I'm slightly miffed and hurt but really need attention! :)

[itsallpeach]

For the past month, I have been anxiously awaiting January 24th for the release of Karen's CD.  I let my gas tank stay below the halfway mark (which is a "no-no" for me) just to go and buy it on my lunchbreak today and I must say that I am HIGHLY disappointed.  They need to change that NO REFUND policy at record stores!

I have been a die-hard KCS fan since BIRTH (before she went solo even) and I am not impressed with Israel's production and J. Drew's either!  Why did she not stick with Donald?  And the pictures...OH MY GOD!  She looks so sick and frail on her pics that I wiped two tears as I was driving and looking at it.  Normally, when you hear "Hallelujah", you want to pull over and dance on the side of the road....NOT THIS TIME SAINTS!  You spend too much time wondering what the "crap" the musicians must have been thinking to throw those crazy licks (and I don't mean the good crazy either) in that classic song!

It's Not Over...........OVER!  Her range was missing on the CD, but as a fan I will give her the excuse that all that rehearsing made her hoarse for the actual recording (yeah, that's it)!

MOST OF ALL....if it is Karen's CD, why did Israel write "thank-you's" on the back?  My God!  Can't you just be the producer without having to have your name all over the place like you just created a masterpiece!  Ugh!

She comes to the convocation ANNUALLY and literally KILLS "Oh the Glory of Your Presence" a cappella.  But on the CD..............MY HEART IS IN PAIN AS I LISTEN!  Maybe because Israel wrote 90% of the songs on the CD..........but what works for him and his group does not work for every artist.

THE LESSON...sometimes it's good to take a song (like "Work It Out" for instance) and re-make it with a few touch-ups, as long as you don't destroy the "good gospel classic" nature of the song.  But the remakes of "You Brought the Sunshine", "Oh the Glory" and "Hallelujah" have vexed me!

SAVE YOURSELF $15 AND DO LIKE SOME FOLKS DO AT FUNERALS WHEN THEY REFUSE TO VIEW THE BODY.....JUST REMEMBER THE WAY SHE WAS!

I gotta go cry now!

[4hisglory]

Wow......thats crazy coming from a die hard Karen Fan.  I haven't heard this new one but I thought the last two were............not that good.  

I think she needs to go back to her roots.  Just my .02

[jehovahpraize]

Itsallpeach

U R right, what works 4 1 may not work 4 some1 else.  KCS is tryin 2 move n2 tha praize & worship aspect of the music industry, & that may not B  her callin.  U hav 2 remember  with tha Clark Sisters, that was a different Ministry than what we R calling Praise & Worship 2day.  When she Bcame solo, again different calling different ministry.  So 2 try & move n2 this new area of praize & worship may not B her calling.  Bcause every1 else is moving N2 that rhem may not B were GOD is calling her.  Stay TRU 2 were GOD is calling U.  Lastly, example, it would B very hard 4 me 2 see Shirley Ceasar trying 2 lead Praize&Worship (N tha sense of where it is 2day). It wouldn't work.  4 Diane 2 lead Praize&Worship (Again N the sense..) it would not work.  U have 2 stay N tha area of were GOD has placed U.

My $0.02.


KEEP YOUR HEAD UP & BE BLESS

[4hisglory]

Ummmmmm jehovahpraize, remember that there are some old folks (like myself) on here that is interested in what you have to say but don't want to have to hire a translator.

[itsallpeach]

TRUE!  But how can WE (her fans, etc.) encourage her that what we want to hear from her is good old Karen with Twinkie or Ivan (or maybe Antun) on the organ taking us to church!  This "new-wave" stuff that she's trying to break into is not her!  And the nerve of the photographer or whomoever to approve a picture of her where she looks like her medication was just kicking in!!  She looks so dazed...I'm telling you I was literally in my car wiping tears (only two of them, but still tears)!

I know that with Kim Burrell and the overwhelming success of her daughter, she is under pressure to "rise above" - which in my opinion is the bad side to the way the girls (Karen in particular) were brought up.  She always had to be THE BEST...she always had to OVER-EXCEL and I think the pressure of having to do so is ruining her career as a singer and it's damaging her ministry.

I've been back from lunch almost an hour and brought the CD in to give it a full listen before tossing it in the CD wallet next to Dorinda's new one (which only got played the day I bought it)....do you know it is still sitting here on my desk?  The pic on the front is so DARK but the one on the back looks like she is sick and/or high (on medication, of course....i don't believe she's THAT crazy).  I know she has been through a lot, and I thank God for her testimony and for sparing her life.  

But I wish you guys could have heard her version of "I Won't Complain" at the Women's Day service right after her ordeal.  I believe angels were singing through that lady!  It was absolutely overwhelming.  But this?  

