Review For Vibes Web3 Music Competition Week 42
My initial response on clicking the video link of Thanksgiving of Amazing Grace was that I did not know what was coming. The title was so peaceful and sacred and there was something in the words that made my heart stop. Many of us have already felt the meaning of the wonderful saying, “Amazing Grace," but the addition of Thanksgiving to this question seemed like opening the door to a new world.
I inhaled deeply, inserted my earphones and pressed play. The initial few seconds made me realize I was about to enjoy something different as it was not going to be only sound but I was going to experience an emotion.
The initial notes were gentle, almost as though they came out of heaven as a whisper. Ernesto came in softly, with his smooth and even tenor and I was at ease. His singing was not loud and pushy; it was gentle and with passion. It brought back that feeling of peaceful Sunday mornings in church, when everything is fine, when the air is filled with incense, and the choir is singing in sync. I sat still, just listening. All the words he uttered sounded like a prayer spoken to God.
His presentation was what actually attracted me. It was not a contest to demonstrate musical abilities, or to impress a person in any way, but about sincerity. Something spiritual was expressed in his facial expressions. He was sincere in what he said.
The words of the line Lord bless the work of our hands struck me. Being a Nigerian, I understand that life is sometimes very difficult, we struggle everyday hoping that God would be kind and see us through. When he sang that line it was not only just lyrics but it was a cry of all the hard working people.
The repetition of the chorus, This is thanksgiving of amazing grace, seemed like a grateful echo. I had to close my eyes each time I heard him sing it. My soul was singing, too, you know. Something strong in the simplicity there was. The song did not require a complete band and loud music, the feeling itself was all that was needed to fill the room. It was as though I was in the midst of light, peace and love.
As I continued to listen, I began to think about my life. I recalled the time when I felt like quitting, when I felt down and out and I had no idea why it was worth being grateful. Nevertheless, this song did not forget that it is not just to be thankful when things are good but to be thankful when things are tough. That is what great grace is all about. Grace that comes to you when you are in a shattered state, grace that makes you know that you are still alive, still breathing still blessed.
Ernesto sang about family, children, friends and relations, and it is one time when he sang that he was thanking God. That part touched me deeply. Nigeria is a family-centered country. We forget to appreciate them sometimes we forget to say thank you to those who are at our side and pray silently. That is what I thought of in the song. It made me remember that regardless of how insignificant our blessings are, gratitude will multiply it.
His creativity was what made the performance even more powerful. Ernesto added that this was not the same interpretation as the original song by Sir Jude Nnam but his personal interpretation. And really you could experience that distinctiveness. The manner of his delivery of the verses, the manner in which he incorporated emotion with music, it was all his own touch. And it seemed as though he was not only singing about grace, but he was doing it, standing in front of us.
When the song was approaching the conclusion, I experienced some sacred silence in me. I was quiet, yet full inside. There is a kind of suspense created when a song touches your heart so much and you cannot help but think that you do not want it to end as you feel that something holy is taking place. That’s how I felt. I wished the tune would continue a little further, to make my heart drink all the drops of calm it produced.
As soon as the last words were said, I did not move. I simply sat down and allowed the quietness to prevail. My chest was warm. My thoughts were quiet. It was more of a song, it was a moment. An encouragement that despite the heaviness of life, the grace of God still falls. It does not have to scream and cry; it whispers to the listeners.
This is what I learned in this performance by Ernesto6402: thanksgiving is not about being perfect; it is about being there. It has to do with stopping to say, Lord, I feel your hand, even in my plight. The song made me think that gratitude is the key to peace. It is the way we perceive grace in our day to day lives, in our jobs, in our families, in our little accomplishments.
This song is dedicated to those who have been confused, fatigued, or do not know where their blessings are. It is telling you to take another glance at it, to see the little lights, which never went out, which were the invisible mercies that sustained you. It makes you know that grace is not simply wonderful, it is life.
As I finally stopped the video I thought a little prayer: Lord, thank You that I have such amazing grace. This is what this song does to you, it does not simply make you listen, it makes you remember.
Yes, I saw, I heard and I knew it, in the very depths of my soul. More than a performance, Thanksgiving of Amazing Grace is a kind of a reminder that regardless of our identity and challenges, we have something to be grateful about. And being a Nigerian man who understands what it is like to hustle, hope and pray, I can say this in my heart, this song moved me in a way that words cannot describe.
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