Pop vocalist and songwriter David Phelps has been given such a talent. Credited by many as having one of today's most spectacular voices, David has seen countless thousands rise to their feet for his inspiring, powerhouse performances. His audiences have included George W. Bush, massive crowds at Billy Graham Crusades, and millions of "ABC News" viewers, and his voice has brought him multiple Grammy and Dove awards. And with the release of his new solo debut for Word Records, Revelation, Phelps is poised to reach an even greater audience of fans around the globe. Yet amid all the acclaim, David has a special person in his life who reminds him to always honor the One who gave that talent to him.
His wife of eleven years, Lori, helps David balance his dual roles as acclaimed vocalist and down-to-earth husband and father of three (soon to be four). "Most of us don't get the chance to have even one standing ovation or round of applause in our lives, so working on a stage of any kind can give you a really unrealistic view of life if you're not careful," David reveals. "In her own loving way, Lori won't let me live in that place of applause, and I'm very thankful for that."
Though not a musician herself, Lori has walked with David all along the long, challenging road as he has pursued his calling to music. Hailing originally from the Houston area, the couple met at Texas' Baylor University over a decade ago, where Phelps earned a degree in line with his passion—music.
Recognized from an early age for his unusual talent, David knew from the beginning that he wanted to perform music for the glory of God. Not everyone understood his commitment to faith, however. "I had several teachers who felt that I should be singing opera, or performing somewhere on Broadway," he recalls. "In college particularly, I had a teacher who kept pushing me strongly toward classical music, but when she finally accepted that Christian music was what God was calling me to do, that became the turning point for me."
From there, as a teenager, David went on become the winner of the 1988 Seminar In the Rockies held in Estes Park, Colorado, the youngest winner of the contest at that time. He then continued his career after graduation with a stint as Artist In Residence for First Baptist Church in Hurst, Texas. Though for a time it appeared that family commitments might prevent David from realizing his dream, he and Lori packed their bags for Nashville, Tennessee, in 1996 with the hope of landing a record deal for David.
Once again, however, he faced a challenge. After six heartbreaking months, David had not found an opportunity, and since he had given up his job back in Texas, the young couple was running out of funds. While visiting his family one weekend back in Texas, David told them, "We really feel like God was calling us to Nashville, but it's just not happening." Instantly, his family gathered around David and Lori and began to pray for a miracle.
A miracle is what God had in mind. The very next day, back in Nashville, David met with executives from Word Records and found out about an opportunity with best-selling vocal foursome Gaither Vocal Band. Two weeks later, he officially joined the group that has brought him four Dove Awards, two Grammy Awards, and over 13 gold and 15 platinum-selling projects.
Throughout the phenomenal success he has experienced with Gaither Vocal Band, David has cherished the dream of releasing a solo album expressing his own style and songcrafting. With the release of Revelation, David has finally fully realized the calling he first felt so many years before.
Featuring songs primarily written or co-written by Phelps, Revelation is a showcase for the impressive vocal and musical training that have shaped Phelps as a performer, swirled into a beautiful sonic blend that reflects the best of 21st century pop. From dramatic ballads to R&B-influenced groove and rock-tinged, energetic pop, Revelation reveals the musical passion and substantive message behind this exceptional singer/songwriter.
"The foundation of this album lies in knowing who Christ really is," explains David. "There's a line at the beginning of the song 'Break Free' that sums it up well—'Forget what you've heard about Jesus, if it doesn't begin and end with love.'
"As a culture, both churched and unchurched, we carry around so many ideas of who Jesus is that are not true," David continues. "We relate Christ to the idea of being judged or compared against an impossible standard. I want people to hear about a God who isn't standing there with His finger in their faces, but is simply there with His arms open wide saying, 'I just want to know you. Come to me, and I'll help you through this journey.'"
Every song on Revelation reveals God's mercy and compassion for His people. "Just As I Am," penned by David and award-winning songwriter Cindy Morgan, expresses Christ's loving acceptance of the broken, while "Arms Open Wide," a cut written by Rita Baloche [wife of Paul Baloche ("Above All," "Open the Eyes of My Heart")], praises the Savior for coming to redeem us. From the story of God's loving care as He shapes our lives and the universe in "Virtuoso" to the promise that "God Will Take Care Of You" and the tender ballad "Love Goes On," Revelation paints a portrait of who God really is, all superbly communicated through the expressive artistry of one of Christian music's finest vocalists.
