Mahalia Jackson "How I Got Over"

Selected posts from this YouTube viewer comment thread:

http://www.youtube.com/comment_servlet?all_comments&v=l49N8U3d0Bw&fromurl=/watch%3Fv%3Dl49N8U3d0Bw%26feature%3Drelate

[Presented in chronological order with the oldest comments first]

adidasguy86 (1 year ago)  Oh my gosh this woman is amazing. Her voice is so powerful.

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b3prince (1 year ago) The queen of Gospel from my hometown New Orleans, LA!!!! She had one of the baddest piano players of that time, Ms. Mildred Falls!!!

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bbvivertube (1 year ago) nowadays, if you don't sing soprano, you're not considered a good singer, but Ms Mahalia brought the house down everytime and didn't sing in such a high register that her audience couldn't sing along. Still she was incredible with her vocals and intonation. nobody does it better.

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stoptalkinsmack (1 year ago) this song makes me shout

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gingerbredlady (1 year ago) Thank you for posting this....it was one of my grandmother's favorites and it always leaves me in tears whenever I hear it; and now to see it performed by Ms. Jackson it has taken me to another level.

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Desaundrea (1 year ago) You know, I hear her sing and instantly I goto the days when my grandmother played her records for me to learn. My grandmother is gone now, but through her, God and Mahalia I learned to sing. I have endless tears for the beautiful spirit that was and IS Mahalia Jackson. And I will listen to her any day of the week over that rap crap. Her voice has never left my ears.

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Billinindiana Mahalia once said that "every generation has its
interpretation of expressing  itself." She understood and accepted this. I do agree with you, though, that she is supreme, not just for her talent but for her integrity. She is revered and respected throughout the world,     an enduring legacy that anyone with sense should envy. God bless

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dburley (1 year ago) We also gotta give it up for MJ's long time pianist Sis. Mildred Falls. What rhythm!!!!

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1joker88 (1 year ago) you know Mildred could throw down! and Eddie Robinson on the organ, too!
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blueBlackpurple (1 year ago) This is real singing here.

So many singers today scream and think they are doing something, but Mahalia Jackson could really sing.

She had one of the greatest voices I've ever heard.

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NastyNaughtyBoyy (1 year ago) just amazing. that's SANGIN'!
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drtaylor76 (1 year ago) no studio tricks just pure sangin'
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km2711 (1 year ago) What an inspiration and what a treasure she was! Beautifully performed in '63--I recall this being broadcast in late August or early September of that year.

She had a soul that would light all those around her.

And bless her heart--she REFUSED to be used by any political party for some shameful purpose.
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mrsmallhat (1 year ago) My dear elfeco -I thank you with all my heart for posting this miraculous video - I have listened to the recorded version of this many times, but did not know there was film footage of this most inspiring performance. What a gift you have shared.

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mismi73 (1 year ago)  If I could only explain how this song has brought me over. Thank You for the Queen of Gospel Soul.
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jusitke07 (1 year ago) Stunning. Her singing echoes the struggles of Black America when this song was first made. Now a days, for me personally, this song now shares with the struggles of ALL of America in that we take this song and live it as we make it over.
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bandibreath (1 year ago) Sista Mahalia was getting in the spirit. We need to hear more of the old time singin and shoutin. Our people have gotten through so many years of sadness and struggle because of our undying faith in and all wise and mighty God. Thank the Lord for blessing Sistah Mahalia.

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brianjohns5 (11 months ago) its always someone shoutin' "sang dat!!" or adding more words to the song! =)jus like black folk. ilove it tho b/c we're not shame!

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esoterica77 (11 months ago) No shame in our game (when we're loving the Lord!)
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lblockton (11 months ago) Oh Lord, let's not forget Mildred Falls on that piano child. Couldn't no-one play like her. Every note coincides with Mahalia's. Absolutely wonderful. You notice how Mahalia's voice changes when the spirit gets in her?  Amazing.
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DetroitD60 (11 months ago)  These were women were truly sanctified and blessed.
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   PrettyVillan (1 month ago) Mahalia was baptized by the Rev. E.D. 
   Lawrence, an early Pastor of the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, New
   Orleans, Louisiana... in the Mississippi River.
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Deerfarmer777 (9 months ago) The undisputed greatest Gospel singer of the 20th century..and some have never heard of her. Amazing woman!!
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yahooandgoogle12 (7 months ago) I only wish that I could have been alive back then to see & hear & feel the powerful voice of this women. LONG LIVE MAHALIA R.I.P

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sreustis (7 months ago) this is Aretha before Aretha

just as good

bless her

she moves me
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mein1985 (7 months ago) The man at 4:30 looks like Barack Obama, I swear I was like theres Barack Obama and then I remembered that it was the 60s and he must have been a child back then.

