Lastly, the school had no influence over my decision at all. After 37 years of teaching music, I was pretty much left alone by the administration. I never changed lyrics to play it safe with them. The lyric change in this song was personal to me (I don't pray to Jesus, I pray to God) and in consideration of students and their beliefs and comfort zones.
I only recently discovered this video was on you tube and I opened an account solely to respond.
To continue, the imbalance of voices is due to the camera & mic being directed at the sopranos, making them seem louder. I assure you that straightaway, the balance was very good, as reflected in our perfect scores in blend, balance and intonation. The choir was the combination of my 2 show choirs and we really only went through the song twice all together before this performance. We got a little better by the end of the year.
As the director in this video, here are some comments:
As you may know, the children of Kosovo were mostly Muslim, with most of the other being Serbian Orthodox or Catholic. Since the majority would not pray to Jesus, the use of the generic "who will" rather than "Jesus" makes sense. It was also an alternative suggested by the composer. As a Christian, I am sensitive to the beliefs of others and my choir had at least 5 or 6 religions represented - as well as atheism.
my concert shoir sang this song at our winter festival, I was crying when the super suprano sang "crying Jesus help me!" it was so beautiful :') and this song is now one of my favorites xD
Kurt Bestor, the Mormon missionary who wrote the song, wrote both versions. If you're debating over whether it should be "Jesus" or "someone", you've missed the point.
I am working on this song currently for my upcoming choir concert in Brainerd, Minnesota. We are a group of freshman in highschool. The alternate lyrics are "Cryin' JESUS help me". This change is optional so there is so religious dispute.
ive sang in a lot of high school chiors, and sopranos dont always overpower altos, granted we have more altos than sopranos but it isnt always sopranos over altos and i really wish i could find an SATB version of this on youtube. great job tho :)
i've found good ttbb and good ssaa versions of this song. WHY ARE THERE NO GOOD SATB VERSIONS ON YOUTUBE? my high school had a mixed double sextet sing this (SATB) at contest, and it was one of my favorite songs that my school performed.
Also, they rush a little bit. but they have good tone and intonation.
This song was song in Arcadia, in America, a Christian Nation at least that is what still rings true on our currency. Freedom of speech,you can sing your heart out to JESUS if you want to, and stand up for JESUS! The state has nothing to do with it, nor does the public schools, you have the right to believe, and sing what you want. Otherwise go live in a communist country "CHINA" where you can be told what to say, think and SING! COWARDS!!!!!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA!
This is a beautiful song and a song of sadness for the children that lost their lives in Bosnia. I dislike that the choir director removed "Jesus" from the song. This is a christian song and should of not been changed to accommodate. We should honor the original song and its true meaning, this is a song of history and war. shame on you.
I love this song so much. One critic though, the sopranos are overpowering the altos. I can barely hear the altos and I can sort of pick out the middles
@jjisinthehouse007 the sopranos are always overpowering the altos. i've been in 4 different choirs and the sopranos overpowered the altos every time. i swear, its like an unwritten rule for them to overpower us or something! DX
@NickxBobie hahaha weird because in my choir, the altos always overpower the sopranos. we call ourselves the alto powerdome and everytime we do a good job on a song we say "DOME IT UP" hahahaha
I like it, even with the "who will". It's still a touching song about the impacts of war. Many children impacted by war do not pray to Jesus, anyway... I think it would be better to have something like "God please" or "Lord please" instead of "who will", however.
My choir did this song this year in choir. It was really good except for one of the choruses. My choir teacher is stupid and she saw a breath mark on the music. So instead she thinks that it means that we all take a rest there and completely add another beat in the measure. I seriously hate it so much. The girls and I seriously went off on her. It was hysterical. This teacher is also responsible for the discontinuing of choir at her previous school. Everyone dropped the class because of her.
@MissLilly47 Actually, a beat wouldn't throw off the entire song... we're doing that as well, as it's part of the interpretation, and it sounds really nice...
My main qualm with this is just the gender of voice. I'm sure that this choir worked on it with due diligence and passion (it does show), but I just feel it sounds better with men. And I'm detecting a very distinguishable soprano in the blend... otherwise, nice job.
I don't get it...why is it so hard to find a version of this with women AND men??? All I could find was a quartet. I sang the SATB version in high school. If anyone can find a co-ed version, let me know!
Were doing this in my middle school choir, yes, a middle school, but you should see what we are capable of doing. I love this song, everytime we get around the piano, and start working on the piece, and I start singing, my eyes literally water. It gives me chills, it is such a beautiful song.I can't wait till were done with it, its already sounding stunning!
This choir does an amazing job on this song but the fact that they sing "who will" instead of "Jesus" completely kills the song. It totally kills the meaning and everything the song was written for. :( *sigh* I'd like to find a really good high school/college version of this song...
WOW! You guys sing this beautifully! Have t osing it in my highschool chorus and it's so depressing but you give the song beauty I never knew it could have.
such a great song, get chills every time, were singing this in my choir and our school is making us take out the "crying Jesus help me" because no one wants to 'cause a religious stir' that seriously takes away form this song.
