Oh my! I have heard this sung by many different artists including Mark Lowry. I have even sung this with my church choir. Never have I heard it like that. That was stunning.
Amazing breath control especially considering that, first … Mark is sitting, and second … Mark has multiple sclerosis which has made it difficult to stand or walk and has left him deaf in one ear. No one does this song better than in this video! My opinion! 🤗
Excellent reaction. While many have done great renditions of Mary, Did You Know, including Pentatonix and Home Free, no one has done it better than Mark Lowry and Voctave. As for that "long note" Mark holds... you might want to go back and listen to that part again. You will find that Mark sings the previous phrase "the praises of the Lamb" leading into the long note without a breath in between which makes his breath support even more impressive. I look forward to more of your reactions.
Nobody sings this song like Mark! I love to hear Mark sing it with David Phelps singing backup, have seen that combination a few times, absolutely gorgeous.
Mark Lowry and David Phelps were together for quite some time in the Gaither Vocal Band... This is my favourite version, Jamey Ray is the Voctave member who does their amazing arrangements.
Oh those Gaithers, young, old, now and past, are just awesome and blessed with such Godly talent! Mr. Lowery could could not have the best back up than Voctave!! Fantastic!! Thanks for sharing, Big D, blessing to you and yours!
It hits differently because Mark Lowry totally & completely the words that he wrote for this song. He lives these words. I've never seen a man that displays his whole hearted belief in God & lives it. Thank you so much for the reaction.
The first recording Mark Lowry did of his song was at the end of video he did called "Remotely Controlled". He mentioned that several performers recorded it before he did and that Buddy Green wrote the music to it because he(Mark) couldn't read music and you shouldn't be writing it if you can't read it, lol. The video was a comedy album for the most part. But he told the story of what inspired him to come up with the lyrics. He sand it with David Phelps and Guy Penrod backing him up. Just prior to hearing that version, I was asked to listen to a recording of it by Kathy Matea that was excellent
This is my favorite version of this song. I've heard it many times. Mark sang this with the Gaither vocal band, it was the 1st time I had heard it, I've loved it since then. But with Voctave it's like angels singing with him!! I saw him in concert once and he sang this. It was so Beautiful. Mark is also a great comedian. He had everyone laughing most of the night. But Mark has a heart of gold. A special needs child was in the front row and after the concert he brought out to this child one of every cd he had with him. This child was over joyed!! He talked with the child and the father for quite some time. Now that melted my heart.
I think I saw an interview once with Mark Lowry who said this was his favorite version of this song. Jamey Ray is a phenomenal arranger, and Mark can SING. Loved your reaction!
Absolutely amazing, I agree with the word flawless. That said it all. Not only does Mark Lowry sing beautifully, he is absolutely hilarious when he does his comic routines. Check out his telling of his motorcycle accident. He really brings down the house with laughter and always in a non-offensive way. Love his humor.
Your reaction is like mine. I cry most every time I listen to this song. The words are so powerful. This time the singing matched the words in power. Doug Stoliker
I totally loved your reaction, and 100% agree, this is the best version of this song I’ve ever heard. Jamey Ray is masterful at arranging songs and this is one of his best. I love a Cappella music, including groups like PTX, Home Free, Voice Play, etc. but no one holds a candle to VOCTAVE in sound quality or arrangements or their blend. They are the gold standard, and I’ve always said it! Thanks for another great reaction! Keep ‘em comin’!
It hits diff to me because it brings tears of conviction, and glorious triumphant jubilant happy feelings as well knowing God loves us so very much. God is so very good ❤️
Mark sings it with such deep conviction because it is truly from his heart. Someday in heaven, if it even matters to him anymore, he’s going to ask Mary all these questions. After he kisses the hands of Jesus. I wonder when we get to heaven if we’ll even care about anything we thought of down here. Will it matter?Maybe we’ll just have a Knowing.