Producers Regie Hamm (Bob Carlisle, Jaci Velasquez, Clay Crosse) and Chris Harris (Avalon, Anointed, Allen Asbury) had the task of guiding David's musical vision and wide tastes into the cohesive and compelling Revelation. The album's title cut is a dramatic, rock opera-styled song that provides a centerpiece, both musically and vocally, for David's talent. "I'm thrilled about this song, because it's a piece that I've spent a lot of time and effort to write," David says of "Revelation." "It represents so much of what I love about music." The song, which tells the story of a man much like David on the morning of Christ's return, reveals David's imaginative story-telling ability, and combines a myriad of his favorite influences, from rock to classical to "Bohemian Rhapsody."
David is making sure that his kids have the same musical opportunities he had by taking them on the road with him and Lori to his concerts. Lori homeschools their two daughters—eight-year-old Callie and six-year-old Maggie Beth—both at home and on tour in order to let them and three-year-old Grant spend more time with Dad. The couple are preparing for the arrival of a fourth little one, due to arrive just in time for the release of Revelation.
For an artist who makes nearly 150 concert appearances every year, the decision to educate their kids themselves was the only right one for them. "I'm gone pretty much every weekend, so I would never get to see my children!" says David. "Homeschooling allows us to pick up and go when we need to, and as a result, our kids have been able to see some wonderful things around the country."
And though one of the things his kids often see are the thousands of people who flock to hear him sing, David is careful to remind them that the walk of Christian faith, even when it's lived out before a national audience, is one of humble obedience. In the regal ballad "Live Like a King," written by Bob Halligan, Jr. (Kathy Mattea, Michael Bolton, Rebecca St. James), David beautifully conveys the paradox that marked Christ's reign here on earth, and that he hopes will always prove to be the example for his own life:
My thirst for the things of this earth, isn't quenched by diamonds or pearls/One man lived the life I want—He's the One they said ruled the world/Though He only wore a crown of thorns, and He never owned a thing…I want to live like a King!
Those words also reveal the purpose behind the tremendous talent God has placed in David's own life. Despite being given such great ability and opportunity, David Phelps is a man who will forever invest that gift in honor of its Giver.
O mio Babbino Caro
David Phelps Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
mi piace è bello, bello;
vo'andare in Porta Rossa
a comperar l'anello!
Sì, sì, ci voglio andare!
e se l'amassi indarno,
andrei sul Ponte Vecchio,
ma per buttarmi in Arno!
O Dio, vorrei morir!
Babbo, pietà, pietà!
Babbo, pietà, pietà
The above lyrics are from David Phelps's song O Mio Babbino Caro. The song is sung from the perspective of a daughter who is pleading with her father to let her go to Porta Rossa to buy a ring. The daughter finds everything beautiful and enticing, but she is also in love, and she wants to buy the ring to show her love. She is willing to go to any lengths to buy the ring, even if it means throwing herself into the Arno if her love is unrequited. She is consumed by her feelings and is tormented by the thought of not being able to buy the ring.
The daughter is pleading with her father to understand her situation and show her mercy. She cannot bear the thought of not being able to buy the ring, and she believes that her father's refusal to let her go would be the death of her. She is asking her father to have pity on her, and to understand how important this is to her. The song is a beautiful representation of a daughter's love for her father, and the unquenchable desire of love.
Line by Line Meaning
O mio babbino caro,
Oh my dear father,
mi piace è bello, bello;
I love someone who is beautiful,
vo'andare in Porta Rossa
I want to go to Porta Rossa,
a comperar l'anello!
to buy a ring!
Sì, sì, ci voglio andare!
Yes, yes, I want to go there!
e se l'amassi indarno,
And if my love is in vain,
andrei sul Ponte Vecchio,
I will go to Ponte Vecchio,
ma per buttarmi in Arno!
but to throw myself into the Arno!
Mi struggo e mi tormento!
I am consumed and tormented!
O Dio, vorrei morir!
Oh God, I wish to die!
Babbo, pietà, pietà!
Father, have mercy, have mercy!
Babbo, pietà, pietà
Father, have mercy, have mercy
Contributed by Cooper O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gloria María Martínez Molina
O mio babbino caro
Mi piace è bello, bello
Vo' andare in Porta Rossa
A comperar l'anello
Sì, sì, ci voglio andare
E se l'amassi indarno
Andrei sul Ponte Vecchio
Ma per buttarmi in Arno
Mi struggo e mi tormento
O Dio, vorrei morir
Babbo, pietà, pietà
Babbo, pietà, pietà
K57 NGUYEN VIET BAC
Babbo, pietà, pietà!
(Tạm dịch )
Ôi ! cha thương yêu của con
Con yêu chàng ,vì chàng rất đẹp trai,
Con muốn đi đến Porta Rossa
Để mua chiếc nhẫn cưới .
Vâng ,vâng con muốn đến đó
Nếu cha không đồng ý (tình yêu của con)
Con sẽ đi đến Ponte Vecchio
Và trầm mình xuống sông Arno.