My daughter's women's chorus at Medina High School did this in contest in 2004 and it was perfection. All three judges were moved to tears. This one comes as close to that performance as I've ever heard. Congratulations, ladies!
we're sining this in my school.. the Women's select Ensamble is.. and they seem to have "missed" a part in this video.. i'm not sure if it is a different version, but they missed the part before angry guns. it is just a really cool part, my personal favorite part too... but i agree with CassieChoirGeek, the Sopranos were screechy, i'm a Soprano 1, and our sopranos sound less screechy... my choir also goes to Heritage Fesivals... this year we are going to NYC. to sing at the Riverside Church!
actually, they really didn't sing it fast enough. The director took a lot of liberty drawing it out. My choir sang this in a Disney competition too, and I sang the S2 part. It was practically nonexistant here... the S1's took over. And I'm sorry, but I prefer it sung by women when it's done right. If you have a few talented S1's you can hit some even higher notes than shown here and it really transforms the piece and brings it to life.
I think they all sound beautiful and have a nice blend. We're singing this in my college choir and it's 4 part with men and women. It's pretty awesome
damnit, I love this song, BUt i despise the fact that they chose for sume bull shit reason to change the song to be politically correct... I think religon is silly, but I have no problem with people saying Jesus... fuck political correctness, sing the song as it was written or dont sing it at all period. if I was there, Id raise hell with the faculty for allowing them or forcing them to censure the song. otherwise great song
If you knew this song, by the word Jesus there's a * and on the bottom it reads that it's optional to change it to "who will", and that's right in the music. We're singing this song in choir.
@lilskateboardpb omg so did my school!! :O but we went a little slower and we said Jesus instead of who will at crying who will help me?! and fyi we are a public school
i think the sopranos are too shrilly... and someone's vibrato in the soprano section was far too strong on the higher notes during the chorus. also, the blending just wasn't right, i heard individual sections instead of one harmonious choir. the ending sounded good, but the rest was just alright.
My high school choir sang the SATB version and it didn't sound nearly half as good as this. Now that I'm a music teacher, I'm trying to get my girl's choir to do it but we are FAR from this quality. EXCELLENT!!
In addition to my other comment, 'Who Will' instead of Jesus takes away the impact of the song. It is a Christian song, and even if you don't believe in the Christian god or any god at all, that doesn't change the fact that in third-world countries, belief and hope of a God has given hope to those otherwise hopeless... There you often find the words hopeless and godless in the same sentence, but you never hear religious and hopeless...
Wow! That is so true! In depth and smart way of thinking of that! Religion always offers hope, too bad people don't take the time to stop and realize that :(.
=/ You're so right. I feel bad for all those third world country folk with computers and working internet who are going to youtube this and think, "wait... this high school's version of this song doesn't mention Jesus... does that mean there's no hope left???"
@timoteck1 I'm an atheist, and I agree with you wholeheartedly. We're doing this song in my choir, and I'm very angry we can't just sing Jesus, because it takes away from the meaning of the song, whether you're a theist or not.
@timoteck1 my choir is did this song for our choir concert last night and we sang "Who Will" my choir director told us that we sang that instead of Jesus because the people who this song was actually written for did not believe in a christian God and at least for my choir our director said he didnt want to "push" that religion onto them.
@timoteck1 but you have to use empathy in that decision. the people sitting in the audience don't know that, or even think about it. so what if there's a jewish family sitting in the crowd..? and i find your comment kind of rude and selfish. you're a christian i'm guessing..? it's called diversity. you can't just think of yourself. and in my opinion, ''who will'' is more powerful than ''jesus''
@pinkmints I'm 100% atheist... Saying "who will" Instead of Jesus is not only less powerful...Its stupid bullshit. It's just being waaay waayy to politically correct.On top of that I find changing the lyrics to a song insulting to the writer and composer!
@SpartanicalSystem in the music is is written that you can change the lyrics from "jesus" to "who will" if you wish to. but it is the director's choice. and it was most likely out of respect, something you clearly don't have.
@timoteck1 I'm sorry but I don't agree, this song is beautiful with or with out the Jesus part, it still gets the point across because the song was so well written it doesn't need it. yes It was originally written with Jesus in it, and yes it's very lovely when they sing it the original way, but for someone like me singing Jesus and not being a believer in religion it's uncomfortable for me. Just my opinion.
I'm not religious - its that you (the performer) are asking for some sort of miracle to come true for when the children cry out for help to Jesus/God/Whoever. That the interpretation that I used when I examined the piece.
@timoteck1 Unfortunately, the way that the world works nowadays, some people do not have a choice. I am a High School choir director and my students are even now preparing to sing this song in a concert. I had kept the words crying Jesus, but was told that I had to change them or pull the song from our program because two parents had threatened to sue our school and district for forcing their child to sing about Jesus when they are not Christians. This director may have been in the same boat.
@timoteck1 The Bel Canto at my school sang this song, and their version actually said "Who Will" instead of Jesus, like it was literally the written lyric in the music. Sometimes it's not the conductors decision, it's just what they have in front of them that they're teaching. My choir teacher has us sing songs about jesus and god and other people from the Bible all the time, so I know it wasn't just her decision, and it probably wasn't this choirs decision either.
@gagalovr Bel Canto choir? I see you're in WA, go to EWHS? We sang this song years ago when they had a Mens Ensemble(much more awesome in TTBB). They also have/had a Bel Canto choir.
