Mary Mary Goes and Gets It
Perhaps the most successful “gospel crossover” act since Kirk Franklin, the award-winning duo Mary Mary is having a banner year. Erica Campbell recently gave birth to her third child, Tina is pregnant with her fourth, their WE TV reality show was just picked up for a second season, and their eighth album, Go Get It, dropped last month. They were also nominated for two Grammys, hired new management, and were invited to perform at the Essence Music Festival for the first time next month.
It’s fitting, then, that the lead single from their new album is called “Go Get It.” They’re definitely out here seizing opportunities. And many of those opportunities would not have been available to them, had they not “crossed over” and earned spots on mainstream R&B/urban radio. Though most gospel listeners don’t get as up in arms about that as they used to, say, thirty years ago, when the Clark Sisters released “You Brought the Sunshine,” with its reggae-lite beat inspired by Stevie Wonder’s “Master Blaster,” Mary Mary still experiences the occasional old-fashioned churchy side-eye when their melodies or wardrobes seem to skirt a little too close to the secular edge.
Their reality series has provided more insight into their personal lives. Their bickering and endorsement of pole-dance workouts left some churchgoers cold, while others found their candor and concern for their body image, their health, and their sexiness to be refreshing. Regardless of your thoughts on Mary Mary, it’s interesting how discussions about them highlight some Christians’ ideas about what is and is not an “acceptable public image.” The sisters Campbell often said as much, whenever their sister and stylist Goo pulled outfits for their appearances. They had to dress with an eye to modesty, because it was expected.
Are you a Mary Mary fan? How do you feel about hearing gospel music in “non-traditional places” (like the club)? Should gospel artists have to look a certain way to be considered an “acceptable representation” of church or Christian life–and if so, what should that “gospel artist look” entail? And finally, what do you think of Mary Mary’s new single, “Go Get It?” If you haven’t heard it, check it out below:
I never cared much for Mary Mary until I started watching the show, which is my new fave reality show. No manufactured drama, and it is nice to see how they balance ambition with family.
Through the years I’ve had mixed feelings about Mary Mary. In the 9th grade their first album, Thankful was the first CD I ever bought and I ‘ve sang, danced, and worshiped to their music. However it always annoys me when I hear Mary Mary and Kirk Franklin marketed to the secular as the faces of young and hip gospel music when they are older than my parents (I’m 24) and I couldn’t stand Tina on Sunday’s Best! However watching their reality show allowed me to get to know and understand Erica and Tina as hard-working career women, dedicated wives and mothers, sisters and real young Christian women. They have insecurities about themselves, marriages, families, careers but at the end of the day always put God first. I love and am very much inspired by them!
love ‘em. whatever i thought of their attire before was replaced by admiration when i learned that they actually think about their image and whatnot . though as a Christian i had no problem with them going for pole-dancing classes be it for exercise or for s*xing it up in the bedroom i respect the fact that they actually think about and discuss these things.
This is flawed thinking simply for the fact that these women represent themselves as CHRISTians, as in followers of Christ. Although God didn’t want women to feel stifled a level of modesty is expected and pole dancing, as in strip tease is not something acceptable for a Christian woman to be doing let alone letting all the world know she does on a national TV show. This new face of Gospel their intentions get skewed because their trying to pull in a broader younger audience by appealing to young people by saying “Hey I’m just like you, I talk about strip pole dancing ect…ect” instead of leading by example. And when you call yourself a gospel artist, ergo speaking about, giving praise to and singing about God you should want to be different. Jesus was “no part of this world”, so those who have chose to follow him shouldn’t look or sound “just like everyone else”. This new school notion that *lets be honest* young Christians don’t have to make any real changes to their life to be considered Christian, is not helping people to God, just making sin just the more justifiable. “Hey Mary Mary talked about stripping for their man and their GOSPEL artists”. If they didn’t want the responsibility they shouldn’t've taken it on. There’s fence riders in every faith but normally they don’t go around trying to make people believe that they are exemplary, which is what you do by lifting your voice in song to give praise to God in a public forum.
In my opinion they do carry themselves with a level of Modesty but are still human, Pole dancing and a striptease are 2 completely different things and despite the fact that they are married women they never mentioned pole dancing for their husbands they mentioned exercise and an activity for the sisters to do together. I t seems to me that people will always look for faults and find them, I’m a young Christian woman and all I got from the show was good values and how to conduct a healthy Christian life in a world that is not so healthy or Christian The little part about pole dancing didn’t have me wanting to find a man and get it on with him and a pole. Certain Christians are always talking about not being of this world but surely logging on to a blog and reading a post is a worldly action? How “not of this world” can one be? would that be not wearing clothes made of this world, not working in a worldly establishments or at all, not making worldly money or taking worldly transportation? or is that phrase just handy in certain situations? Shouldn’t the real point be how to be a good Christian and glorify God in the setting we are in and to those around us in until we meet God in heaven… like what Jesus did?
