When Crystal Aikin boarded a plane in her hometown Tacoma, Washington, bound for Los Angeles to participate in a singing competition, she had no idea that this would be the opportunity that would change her life forever. A registered nurse with an anointed singing voice, Aikin hadn’t even heard about the show when a woman who didn’t know Crystal personally but had heard her sing tracked her down and encouraged her to audition.
The competition was Black Entertainment Television’s first all gospel talent show Sunday Best and, several weeks later, the church girl from the Pacific Northwest beat out some of the country’s best church singers to become the 2008 BET Sunday Best winner.
As the winner, this single sister with the pretty smile and bubbly personality who just loves to sing gospel and inspire people to worship God, received a major recording contract with Zomba Gospel, the largest gospel label in the world, and a 2008 Toyota Camry. She was beyond ecstatic and brimming with gratitude for the opportunity to spread the “good news” through song world-wide.
Now, with the release of her self-titled debut solo CD, she is poised to put her fresh, new sound on the gospel map.
Crystal’s gospel journey began as a child growing up in Tacoma. She remembers, “I grew up in Altheimer Memorial Church of God In Christ in Tacoma. I sang in the children’s Sunshine Band. I honestly didn’t think that I could sing. I just think they gave me the mic and I was like ‘Okay, now I’ll start singing!’ I really did like air directing. That’s when the music is playing and you’re directing the air which is your choir! I never thought that I’d ever actually direct. But as I got older, young leaders in my church started going off to college, and I fell into the position of directing and more lead singing. And that developed my leadership skills for singing in groups in the church because neither of my parents were soloists.”
Counting Gospel artists Yolanda Adams, Lisa Paige (of Witness), The Clark Sisters, The Winans and Bebe and CeCe Winans among her musical influences, by the time she reached her twenties, Crystal had become a seasoned church singer making a name for herself in the Tacoma-Seattle area while also obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Psychology. But it wasn’t until the late 1990s when she joined a local singing group that Crystal’s gospel journey would take her into the professional arena.
“My first appearance at GMWA was with a group called Soul. We travelled and performed extensively in the 90s, and we received a lot of amazing visibility and opportunities. Before that, I was in a local group called Heaven Sent Us, and that is when I really developed as a vocalist and stage performer. But my time with Soul was when I first began getting singing exposure outside of Tacoma,” says Crystal.
After leaving Soul, Crystal returned to singing in and around her hometown. It was also during this time that she lost her father. “His words were embedded in my spirit - to make sure I could take care of myself –and that’s when I made the decision to go back to school. In 2005 she returned to college and obtained a nursing degree, following in the footsteps of her mother - a Registered Nurse and a Professor of Nursing at Crystal’s alma mater, Pacific University.
Crystal’s kind hearted nature and love for helping people is what drew her into nursing. Her desire to lead people to Christ through her music ministry is what keeps her singing gospel music.
“I am a worship conductor and singing for me has so much purpose; I don’t play around with it. We all have gifts and talents. Sometimes we take them places we shouldn’t. But for me, it is so important to covet my gift and to use it wisely. I believe that God has put a spiritual anointing on my voice to awaken the spiritually asleep and for deliverance and healing.”
Crystal’s debut release gives her the perfect vehicle to minister with her honey dipped crystal clear voice and awaken souls. The 10 song CD was produced by a bevy of heavy weight producers from gospel and urban music, including PAJAM (J Moss, 21:03, Karen Clark Sheard), Dre & Vidal (Alicia Keys, Usher), Gerald Haddon (Deitrick Haddon, Damita Haddon, Bishop Noel Jones’ City of Refuge Sanctuary Choir), Derek Clark (Z’iel), Lamb & TJ and Asaph Ward (Kim Burrell, Maurette Brown Clark).
When asked to describe her album’s music, Crystal says, “It’s a potpourri of musical sounds. And we’ve got something on it for everyone. I am so glad I’m from Washington State, one of the least churched states. We’re not in the Bible belt. So we don’t get gospel styles so heavily ingrained in us. We are a grunge and rock alternative state, the home of rock legend Jimi Hendrix. And with that, we are so well blended and open to appreciate it all styles of music. So I couldn’t help but make sure that a variety of music was captured on my album.”
That variety of music styles on her CD manifested on her CD as a mix of Urban Contemporary Gospel and Contemporary Gospel sounds with a splash of Traditional Gospel and a touch of Rock and Jazz. Although she says she loves every song, Crystal does admit to having three favorites on the project, “My first favorite is the powerful ballad “What If,” produced by PAJAM. When you listen to the words it’s really an awesome song. What if God said no? What if he opted to not die? What if he opted to not give us healing? What if he opted not to give us miracles? Do you know what kind of world and situation we’d be in? It’s a song that provokes thought and thankfulness for God’s presence in our lives.
Another one is “The Cloud,” produced by Derek Clark. It has a rock feel to it. And it’s an encouraging song for anyone who feels down, ashamed, unworthy and hopeless. The song talks about how the clouds have rolled away and your sins have been erased. So say goodbye to yesterday. Say good-bye to days of gray!
