The Congregational BGV’s
I’ve been in church my whole life. For the past three years I have traveled the country, finding myself in several different types of churches and along with that, been involved several different musical styles of worship. But there’s still one thing that stands out to me every time it happens.
Now, I’m not sure if you are one of these people, and if you are I’m hoping that you can explain something to me. If not, maybe you can see where I am coming from. What I’m talking about is the congregational background singer. You’ve hear of them? Or maybe you’ve heard them?
I don’t know what goes on inside these people but they are the ones that are singing words that aren’t on the screen. They aren’t what the worship leader is singing, but it sounds suspiciously like something you might hear a background vocal singer bust out on a Tomlin record.
Now this is beyond the occasional harmony. This is the full on “singing other words that lead up to a chorus” or something like that. Maybe singing the chorus while everyone else is singing the verse, or adding words to the end of a verse or something. You know what I mean don’t you? Now, I’m not saying that this person isn’t worshiping, and I’m not saying that everyone needs to sing the same exact thing and leave no room for God and all that. I’m just simply asking is where does that come from?
Now I might offend someone with this, but I personally can’t help but feel like a lot of that is simply to draw attention to ones self rather than join in with the congregational singing. Am I wrong? It just seems like there’s no reason for the added lyrics or the over singing that goes on most of the time.
What do you think? Do you know the folks? Am I off here?
Maybe, for some of them, they used to sing the same song at another church, another way. I’ve had that happen to me before – when they leave out a transitional line, a repetition, or an echo part that I’m used to singing, it’s dang hard to hold that in! (But I do hold it in. I’m just saying maybe some people can’t?)
Annie beat me to my comment (maybe b/c she and I used to attend the same church and now attend different churches in different towns). There are some worship songs that are sung differently “here” than how I learned them (and learned to love them) and I find myself *occasionally* incapable of singing it the “new” way. The song seems lacking. A few times I know I’ve recognized the song, closed my eyes to sing praises to my Jesus and find myself doing just what you said, Brody – being the odd-woman-out. Unlike Annie, I guess I haven’t mastered the self-control thing just yet.
May I sincerely apologize for people like me at your place of worship that take your focus from Him. I don’t want that. Trust me, I’m not of the “background singer” caliber, nor do I have delusions of such. Not my intention to have the focus on me, but my full attention on Jesus, not the screen or the band. It comes from a desire to sing His praise…I’m gonna be so self-conscious this Sunday… ;{
I do this.
I usually wear sequins when I do.
Ok. Bad BGV joke. But seriously, I do this a lot. I think it probably comes from the fact that I’ve spent a good amount of time as the back up singer and it just sort of flows. I also like to ad lib a lot when I lead, so I probably just keep ad libbing when I don’t have a mic! I generally try to keep it quiet when I do…
But anyway, yeah I know who you’re talking about. It’s the annoying, off-pitch, over-the-top, “what did he/she just sing?” kind of person. I hope I’m not it.
totally know that person…I think it depends where the person is standing. If they are close to the front…they are totally auditioning. Hoping they’re heard by the worship leader and he’ll come up after service and say, “wow, you need to be singing with us”
Now if they are in the middle, the back, the balcony I would say they are just worshipping. I think it’s cool when you hear random folks feeling the freedom to express their “inner song”. I know when I lead I want my congregation to know they have freedom to express their worship in anyway they like. I think sticking to the lyrics on the screen is good because it gives structure and direction but letting some freedom happen from time to time rocks.
Honey, you’re not ‘off’. It never fails that we always sit behind someone who loves to do this.
Brody, you are not off at all as it happens and sometimes I DO catch myself doing just that and I pray it will not be distracting…However, there is nothing like letting go of the chains around one’s neck and worshipping Christ freely in Spirit and in Truth!
Well I’ll confess that I do this sometimes. Mainly if there are no backup singers. And I agree with the “I know it a different way” idea. I can only speak to my intentions but my idea is more like “why don’t I help Kevin out and make this a cooler sounding song?” I don’t mean to audition at all, and its one thing when there’s a really thought out way that a band is singing a song, but I know at my medium size church we have trouble getting enough musicians each week.
I’ve also sung with Gospel Choirs, when call and response and improvisation are all really important.
Personally, I learn a great deal from these singers and counter-lines. Usually I am stooped when it comes to figuring out the theological depths hidden deep within poetic lines of “Prince of Peace.” But then… oh but then… the back up singers kick in on the chorus and then its a Lux Aeterna break out.