Mary Mary don’t not teach that you don’t have to make changes in fact they teach the opposite, how comes nothing gets mentioned about the no sex before marriage belief they openly talked about several times? or the honour your parent lesson Tina teaches her step daughter? I guess people will take and leave what they want and judgement comes all to easy most times. but for me what I got from the show was lifting my voice in praise the best way I know how and learning to be the best Christian me possible.
@realitycheck First let’s not act that the act of poledancing for exercise and for fun is mutally exclusive. I never said the show was negative but they don’t represent me as Christian and a Christian lifestyle. If anything, as I’ve already stated they remind me of secular artists who have a very strong spiritual background.If they represent you or you agree then fine. Living a Christian lifestyle should make you immediately recognizable from people who don’t. Using a medium such as this site and going to a pole dancing class are two entirely different things. Any comment that I may have on this site is a direct reflection of my faith. If they were not Gospel artist, a medium I take alot more seriously than just singing a song with Jesus name in it, but as a way to give praise and to draw some to God, I would think they’re show was absolutely wonderful. Any one who wants to defend certain activity that should be clearly seen as something that Christians shouldn’t ingulge in normally just feel some level of condemnation for fence straddling or pushing the envelope.But I’m not going to put any more energy in trying to change someones mind, because each one’s relationship with God is theres, however we have Biblical instructions in place giving us a clear way that we are to walk, and I don’t think pole dancing is one. God bless you and Mary Mary, we are just going to have to agree to disagree.
@ Ms. Micia, I am going to have to disagree with you also pole dancing and stripping using a pole are different things. Who says that just because you are “A Christian” that you can’t use a pole in the privacy of your own bedroom with you Husband or Wife? The bible doesn’t say that at all. What goes on between man and his wife is between them and God, and I don’t see it as sin if a Married Woman dances or uses a pole for her husband, the bed is undefiled between them.
I absolutely love Mary Mary. I also love that they were very transparent on the their show. I watched every episode and almost cried when she gave birth to Zaya. It was produced very well and it really captured their ups and down surounding their family and work as gospel artists. I can’t wait for the second season! I love their music and will always be a fan.
I’m on the fence about Mary Mary. I only say that because of the way they’ve presented themselves to the world via their reality show. As gospel artists, I think they’ve crossed that realm where you have to question where Christ is in their lyrics and songs and MOTIVATION for making songs. The way they present themselves on the show are pretty much as just artists who happen to be Christian instead of women who are fist CHRISTIAN then artists. I’m in no way saying that the show is negative but I see two artists trying to make it big, trying to be STARS not women trying to get the word of God out through song. In any other genre of music I wouldn’t even bat an eyelash, but similar to prosperity preachers and those who seem to want to shine in the eyes of man instead of the eyes of God, I have to say I’m a little dissapointed. They’ve had songs in the past that have touched me like Yesterday, but ever since “God In Me” I’ve noticed this push to be like everyone else in the industry. Not Gospel, just a group, and if they want to do that fine, then just stop doing Gospel altogether and do secular music but don’t under the guise of Christianity try to be the next Beyonce. Imjustsayin.
1) what kind of artist secular or otherwise is NOT trying to be a STAR?
2) I see artists, who are Christians… who also have children to feed.
I don’t judge their path.
i kinda felt that way too. i’ve been questioning their motive for doing music/business the way they do it since “the sound” album came out. it was the 1st time i heard them talk about trying to get a lot of sales and make “hits,” that was new to me. especially coming from a gospel artist when sales shouldnt really be of concern. i dont like “God in me” either, has nothing to do with what the song sounds like, i just didnt feel right when listening to the lyrics..and erica explained the song on the behind the scenes video saying “anyone who you see doing it big, it’s the God in them.” yeahh.. she lost me there.
also when one of em said on the show “we wanna look sexy on stage..” when singing gospel? i didnt understand the need to look sexy, when trying to spread the gospel of Jesus to people. What message will u be sending..the one about ur sexiness or God’s love? I know they wanna look good, fashionable, comfortable that’s cool! but sexy i dont get..
There were some great things too about the show, it definitely showed that we christians aint as perfect as some of us like people to think we are. And its not a bad thing, thats why we depend on God. I love their faith and work ethic, being good wives and mothers too. I love the bond they have with their family, its beautiful.
so i do have more respect for them, theyre brave for wanting to do reality tv. they err just like i do. they need prayer as much as i do. theyre christian like me. theyre just people like me. and it really compels me to pray for them…their lives are SO hectic too.