@timoteck1 You have to understand there's a little thing called "separation of church and state." We are a public high school, i.e. getting funded by the state. Therefore, anything related to the church, for the benefits of the majority, are separated. No public school can force their students to sing or evoke a Christian image "just because it is a Christian song." If we were a private school, it would be different. Your "third world" rant is irrelevant to this, sorry. It just is.
@guavamang0man You seem to not understand what Separation of Church and State is. All the "separation" does is ensure that the State (USA) cannot force you to be a member of any particular religion/worship any particular God. It does NOT say that public school choirs can't sing the word "Jesus" in one of their songs.
And yes, a school cannot force you to sing a Christian song if you choose not to. But actually, I'm willing to bet your school didn't force you to join choir either.
Also, it doesn't make much sense without saying Jesus because then it basically quotes a famous prayer "For if I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take."
maybe it just me being sexist, but I think it sound better with four guys... I know this is going to be thumbs downed. We did this for house vocal with Bass (me)/Tenor (some guy)/four altos/two sopranos...
Ok, I get that not everyone is a Christian but why should saying Jesus' name in a song offend anyone? I mean, if someone gets offended by a Muslim or Buddhist worshipping or talking about their religion, they are called a racist and told that they are a narrow minded jerk. But when someone does the same thing about Christianity, no one bats an eye. I cannot see why someone singing a song that says Jesus in it should OFFEND nonChristians.
Aw, i was disappointed you changed "Jesus" to "who will." I respect all religions though, i just think it sounds better saying Jesus. Great job though!!
This has nothing to do with respecting other religions. How is it disrespectful to sing "Jesus" in a song? It is not mocking other religions or putting them down. It is just singing a word that someone wrote, you don't have to believe in it. I don't think that you should change a composer's work. They wrote it that way so that it would have a specific meaning. Who are we to decide their message?
I think you guys sound really pretty, it's such an amazing beautiful song. I'm doing it in my choir and I really love it! I think you had very definitive dynamics, good job!
Nice. I do not like how you guys changed 'Jesus'. Also the director took the phrases really fast then slowed down way too much. And at 1:23 someone scooped horribly on the word 'soul'- I have never seen it written like that- but maybe it is? But you guys have a really nice blend and a nice sound. Good job!
Eh, there are 22 major religions in the world, and children suffer all around it. The message of this song isn't really Christianity, it's about helping the children out of their suffering.
I understand your point, but I'm more of a secular kind of guy, and I think that's what they're going for. This is also probably a public school.
I agree with you. There really isn't any point to take crying Jesus out of a song. I go to a public school and we still sang crying jesus. It just sounds much better and much more pleading. It directs the cries and creates more of a sense of longing and hope. That's why it's written not for some christian agenda.
a little to much vabrado within the sections...and kinda REALLY fast, the jesus part is what makes the song, shame you chose the alternate words...blend is pretty good though.
wow, this isnt good at all, i am in a mens chorus and we are singing this song, and it is soooo much better than this, i am surprised that they removed the jesus part out because my chorus teacher and a lot of the students in my school are jewish, but we decided to keep the lyrics the same
Hey, kids! Did you know that if you go to the river and pick up a rock you can bring that rock home and pray to it every day? It's true! And it always answers your prayers! Mind you, sometimes the answer will be YES, sometimes it will be NO, and sometimes it will be WAIT, but it will always answer your prayer. Just like God. Just exactly like God.
we are currently rehearsing this song in my choir. We learned background of it as with all pieces. We are singing "Who Will" as well. Its not about being allowed to (although it may be) but rather, the fact that the children singing this prayer (forgot what race) aren't christian. And don't believe in God. So singing Jesus doesn't make sense
I love the altos! they have such a "chesty" sound and it takes this type of sound in order to keep the choir together. And the soprano high "g" is not pushed, it just flows. Very nice.
when we sang this in a mass choir of 800 people...i don't know how many people i saw crying--it is such a touching song...and thank you to everyone who sings this...it puts a smile on my face...knowing that the "invisible children" are being helped :)
I was in this choir and it is sung from a public school...so obviously there would be complaints if we sang it with "crying jesus"...:) thought i might clear that up
eww that's stupid!! i sang it 3 times with a public school and we never changed it! ...i don't think this nearly perfect peice should be changed whatsoever...it sounds dumb this way.....
I love that this is a women's choir. I did it in a coed choir, and it sounded great. I would say that you did just as well as, and in most cases better than the men's groups. Your pitch was spot on in the high notes. Amazing.
my choir did this song....and we also had to say "who will" and the whole choir was upset....we all wanted to say jesus....i was also in a SSAA chorus...
Lastly, the school had no influence over my decision at all. After 37 years of teaching music, I was pretty much left alone by the administration. I never changed lyrics to play it safe with them. The lyric change in this song was personal to me (I don't pray to Jesus, I pray to God) and in consideration of students and their beliefs and comfort zones.
I only recently discovered this video was on you tube and I opened an account solely to respond.
44rammar
44rammar 2 months ago 5
To continue, the imbalance of voices is due to the camera & mic being directed at the sopranos, making them seem louder. I assure you that straightaway, the balance was very good, as reflected in our perfect scores in blend, balance and intonation. The choir was the combination of my 2 show choirs and we really only went through the song twice all together before this performance. We got a little better by the end of the year.