Con dằn vặt và vô cùng đau khổ.
Ôi Chúa ơi ! con muốn chết !
Cha có lòng thương xót , xin thương xót .
Cha có lòng thương xót , xin thương xót !
Vanessa O
That was beautiful!👏👏👏 I would like to hear you sing more opera.
I wanted to tell anyone reading this something really important.
One day we are all going to stand before God. If you have ever lied, stolen, used God’s name in vain (omg) which is called blasphemy , hated someone (which God consideres murder) or done other things that are against His law ( the Ten Commandments), He sees you as a lying, thieving, blasphemous, murderer. He will judge us, and because we have all broken His law, we ALL deserve hell.
But because He loves us, He became a human about two thousand years ago, lived without sinning, and died a terrible death He didn’t deserve because of us. Three days later He rose from the dead and one day He is coming back.
We all deserve the ultimate punishment (hell). But God loves us so much that He took the punishment on Himself.
We broke Gods law, Jesus paid the fine.
If you repent from your sins ( sincerely apologize for breaking His law and turn away from doing it anymore) and trust in Him and Him only, your punishment will be paid for, you will get eternal life in heaven, and you will no longer go to hell.
I’m not telling you this to judge you. The thought of you going to hell terrifies me. I don’t want anyone to go without hearing this wonderful news.
Thank you whoever took the time to read this.
If you have a Bible, I suggest you read the book of John. You can find many Bible apps on devices.
I pray that you and everyone who reads this will think about this seriously. And I hope to see you in heaven.
Go to NeedGod.com for a video version of what I just talked about.
Check out livingwaters YouTube channel and livingwaters.com and also fullyfreefilms.com for a movie called Exit that deals with depression and suicide.
Jen Saa
O mio babbino caro
Mi piace, è bello, bello
Vo' andare in Porta Rossa
A comperar l'anello!
Sì, sì, ci voglio andare!
E se l'amassi indarno,
Andrei sul Ponte Vecchio,
Ma per buttarmi in Arno!
Mi struggo e mi tormento!
O Dio, vorrei morir!
Babbo, pietà, pietà!
Babbo, pietà, pietà!
English Translatoin
O my dear papa
I like him, he is handsome, handsome
I want to go to Porta Rossa
To buy the ring!
Yes, yes, I want to go there!
And if my love were in vain,
I would go to the Ponte Vecchio
And throw myself in the Arno!
I am aching, I am tortured!
Oh God, I'd like to die!
Father, have pity, have pity!
Father, have pity, have pity!
Someone Somewhere
O mio babbino caro
Mi piace, è bello, bello
Vo’ andare in Porta Rossa
A comperar l’anello!
Sì, sì, ci voglio andare!
E se l’amassi indarno,
Andrei sul Ponte Vecchio,
Ma per buttarmi in Arno!
Mi struggo e mi tormento!
O Dio, vorrei morir!
Babbo, pietà, pietà!
Babbo, pietà, pietà!
Sergio Martínez
LYRICS:
O mio babbino caro,
Mi piace, afa bello bello,
Vo'andare in Porta Rossa
A comperar l'anello!
Si, si, ci voglio andare!
E se l'amassi indarno,
Andrei sul Ponte Vecchio
Ma per buttarmi in Arno!
Mi struggo e mi tormento,
O Dio! Vorrei morir!
Babbo, pietafa , pietafa
Babbo, pietafa , pietafa
Niko Porter
For those who criticize this performance, realize that David has the know-how, AND the capability of singing this with a pure operatic fashion, but chooses not to. David appreciates the use of straight tone (as do I, I absolutely love straight tone especially in higher notes) and sprinkles it in accordingly. Everything you hear in this performance is a deliberate choice of his, and I’m a fan of each and every choice he makes. Stunning performance. World class
David scroggins
When God gives you a gift like David Phelps, just sit back listen and let it pierce your soul
scott sanderson
his, is the type that makes you stop what you are doing and listen.
Jordan Rice
The way he crescendos from pure head voice to full voice is so flawless. That's incredibly difficult to get down.
paul baker
What a singer this man is. Hits high and low notes with so much ease.
Bugadão
I am a opera Singer too, I never heard someone Sing this soo gracefully
Eduardo Henrique
Carmen Monarca
Naicon Richard
Sim
Gustavo Fernandes
Had never heard it in a tenor voice, that was awesome. Perfect pianissimo, crescendo and forte at the notes.
BU DA
la mejor versión que escuche lejos.. no tiene 100% ópera, no tiene los agudos que llevan las versiones femeninas y tiene una voz, que me saco el sombrero 1000 veces!