In the year 1995 A.D., two of God’s other countless children, Isaac Carree and Lowell Pye, were young men highly gifted in music and deeply rooted in their faith, with a passion to serve God in song, and in search of the means to fulfill that calling. Joining their talents with those of two other similarly skilled seekers, they found both a sound and a soul connection, and became a gospel vocal group. But they didn’t truly lock into their exact purpose until they too were given a name.
“My mother was a very devout woman, and she called us together one day,” Isaac recalls. “She was very serious. She said, `I have a name for you all, and with this name there will be no compromise. You will have to stay focused, and be an example to others. You will be Men of Standard.”
The young foursome—Isaac, Lowell, Bryan Pierce and Michael Bacon—not only took her seriously, and seriously loved the name, but in one auspicious, almost simultaneous moment, took on that name that over the next decade would carry them to the top of the gospel charts, traveling the country singing for thousands upon thousands of people, and emerging from the ‘90s into the 21st century as one of gospel music’s hottest and most popular young acts. With each member both a distinctive and experienced solo vocalist as well as ensemble member, Men of Standard quickly developed a reputation they maintain to this day for seamlessly moving into and out of lead and background parts, creating a variety of vocal sounds and arrangements that few if any other groups can lay claim to.
Today, Men of Standard—now three in number with the amicable, 2005 departure of Michael Bacon—celebrate their 10th year of making music together with their fifth and latest release, Surrounded, which the group quite emphatically considers to be more than just another great entry on its already hit-heavy resume.
“We’ve just entered into a new season,” says Bryan. “We have a new producer, a new album and a new label. It’s a fresh start. We now have a second wind, and it feels great!” With the solid support of Sony Gospel/Sony Urban Music, and steered by the master’s touch of red-hot producer Warryn Campbell (Kayne West, Missy Elliott, Mary Mary, Michelle Williams), Men of Standard are poised to move to an altogether new and infinitely higher plateau in their already formidable career.
Under Campbell’s steady and sure hand—as well as his co-writing of seven of the album’s eleven cuts—Men of Standard combine the contemporary gospel/R&B sound that has become their signature over the last decade, with an urban, hip-hop edge, and a handful of beautiful ballads of praise and worship. Add that together and what you get is indeed fresh and new—exciting and bold—and decisively, inimitably Men of Standard at every turn. Toss in a few star turns from cutting-edge kingpins, Kirk Franklin, Tye Tribbett, and rapper Heavy D, and it’s clear that with Surrounded, Men of Standard have delivered nothing less than a definitive, career album.
“I Will” is relentlessly driving R&B with a tough, hip-hop bottom end, and Isaac, Lowell and Bryan singing like their very lives hung in the balance. “A lot of times you hear people say things like, `I can’t. I won’t. It’s not possible,’” says Isaac, “but we’re making a promise to God. `Wherever You tell me to go, I will. If You tell me to do something, I will do it.’ Its an upbeat jam, but it’s also a command. We’re taking a stand, and even if no one else will, we will.”
Kirk Franklin joins the group for “Latter Rain,” a gentle but powerful and passionate ballad. “’Latter Rain’ refers to our blessings, our peace, our comfort and joy,” Isaac explains. “We are asking God to replenish us, make us better; restore the joy, remove the pain. Kirk took it to a whole different level. I think it’s a song that your everyday, Sunday-morning church- goers are going to really cling to. It’s a strong message.”
“Yours,” featuring powerhouse vocals from guest Tye Tribbett and the entire group, begins as a soft, reverential ballad that slowly builds from a whisper to a passionate roar. “So often we get caught up in the things of this earth, and so comfortable in these bodies, that we start to think we belong to ourselves,” Isaac says. “This song admits, `I’m used to doing things my way, but I belong to You. I’m yours, Lord. Do what you will what You want.’”
“Power” pairs a cool, retro-soul groove with punchy, urban muscle. “This talks about power on two different levels,” Isaac says. “Everyone acknowledges the power of earthly things…the power in corporate America, and the power of politicians, but we have a different power to talk about. It’s the real power in the world; the wonderful, awesome power of God.”