44rammar
44rammar 2 months ago 6
As the director in this video, here are some comments:
As you may know, the children of Kosovo were mostly Muslim, with most of the other being Serbian Orthodox or Catholic. Since the majority would not pray to Jesus, the use of the generic "who will" rather than "Jesus" makes sense. It was also an alternative suggested by the composer. As a Christian, I am sensitive to the beliefs of others and my choir had at least 5 or 6 religions represented - as well as atheism.
44rammar
44rammar 2 months ago 5
my concert shoir sang this song at our winter festival, I was crying when the super suprano sang "crying Jesus help me!" it was so beautiful :') and this song is now one of my favorites xD
NinjaFrickinMuffin 2 months ago
Kurt Bestor, the Mormon missionary who wrote the song, wrote both versions. If you're debating over whether it should be "Jesus" or "someone", you've missed the point.
plutonium210 2 months ago
Well who are they praying to? it is prayer of the children.......Crying Jesus Help me!
knowmycars 2 months ago
I am working on this song currently for my upcoming choir concert in Brainerd, Minnesota. We are a group of freshman in highschool. The alternate lyrics are "Cryin' JESUS help me". This change is optional so there is so religious dispute.
krazykintop 3 months ago
Who said you could change the words - too bad, the meaning is lost.
agbowden 3 months ago
they hold those notes waaaaay too long.
gogreen1010 3 months ago
My high school Varsity Level choir is doing the SATB version and it sounds PHENOMENAL and I'm glad to say I'm a soprano :)
nicefacekid014 5 months ago
ive sang in a lot of high school chiors, and sopranos dont always overpower altos, granted we have more altos than sopranos but it isnt always sopranos over altos and i really wish i could find an SATB version of this on youtube. great job tho :)
theaternerd96 5 months ago
i've found good ttbb and good ssaa versions of this song. WHY ARE THERE NO GOOD SATB VERSIONS ON YOUTUBE? my high school had a mixed double sextet sing this (SATB) at contest, and it was one of my favorite songs that my school performed.
Also, they rush a little bit. but they have good tone and intonation.
brycepatties 5 months ago 2
This song was song in Arcadia, in America, a Christian Nation at least that is what still rings true on our currency. Freedom of speech,you can sing your heart out to JESUS if you want to, and stand up for JESUS! The state has nothing to do with it, nor does the public schools, you have the right to believe, and sing what you want. Otherwise go live in a communist country "CHINA" where you can be told what to say, think and SING! COWARDS!!!!!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA!
pinkytosca 5 months ago
This is a beautiful song and a song of sadness for the children that lost their lives in Bosnia. I dislike that the choir director removed "Jesus" from the song. This is a christian song and should of not been changed to accommodate. We should honor the original song and its true meaning, this is a song of history and war. shame on you.
pinkytosca 5 months ago
we did this song lol yall were good but seems that some of your mouths werent rounded!
juuiiiccccyyyyy 9 months ago
I love this song so much. One critic though, the sopranos are overpowering the altos. I can barely hear the altos and I can sort of pick out the middles
jjisinthehouse007 9 months ago
@jjisinthehouse007 the sopranos are always overpowering the altos. i've been in 4 different choirs and the sopranos overpowered the altos every time. i swear, its like an unwritten rule for them to overpower us or something! DX
NickxBobie 8 months ago
@NickxBobie hahaha weird because in my choir, the altos always overpower the sopranos. we call ourselves the alto powerdome and everytime we do a good job on a song we say "DOME IT UP" hahahaha
fizzfizz28 5 months ago
@fizzfizz28 lol. awesomesauce! XD
NickxBobie 5 months ago
I like it, even with the "who will". It's still a touching song about the impacts of war. Many children impacted by war do not pray to Jesus, anyway... I think it would be better to have something like "God please" or "Lord please" instead of "who will", however.
helleybelley 9 months ago
thats a beautiful vibrato i hear.
fretacat1996 10 months ago
amazing ! good job! God be glorified! more vids!
pikachubroly 10 months ago
amazing ! good job! God be glorified!
pikachubroly 10 months ago
My choir did this song this year in choir. It was really good except for one of the choruses. My choir teacher is stupid and she saw a breath mark on the music. So instead she thinks that it means that we all take a rest there and completely add another beat in the measure. I seriously hate it so much. The girls and I seriously went off on her. It was hysterical. This teacher is also responsible for the discontinuing of choir at her previous school. Everyone dropped the class because of her.
MissLilly47 1 year ago
@MissLilly47 Actually, a beat wouldn't throw off the entire song... we're doing that as well, as it's part of the interpretation, and it sounds really nice...
My main qualm with this is just the gender of voice. I'm sure that this choir worked on it with due diligence and passion (it does show), but I just feel it sounds better with men. And I'm detecting a very distinguishable soprano in the blend... otherwise, nice job.
jojojootlewootle 1 year ago
I don't get it...why is it so hard to find a version of this with women AND men??? All I could find was a quartet. I sang the SATB version in high school. If anyone can find a co-ed version, let me know!
beaners448 1 year ago
@beaners448 If you type Prayer of the Children Mixed choir into the search engine many possiblities will pop up.
altorock13 1 year ago
the dynamics were fantastic! keep singing =)
elphielove4life 1 year ago
Were doing this in my middle school choir, yes, a middle school, but you should see what we are capable of doing. I love this song, everytime we get around the piano, and start working on the piece, and I start singing, my eyes literally water. It gives me chills, it is such a beautiful song.I can't wait till were done with it, its already sounding stunning!