Dude. Listen to me. I feel ya brother. That total pause and speechlessness that you felt and showed after the song was complete was EXACTLY how I myself felt the very first time I heard this. I was (and still am) in complete awe every time I listen to it. I'm 49 and half-scared to admit to some serious emotions when listening to this. I do believe that no other version will leave you like this one will. N-O-N-E., and I also believe it is because it was /is inspired by God as Mark was inspired by God to write it in the first place. There is an anointing that is felt with this that is absent (so far, at least to this extent) with any other version out there. Admittedly this was my first sample that I'd ever heard from Voctave.( WOW, what a way to begin, right??? haha) Again, they themselves are fantastic in their own right, and it made me browse around looking for more from them, which incidentally is how I found THEIR version of "O Come All Ye Faithful". Dude. You wanna talk about holding a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong note? ha Check that out and the lead guy at the very end. Trust me, WELL worth your time. I just don't understand how Mark and this guy here does it. Amazing......... Thanks man, and p.s. I appreciate your openness on your vids of "lettin' it all go" sort-of-speech emotionally. That's not easy for us guys to do. < fist bump > Take care.
Three words...Gaither Vocal Band (he was the baritone). LOL. It took me a while to place him too. The first long note was about 17 seconds and the one at the end was 10. Kate's final note is probably the best example of vocal control that I think I've ever heard. Most sopranos would increase their volume to hit a high note like that so to do it softly like she's just barely touching it while sustaining it is absolutely amazing. And she looks so relaxed doing it. I would say that this version (yes, I love the Pentatonix and Home Free versions too) is probably my favorite because the composer/writer does bring so much to it. Thanks, Dennis. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
One thing people may not know. Mary Lowry is a fairly deep baritone. He normally sings this song a third lower. People have never heard him sing that high before. That long high note was a G4. This is the most amazing version I have ever heard.
Stunning. Just simply stunning. Many of the members of Voctave are also members of the legendary Voices of Liberty at Walt Disney World. What incredible voices! I adore them.
Go back to the long note that Mark held. Kate, the high soprano who sings the super high notes, at the end of the long hold, she goes UP ANOTHER OCTAVE! Unbelievable!
That’s Kate I believer in the heavens on the last note. The thing about this setting of the tune that I find completely fascinating is beyond the tempo, the words and phrases that Mark Lowry chooses to emphasize or rubato that distinctly contrasts the settings of others.
Loved your reaction to this one. No one can interpret the lyrics better than the author himself. Pure joy listening to this, my favourite version. (Others are great too - Home Free and PTX, etc. but IMHO this is the best!)
Your reaction is the same as mine. And I’ve watched this probably a hundred times. Haven’t watched it once without shedding a few. Great reaction, brother! 👍🏼
That was absolutely beautiful. There is another group I would like you to check out when you get a chance and that is a men’s barbershop quartet called ringmasters. They do an amazing job of you’ll never walk alone/climb every Mountain. I think you will be amazed!!!!!!!
If you want to hear a note held for a REALLY long time, I urge you to listen to a barbershop quartet called Ringmasters from Sweden singing You’ll never walk alone/ Climb every mountain. They are International Champions!!!!!!!!
I am so glad you listened to this version, Mark is a vocal powerhouse, please check out some of his songs on Gaither's youtube channel called Gaither Music TV.
The funniest thing is, Mark Lowry is a comedian!!! Lol Amazing! Danny Gokey ( American Idol alum) dies my favorite version of this song other than Marks
They actually released a deluxe edition of the Spirit of the Season album, where this song was first released. They rerecorded each of the songs, and added 2 new ones. This song has a slightly different chord progression in the climax of the song, including one moment where they sing 5 octaves in the final chord. Its insane, you should definitely check it out.
One of the things that makes this rendition stand out is that Mark sings the punctuation. It makes an important difference. Mary, (comma) did you know? He has all these questions. When we speak to someone we must first capture their attention so he calls her gently. Most singers slide past that comma and the prayerful, somewhat hesitant nature of really wanting to know the answers to such important questions is lost, IMO.
I don’t think Mary KNEW. I think Mary BELEIVED. She knew this child was special, she knew He was a gift of God, she knew she was a vessel, but she couldn’t have known all that was in store. She just BELIEVED, in God, in the Babe, and in His will for her life. She was the first true disciple, the first true Christian. God grant me the faith of Mary, just another sinner saved by grace.