 :cry:

[Jmanley1116]

To be honest....I haven't liked Karen since the "Finally Karen" CD (which I believe was her first solo cd, right?)  Overproduction and improper song selelction has been it for me.  As much as I don't really care for DL's production he worked well for Karen.  I think that many solo artists try to reinvent themselves and stray away from what made them poplular in the first place...the especially holds true in the secular (Anita Baker, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson...to name a few).  It looks as though that may be the same for Gospel.

[jehovahpraize]

4hisglory

I will work on the language.javascript:emoticon(':D')
Very Happyjavascript:emoticon(':lol:')
Laughingjavascript:emoticon(':cry:')
Crying or Very sadjavascript:emoticon(':wink:')
Winkjavascript:emoticon(':roll:')
Rolling Eyes

Itsallpeach


Understand very well.  And as far as the pic.  Again the industry begins to tell us that we have to look a certain way, even if it means destroying youre health.  For many in the idustry ( I'm speaking about the the record labels, execs. etc.  it is about what is popular at the time, what will sale records, and make money.  For many of them it is not about ministring to the people but making money.  And to make make esp. if you are with a major record label, You have to look a certain way. (Again, sexually sells records and if you are big boned (KCS), then it just might be a problem.

How many large women do you see, having a major record deal. (Honestly) Not many.  If you are on a small record label or independent label YES.  I remember Kim Burrell saying in an interview how a certain label wanted her too loose weight to have a more sexual appeal, and they went on to tell her to think about doing R&B, or changing her lyrics so it can appeal to the masses.

It's hard out there for an artist.

Next, Kierra will look like Star Jones.  javascript:emoticon(':D')
Very Happyjavascript:emoticon(':D')
Very Happyjavjavascript:emoticon(':D')
Very Happyascript:emoticon(':D')
Very Happy  LOL  LOL

Again my $0.02
javascript:emoticon(':cry:')
Crying or Very sadjavascript:emoticon(':lol:')
Laughing
Jus Tryin To Move From Newbie

[blessedone]

Herman, I love the pic of you. :wink:

I love Karen! I haven't purchased her CD yet but I will just for support.
Don't be so hard on my girl.

[nessalynn77]

Yeah I haven't bought it yet either.  But I felt that way about Dorinda, I felt like she was trying to revamp herself to be socially acceptable in the contemporary christian culture.  Don't get me wrong, I still LOVE Dorinda, I just miss he "Clark Sister" feel that they're so good at.  I think Twinkie has stayed true to it, for the most part.  

But I'm still a fan, and despite the warning, I'll probably pick up this newest one, first chance I get.

[Loopy]

Yeah I agree with most of the comments on this one!

I picked up the CD this morning from th Christian book store and so far I don't think it's THAT bad, but in my opinion, no KCS project has been able to live up to "Finally Karen".

I am so in agreement that artists need to stick with what has proven to work for them and their voices. I love praise and worship but by golly I do not want EVERY artists to do nothing but praise and worship songs!! I mean it's beginning to look like a "bandwagon" effect with evryone jumping on!! I mean I like Isreal's production but many times while listening to this CD I felt like I was listening to one of HIS CD's! For some producers, I don't mind that because I am mad crazy about them (like the late Thomas Whitfield or Alex Ward), but I expected more from my girl Karen.

This kinda reminds me of when my other favorite female singer in the world - Vanessa Bell Armstrong - came out with that disaster of a project produced by Deitrick Haddon! I was like WHAT??!!! Deitrick can't handle Vanessa!! What was she thinking? That was a hot mess!! (I don't like Deitrick's music anyway!!

There may be some hope, though. Our Detroit girls are about to come back. We can only hope that the Clark Sisters live reunion recording this summer will be true to what we have come to love about these women and not jumping on some bandwagon that doesn't fit them. Also Vanessa Bell Armstrong has signed a new record deal (finally) so I hope she chooses a producer that can capture the essence of Thomas Whitfield, (maybe Rudolph Stanfield, D. Lawrence, or Alex Ward) which works best for her.

Women like The Clark Sisters, Vanessa Bell Armstrong and others, they set the standard for singers in the industry. Someone needs to make them understand that they don't need to jump on any bandwagons. They are BADDDD just the way they are!!

[SisterT]

What is this world coming to!!! Herman gave a bad review of KAREN!!! I thought I'd never see this day!

Someone, quick, bring me some ice, I feel faint.... LOL!!!  :lol:  :lol:

[itsallpeach]

Don't get me wrong, I still ADORE her.  My level of disgust is with Isreal and that dang photographer!

Her picture literally made me sad enough to cry!  If I had enough gas in the car, I'd drive all the way to Detroit just to go to Greater Emmanuel and see if she's OK.  I have a PROFOUND love for them (all 4 of them, plus Denise wherever she is).  But Karen lost it on this one, and as her biggest fan in the world, I'm sorry to say...this project was not good!

You don't know how bad it just hurt my fingers to type those words!

Mediocre is almost too much of a compliment for this CD!