The album’s title song is a smooth and straight, jazzy R&B gem. “`Surrounded’ is a prayer,” Isaac comments. “`Get all around me, Lord, until what people see in me is You. When people hear my voice I want them to hear Your message.’ It’s a humbling prayer that it would help everyone to pray.”
All the Men of Standard were raised as classic “church boys,” with lives that revolved around preaching, music, or other ministries and activities of their local congregations. In fact, all three had abundant gifts that manifested themselves at extraordinarily young ages. Brian was preaching by the age of nine. Lowell was singing with a gospel quartet of grown men when he was four, dressed in a miniature version of their matching suits and ties, and Isaac—albeit at the strong prodding of his mother—was standing before the congregation singing solos by his fifth birthday. Each man has maintained those childhood commitments into their adult lives, with Brian pastoring his own church today, and Lowell and Isaac praise & worship leaders at their respective home churches.
The three grew up in entirely different parts of the country—Isaac in North Carolina, Lowell in Detroit, and Bryan a native of New Orleans. Isaac and Lowell first crossed paths in their late teens, under the auspices of gospel great, John P. Kee, who was working on putting together a male vocal group to perform with his choir. Though the group never quite made it to realization, the two young men formed a fast friendship, and cut their teeth in the business of music during the four years they spent with Kee.
Upon leaving John P. Kee, both took on routine “day jobs” for a while, in a process that Isaac now reflects on as a time of preparation and molding by God for the ministry He had in store for them. After only two months, Isaac got a part in the road company performing several of popular gospel playwright Michael Matthews productions, where he met and became friends with Bryan. While John P. Kee’s vision for a male vocal group had fizzled, the idea still had roots in the spirit and imaginations Isaac and Lowell. Bryan was both a good vocal match and a willing volunteer. When a mutual friend in Dallas introduced Isaac to Michael, the last musical piece was in place, and though Isaac laughs today at the recollection of that group’s early days of “living life on a wing and a prayer,” it was little more than a year before they had signed a major label recording deal.
That association led to four albums between 1996 and 2004, with the group’s second effort, the JMoss-produced Feels Like Rain, scoring big in 1998, peaking at No. 11 on the Billboard magazine gospel chart, and landing two Stellar Awards. Men of Standard experienced continued success through the ten-year tenure of that contract, with their final effort, 2004’s It’s A New Day beating their previous chart high by a point, peaking at No. 11. Still, the group felt frustrated. Beginning to write and produce more and more of their albums, from one to the next, they increasingly felt like a young, progressive vocal group not fully understood by those for whom they worked. When their contract finally expired in 2004, Isaac says the group felt a sense of creative freedom simply being an unsigned act for the year of 2005, before finding the “perfect fit” they were seeking, at Sony Gospel/Sony Urban Music.
In almost immediate prelude to the release of Surrounded, Men of Standard received massive national exposure as a featured act on the second leg on Kirk Franklin’s Hero tour, playing to packed coliseums and arenas across America. And as they prepare for the next giant step forward in their ongoing journey, their eyes are clearly focused on higher purposes.
“Our albums, and all our songs convey positive messages…that there is a better way,” Isaac concludes. “We are out here as messengers to show people that Jesus is real. Living right is real and crucial. When you see us in the malls, in our homes with our families, in our churches, we want people to see that we live the life style we sing about. We are faithful to our wives, take care of our kids, and take care of our homes. We are faithful to our local ministry, pay our tithes; we do community service work. And we do those things because we love people, and we love God. It’s not just something you’ll see on stage or videos, or hear on a CD. It’s the life we live.”
