There are moments captured on film which leave an invaluable social etching on the soul of society. Gospel music is one form of music that has been used over the years in movies to set the tone.
The Academy Awards will be held this weekend rewarding the greatest moments on film. There is a key facet of film that often gets overlooked. It is the music. Music shapes a scene. It is our visceral reaction to what is going on in a scene that leaves an indelible mark on our minds and souls
#6 The Blues Brothers Meet Reverend Cleophus James
The story is a tale of redemption for paroled convict Jake and his brother Elwood, who take on “a mission from God” to save from foreclosure the Catholic orphanage in which they grew up. To do so they must reunite their rhythm and blues band and organize a performance to earn $5,000 to pay the tax assessor. On their adventure they meet Reverend Cleophus James. Reverend Cleophus James gave sermons at the Triple Rock Baptist Church in Chicago. He was also known to travel across America with Reverend Morris, occasionally performing in Tent Revival Meetings.
# 5 “Joyful Joyful- Sister Act 2
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In 1993 Lauryn Hill broke into feature films with an appearance in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit.Lauryn delivers a spirited rendition of this hymn that is over 100 years old.The film was never nominated for an Academy Award, but the music was outstanding.
# 4 “Wattstax”- The Emotions “Peace Be Still”
It would stand as the most severe riot in Los Angeles history until the Los Angeles riots of 1992. The concert was held at the Los Angeles Coliseum on August 20, 1972, and organized by Memphis’s Stax Records to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the Watts riots. Wattstax was seen by some as “the Afro-American answer to Woodstock”. The concert was to call to the mind the Watts Riots of 1965 refers to a large-scale riot which lasted 6 days in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, in August 1965. By the time the riot subsided, 34 people had been killed, 1,032 injured, and 3,438 arrested. It would stand as the most severe riot in Los Angeles history until the Los Angeles riots of 1992.
# 2 The Color Purple “God Is Trying To Tell You Something”
The emotion and raw reality of sin meets the real world is the message of this scene. You are taken by the emotion . The silence that is prolonged in the scene as all the sinners head down the road of redemption sends chills through your body. When the young sings “Thank You Lord “ the message is delivered.
This movie told the time honored battle of the relationships of mother and daughters. In the powerful climax of the movie a heartfelt song that is a warning to the young girls. If ever there was a Godmother of Gospel Mahalia Jackson hands down would be.
