him, those are spiritual songs. And because it praises God,
he inspires people to write it, and he gives it to anyone freely.
 |
| Bisa Kdei |
“Then, there
are the ones crafted by the artiste on his own. There are also some secular
songs which are inspirational, also given by God to touch others; those are
neither gospel nor the ones you could call useless.”
“Perhaps,
the part that you have to wait on God for the inspiration to write a gospel
song is the reason why someone will say it is difficult to write gospel
songs,’’ he added.
Veteran
highlife musician, Bessa Simons, who has worked with gospel musicians,
including the Tagoe Sisters, said writing gospel music is the easiest.
According to
the first vice president of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), almost all
musicians worldwide have a background from church where most started out as
either choristers or song leaders. However, it is most of those who continue
with singing in church who become the gospel musicians.
“Gospel
music is easier as the musicians get their songs from being in church where the
Bible is preached all the time. They become familiar with the words they hear
and it is easier for them to write their songs.
“The secular
artiste on the other hand, finds him or herself in a new world altogether and
has to find his own words,’’ added.
This debate
is one that is certain to go on for a while as there will definitely be those
who will disagree, especially the gospel musicians.
No comments:
Post a Comment