Gospel Choir of the Year Final Songs of Praise

Last week, five choirs took the stage

here at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster,

and moved us all with the sweet sound of gospel.

This week, they are back to sing again,

but today, one of them will leave holding this magnificent trophy.

Welcome to the Songs Of Praise Gospel Choir Of The Year 2017.

APPLAUSE

Hello, and welcome to Central Hall, Westminster, in the heart of London,

for the climax of our competition.

At the end of today's show,

our panel of judges will choose the choir they think merits the title

Songs Of Praise Gospel Choir Of The Year 2017.

Our five competing choirs are all standing by,

ready to sing with passion, faith and flair.

So, let's welcome them.

The BIG Sing: Gospel Voices.

Community choir, Oxford Gospel Events Choir.

From university, LCCM Choir.

We have the church choir, Royal Voices.

And from all across London, Singology.

Let's not forget the important people

who are making the big decision today - our expert judges.

They are singer, songwriter and broadcaster,

a man who is always on message, Muyiwa Olarewaju.

One of the country's top gospel choir leaders,

this lady knows all about harmony - Karen Gibson.

And a man who always hits the right note - singing sensation Seal.

Judges, what advice would you give to the choirs today

as they sing their final song to try and win the trophy? Seal?

Well, I would say this is your moment,

so leave everything out there on the floor.

Go hard or go home.

Karen?

You are all doing a brilliant job

and performing to a very high standard,

so, just keep doing what you're doing, blessing hearts,

touching lives and singing the gospel.

-Muyiwa?

-Enjoy every single moment, every note, every move.

Make sure you enjoy yourself.

Thank you, judges. Time for our first choir to perform.

They're students from the London College of Creative Media, LCCM Choir,

and here's a reminder of how they got on last week.

# I lift my hands

# In total praise to you. #

I'm really excited. I'm really excited to hear what we're going to come out with.

It's going to be special.

As a child I always grew up in the church, and the more I kept

coming to church, the more I realised who Jesus was, how he meant to me.

So, the song Hosanna, that's pretty much praise for me.

It's not just a performance, it's just for me to lift it up.

# The angels bow down at the thought of you

# The darkness gives way to the light for you

# The price that you pay gives us life brand-new

# Hosanna, forever we worship you

# Hosanna, forever we worship you

# For you are the joy that my soul lives for

# The lamb that was slain for my sins

# And the one I adore

# King of Kings, ruler of everything

# Hosanna, forever we worship you

# Hosanna, forever we worship you

# For your patience and kindness and favour and mercy

# And honour and glory Because you are worthy

# We can't live without you We can't breathe without you

# We can't sing without you Hosanna, hosanna

# No greater love in this world but you

# No-one can compare to the things you do

# Wherever you go, I will follow you

# Hosanna, forever we worship you

# Hosanna, forever we worship you

# Someday every tongue shall confess your name

# This house made of clay, too shall pass away

# Whatever the test you will bring us through

# Hosanna, forever we worship you

# Hosanna, forever we worship you

# Hosanna, forever we worship you

# Hosanna, forever we worship you

# What's his name?

-# Hosanna

-For ever

-#

-Hosanna

-Hosanna

# For ever and ever and ever Hosanna

-# We praise you

-We praise you

-#

-Hosanna

-Hosanna

-# Forever and ever

-Take it up

# And ever and ever

-# Hosanna

-For ever

-# For ever

-Hosanna

# Hosanna, for ever and ever and ever

-# Hosanna

-We praise you

-# We praise you

-Whoa!

# Hosanna for ever and ever and ever

# And ever and ever and ever

# Hosanna

# Come on, y'all, put your hands together

-# For ever

-for ever

# Hosanna forever and ever And ever

-# Hosanna

-Hosanna

-# For ever

-For ever

-# Hosanna

-Hosanna

# For ever and ever and ever got to have it

-# Got to have you

-Got to have you

-# Got to have you

-Got to have you

-# Got to have you

-Got to have you

-# Got to have you

-Got to have you

# Gotta, gotta, I gotta have you Gotta, gotta, I gotta have you

-# Gotta, gotta, I gotta have you

-Gotta have you. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Muyiwa, a modern classic by Kirk Franklin. How do you think they did?

These babies had it.

I mean, I'm loving them, not just for the hair they have, because

I want some myself, you know, but for the passion, the performance.

Got to have you.

And the choir director, you got your thing going,

I feel like, "Yeah, yeah, yeah!"

APPLAUSE

Karen, Kirk Franklin is known for passion in performance,

and precision in delivery. Did they get both sides?

I think they did.

I mean, this is a very well loved song,

and it's not at all easy to do, so there were some parts that

I was listening out to, like those staccato notes

on "sin" and "ONE I adore", and you nailed it perfectly.

-You really did.

-APPLAUSE

Seal, we want to hear from you.

Three words - love, love, loved it. I thought it was fantastic tonight.

There's a vitality, and you can feel that youth, and you can see that

you guys are just willing to have a go and take chances and be daring.

It was just sensational, I can't say enough good things about you.

LCCM!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Literally given all the energy tonight,

as if it was our last ever performance.

Seal said, in three words...

..love...

-love...

-Don't forget the other one.

-ALL:

-..Love!

Next up, it's the turn of the church choir, Royal Voices.

# Somebody say yeah

-# Yeah

-Yeah

-#

-Yeah, take me

-Take me to the Lord. #

This is an opportunity for us to express what God has given to us

and just show the world that actually we have joy,

and we are really happy people, and want to share that good news.

We'll be doing a song called Glory To Glory, that is really our story.

We started writing from the Scripture,

which talks about being transformed from one level to another,

so that's where the inspiration of the song came in.

And then we sat down in church one day

and tried to arrange a tune around it, and then some verses.

And, yeah, it was a team effort, and in the end we love the fact

that it came out really good, and that's what we'll be doing today.

# Going from glory to glory

# We're going from glory to glory

# We are with open faces

# We are beholding his glory

-# We are transformed

-We are transformed

-# We have been changed

-By the spirit of the Lord

# By the spirit of the Lord

-# We're going, we're going

-From glory to glory

-# We're going

-By the spirit of the Lord

-# We're going, we're going

-From glory to glory

-# We're going

-By the spirit of the Lord

-# Going from glory to glory

-Lord...

-# By the spirit of the Lord

-Going from glory to glory

-# I tell you, nothing can stop us

-Nothing can stop us

-# We are unstoppable

-Unstoppable

-# Nothing can stand against us

-We are invincible

-# Well, do you believe it?

-Yeah

-# Do you believe it?

-Yeah

-# Can you feel it?

-Yeah

-# I say, can you feel it?

-Yeah

-# I tell you, we're unstoppable

-Yeah

-# Immovable

-Yeah

-# Unshakeable

-Yeah

-# Invincible

-Yeah

# We cannot be stopped No, we cannot be moved

-# We can't be defeated

-Yeah

-# Unstoppable

-Yeah

-# Invincible

-Yeah

-# Unshakeable

-Yeah

-# Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

-Yeah

# Going from glory to glory

-# Let me hear you say

-Going from glory to glory

-# One more time, say

-Going from glory to glory. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Seal, I want to start with you. That was a self-written song.

You are an award-winning songwriter. What did you think of it as a song?

I thought it was a wonderfully dynamic choice.

Overall, a very measured performance,

perhaps a little too measured in some places,

but your experience showing through, I really congratulate you for that.

-Karen?

-I could feel that you meant every word that you sung.

In your movement, in your eyes.

What you say here is really important,

and you had it all going on.

The lead singer was fabulous, by the way, I loved your attitude.

I loved your voice.

But we must also pay attention to what the choir do,

so, as an ensemble, you must be very careful to carry your notes

all the way to the end of the phrase.

But as a performance, I absolutely loved it, and I love the song.

Muyiwa. The faith and the worship element of it, did that come across to you?

It was such a scintillating experience for me,

that I thought, OK, whatever they are drinking, I want some of it,

because I want to shine like that.

We want to come to your church.

APPLAUSE

Thank you, Royal Voices.

They saw the other side of us.

They thought that we are maybe boring,

but now they want some of what we have been drinking,

so, it's very exciting for me, it's really good.

We wanted them to feel that, look, we're not just a church choir,

we are a church choir with understanding, with meaning,

and with energy and with joy, so we got that across.

Our next choir is from the city of dreaming spires.

It's Oxford Gospel Events Choir.

# Glory, glory, hallelujah

# Glory, glory, hallelujah Sing that song. #

The next song is Faith, and I'm doing the solo this time.

A bit nervous, bit nervous.

I came to faith.

I became a Christian through singing in the Oxford Gospel Choir,

that's why it means so much.

Faith is really a call-out to the audience to say

faith is all we need. Trust in God.

It's a great song for us to get the audience involved,

to feel like we are all singing together

and bringing our message to the hall, so we're really excited.

# Hey, come on and listen

# Cos I'm gonna tell you what we need

# We need faith

# Oh, just have faith and you'll believe

# Faith is what we need

-# Oh, faith

-Faith

-Faith

-Faith

-# Faith

-Faith

-Faith, yeah

-# Faith

-Faith

-Faith, faith, oh

-# Faith is what we need

-Faith is what we need

-# If we just believe

-If we just believe

# Faith is what we need We need faith

# Faith

-# Faith can move

-Faith can move a mountain

-# It can

-Move a mountain

-# It can open any door

-Open any door

# Can open any time Give you peace of mind

# Just believe in Jesus And it's gonna be all right

-# Cos he'll give you faith

-Faith

-Faith

-Faith

-# Faith

-Faith

-Faith, yeah

-# Faith

-Faith

-Faith, oh

# Faith is what we need We need faith

# Oh, and if you have a problem, problem

# Faith in God will solve them

# Yeah, in your darkest hour

# Faith will give you power, power

-# Faith

-Faith

-# Faith

-Faith

-# Faith

-Faith

-# Faith

-Faith

-# Have faith

-Faith

-# Oh, faith

-Faith

-# Faith

-Faith

-# Faith

-Faith

-Faith

-Faith

-# Faith, yeah, faith

-Faith

-Faith

-# Faith, oh

-Oh, faith is what we need

-# We need faith

-Yeah

# Faith is what we need Trust in God and you will see

# Faith is what we need Trust in God and you will see

# Faith is what we need Trust in God and you will see

# I know that faith is what we need

# Put your trust in God and you believe

-# F-A-I-T-H

-F-A-I-T-H

-# Little bit of faith

-Little bit of faith

# Can move the highest mountain

-# F-A-I-T-H

-F-A-I-T-H

# A little bit of faith

# A little bit of faith A little bit of faith

-# Faith is what we need

-Faith is what we need

-# If we just believe

-If we just believe

-# Faith is what we need

-We need...

-# We need...

-We need Jesus

-# And we got to have faith

-Faith

# Faith is the key Believe in him, set you free. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Karen, can you tell us what you thought about it?

First of all, I really have to give full props to your lead singer, who was amazing.

Love that top note at the end.

The choir, the chorale, on the whole, were just as energetic,

just as passionate, it was amazing. Well done.

Muyiwa, they sang about faith. Were you feeling it?

Absolutely. Substance of things hoped for,

evidence of things not seen,

but let me tell you, I truly believed that you had faith

and I felt the energy from you

for me also to increase in my faith. Thank you.

APPLAUSE

Seal, did they take a step up from last week for you?

You were just great tonight. You were fantastic.

A really bold choice of song,

and I cannot say enough about you, the lead singer.

And I thought overall, you were all so connected,

it was such a powerful performance.

Oxford Gospel Events Choir! APPLAUSE

To receive those comments is really amazing.

I think we did it to the best of our ability and we just threw everything into it.

-And to get his... his

-seal

-of approval...

LAUGHTER

There are just two choirs left to sing in our Gospel Choir Of The Year competition,

and it's not getting any easier for the judges.

Next up, a choir with members from all over London.

Singology.

# Steal away Steal away

# Steal away Steal away

# Steal away Steal away to Jesus. #

Born To Die is completely different to Steal Away, worlds apart,

and that's why we chose it.

So, we've got a bit of choreography, loads of lights and darks, we've got a soloist.

So it's just a completely different version of what we do.

We chose it for that reason, and also the choir just love it,

it's one of their favourites.

I'll be singing a solo for part of Born To Die.

I'm just really looking forward to putting our message across,

over the nerves, hopefully!

THEY WHOOP AND CHEER

# There was a baby boy Born in this world of sin

# Born just to die for us So that we could live

# Yeah

# There was a baby boy Born in this world of sin

# Born just to die for us So that we can live

# Yeah

# I'm glad that he died for me

# And he gave his life Just to set me free

# I'm glad that he died for me

# Born just to die for me

# There was a baby boy Born in this world of sin

# Born just to die for us So that we could live

# Yeah

# I'm glad that he died for me

# And he gave his life Just to set me free

# I'm glad that he died for me

# Born just to die for me

# Born just to die

# Now he, and now he lives inside of me

# Born just to die

# Now he, and now he lives inside of me

# Born just to die

# Now he, and now he lives inside of me

# Born just to die

# Now he, and now he lives inside of me

# Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh

# Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh

# And now he lives inside of me Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh

# Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh

# Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh And now he lives inside of me

-# Born just

-Born just

-# Just to die

-To die

-# Born just to die for you and I

-And now he lives inside of me

-# Born just

-Born just

-# Just to die

-To die

# Born just And now he lives inside

# And now he lives inside of me

-# Born just

-Born just

-# Just to die

-To die

-# Born just to die for you and I

-To die

-# Born just

-Born just

-# Just to die

-To die

-# Now he

-Now he

-# And now he lives inside

-And now he lives inside of me. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Karen, you raved about them last week.

Did they live up to your expectations?

Yeah, this is a Christmas classic, and it's not at all easy,

especially when you get to those staggered entries.

I think that you did that brilliantly.

Great conducting, I have to just give it to you. Really energetic.

Communicated very well. Lead singer, also great.

I would just say, lead singer, just connect a little bit

with the audience, just look at them, connect with people,

that would really help. Overall, well done, everybody.

APPLAUSE

Muyiwa, a song about the birth of Jesus, which is kind of appropriate

with Christmas approaching, but was it the right song?

Choir, you can be proud of yourselves for what you've managed to achieve.

For so many of us coming from different places,

and to be able to create that one sound.

And I felt the love,

I felt the celebratory nature of what you were saying.

He was born to die for me, I feel so special, so thank you.

APPLAUSE

Seal, you know everything there is to know about owning the stage

and connecting with your audience. Do you feel they managed to do that?

It was a great intro, first of all, pretty spectacular.

Loved the song, wasn't too crazy about the arrangement,

I thought that you could have perhaps shortened the gaps

where there was no singing.

But congratulations on a really strong ending, and I love the fight that you showed.

Ladies and gentlemen, Singology.

APPLAUSE

We were nervous, but hopefully we channelled it in the right way.

It was such a buzz out there, it's brilliant.

I'm so proud of them all, it was amazing.

We wanted to just bring the party, and I think we absolutely did.

Our final choir is a community choir from central London.

The BIG Sing: Gospel Voices.

# Praise the Lord

# Everybody

# Praise the Lord Everybody. #

We're going to be singing Souled Out.

Last week went so well that we are really ready for this one.

Literally, we have to have soul,

we have to have that spirit in us, all that passion and all that love, you know?

And just let it flow out through us to the audience, to everybody watching.

I think it will come out.

THEY WHOOP AND CHEER

Here we go. One, two, three...

# I am souled out My mind is made up

# I am souled out My mind is made up

# My mind is made up

-# I am souled out

-I am souled out

-# My mind is made up

-My mind, my mind

# I am souled out My mind is made up

# Who can separate us from the love of Jesus?

# Not death, nor life

# Jesus paid the price Now I'm free from sin

-# I am souled out

-Souled, I got soul

-# My mind is made up

-I've made up my mind

-# I am souled out

-He has got into my soul

# My mind is made up

# I've come through the fire I've come through the rain

# But God, He never left my side

# He's my comfort Through all hurt and pain

# I am souled out I am souled out

# My mind is made up

-# I am souled out

-He's never left my side

-# I am souled out

-I am souled out

-# I am souled out

-I am souled out

-# I am souled out

-I'm souled out

-# I am souled out

-Oooh

-# I am souled out

-My heart, my heart

# My heart is fixed My mind's made up

-# No room, no

-No room, no vacancies

-# I'm all filled up

-His Spirit

# His spirit lives in me and that's the reason I'm souled out

-# Say yeah

-Yeah

-# My heart is fixed

-My heart is fixed

-# My mind

-My mind's made up

# No room, no

# No room, no vacancies I'm all filled up

-# His spirit

-His Spirit lives in me

# And that's the reason I'm souled out

# Yeah, yeah

-# Say yeah

-Yeah

-# Say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

-Yeah

-# Say yeah

-Yeah

-# Say yeah

-Yeah

-# Say yeah

-Yeah

-# My heart is fixed

-My heart is fixed

-# My mind

-My mind's made up

# No room, no

# No room, no vacancies I'm all filled up

-# His spirit

-His Spirit lives in me

# And that's the reason I'm souled out. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Seal, how was that for a finale?

Man, they had me going from the get-go. That was a fabulous performance.

Talk about connected, you were all so connected on the stage tonight,

and I really love the variety and the choice of leads,

that really hit a chord with me. Congratulations on that.

Karen, technically, how good was that?

First, I want to say that this is one of my favourite choir songs of all time.

I love it so much. And I think you did a brilliant job. It's not easy.

Those syncopated rhythms, that percussiveness,

I think that you did that brilliantly.

I loved your energy, loved your passion.

I have to also just say, before you leave the stage,

I love your blue and bling - beautiful.

Lovely. Sorry!

Muyiwa, Karen said that was one of her favourite choir songs.

It's a Hezekiah Walker classic. You know Hezekiah Walker.

What do you think he would have made of that?

You know, it is not just Bishop Hezekiah Walker that's in the mix of this.

The other person, who is pretty massive in gospel,

it's Donald Lawrence, he produced this.

And I think if he heard what you did, he would be so proud,

because for me, there was unity, there was passion, there was exuberance,

and there was UK Gospel, baby! Whoop, whoop, whoop!

CHEERING

BIG Sing: Gospel Voices! APPLAUSE

It was so amazing.

I used to be nervous of solos, but with this family behind me,

it's just so easy.

I thought when she said it's a favourite, I thought

-she had a long list of things that we had to...

-LAUGHTER

Honestly! She sounded like she was going to say, "Right..."

But actually, she absolutely loved it, and for all three judges

to love it, I've got to say I've never been prouder of these guys.

They sounded incredible. So, guys...

Well, the choirs have done all they can, and while the judges deliberate,

we have a very special guest to perform for you.

She's appeared in the West End in Memphis and The Bodyguard,

and in just a few days' time, she opens in the new production of the musical Hamilton.

We're delighted to welcome Rachel John.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# As I lay me down

# Heaven hear me now

# I'm lost without a cause

# After giving it my all

# Winter storms have come

# And darkened my sun

# After all that I've been through

# Who on earth can I turn to?

# I look to you I look to you

# And when all my strength is gone

# In you I can be strong I look to you

# I look to you

# And when melodies are gone In you I hear a song

# I look to you

# About to lose my breath

# There's no more fighting left

# Sinking to rise no more

# Searching for that open door

# And every road that I've taken

# Led to my regret

# And I don't know if I'm gonna make it

# Nothing to do but lift my hands

# And look to you

# I look to you

# After all my strength is gone

# In you I can be strong

# I look to you

# I look to you

# And when melodies are gone

# In you I hear a song I look to you

# My levees are broken My walls are coming down on me

# The rain is falling Defeat is calling

# I need you to set me free

# So take me far away from the battle

# Cos I need you to shine on me

# And I look to you

# Lord, I look to you

# Where all of my help comes from

# I look to you. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Time now to eavesdrop on the judges' deliberations.

Each choir made the job so hard.

LCCM. They took risks in that they did big gospel anthems.

# No greater love in this world but you. #

I think they probably need a bit more time to grow into it.

Who would I pay to go and see right now?

I could only choose one, it would be LCCM,

because I would really enjoy myself.

Oxford Gospel Events Choir.

# Faith is what we need. #

I loved... I loved their commitment. I love the work they did.

This week they blew it out the park for me.

And I think that they are not to be disregarded.

# Do you believe it? Yeah! #

Royal Voices, honestly, whether they win or not,

I want to go to their church and just see what they do, week in, and experience it.

I felt like I was lacking a little bit to make that connection with them.

Chorally, they were not as strong as last week.

And I felt that it was very lead-centred.

Singology.

# Born just to die for us So that we could live. #

The arrangement didn't knock me out,

there were these long gaps where they weren't singing,

and seeing as this is all about the choir and the voice,

I felt they could have done more.

Although, I think that they executed it brilliantly.

I just wasn't as moved.

BIG Sing. That was a juggernaut for me.

-# I am souled out

-I am souled out. #

They'd obviously learned from their performance the week before

and realised that they had to step it up, and so, it's very close.

But I suppose, unfortunately, one choir has to win.

The judges have joined me and the choirs are waiting in anticipation,

because we have a decision.

Muyiwa, can you announce to the audience at home, in the room,

and the choirs behind you the winner of Gospel Choir Of The Year 2017?

The Songs Of Praise Gospel Choir Of The Year 2017 winners are...

..BIG Sing: Gospel Voices!

CHEERING

BIG Sing: Gospel Voices! Seal, will you present the trophy?

And let's hear it for all our very worthy finalists.

Well done to you all.

Our thanks to you, the judges,

to all five choirs, to everyone here at Westminster Central Hall,

and, of course, to you at home for your company,

and we leave you with the winning song. From all of us here, goodbye.

-# I am souled out

-He never left my side

-# I am souled out

-I am souled out

-# I am souled out

-I am souled out

-# I am souled out

-I'm souled out

-# I am souled out

-Oooh

-# I am souled out

-My heart, my heart

# My heart is fixed My mind's made up

-# No room, no

-No room, no vacancies

-# I'm all filled up

-His Spirit

# His spirit lives in me and that's the reason I'm souled out. #