My mom was in her teens during the civil rights movement.

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Arnell0910 (7 months ago) Mother Mahalia had skills, she knew how to use her voice, she knew what her calling was and she allowed God to use her in a mighty way.

To be able to touch souls and spirits so many years after this video was made. The voice is flawless.

It must have been insane to see her live and in action. That I would have loved, those who were blessed to see her were truly blessed.

I'm glad we have a variety of Mother Mahalia's music, so we can see and hearjust how really talented she was (is)

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jazzlife1 (6 months ago) This is a classic. Nothing like that good ole Baptist singing and playing. It was good back then and nothing wrong with it now.
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billybadass80 (6 months ago) Lawd that woman sung this song! The amointing is still fresh off this performance even in 2009. She didn't have no choir or backup singers and still tore it up.
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nodlew (5 months ago) This is REAL GOSPEL MUSIC! Soulful and moving!
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123laconga (5 months ago) No one, I said NO ONE can sing this song like Mahalia. Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Clara Ward, all great but Mahalia is the best.
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magnificat75 (5 months ago) Also to correct the info in the post, How I Got Over was actually sung AFTER Dr. King gave the Dream Speech. He requested that Mahalia do I've Been Buked and I've Been Scorned before the speech. He usually chose her music before he spoke.

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REE072 (5 months ago) how i got over and what it means is getting over hard times in life troubles that's what it means!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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MsGEMS1 (4 months ago) This is definitely one of my favorite gospels when I was a child.I loved all those gospels,and the roots,the family values.The times when your children could play outside with thier friends and you didn't have the worry you have now.Times sure changed,but atleast some of us can look back and remember how good those times was.Not the poverty,but the values that was instilled by the grandparents and elders.
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lblockton (3 months ago) Listening to Mildred Falls on the piano along with this wonderful woman singing is to much. Absolutely wonderful. Gives me chills listening to it. Oh! if only we had this kind of music in church now days. What a shame religious music is so contoversal now. This is good, old time religion like church should be.

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deliveredin2009 (3 months ago) I agree about  the plight of gospel music nowaday. Almost all of the artists have sold out to some degree. I am not talking about not being saved; I am talking about selling their birthright for anything other than the anoiting. Today, it really is about the beat with a message. I actually heard one studio manager say "do not sound so gospel singer like." What he was saying is "if you want to make money and get booked, drop the church style!" Our souls long for the power of God  through song

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deliveredin2009 (3 months ago) Mahalia was not just a gospel singer, for we had many gospel singers in her day. She was a soulish expressionist who had to ability to speak directly to God with her soul. If was not always what she said, it was often how she said it. Today's Christian or inspirational music (for it seldom called gospel music) have lost that gift. There are many who can "bring the house down," but something is still missing.

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fantabulous008 (3 months ago) deliveredin2009-- How true... in today's commericial business many are the "faking" the  gospel just to sell records. This is very bad

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King689 (2 months ago) I have never in my life seen someone sing with so much feeling. You can really tell she means ever word of what she sings. If I ever start to forget how God is, I just listen to Mahalia sing. This particular one never fails to make me cry.

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mrfranchize02 (2 months ago) My pops told me that recordings didn't do her voice any justice. She didn't use microphones and her voice would pierce walls. Absolutely one of a kind.

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Ravenluc (4 weeks ago) Its so easy to get swept away by MJ's vocals but that woman is killing that piano!!! She set the standard for how piano players used to sound before all of the technology and before the praise and worship sound took over.

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coolrobertchapman (2 weeks ago) she was the UNDISPUTED Q.U.E.E.N. OF GOSPEL and james cleveland was the king
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     mney (2 weeks ago) That must make Professor Thomas A Dorsey the
     HIGH King!

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