Christian Music Review

Song title: Wanna be happy

Artist(s): Kirk Franklin

"Kirk Dwayne Franklin (born January 26, 1970) is an American gospel musician, choir director, and author. He is known for leading urban contemporary gospel choirssuch as The Family, God's Property and One Nation Crew (1NC), and has won multiple awards, including seven Grammy Awards. Early years. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Franklin was raised by his aunt, Gertrude, having been abandoned as a baby by his mother. Gertrude collected and resold aluminum cans to raise money for Kirk to take piano lessons from the age of four. Kirk excelled in music, being able to read and write music, while also playing by ear.

He received his first contract offer at the age of seven, which his aunt turned down. He joined the church choir and became music director of the Mt. Rose Baptist Church adult choir at the age of twelve.

Despite his strict religious upbringing, Franklin rebelled in his teenage years, and in an attempt to keep him out of trouble, his grandmother arranged an audition for him at a professional youth conservatory associated with a local university. He was accepted and, while his life seemed to be on track for a while, the announcement of a girlfriend's pregnancy and his eventual expulsion from school for behavioral problems proved otherwise.

Kirk Franklin studied music with Jewell Kelly and the Singing Chaparrals at Oscar Dean Wyatt High School. He was under her tutelage for music direction as she allowed him to be the pianist for the choir.

After the shooting death of a friend, Franklin returned to the church, where he began to direct the choir once again. He also co-founded a gospel group, The Humble Hearts, which recorded one of Franklin's compositions and got the attention of gospel music legend Milton Biggham. Impressed, Biggham enlisted him to lead the DFW Mass Choir in a recording of Franklin's song "Every Day with Jesus." This led to Biggham hiring Franklin, just 20 years old at the time, to lead the choir at the 1990 Gospel Music Workshop of America Convention, a major industry gathering" (Wikipedia).

Kirk just released a new solo album called "Losing My Religion". This is his twelfth studio album. This album was produced by RCA Inspiration a division of RCA Records alongside Fo Yo Soul Recordings, Kirk's label.

The song being reviewed today is one of the cuts off his new album, "Losing my religion" it's called, "Wanna be happy". It is currently numero uno on Billboards Hot Gospel songs chart. "....The recording artist, songwriter and producer explained the concept of his new song, Every human being was wired with the desire for happiness. And we will try different things all in the pursuit of that feeling. With this song, I'm saying, if you really want to be happy, you have to start with the originator, Franklin said in a statement shared with The Christian Post. My goal is to try to lead people to the manufacturer of their souls" (The Christian Post).

Here are the lyrics to Kirk's song:

The truth can hurt you
Or the truth can change you
What would truth do to you

I just wanna be happy
But if I keep on doing the things
That keep on bringing me pain
There's no one else I can blame
If I'm not happy
Wasted time but now I can see
The biggest enemy it was me
So I'm not happy

Cry yourself to sleep
Shout and raise your hands
It wont change a thing child
Until you understand

If you're tired of being the same
If you're tired of things not changing
It's time for you to get out the way
Don't get stuck in how you feel
Say Jesus take the wheel
He knows the road that you need to take
(But it only works if)
If you wanna be happy
(Look at yourself and say)
Don't you wanna be happy
I just wanna be happy

But if I keep on giving my heart
For people to tear apart
The healing will never start
So I can be happy
Will I ever be happy

if I'm talking to you then say)
If you're tired of being the same
If you're tired of things not changing
It's time for you to get out the way
(You been down too long)
Don't get stuck in how you feel
Say Jesus take the wheel
He knows the road that you need to take
(I feel different right here)
It's so easy to complain
Addicted to the pain
You give you heart, they push it away
(But I got good news for ya)
Jesus knows just how you feel
Just let him take the wheel
The love you need, he already gave
(But the question is)
Do you wanna be happy
(If you're tired of you then say)
I just wanna be happy
(Now if you really mean that, open up your heart and say it)
If you're tired of being the same
If you're tired of things not changing
It's time for you to get out the way
(Are you ready, come on)
Don't get stuck in how you feel
Say Jesus take the wheel
(What you doin')
He knows the road that you need to take
(So easy to complain)
It's so easy to complain
(Come on)
Addicted to the pain
You give you heart, they push it away
(There's somebody that'll never leave ya)
Jesus knows just how you feel
Just let him take the wheel
The love you need, he already gave
(But the question is)
Do you wanna be happy
(Took a long time but I'm ready)
I just wanna be happy
(Thank you Lord, every day ask yourself)
Do you wanna be happy
(Yes, pull over, let him drive)
I just wanna be happy

Okay, it is clear from the reading of these lyrics that the central theme of this song is the desire to be happy. Earlier in this review Kirk stated, "..."Every human being was wired with the desire for happiness. And we will try different things all in the pursuit of that feeling....." Kirk is right. Every Human being desires happiness and will indeed try different things in pursuit of that FEELING. This is where the rubber hits the road. How one defines happiness is critical.

Psychology researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky elaborates, describing happiness as “the experience of joy, contentment, or positive well-being, combined with a sense that one’s life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile.” (http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/).

Wow, if you do a search on the Internet for keys to being happy, you are going to be overwhelmed with suggestions. Allow me to mention a few:

1. Build relationships
2. Give thanks
3. Practice kindness
4. Give up grudges
5. Don’t focus on material wealth
6. Embrace Change
7. Have Your Own Back

What does Kirk in his song have to say about obtaining happiness? He says that the way that you get happiness is by SAYING, "Jesus take the wheel" which by the way is the title of a Carrie Underwood tune. Kirk also states that if you want to be happy, you need to look at yourself and SAY, "Don't you wanna be happy, I just want to be happy". Sounds like positive confession to me.

Unfortunately this is not a biblical formula for true happiness. The Bible is clear, Happiness IS NOT a pursuit, it is the result of a certain kind of life. In Matthew 5:3-12 the word "Blessed" is used 9 times. This word can be translated "Happy". But Check this out!! Jesus in this passage NEVER commands his disciples to pursue the blessed/happy life. Instead He teaches his followers that the blessed/happy life is the result of a certain kind of life lived. For the Christian, Happiness is not some temporary fix for a season, rather happiness is an ongoing permanent state of being. So Todd, does this mean that I'm always going to be laughing and smiling and High-fiving everybody, everyday? No, but what it does mean is that as a follower of Christ I can EVERYDAY experience in the words of Rob Morgan, "...inward contentedness that is not affected by circumstances. That is the kind of happiness God desires for His children, a state of joy and well-being that does not depend on physical, temporary circumstances".

The reason so many of our marriages are nose diving into the toilet is because we've bought into the myth of the pursuit of HAPPyNESS. When we stop experiencing that "loving feeling" for our significant other, we call it quits. Listen, happiness is not found in the pursuit, it's in the process. By process I'm speaking of the process of "Sanctification".

The kind of Happiness that Christians should be experiencing is the, "...inner satisfaction and sufficiency that does not depend on outward circumstances...This is what the Lord offers those who trust Him!

I like this song musically, but lyrically and theologically, this song gets a big thumbs DOWN. Kirk, we've waited four years for this? Maybe another four years will make a difference

In His grip,
Todd