[Loopy]

What is this world coming to!!! Herman gave a bad review of KAREN!!! I thought I'd never see this day!

Someone, quick, bring me some ice, I feel faint.... LOL!!!  :lol:  :lol:

.....Dispensing ice to SisterT. Calm down, SisterT! Herman's bad review of Karen just means that south Florida is finally going to get that long awaited blizzard and I'm finally going to get to see snow!!! :lol:

[LadyWiz]

What is this world coming to!!! Herman gave a bad review of KAREN!!! I thought I'd never see this day!

Someone, quick, bring me some ice, I feel faint.... LOL!!!  :lol:  :lol:

Urshers! Urshers!  Get the smellin' salts and fan for SisterT!!  No...no.. take off her shoe & put it to her face!!

[BBoy]

Maybe I take myself too seriously.

When I saw the title of that post, I rushed to the lounge to see what in the world was going on now . . . thinking that the world was coming to an end, or someone had been unjustly shot, or a church had split over scandal or something.

But this, I think we can survive and get through  :wink:

Be Blessed, everyone  :lol:

[Loopy]

What is this world coming to!!! Herman gave a bad review of KAREN!!! I thought I'd never see this day!

Someone, quick, bring me some ice, I feel faint.... LOL!!!  :lol:  :lol:

Urshers! Urshers!  Get the smellin' salts and fan for SisterT!!  No...no.. take off her shoe & put it to her face!!

Oooooh. Girl you know you wrong for that!!! :lol:  :lol:

[SisterT]

What is this world coming to!!! Herman gave a bad review of KAREN!!! I thought I'd never see this day!

Someone, quick, bring me some ice, I feel faint.... LOL!!!  :lol:  :lol:

Urshers! Urshers!  Get the smellin' salts and fan for SisterT!!  No...no.. take off her shoe & put it to her face!!

Urshers puts down SisterT shoe. The odor was too sweet and pleasant. It placed her in a more relaxed state. The shoe's scent was far better than the finest perfumes

But wait...what's that lurking from under the pew....it's looks like a  15 inch peice of crusty green cheese. Surely the offensive odor from that unsightly lump would awaken Sister T...."get it quick". The deacons pull and pull at it, and then a scream comes from LadyWiz. She shouts "That's my pinkie toe you're grabbing"!!  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[nessalynn77]

What is this world coming to!!! Herman gave a bad review of KAREN!!! I thought I'd never see this day!

Someone, quick, bring me some ice, I feel faint.... LOL!!!  :lol:  :lol:

Urshers! Urshers!  Get the smellin' salts and fan for SisterT!!  No...no.. take off her shoe & put it to her face!!

Urshers puts down SisterT shoe. The odor was too sweet and pleasant. It placed her in a more relaxed state. The shoe's scent was far better than the finest perfumes

But wait...what's that lurking from under the pew....it's looks like a  15 inch peice of crusty green cheese. Surely the offensive odor from that unsightly lump would awaken Sister T...."get it quick". The deacons pull and pull at it, and then a scream comes from LadyWiz. She shouts "That's my pinkie toe you're grabbing"!!  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

LOL!!!

[LadyWiz]

What is this world coming to!!! Herman gave a bad review of KAREN!!! I thought I'd never see this day!

Someone, quick, bring me some ice, I feel faint.... LOL!!!  :lol:  :lol:

Urshers! Urshers!  Get the smellin' salts and fan for SisterT!!  No...no.. take off her shoe & put it to her face!!

Urshers puts down SisterT shoe. The odor was too sweet and pleasant. It placed her in a more relaxed state. The shoe's scent was far better than the finest perfumes

But wait...what's that lurking from under the pew....it's looks like a  15 inch peice of crusty green cheese. Surely the offensive odor from that unsightly lump would awaken Sister T...."get it quick". The deacons pull and pull at it, and then a scream comes from LadyWiz. She shouts "That's my pinkie toe you're grabbing"!!  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

Oh nooo you di'ent!! :lol:  :lol: True story ya'll:  when my grandfather died, I went to the funeral in Mississippi.  It was hot & muggy in that small church out in the country.  Well, me being overcome with heat & grief, I fainted.  Someone took off my shoe & placed the opening in my face.  They say the smell is familiar(?) to the person & that brings them around.  So, SisterT, wasn't puttin' you on blast about your feet....just doin' what worked for me!  :lol:  :lol:

[SisterT]

Oh nooo you di'ent!! :lol:  :lol: True story ya'll:  when my grandfather died, I went to the funeral in Mississippi.  It was hot & muggy in that small church out in the country.  Well, me being overcome with heat & grief, I fainted.  Someone took off my shoe & placed the opening in my face.  

You came to by the smell of your own shoe? So when you saw that shoe in your face, did you want to slap somebody?!! LOL!!!  :lol:  :lol:

I blame MadeaT for the "back-at-ya-outburst". You know how protective she is of SisterT! LOL!!!  :lol:  :lol: