Joyous celebration - Joyous celebration 7 (Live in Cape Town)

 - Group: Joyous Celebration

- Album: Joyous Celebration 7: Live in Cape Town

- Year: Recorded in the last months of 2002, released in 2003

- Label: Sony

- Mark: 5,0/ 7,0

Hello Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ. I will talk about the 7th album and the 6th live recording from Joyous Celebration. The album is called "Joyous Celebration 7: Live in Cape Town" and it was recorded on the Artscape Theatre, section opera, Cape Town, with 700 people. The exact date of live recording is unknown but it was recorded on the last months of year 2002. 

Details:

- The front cover has photos from the live recording.

- This is the first album from Joyous Celebration where it was recorded and released as a video version. Joyous Celebration 5 was released too with video version but it was the second video version released. Because Joyous 7 it was released as video version in the same year with the disc version but Joyous 5 was recorded on December from year 2000 but the video from Joyous 5 was released on year 2004.

- Starting at this album, the order from CD is different than the order from video version. The real order from live recording is based on the video version. The same thing happens to all the other albums from Joyous Celebration. 

- The video version is recorded as dvd. On the dvd the number 7 has been retired from the cover. 

 On the volume 7 Joyous had a focus on the tradition and style music specifically on south african style and music. In this album this is the first time where Jabu Hlongwane did the most part on the participation to this album. He led a important part for the rehearsals, songs, dancing moves and the other things that needs a live recording. He sung more than two songs.

- In this album the stage is similar to Joyous 6, but with the difference that it was used many colour of lights for the backlights. In Joyou8s 6 only the red colour was used for the backlights.

- The live recorded was divided in two sessions. The first session was recorded from the song Bless the Lord (opening song) until the song Nkosi Ngisimamise. 

The second session was recorded from the song Holy Holy until the song Woza Mmeli Wami.

On the first session a design similar to two vertical curtains was put in the middle on the stage. On the second live session the design was withdrawn from the stage.

- On the front cover of this album there are some photos from the live recording.

- In this album the video was released as a dvd version. 

- This is the first time where Joyous Celebration uses two staircases on the stage to present the members when they performance. But almost nobody used one of the staircases to start the performance. Only Jabu Hlongwane used the staircase to start singing WANYAMALALA. On the song EBUSHENI BAMI Jabu used the right staircase and Vuyo used the left staircase to start singing the song.

- The song THERE'S A LIFTING ON THE HANDS and WHO IS LIKE THE LORD are covers from Israel Houghton, on the album New Season (2000) recorded live with Integrity Music. The song WHO IS LIKE THE LORD was recorded on Spanish version by christian singer Coalo Zamorano on the album titled "Cosas Poderosas" recorded live at Lakewood Church, United States, with label Canzion. On the spanish version, the song was recorded with the title QUIÉN COMO EL SEÑOR. In the song THERE IS A LIFTING ON THE HANDS in Joyous 7 the song was recorded with zulu version. And the song WHO IS LIKE THE LORD was sung with the english version. The song WHO IS LIKE THE LORD was led by Mthunzi Namba.

- The song LIPHUMILE ILANGA speaks about the blood of Jesus and his Sacrifice on the Cross, that the sun is shining (salvation) to all mankind. At the half moment of the song, a man with a traditional outfit from South África and a rod, the man talks about the praise and thanksgiving to God. On the album version the part was censored. The complete version is only included on video.

- The song WANYAMALALA talks that the weird of our sins has broken down. The song is a hymn. Jabu Hlongwane led this song. The south african gospel group Spirit of Praise recorded the hymn on Spirit of Praise 3, led by Benjamin Dubé.

- The song LIGHT MEDLEY is the classic hymn THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE. The song starts with a slow pace and later the song is played with fast pace. The melody of the song in Joyous 7 is gospel mixed with a congregational rhythm. Jabu Hlongwane led this song. When he leaves the stage, there was a interlude moment. Lindelani ordered that the song keeps playing for 2 minutes more.

- Wenhiliziyo is a new song. The song is the Psalm 23 being sung. The song is led by Pretty Cossa. She was a girl less than 20 years old when she participated on that song. Actually she does part from the gospel south africa group Spirit of Praise but the group has never given to Pretty a chance to sing.

- Ntokozo Mbambo participated singing the song I LOVE THE LORD. That is one of the new songs. Starting at this album, Ntokozo's songs starts to be more known on South África and other countries from África.