EmberPrincess 1 year ago
damn i got goosebumps
Adriene14 1 year ago
were doing this at my high school. Its so rushed though u cant get the full expericence in my opinion,
angel2071996 1 year ago
@angel2071996 Thats the way the song is supposed to be rushed at certain points... and its like that cause its acapella...
chevylauten 1 year ago
This choir does an amazing job on this song but the fact that they sing "who will" instead of "Jesus" completely kills the song. It totally kills the meaning and everything the song was written for. :( *sigh* I'd like to find a really good high school/college version of this song...
romans8313839 1 year ago
WOW! You guys sing this beautifully! Have t osing it in my highschool chorus and it's so depressing but you give the song beauty I never knew it could have.
TheCrazyCookie7 1 year ago
there's one voice in the soprano 1 section that is very strong
pinkmints 1 year ago
My high school is doing this song! XD
01crystalmoon 1 year ago
we're doing this in my high skool wemans chior.
AudreyTillDeath 1 year ago
Our high school is doing this for our veterans day concert(:
Katie1871 1 year ago
such a great song, get chills every time, were singing this in my choir and our school is making us take out the "crying Jesus help me" because no one wants to 'cause a religious stir' that seriously takes away form this song.
neederlo 1 year ago
my highschool is doing this now
tinacanseeyou 1 year ago
@tinacanseeyou us to
Gurnt115 1 year ago
nice blending but the tempo is too fast for my liking
dennis5250 1 year ago
amazing sounds. sounds way better from a mens choir tho. needs that deepness. but this is extremely good for not having any bass
zmatsko 1 year ago
My daughter's women's chorus at Medina High School did this in contest in 2004 and it was perfection. All three judges were moved to tears. This one comes as close to that performance as I've ever heard. Congratulations, ladies!
carolanivey 1 year ago
very nice!!.. one of my favourite songs.. nice job!
andrexlo 1 year ago
i feel it goes super fast.
missmasquerade15 1 year ago
Much better as a TTBB Quartet.
CrazyLinns 1 year ago 2
we're sining this in my school.. the Women's select Ensamble is.. and they seem to have "missed" a part in this video.. i'm not sure if it is a different version, but they missed the part before angry guns. it is just a really cool part, my personal favorite part too... but i agree with CassieChoirGeek, the Sopranos were screechy, i'm a Soprano 1, and our sopranos sound less screechy... my choir also goes to Heritage Fesivals... this year we are going to NYC. to sing at the Riverside Church!
animechick49 1 year ago
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mmichaelddarby 1 year ago
actually, they really didn't sing it fast enough. The director took a lot of liberty drawing it out. My choir sang this in a Disney competition too, and I sang the S2 part. It was practically nonexistant here... the S1's took over. And I'm sorry, but I prefer it sung by women when it's done right. If you have a few talented S1's you can hit some even higher notes than shown here and it really transforms the piece and brings it to life.
champember21005 1 year ago
i reckon it sounds much better with female voices :)
MeowQueen22 2 years ago
The sopranos are loud, but they need to think hiqher. (:
TheMermaidsLittle 2 years ago
your probly thinking of alto.
abbenikay 1 year ago
I think they all sound beautiful and have a nice blend. We're singing this in my college choir and it's 4 part with men and women. It's pretty awesome
bartlebylove22 2 years ago
the altos are freakin awesome! not a fan of the screechy sopranos...
CassieChoirGeek 2 years ago
@CassieChoirGeek
Actually the Soprano is not really screechy.
Domanicachan 2 years ago
@Domanicachan they sound screechy as heck!!
CassieChoirGeek 2 years ago
@CassieChoirGeek I agree
Its coz this song is meant to be sung by men
LachlanJG 2 years ago
not meant for women's voices...
tyetyetye17 2 years ago
damnit, I love this song, BUt i despise the fact that they chose for sume bull shit reason to change the song to be politically correct... I think religon is silly, but I have no problem with people saying Jesus... fuck political correctness, sing the song as it was written or dont sing it at all period. if I was there, Id raise hell with the faculty for allowing them or forcing them to censure the song. otherwise great song
medievalman86 2 years ago
If you knew this song, by the word Jesus there's a * and on the bottom it reads that it's optional to change it to "who will", and that's right in the music. We're singing this song in choir.
bartlebylove22 2 years ago
Needs MORE FEELING!! CMON GIRLSSS!! ITS CHILDREN WERE TALKING ABOUT HERE!!!! FEEELLL THIS SONG, WORDS, LYRICS, NOTES, PITCHESS!!!! FEEEL IT!!
XoXLiFexOfxMuZiCXoX 2 years ago 2
we did this song in my high school.
and everytime i hear it.... it gives me chills.
sooo beautiful.
lilskateboardpb 2 years ago 33
@lilskateboardpb omg so did my school!! :O
Animusic15 1 year ago
@lilskateboardpb omg so did my school!! :O but we went a little slower and we said Jesus instead of who will at crying who will help me?! and fyi we are a public school
Animusic15 1 year ago
@lilskateboardpb So did we! I graduated 3 years ago and I still remember!
chevylauten 1 year ago
@lilskateboardpb-
your not the only one
flashbang739 9 months ago
i don't like the inconstistent tempo.
