J.B. Talks About...

J.B. Talks About...

J.B.'s Dove Award Nomination Guesses
This is about the time of year I put out my so-called "predictions" in GMA Award (Dove) nominations. Remember, these are the opinions of a Christian Music fanatic, not someone involved in GMA affairs.

Song Of The Year:
"Mountain Of God" Third Day
"Cry Out To Jesus" Third Day
"Made To Worship" Chris Tomlin
"This Man" Jeremy Camp
"So Long Self" MercyMe
"Praise You In This Storm" Casting Crowns
"My Savior My God" Aaron Shust
"Wholly Yours" David Crowder Band
"I Am" Mark Schultz
"I Need You To Love Me" BarlowGirl
Other Possibilities: "Everything You Ever Wanted" Hawk Nelson, "Me And Jesus" Stellar Kart, "I'm Not Alright" Sanctus Real, "Welcome Home" Brian Littrell, "Only Grace" Matthew West, "Bless The Broken Road" Selah.
J.B.'s Picks: "My Savior My God", "Everything You Ever Wanted", "Me And Jesus", & "I'm Not Alright".
Probable Winner (If nominated): "Cry Out To Jesus", or "My Savior My God".
J.B. Says: The first seven songs are pretty much locks. I would like to see the Hawk Nelson, Sanctus Real, & Stellar Kart hits nominated. However, these songs were big on the CHR charts, but that may not be enough. I think "Cry Out To Jesus" will be the overall pick because of the heartfelt message. However, Aaron Shust could pull an upset. His song is the best playing single of this year's crop of new artists. I would have Chris Tomiln's "How Great Is Our God", but that song won last year. Surely they wouldn't nominate a song that already won...or would they?

Female Vocalist Of The Year:
Natalie Grant
Nichole Nordeman
Carrie Underwood
Krystal Meyers
Ayeisha Woods
Other Possibilities: Jessie Daniels, Rebecca St. James, Joy Williams
J.B.'s Picks: Krystal Meyers, Jessie Daniels
Probable Winner (If nominated): Natalie Grant
J.B. Says: 2006, as well as 2005 and 2004, suffered from a lack of towering female soloists. At least last year we had a couple of girls to stand up against the guys. This year we had only a few songs scratch the top 20 AC charts. In CHR circles, female artists are more common. You have Ayeisha Woods, Jessie Daniels, and Krystal Meyers with songs past the number 10 mark. So they may turn up in the nominations.

Male Vocalist Of The Year:
Chris Tomlin
Jeremy Camp
Aaron Shust
Mark Hall (of Casting Crowns)
David Crowder
Other possibilities: Matthew West, Mark Harris, Brian Littrell, Mac Powell (of Third Day),
J.B.'s Picks:Aaron Shust, Jeremy Camp
Probable Winner (If Nominated):Chris Tomlin
J.B. Says: Tomlin, Camp, and Shust had some of the biggest songs of the year, especially Chris Tomlin. Mr. Tomlin should start getting his acceptance speech prepared. He had two HUGE hits this year, new CD, and the fact he won last year. I could visualize David Crowder being nominated for the same reason as Mark Hall, they are both vocalists for successful bands.

Group Of The Year:
MercyMe
Third Day
Casting Crowns
David Crowder Band
Switchfoot
Other Possibilities: BarlowGirl, Hawk Nelson, Sanctus Real, Superchick, Newsboys, Kutless, Selah, The Afters, Stellar Kart, Big Daddy Weave, Relient K, Aly & AJ
J.B.'s Picks:Hawk Nelson, Sanctus Real, Aly & AJ
Probable Winner (If nominated):Third Day
J.B. Says: This is an easy category. Groups tend to dominate the charts. Third Day should come up as the winner. With two HUGE hits this year, they are a logical choice. I'm hoping Sanctus Real or Hawk Nelson can squeeze into the nomination slot, but the competition could drive them out.

New Artist Of The Year:
Ayiesha Woods
Aaron Shust
Jessie Daniels
Brian Littrell
Leeland
Other Possibilities: Aly & AJ, Family Force 5, Eleventyseven, Red, Fireflight, Decemberadio, StorySide B
J.B.'s Picks: Jessie Daniels, Aly & AJ (If eligible)
Probable Winner (If nominated): Aaron Shust
J.B. Says: This category should be interesting. Aaron Shust will probably be nominated and win for his song, "My Savior My God". Brian Littrell will very likely get nominated because he was a new artist that came with some buzz, being a Backstreet Boy. I would like to see Aly & AJ in this category. However, their debut CD came out October, 2005 in Christian retailers and released a Christmas album this year. They are very iffy.

The OFFICIAL Dove award nominations will probably be released in February.










J.B.'s Chart Report:
Last issue, I told you my opinions of some Christian songs I thought would soar, and flop.
(+ means climbing, -- falling)
"What It Means" Jeremy Camp
Projected Peak: #1
Currently: #3 +
Peak:#3
"Wherever We Go" Newsboys
Projected Peak: 12-15
Currently: #9 --
Peak: #8
"Give It All Away" Aaron Shust
Projected Peak:#20
Currently: Not on chart
Peak: Not on chart
"Come To The Cross" Michael W. Smith
Projected Peak: #15
Currently:#19 --
Peak: #17
"Does Anybody Hear Her" Casting Crowns
Projected Peak: #1
Currently: #15 +
Peak: #15
"You Alone" Echoing Angels
Projected Peak: 20-1
Currently: #7 +
Peak: #7
Check out 20countdown.com to see current charts.



J.B.'s Top 10
Here is a list of my TOP 10 favorite...
Christmas CDs!
(Favorite songs on CD)

10:Acoustic Hearts Of Winter-Aly & AJ (Not This Year, Little Drummer Boy)
9:Wow Christmas Red (This Christmas, Little Drummer Boy)
8:Rock This Christmas-Jump5 (Rock This Christmas, This Christmas Day)
7:Wow Christmas Green (Go Tell It On The Mountain, O Come O Come Emmanuel)6:Deck The Halls, Bruise Your Hand-Relient K (I Celebrate The Day, Twelve Days Of Christmas
5:Christmas Wish-Stacie Orrico (Christmas Wish, What Child Is This)
4:Joy-Avalon (Joy {To The World}, We Are The Reason)
3:All The Joy In The World-Jump5 (Sleigh Ride, Strange Way To Save The World)
2:A Very Veggie Christmas (8 Polish foods of Christmas, Big Medley)

And my number one favorite Christmas CD is...
Wee Sing For Christmas (Go Tell It On The Mountain, Children, Go Where I Send Thee)
I know you are wondering why I chose a children's album as my favorite Christmas collection. I listen to the tape (Yes, I said "tape") every year as tradition. I've listened to it since I was little.