- The songs WHO IS LIKE THE LORD and THERE IS A LIFTING OF THE HANDS are covers and it belongs to Israel Houghton. He is a recognized gospel singer that is known by his song LORD YOU ARE GOOD. The two songs are part from the album NEW SEASON (Recorded live in year 2000 with Integrity Music). On the song THERE IS A LIFTING OF THE HANDS there is a part where joyous sings the song in Zulú language.

- The song TO GOD BE THE GLORY is a hymn. Originally it is called MY TRIBUTE and it belongs to Andrae Crouch. The song was debuted on his album FINALLY on year 1982. The song was translated to almost all the languages in the world.

- Vuyo Mokoena participated on the song ebusheni bami (In My Youth) and on the song SIZOWANYATHELA (WE WILL CRUSH). 

On that song after singing there is an interludio moment as Jabu and Vuyo does kick dancing moves. But the most impressive thing happened when the violinist played on that song. The talent that he has to play the violin with a fast song was too much. It is too hard to keep the balance with a violin on a fast song and the violinist has done it very well. Also the violinist plays in the song Holy Holy and in the last song from the second session: Woza Meli Wami.

- Vuyo Mokoena and Jabu Hlongwane led this album in three songs: Ebusheni Bami, Sizowayanthela and Woza Mmeli Wami.

- Woza meli wami was first recorded in Joyous 6 (2001) but in Joyous 7 the song was recorded with more energy than Joyous 6. In this album Joyous decided to close the concert with this song.

On the song EBUSHENI BAMI too after singing there is an interlude - chant moment.

- After singing the song WOZA MMELI WAMI there is an interludio moment and the curtains of the theater closes the view to the stage because the concert has ended. 

- In this album Mthunzi Namba does not take a moment to minister (on the song UJESU WAMI from Joyous 4 that thing happened) but he plays the piano on the album. It is weird because almost always he ministers in one or more songs from Joyous Celebration. He sung on the song i see the Lord (cover from Christian city Church, actually c3 church).

Advantages:

- Starting at this album Joyous crossed the borders so they will be more known on other cities from South Africa. The secular company SABC has promoted the music from Joyous Celebration so more people listen and enjoy the hymns, covers gospel and christian songs and too the original songs composed by the members from Joyous Celebration itself.

- This album was made with a low budget. Joyous Celebration received the help from other companies and third-party to cover the costs from video, camera, staff and lights from the live recording. Joyous put the background lights (similar to joyous 6) but the other things was made by other people that helped to do this album and video recording. 

- This album is one of the best in praise and worship and gospel music

- This album has dynamisme on several songs.

- The quality from the album is good. It is better in comparison with Joyous 6.

- Many of the songs has been sung by the churches from South Africa and the world for several time.

- The video version has a good length. Two hours of gospel music. This is the only gospel and christian group from all over the world who makes the albums with the longest duration.

Disadvantages:

- Some songs are not available on the cd version and only are available on the video version.

- The songs from the cd version are not according to the video version. The real order from the live recording it is only available on the video version.

- Many songs from the cd version was recorded as a demo with 2 or 3 minutes but in video version there are the complete version from 6 or 7 minutes. This is annoying to any people who wants to enjoy the album. The cd supports a duration until 1 hour 20 minutes and one video dvd supports a duration from 2 hours. I prefer that Joyous divide the cd version with two discs and like that they should complete the two hours and the songs that only are available on the video version to be included on the cd version. But Joyous didn't do that.

- I consider that in this album there is not true worship. I don't feel the anointing. I did not see Mthunzi leading and ministering with the anointing. In this album Mthunzi Namba only sung two or more songs but he did not take a time to minister the people with the word of God. Also i saw this live recording like a festival more than praise and worship. Jabu Hlongwane and Vuyo Mokoena prepared the most part of this album and i saw that the two people wanted to do a impressive live performance than doing a true worship in this live recording. I saw pride on Jabu, specially on Vuyo. He took a mindset of pride to impress and please the people. Vuyo brainwashed to all Joyous community to do for this live recording a performance more than praise and worship meeting. I don't like that. And in the song SIZOWAYANTHELA Jabu and Vuyo danced and did a show more than real praise and worship. But the songs from this album are not bad.

- Few people attended to this live recording. In the first session only 300 people attended to the live recording and in the second session 700 people attended the live recording. And the Artscape Theatre has a capacity of 1.487 people. 

List of songs (cd version. Unreal order)

List of songs video version (Real order from the Live Recording)