Jonathan Nelson & Purpose’s Expect the Great, off the upcoming CD Better Days (out September 14 on Integrity Media/SONY Music Entertainment) is such a powerfully exuberant declaration of praise that I couldn’t help but feature it here on GannsDeen.com, making this hot new Gospel single the first to ever be featured on New Christian Radio Singles. (Yeah, we’re expanding our horizons. Can’t wait to do gospel reggae!)
Jonathan Nelson made quite the splash when he debuted in 2008. Prior to that, he’s written some of urban praise’s more enduring melodies, including the #1 hit, The Struggle Is Over for Youth For Christ. His debut CD, Right Now Praise, yielded the top 10 hit My Name is Victory (65 weeks on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart, y’all!), and earned him a Dove Award nomination for Best New Artist. He also won three Stellar Awards out of an initial eight nominations.
With Better Days, produced by Grammy Award winner Aaron Lindsey (Israel Houghton, Marvin Sapp, Martha Munizzi, yes, can you sense the aural similarities?), Nelson and his group Purpose stand to earn even more accolades and chart ink. Expect the Great is already climbing up the charts; this week, it’s the second most-added single at gospel radio and records the second-highest increase in airplay.
In an interview with Afro.com, Nelson says the CD is full of “faith declarations. Faith is the engine you use to speak things over your life. These are songs of faith, hope, and empowerment.”
Expect the Great reminds me of all the great things I love about gospel music. The unabashedly proud declaration of faith in a great and awesome God. Irresistible ensemble harmonies. Impeccable musical arrangements. An obviously anointed worship leader. I really do imagine Heaven will sound like this, and I can’t wait! I love me some Israel Houghton, some Martha Munizzi, some Myron Butler, some Calvin Nowell, and now, I’m a fan of Jonathan Nelson. Pick up a copy of Expect the Great (the video song is a woeful two minutes long; I hope the album version will be longer, it’s just too short!) and I guarantee you’ll be getting your praise on.
EXPECT THE GREAT Lyrics
Jonathan Nelson & Purpose
This is just the beginning
The ear of refreshing
His plan now unfolding
The time of your great blessing
Expect nothing but Victory
Thats the promise of our King
To do exceedingly, abundantly
Above what you ask or think
So
Expect the great
Expect the great
Expect the great
Expect the great
Anticipate, faith activates
This is your year
Your moment is here
Expect the great blessing now
Expect the great blessing now
Expect the great blessing now
Expect the great blessing now
The blessing is on you
The blessing is on you
The blessing is on you
The blessing is on you