Imagine a gig where there’s an entire audience’s worth of people on stage. 900 to be exact. Whilst giving nine-piece legends Slipknot a run for their money, you’re probably wondering how on Earth a 900-piece band could work, and without the stage dramatically collapsing mid-performance. But thankfully for Music Man readers, Gospel Holydays holds the answer.
This viral video is truly insane. An endless sea of singers, all members of the gospel church congregation, bounce radiant positivity off of each other, lining the stage behind a huge group of lead singers, backing singers and instrumentalists, all swaying in flawless unity to the timeless modern hymn, “Oh Happy Day.”
Mesmerisingly powerful ad-libs add a burning fire to lead vocalist Marlin Monroe Williford’s incredible voice, striking deep and lush above the bright tones of the immense choir behind him. And the ravishing tones of Angelique Starks are crafted with the vivacious, almost feral spirit of US gospel music, zesty with enlightenment and an out-of-body feeling. Enchanting.
The power of spirituality runs wild, shots of bongo players add a hilarious touch, but stealing the show is the unbelievable vision of so many souls in the choir; a living, moving backdrop to an unforgettably epic performance, and a testament to the binding force of gospel. At points, even the lead singers look behind to the great wall of singers, stunned.
With 900 vocalists comes an unmatchably diverse mix of voices, ranges, tones, and communal strength. Exuberant with infectious joy, the choir’s voices ring out, divinely textured with stunning harmonies, from tones as deep as Barry White to golden soprano highlights. They haven’t just supersized their numbers; they’ve supersized the effect gospel hymns have on uplifting one’s energy, elevating their contagious positivity into a completely electric moment.
This vid was uploaded to the ‘GOSPEL HOLYDAYS’ YouTube channel in April 2023 and has already racked up over 1.5 million views!
“Oh Happy Day” hit the charts in 1969, recorded by Californian gospel group Edwin Hawkins Singers and peaking at #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Credited for paving the way for artists such as Aretha Franklin, “Oh Happy Day” has become a staple song on the gospel scene, yet this behemoth, 900-soul rendition takes the crown.
Its composer, Edwin Hawkins, died in 2018 at the age of 74. But, judging by this ecstatic performance alone, his is one song from the pages of music history that’s absolutely destined to outlive us all.