LiLLeR101x 2 years ago
theres a lot of scooping on the unknown room part for sopranoes
MrsFuzzykins 2 years ago
phenomenal.
mrsncoles 2 years ago
i think the sopranos are too shrilly... and someone's vibrato in the soprano section was far too strong on the higher notes during the chorus. also, the blending just wasn't right, i heard individual sections instead of one harmonious choir. the ending sounded good, but the rest was just alright.
InducedJoy 2 years ago
Where is the woh part? That part is important! bleh! otherwise, sounds good!
PudgeMonster1 2 years ago
how come you guys didnt do the "woh" section?
bamfxjamey 2 years ago 2
@bamfxjamey
i'm assuming its because they didn't have a tenor or bass section.
emilyfeisterTM 2 years ago
amazing job ladies! Amazing blend!
bumblebee1201 2 years ago
san marino high school choir rocks
sweetgrl123 2 years ago
san marino is better
sweetgrl123 2 years ago
Absolutely gorgeous.
DollarStoreWhore 2 years ago
Beautiful.
My high school choir sang the SATB version and it didn't sound nearly half as good as this. Now that I'm a music teacher, I'm trying to get my girl's choir to do it but we are FAR from this quality. EXCELLENT!!
smorriskc 2 years ago
My show choir went to Heritage Festival in Orlando this year. It was fun. :)
Saltiegal 2 years ago
beautifull
dcnvfghnit54ph 2 years ago
Wow! Great job. My choir sang this song as well ... I hope you did great at the festival.
turnerbug 2 years ago
There's like ONE girl on the melody that's not blending with the choir... she's almost trying to be heard as a soloist or something....
Ganwokakeru 2 years ago
i sang this song at GMEA Honor Chorus in Athen, Ga back in October 2008. It is an amazing song and touches people deeply. you did a great job.
irider09 2 years ago
max chills
kaycedarling 2 years ago
In addition to my other comment, 'Who Will' instead of Jesus takes away the impact of the song. It is a Christian song, and even if you don't believe in the Christian god or any god at all, that doesn't change the fact that in third-world countries, belief and hope of a God has given hope to those otherwise hopeless... There you often find the words hopeless and godless in the same sentence, but you never hear religious and hopeless...
timoteck1 2 years ago 23
Wow! That is so true! In depth and smart way of thinking of that! Religion always offers hope, too bad people don't take the time to stop and realize that :(.
goodgirl12344321 2 years ago
=/ You're so right. I feel bad for all those third world country folk with computers and working internet who are going to youtube this and think, "wait... this high school's version of this song doesn't mention Jesus... does that mean there's no hope left???"
axcw19 2 years ago
trust me, we all wanted to sing "jesus" instead of "who will", the school would not allow us to.
omgcutiestephy 2 years ago
so true, Jesus needs to be in there. it just doesn't sound the same to me. =/
edwardelric333 2 years ago
@timoteck1 I'm an atheist, and I agree with you wholeheartedly. We're doing this song in my choir, and I'm very angry we can't just sing Jesus, because it takes away from the meaning of the song, whether you're a theist or not.
luigio94 1 year ago
@timoteck1 my choir is did this song for our choir concert last night and we sang "Who Will" my choir director told us that we sang that instead of Jesus because the people who this song was actually written for did not believe in a christian God and at least for my choir our director said he didnt want to "push" that religion onto them.
cinnimon0001 1 year ago
Comment removed
Triairius 1 year ago
@timoteck1 but you have to use empathy in that decision. the people sitting in the audience don't know that, or even think about it. so what if there's a jewish family sitting in the crowd..? and i find your comment kind of rude and selfish. you're a christian i'm guessing..? it's called diversity. you can't just think of yourself. and in my opinion, ''who will'' is more powerful than ''jesus''
pinkmints 1 year ago
@pinkmints I'm 100% atheist... Saying "who will" Instead of Jesus is not only less powerful...Its stupid bullshit. It's just being waaay waayy to politically correct.On top of that I find changing the lyrics to a song insulting to the writer and composer!
SpartanicalSystem 1 year ago
@SpartanicalSystem in the music is is written that you can change the lyrics from "jesus" to "who will" if you wish to. but it is the director's choice. and it was most likely out of respect, something you clearly don't have.
pinkmints 1 year ago
@timoteck1 I'm sorry but I don't agree, this song is beautiful with or with out the Jesus part, it still gets the point across because the song was so well written it doesn't need it. yes It was originally written with Jesus in it, and yes it's very lovely when they sing it the original way, but for someone like me singing Jesus and not being a believer in religion it's uncomfortable for me. Just my opinion.
AjAnxiouS 1 year ago 2
@AjAnxiouS
I'm not religious - its that you (the performer) are asking for some sort of miracle to come true for when the children cry out for help to Jesus/God/Whoever. That the interpretation that I used when I examined the piece.
TimEddyHughes 1 year ago
@timoteck1 Unfortunately, the way that the world works nowadays, some people do not have a choice. I am a High School choir director and my students are even now preparing to sing this song in a concert. I had kept the words crying Jesus, but was told that I had to change them or pull the song from our program because two parents had threatened to sue our school and district for forcing their child to sing about Jesus when they are not Christians. This director may have been in the same boat.
altorock13 1 year ago
@altorock13 did you bring up the first ammendment?
