This is from the first "Young Messiah" CD in 1989. The original First Call contributed a song and recorded a video for the project. Their clothes sure were "rad" back then, weren't they?
Between being occupied with concerts for the busy Holiday season of beautiful Christmas music-making, professional musicians can relieve their stress by listening to this hilariously grotesque abomination. It has become a classic.
I went to this concert in 1990 and am thrilled to watch it again today! Yes, our hair and wardrobes have changed, but what awesome words Handel wrote his music to, for all ages and generations! How can anyone label this an abomination? The hope is the same no matter what the beat or speed of the music! Hopefully we all will dance for joy in heaven to this & all styles of music that allow us to express our praise to the one true God, creator of All good things. And He will delight in our joy!
Ah! The eighties! This was thought to be so contemporary at the time. Synthesizers, drum machines, teased hair, mullets … who could ask for anything more?
Oh my Goddess! I have been looking for them since catching a glimpse of them on tv in 1989 and now HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!! Thank you YOU TUBE!!! xxoxoxoxoxoxox
This brought me back to 1986.. I felt like I was in a suburban mall walking through going Xmas shopping and this coming through the speakers . Beyond hilarious version of the original tenor aria. #themessiah #1980s #handel
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. The interesting thing is that both this version and the one you mention were arranged by the same person! He was trying different variations of Handel's Messiah. The one here is from 1989. The one you mention was done in 1993. He also arranged an African-American one called "Soulful Messiah" in 1995. (FYI: First Call did background vocals for the Larnelle version you mention!)
@interpreter2006 WOW, I did not know that. Thanks for sharing this information and video. This is a concert I wish I had attended. Awesome versions of Handel's Messiah!
Absolutely love this. Harmonies and rhythms contemporary for that time and attracted a great many people unable to relate to the traditional original. I rather think Handel would have been delighted at the freshness.
Some folks like it the original way. But keep in mind that the modern versions of songs often introduce the music to a new generation. In fact, that is exactly what happened when "Handel's Young Messiah" music was released in the early 90's. Many young people who had never heard of Handel's original work were introduced to his music. The "Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration" CD had the same kind of effect on the younger generation in the early 90's too.
Just 2 minutes prior to hearing this I listened to Jon Vickers singing his version of this aria in the Beecham recording. So many differences yet more similarities than one would think. I loved it. The temp of this version is acceptable and the arrangement and harmonies are splendid. Rhythm is great. Even the melisma is well done.
The producers wanted to "update" the Messiah - First Call didn't arrange the song, they just sang it. Another attempt to update it was made in 1993 ("The New Young Messiah") and it was MUCH better!
Handel would have loved this! Especially if he could have made some money with it. C'mon folks---music is a tough business! And these singers aren't bad, by the way.
Jeremiah 3:23a(NIV); "Surely the idolatrous commotion on the hills and mountains is a deception; surely in the Lord our God is the salvation" Luke 3:5a; "Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low." Jeremiah 4:2; "and if in a truthful, just and righteous way you swear, 'As surely as the Lord lives,' then the nations will be blessed by him and in him they will glory." Genesis 49:19(NKJV); "Gad, a troop shall tramp upon him, But he shall triumph at last."
I dn't really understand why everyone is so mad.....I have heard both this album and the original. of course nothing compares to the original. but these guys just chose to do something different. all modern artists, producers keep saying dnt be karaoke do your own thing, add your own twist to it. you don't like it, stick to the original, or better yet, compose your own music that will outlive you the next three centuries.
LOL ... Your comment is quite accurate and funny. When I heard this for the first time and when the music started , it actually sounded like a really awful ringtone. Having said that I must say that the singers did quite a good job given the circumstances and the music. And finally i have to point out that Handel's genius does shine through all this crappy music.
I have nothing against arrangements, mixture of styles have existed as long as music did... but what makes this a bit ridiculous is that they stayed so close to the original ! lol... but I have to agree it's kinda funny :p
The orchestration is actually pretty close to the original & Yes indeed, Handel was the "Pop" music of his time. The singing is good, however the hair and clothes are out of control, LOL. But they are so bad that they're almost good... The epitome of "stupid-fresh" :-)
Dick, Melodie, and Bonnie, were and are some the best vocalists ever. Very few groups had their chemistry. They were obviously lip syncing here, as is done for most all music videos. They've earned their stripes with hundreds of live performances, so I don't hold a few lip-syncs against them!
@JMan7268 To each his own. I was at university when this particular Handel's Young Messiah came out, and all I can tell ya is: There was a campus of students humming and singing songs from "The Messiah" in the dorms for months. I've never heard anything from "The Messiah" sung or listened to so widespreadly before or since. People can make fun of the hair and dated sound and inferior recording, but these guys actually have awesome pitch, and the tone of the song matches the message: Joy!
HAHA Okay so this IS vile, but have a sense of humour peple! It's hillarious. After singing and playing "serious" music I go home and do this kind of stuff for fun at parties. So I love it HHAHAHAHAHAHA.
When I heard this for the first time and when the music started , it actually sounded like a really awful ringtone. Having said that I must say that the singers did quite a good job given the circumstances and the music. And finally i have to point out that Handel's genius does shine through all this crappy music.
This would be 100 times better if they had real instruments. I actually kind of like the arrangement; the midi accompaniment and the studio processing are, in my opinion, the biggest problems.
Make no mistake....this is so late 80's that it's ugly! But the group First Call was an AMAZING vocal group! Cali4Obama (while I'm guessing from her name that we have VERY DIFFERENT political views - lol) is absolutely correct here....Handel was an artistic innovator. Handel was one of...if not THE first to use modern musical stylings of his day with sacred writings and themes (most of Messiah is taken directly from scripture...this song in particular from Isaiah 40:4-5)
It is a mockery because it is an adaption of what is, in my opinion, a very disparate style - the original Handel. This is the kind of thing I do with my friends at parties when I'm drunk. LOL
So, you think this is the appropriate way to sing about the Second Advent of the LORD Jesus Christ, and His return to the earth to destroy all the armies in the Armageddon plain, judge all the nations, and set up His kingdom on earth?