Then there’s “He’s So Worthy” by Asaph Ward. This is a certifiable ‘gospel joint!’ It’s full of energy and spectacular rhythm, but what grips me about the song is that it has a praise and worship feel. The music is slamming but what gets me more are the words, because He’s worthy of all the praise and all the glory. It provokes you, no matter what you might be feeling at that moment; you’re like ‘Umph! He’s so worthy!’”
Other stand outs on the project include the mid-tempo, contemporary “Lord You Reign Forever.” Produced by Dre & Vidal, it’s a soothing song that reminds you that the Lord reigns high above your circumstance and He will always be there for you.
The Dre & Vidal produced jazz tinged ballad “Turn to Him” is a testimonial tune about a soul being lost and confused and finally turning to God through prayer to be saved.
The tear evoking, soul-piercing traditional ballad “Even Me,” produced by Gerald Haddon, tells the story about how God will use the broken and seemingly unworthy individual to accomplish his perfect will.
From song to song, Crystal Aikin’s self-titled debut CD will inspire and bless a multitude of souls from a myriad of backgrounds with its colorblind messages of love, faith, hope and worship.
And what is Crystal’s hope for her God inspired release? She proclaims, “My desire for my album is that people will be inspired to bless God and worship God. I want people to get the Crystal artistry, but have the God experience.”
What If
Crystal Aikin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Joy would be refrained, and more would be unchanged,
If He said no to favor
If He said no to grace
For my eyes would know no happiness to show
What if He said, "no"?
My life wouldn't have a chance.
And took away His hand.
What if He said, "no" to healings
("No") and blessings
("No") and miracles
So I'm grateful that He didn't say "no".
Peace would be a mystery
Pain would go on for eternity
Hope would fade away
Storms wouldn't pass, they'd stay
If He said no to protection
If He said no to compassion
So my heart would know no happiness to show
What if He said, "no"?
My life wouldn't have a chance.
What if He said, "no"?
And took away His hand.
What if He said, "no" to healings
("No") and blessings
("No") and miracles
So I'm grateful that He didn't say "no"
Many times we take for granted
The little things, the air we breathe.
But say what you want, it's mercy that's renewed every morning.
I never would've made it through some
Nights or days if You didn't make a way.
(But You said "yes") when I waivered
(Yes) oh my Savior
I couldn't go if You said no to saving
My soul
What if He said, "no"?
My life wouldn't have a chance.
What if He said, "no"?
And took away His hand.
What if He said, "no" to healings
("No") and blessings
("No") and miracles
Lord I'm grateful You didn't say "no".
The song “What If” by Crystal Aikin emphasizes the importance of faith in God and the significance of his mercy and love towards mankind. It tackles the idea of what would happen if God said no to His blessings, protection, healing, compassion, miracles, and grace. The lyrics suggest that without these crucial aspects of God’s love, life would be unsafe, joyless, and hopeless. The singer expresses her gratitude to God for not saying no, for continuing to renew mercy even if we don’t deserve it, and for guiding and saving her soul through His unending love.
The song’s message serves as a reminder for people to be thankful for the good things they have, to have faith in God even in difficult times, and to acknowledge His sovereignty above all. It also highlights the idea that even though we may not get answers to all our prayers, we must trust in God’s plan for us, for only He knows what is best for us.
Overall, “What If” is a powerful gospel song that conveys a powerful message of faith, gratitude, and hope. It reminds listeners to be grateful for God’s blessings and guidance, and to trust in his goodness even in the darkest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
Life would be unsafe, probably be erased,
Without God's favor and grace, life would be unstable and possibly non-existent.
Joy would be refrained, and more would be unchanged,
The absence of God's favor would result in a lack of happiness and other aspects of life remaining unchanged.
If He said no to favor
If God didn't show His favor towards me.
If He said no to grace
If God didn't show His grace towards me.
For my eyes would know no happiness to show
Without God's favor and grace, I wouldn't have anything to be happy about.
Peace would be a mystery
Without God's protection and compassion, peace would be unknown and unattainable.
Pain would go on for eternity
Without God's healing, pain would be endless.
Hope would fade away
Without God's blessings and miracles, hope would vanish.
Storms wouldn't pass, they'd stay
Without God's protection and compassion, difficult times would linger.
If He said no to protection
If God didn't protect me.
If He said no to compassion
If God didn't show compassion towards me.
So my heart would know no happiness to show
Without God's protection and compassion, I wouldn't have anything to be happy about.
Many times we take for granted
We often don't fully appreciate.
The little things, the air we breathe.
The small and everyday things, like the air we breathe.
But say what you want, it's mercy that's renewed every morning.
Regardless of what happens, God's mercy is always available and renewed each day.
I never would've made it through some
There were times when I wouldn't have made it through.
Nights or days if You didn't make a way.
Without God's guidance and intervention, I wouldn't have been able to get through certain tough times.
(But You said "yes") when I waivered
Even when I was unsure or doubted, God still answered my prayers and showed His favor towards me.
(Yes) oh my Savior
My Savior truly said "yes."
I couldn't go if You said no to saving
Without God's salvation, I wouldn't be able to go on.
Lord I'm grateful You didn't say "no".
I'm thankful that God didn't withhold His favor, grace, healing, blessings, and miracles from me.
Writer(s): James Moses
Contributed by Zachary S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.