Vlaxerman343 10 months ago
@timoteck1 The Bel Canto at my school sang this song, and their version actually said "Who Will" instead of Jesus, like it was literally the written lyric in the music. Sometimes it's not the conductors decision, it's just what they have in front of them that they're teaching. My choir teacher has us sing songs about jesus and god and other people from the Bible all the time, so I know it wasn't just her decision, and it probably wasn't this choirs decision either.
gagalovr 11 months ago
@gagalovr Bel Canto choir? I see you're in WA, go to EWHS? We sang this song years ago when they had a Mens Ensemble(much more awesome in TTBB). They also have/had a Bel Canto choir.
melinkoe 10 months ago
@melinkoe actually I go to Mount Vernon... Our men's choir would totally butch this song though xD they totally suck! but Bel Canto was amazing
gagalovr 10 months ago
@timoteck1 You have to understand there's a little thing called "separation of church and state." We are a public high school, i.e. getting funded by the state. Therefore, anything related to the church, for the benefits of the majority, are separated. No public school can force their students to sing or evoke a Christian image "just because it is a Christian song." If we were a private school, it would be different. Your "third world" rant is irrelevant to this, sorry. It just is.
guavamang0man 7 months ago
@guavamang0man You seem to not understand what Separation of Church and State is. All the "separation" does is ensure that the State (USA) cannot force you to be a member of any particular religion/worship any particular God. It does NOT say that public school choirs can't sing the word "Jesus" in one of their songs.
And yes, a school cannot force you to sing a Christian song if you choose not to. But actually, I'm willing to bet your school didn't force you to join choir either.
But nice try.
MajesticTOASTER 5 months ago
@timoteck1 but... the alternate lyrics are there... it doesn't take the 'impact' away, it just gives it a different meaning.
Takhilin 4 months ago
Also, it doesn't make much sense without saying Jesus because then it basically quotes a famous prayer "For if I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take."
irishchic799 2 years ago
you guys did so good!!!! i am doing this in chior and im so excited and i didnt like that they changed the singing jesus help me! but realy good!
Laughingcluts 2 years ago
wow .. it was good .. but i think it sounds better with guys and girls ..
BabyDoll1329392 2 years ago
i agree with you it would sond better with guys!
Laughingcluts 2 years ago 3
maybe it just me being sexist, but I think it sound better with four guys... I know this is going to be thumbs downed. We did this for house vocal with Bass (me)/Tenor (some guy)/four altos/two sopranos...
timoteck1 2 years ago
I like hearing it done by a mixed choir with guys and girls.
PunkRockLostie815 2 years ago
Ok, I get that not everyone is a Christian but why should saying Jesus' name in a song offend anyone? I mean, if someone gets offended by a Muslim or Buddhist worshipping or talking about their religion, they are called a racist and told that they are a narrow minded jerk. But when someone does the same thing about Christianity, no one bats an eye. I cannot see why someone singing a song that says Jesus in it should OFFEND nonChristians.
irishchic799 2 years ago 2
Aw, i was disappointed you changed "Jesus" to "who will." I respect all religions though, i just think it sounds better saying Jesus. Great job though!!
oo7chck 2 years ago
This has nothing to do with respecting other religions. How is it disrespectful to sing "Jesus" in a song? It is not mocking other religions or putting them down. It is just singing a word that someone wrote, you don't have to believe in it. I don't think that you should change a composer's work. They wrote it that way so that it would have a specific meaning. Who are we to decide their message?
irishchic799 2 years ago
I think you guys sound really pretty, it's such an amazing beautiful song. I'm doing it in my choir and I really love it! I think you had very definitive dynamics, good job!
aleiyaladido 2 years ago 2
I justy did the heritage festival in florida
and we did this song and we got first GOld
romanianpin 2 years ago
Nice. I do not like how you guys changed 'Jesus'. Also the director took the phrases really fast then slowed down way too much. And at 1:23 someone scooped horribly on the word 'soul'- I have never seen it written like that- but maybe it is? But you guys have a really nice blend and a nice sound. Good job!
Rachaelmd 2 years ago
Eh, there are 22 major religions in the world, and children suffer all around it. The message of this song isn't really Christianity, it's about helping the children out of their suffering.
I understand your point, but I'm more of a secular kind of guy, and I think that's what they're going for. This is also probably a public school.
aswisshe 2 years ago
I agree with you. There really isn't any point to take crying Jesus out of a song. I go to a public school and we still sang crying jesus. It just sounds much better and much more pleading. It directs the cries and creates more of a sense of longing and hope. That's why it's written not for some christian agenda.
badbsteve 2 years ago
That scoop and soul isn't written in the music... and it takes away from the song in my opinion.
mirron09 2 years ago
our high school men's choir performed this song... i like it both with men and women. excellent job :)
mcfreierpants 2 years ago
I like their dresses so much more than ours.
hollinger33 2 years ago
ohh my class is singing this song in a hugeeee competition, we sound amazing, good song
shannonbaby143 2 years ago
hmm..it's pretty good, but I really don't like that you changed the words. and the balance is a little off in a few spots..also seems rushed
KatieNastopoulos 2 years ago
a little to much vabrado within the sections...and kinda REALLY fast, the jesus part is what makes the song, shame you chose the alternate words...blend is pretty good though.
missmasquerade15 2 years ago
I got goosebumps throughout this song. Wonderful Job, even without men!