Biography courtesty of MenofStandardMusic.com
Everybody
Men Of Standard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody, make some noise if you love the Lord
Everybody, clap your hands, everybody, jump for joy
If you love the Lord
Somebody asked me how I was doing
Then joy filled my soul ?cause I couldn't help remembering
All the times He brought me out, could?ve been dead without a doubt
Everybody, clap your hands, everybody, jump for joy
Everybody, make some noise if you love the Lord
Everybody, clap your hands, everybody, jump for joy
If you love the Lord
Your life may not be what you want it to be
But I guarantee, there's time to change as long as you're still breathing
No need to wear a frown, walking around with your head hung down
So while you have a chance
Won't you come on and dance with me? Come on
Everybody, clap your hands, everybody, jump for joy
Everybody, make some noise if you love the Lord
Everybody, clap your hands, everybody, jump for joy
If you love the Lord
Now, now, now I don't want to see nobody sitting down
Matter of fact, just get your hands up right now
It's M O S and Baby Dubb, we're back around
Buy the CD and ya hear us, get down
Now that's out the way, let me say, I must say
Come from the streets of L.A., they call it, 'round the way
History say, you're not supposed to be here today
But thank God, He ain't see it that way
'Cause some people got shot and some people got robbed
And some of them smoked rock, some of them lose jobs
'Cause some of them like me, some of them got God
And you know, if you got He, life ain't really that hard
Everybody, clap your hands, everybody, jump for joy
Everybody, make some noise if you love the Lord
Everybody, clap your hands, everybody, jump for joy
If you love the Lord
Everybody, clap your hands, everybody, jump for joy
Everybody, make some noise if you love the Lord
Everybody, clap your hands, everybody, jump for joy
If you love the Lord
Everybody, clap your hands, everybody, jump for joy
Everybody, make some noise if you love the Lord
Everybody, clap your hands, everybody, jump for joy
If you love the Lord
Everybody, clap your hands, everybody, jump for joy
Everybody, make some noise if you love the Lord
Everybody, clap your hands, everybody, jump for joy
If you love the Lord
The song "Everybody" by Men Of Standard is a joyful and upbeat gospel song that inspires listeners to praise and worship God. The lyrics call for everyone to clap their hands, jump for joy, and make some noise if they love the Lord. The lead singer shares his testimony of how God has brought him out of difficult situations and encourages others to dance with him and praise God.
The first verse speaks to the singer's personal experience with God's provision and protection. The chorus repeats the call to action for everyone to join in the celebration and express their love for the Lord. The second verse then reaches out to those who may be struggling and offers hope that they can change their situation as long as they are still alive. The bridge features a rap interlude which highlights the group's origins and expresses gratitude for God's grace and mercy.
Overall, this song is a celebration of God's goodness and faithfulness in the lives of the singers and listeners alike. It encourages everyone to come together in worship and to let their joy overflow.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody, clap your hands, everybody, jump for joy
Let's all rejoice and show our happiness by clapping and jumping
Everybody, make some noise if you love the Lord
If you love God, make some noise and show your gratitude and happiness
Somebody asked me how I was doing
Someone asked me about my well-being
Then joy filled my soul ?cause I couldn't help remembering
I felt joyful when I remembered all the times God saved me from danger
All the times He brought me out, could?ve been dead without a doubt
God saved me from certain death many times in my life
That's why I sing this song, if you feel me, come on and sing along
I sing this song as a way of expressing my gratitude to God and inviting others to do the same
Your life may not be what you want it to be
Your life may not be as you expected or desired
But I guarantee, there's time to change as long as you're still breathing
I assure you that you still have time to make changes as long as you're alive
No need to wear a frown, walking around with your head hung down
There's no need to be sad or depressed and walk around with your head down
So while you have a chance
Take advantage of the opportunity you have now
Won't you come on and dance with me? Come on
Let's celebrate and dance together
Now, now, now I don't want to see nobody sitting down
I don't want to see anyone sitting and not participating in the celebration
Matter of fact, just get your hands up right now
Actually, raise your hands now and join in
It's M O S and Baby Dubb, we're back around
The artists M O S and Baby Dubb are back and performing
Buy the CD and ya hear us, get down
Buy the CD and you can listen to us and dance along
Now that's out the way, let me say, I must say
Now that we've addressed that, let me say
Come from the streets of L.A., they call it, 'round the way
We come from the streets of Los Angeles, also known as the neighborhood
History say, you're not supposed to be here today
Based on history and statistics, it's unlikely for us to be alive and successful today
But thank God, He ain't see it that way
But thankfully, God had a different plan for our lives
'Cause some people got shot and some people got robbed
Some people were victims of violence and theft
And some of them smoked rock, some of them lose jobs
Some people turned to drugs and lost their jobs
'Cause some of them like me, some of them got God
Some people, like myself, turned to God for guidance and help
And you know, if you got He, life ain't really that hard
If you have God in your life, you know that life isn't that difficult
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RICK COUSIN, JOI CAMPBELL, MARK TABB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind