Yolanda Adams - The Experience

Elektra

"If I can see it…then I can do it!"
Just a little over a decade ago, Yolanda Adams was a schoolteacher in Houston, Texas with a heart for her students and an even bigger passion for her Lord. Yolanda had been singing since she was a teenager, and managed to make a name for herself, locally, doing so around her commitments as a teacher.

As her singing demanded more and more of her time, she was forced to make a life-changing decision. Should she continue teaching or should she give that up to pursue a Higher calling…music ministry?

Yolanda was also divorced as a young woman, often testifying about the perils of her marriage. She was no stranger to struggle or strain, but managed to persevere and hold fast to a vision.

"If I just Believe It…There's Nothing to it!"
Yolanda's earliest recordings go back to The Southeast Inspirational Choir, where she was a prodigy of the late Thomas Whitfield. After several solo performances with the choir, and a solo recording on a fledgling independent label, Yolanda acquired the attention of the industry and Gospel music fans alike.

It was after linking with instrumentalist Ben Tankard and signing with his Tribute Records that Yolanda Adams became a household name among Gospel music circles. There was no question that Yolanda was beginning to see the fruits of her faith and her labor, but this was just that…the beginning.

"I Believe I Can Fly!"
Despite financial takeovers, and corporate mergers, Yolanda was able to stand the test of time and continued to deliver remarkable recordings and incredible performances.

1999 found Yolanda on the Elektra Entertainment Group, as the first Gospel act signed to the company. Her debut Elektra recording, Mountain High…Valley Low, catapulted Yolanda to the forefront of Mainstream America and exposed her to an entirely different audience.

2000 was a year that saw Yolanda accomplish numerous and prestigious feats. A Grammy, Stellar Awards, Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, NAACP Image Awards, a platinum-selling CD, and countless television appearances. Personally, Yolanda was also reveling in the glow of a prosperous and glorious marriage, and the birth of her first child.

"The Experience"
Yolanda's latest effort on Elektra, is appropriately billed as a "Stunning Document of a Remarkable Year!" It leads off with a rendition of "I Believe I Can Fly" featuring fellow Elektra artist, Gerald Levert.

This studio-produced track stands alone, before thrusting the listener into 'The Experience' of Yolanda Adams on stage…LIVE. "Already Alright" starts us off and finds an energetic and enthusiastic Adams displaying her vocal prowess over the instrumentation of an impressively cohesive band.

Immediately following is "Continual Praise," which serves as exactly that, prompting audience participation and massed praise activity. Yolanda then slows down with the introduction of "Fragile Heart" a song she co-wrote in memory of a friend who has passed away.

Her heart is painfully apparent amidst aggressive percussion and searing guitar licks. All elements provide an unconventional, yet undeniable rhythmic homage to those who have gone on to be with the Lord. Yolanda revisits her 1995 CD, More Than A Melody, with the beautifully orchestrated revival of "What About The Children," penned by BeBe Winans.

If nothing else, this shows that although Yolanda gave up teaching, she obviously did not give up caring about the plight of our children. Reaching back a little further, Yolanda pulls "Oh Ye Of Little Faith" out from the confines of her 1993 CD, Save The World.

Remarkably consistent with the musical trends of 2000, this song incorporates Latin flavor, Spanish lyrics, and a time-honored truth of God's ability to see all, know all, and do all. This song also leads to the song that was an anthem for so many in the past year, "Open My Heart".

Yolanda delivers a compelling interpretation of this song with an incredibly smooth introduction that makes its message inherently clear. The one-two punch of "That Name" and "In The Midst Of It All" follows and dares any who listen to do so without giving thanks and offering praise.

"That Name" showcases an earnest Adams, while "In The Midst Of It All" displays her powerhouse vocal ability. A personal favorite, "Yeah" manages to exemplify all that is synonymous with Yolanda Adams. It's fun, intricate, spontaneous, infectious, and rousing, and still manages to ooze ministry.

Like I said, this live version of "Yeah" is a musical interpretation of Yolanda's spirit.

The Experience is a crash course of sorts for those who are just becoming familiar with the force that is Yolanda Adams. It is a comprehensive tool that allows them to catch up to the rest of us who have known of her impact and abilities for quite some time. Most of all, however, The Experience is a testament of endurance, tenacity, and faith; three elements that Yolanda has proven can change your reality, justify your purpose, and deliver your dreams!