Nekohooch20 2 years ago
wow, this isnt good at all, i am in a mens chorus and we are singing this song, and it is soooo much better than this, i am surprised that they removed the jesus part out because my chorus teacher and a lot of the students in my school are jewish, but we decided to keep the lyrics the same
AAAbattery726 2 years ago
some sheet music, like the one that we have, doesnt have the jesus part. so its probably not their fault
shannonbaby143 2 years ago
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Imaginefree69 2 years ago
i think the "Jesus" in the song is one of the most important parts. its too bad it makes people mad because of that one word.
Answer4canceR 3 years ago
If they performing it for a competiition, the last thing someone wants to do is upset the judges because they said JESUS
romanianpin 2 years ago
i performed this at competitiion and we said jesus. i guess it just depends on the instructor
Answer4canceR 2 years ago
OMG check out at 2:50 to 3:20
sick
romanianpin 3 years ago
great arrangement
romanianpin 3 years ago
W/O Tenor & Bass it sucks
Good anyways
ajoel 3 years ago
This is an amazing song. They took out Jesus because it might offend someone. And learn to spell, much?
StarCitron 3 years ago
you sang the right notes, congrats. That's really all I can say about it.
JohnKblah324 3 years ago
I don't like that they took out the name Jesus when they sang "Crying Jesus help me.." I thought it was stuppied
bolman91 3 years ago
"Cryin' who will help me" is the alternative. My choir is doing that as well, offending people and whatnot.
It's not stupid, its an attempt to keep everyone happy
lilandcute321 3 years ago
no its stupid.
SilverAmySilver 3 years ago
A very valid argument. Thank you for your contribution to society.
lilandcute321 3 years ago
lol
MayWeLearn2TrulyLove 2 years ago
it sounds like there shouting at 3:15
KiaraXOXOluve 3 years ago
no it doesn't.
amybroman 3 years ago
I hear two girls in there who are hitting it right when they need to hit it, and it sounds sooo great. Even at 6am :P
jmRobersonn 3 years ago
One pair of hands actually helping
is worth more than a million pairs of hands clasped in prayer.
Prayer is an excuse to stay comfortably at home
while feeling like you are helping others.
Prayer is nearly always a substitute for getting involved.
Imaginefree69 3 years ago
Great sound! Bit too fast for my likings.
DKHumility 3 years ago
my school's chorale was allowed to say "jesus"
meevsdagr8er 3 years ago
we are currently rehearsing this song in my choir. We learned background of it as with all pieces. We are singing "Who Will" as well. Its not about being allowed to (although it may be) but rather, the fact that the children singing this prayer (forgot what race) aren't christian. And don't believe in God. So singing Jesus doesn't make sense
corleone190 3 years ago
I love the altos! they have such a "chesty" sound and it takes this type of sound in order to keep the choir together. And the soprano high "g" is not pushed, it just flows. Very nice.
THSChoir 3 years ago
I agree, there voices are pure, and it is great for this song. The emotion is superb. The high 'g' is simple gorgeous.
Hero2691 3 years ago
so beautiful. This song always gives me goosebumps.
faeriebutch 3 years ago
when we sang this in a mass choir of 800 people...i don't know how many people i saw crying--it is such a touching song...and thank you to everyone who sings this...it puts a smile on my face...knowing that the "invisible children" are being helped :)
adrianna008 3 years ago
speechless
yhababy01 3 years ago
my first time hearing this piece SSAA. Very lovely! Could use more alto...but then again it could just be the voicing. Great tone, ladies!
manaposh 3 years ago
theres no feel to what this song truly means. My acappella group does it much better.
xoxolaberge3006 3 years ago
It was actually written ONLY for men. Then of course, like any other piece, someone arranged it as an SATB and SSAA.
jordanelizab 3 years ago
right at least someone knoes!!!
yhababy01 3 years ago
I love it! Good job.
Estr3lla 3 years ago
vowels= FAIL
Slgcgymbum 3 years ago
I heard a very good conductor once tell a choir singing this that vowels like this are acceptable because it has a "pop" feel to it.
xMarix 3 years ago
I was in this choir and it is sung from a public school...so obviously there would be complaints if we sang it with "crying jesus"...:) thought i might clear that up
imagoldlion 3 years ago
eww that's stupid!! i sang it 3 times with a public school and we never changed it! ...i don't think this nearly perfect peice should be changed whatsoever...it sounds dumb this way.....
ilovethebeatles09 3 years ago
I love that this is a women's choir. I did it in a coed choir, and it sounded great. I would say that you did just as well as, and in most cases better than the men's groups. Your pitch was spot on in the high notes. Amazing.
Kbabe00 3 years ago
isnt it "crying Jesus"?
krnxdong 3 years ago
it is, but they are singing 'who will' for religious reasons.
EpicFailure68 3 years ago
which is the dumbest thing ever
zxflam22 3 years ago
my choir did this song....and we also had to say "who will" and the whole choir was upset....we all wanted to say jesus....i was also in a SSAA chorus...
soon2bsize0 3 years ago
lovely :D
our womens select choir is doing this and i hope it sounds this great!
BOOMxKMN 3 years ago
do you not understand the concept of why they dont say jesus? not everyone has those religious views.
SamiJeann 3 years ago