Hold My Mule

Last updated
"Hold My Mule"
Song by Shirley Caesar
Genre Gospel
Length8:42(digital release)

"Hold My Mule" is a 1988 black gospel song by Shirley Caesar.

Contents

Telling the story of an old man named Shoutin' John who boisterously praises God for his numerous blessings to the dismay of more conservative, "spiritually dead" clergy, the song earned newfound popularity in 2016 after DJ Suede the Remix God remixed the song into the Thanksgiving anthem "You Name It!" The success of the remix would contribute to the original song reaching No. 1 on the Hot Gospel Songs chart on Billboard.

Synopsis

As a lead-in to the song, Caesar tells the story of "Shoutin' John," an 86-year-old man who one day chooses to attend a church that is "spiritually dead." It opposes boisterous behavior among the congregation, including speaking in tongues and dancing, not out of theological opposition but out of fear it may embarrass the "dignitaries" that attend the church. Shoutin' John attends a service at this church and begins celebrating all over the sanctuary; an angry clergyman attempts to stop him by tackling him, but Shoutin' John gets back up and resumes dancing, eventually getting the entire congregation excited.

After the service, the concerned clergy of the church decide to visit Shoutin' John at his home, with the intent of warning him that if he does not stop his boisterous behavior, he will be barred from attending the church. When they arrive, they find that Shoutin' John owns a large and successful farm, which he still plows by hand. Shoutin' John then explains that he has received an abundance of blessings from God: his children are all healthy, none have died young nor faced legal troubles, and at age 86, he is still in good enough physical health to work his farm and to dance. Because of that, he insists that even if the church expels him, he is obligated to give praise to God for His blessings, asks the clergy to "hold my mule" as he begins dancing and praising God at that moment.

Albertina Walker and Milton Brunson are credited as featured artists on the record.

DJ Suede the Remix God rendition

"You Name It!"
Single by DJ Suede the Remix God
ReleasedNovember 11, 2016
Genre Trap
Length2:17
Songwriter(s)
  • Keenan Webb
  • Shirley Caesar
DJ Suede the Remix God singles chronology
"Rudolph"
(2016)		"You Name It!"
(2016)		"Cash Me Outside"
(2017)

In 2016, DJ Suede the Remix God released a remix, consisting of a portion of the story where Shoutin' John lists the items that grow on his farm:

Look! I got beans, greens, potatoes, tomatoes, lamb, ram, hogs, dogs, chickens, turkeys, rabbits—you name it!

Under the title "You Name It!," the song went viral, [1] (initially on Vine and Musical.ly) as part of DJ Suede's effort to create a Thanksgiving-themed Internet challenge to dance to the remix, [2] with the help of Chris Brown. It proved to be DJ Suede's breakthrough hit, peaking at number 15 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100. In the wake of DJ Suede's remix, the original recording shot to the top of the Hot Gospel Songs chart, peaking at number one on December 10, 2016. [3] Billboard noted that despite the uptick in interest in the song, it did not receive a corresponding rise in airplay on radio stations, in part because Caesar was focusing her efforts on more recent singles. [4] The song has since been reused in November 2020 and November 2021 on TikTok's Thanksgiving-themed dance and challenge videos.

Chart performance

Shirley Caesar version

ChartYearPeak
position		Source
Billboard Hot Gospel Songs 20161 [3]

You Name It! (DJ Suede the Remix God remix)

ChartYearPeak
position		Source
Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 201615 [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shirley Caesar</span> American gospel singer (born 1938)

Shirley Ann Caesar-Williams, nee Caesar,, known professionally as Shirley Caesar, is an American gospel singer. Her career began in 1951, when she signed to Federal Records at the age of 12. Throughout her seven decade career, Caesar has often been referred to as the "First Lady of Gospel Music", and "The Queen of Gospel Music". She has won eleven Grammy Awards, fifteen Dove Awards, and fourteen Stellar Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirk Franklin</span> American gospel musician

Kirk Dewayne Franklin is an American gospel singer, choir director, record producer and rapper. He is best known for leading urban contemporary gospel and Christian R&B ensembles such as The Family, God's Property, and One Nation Crew (1NC). His accolades include 20 Grammy Awards. Variety dubbed Franklin as a "Reigning King of Urban Gospel", and is one of the inaugural inductees into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaskade</span> American DJ and music producer

Ryan Gary Raddon, better known by his stage name Kaskade, is an American DJ, music producer and remixer. DJ Times voted Kaskade "America's Best DJ" in 2011 and 2013. DJ Mag named Kaskade fifty-first on its 2009 list of Top 100 DJs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lecrae</span> American rapper, record producer, and actor from Texas

Lecrae Devaughn Moore is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record and film producer, record executive, actor, and entrepreneur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Boo (Ghost Town DJ's song)</span> 1996 single by Ghost Town DJs

"My Boo" is the only single released by Ghost Town DJ's. It was released on Jermaine Dupri's So So Def label and Columbia. The song, an invitation by a female to a male, blends R&B-style vocals over a bass beat. It was written by Carlton Mahone and Rodney Terry, with lead vocals sung by Virgo Williams. The song peaked at number 31 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on its initial release in 1996. In 2016, the song was re-popularized by the "Running Man Challenge" and re-entered the Hot 100, achieving a new peak of number 27 twenty years after its original release. "My Boo" was also a big hit in New Zealand, where it peaked at number three in October 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurt Carr</span> Musical artist

Kurt Carr is an American gospel music composer and performer. While living in the city of Hartford, Connecticut, he served as Minister of Music at The First Baptist Church of Hartford located at the time on Greenfield Street. He is currently the Praise and Worship leader at The Fountain Of Praise in Houston, Texas.

"God in Me" is a song by American contemporary gospel duo Mary Mary featuring American gospel singer Kierra "Kiki" Sheard. It was released as the second single from their fourth studio album The Sound (2008), and was also featured on their greatest hits album Go Get It (2012). and was written by both Mary Mary and producer Warryn Campbell, husband of member Erica Campbell. The single is the group's first to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 since their debut single, "Shackles", charted in 2000. The song won Song of the Year at the 25th Annual Stellar Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patti LaBelle discography</span>

American R&B singer Patti LaBelle has released eighteen studio albums, three live albums, fourteen compilation albums, and forty-seven singles. To date, LaBelle has sold 50 million records worldwide. According to RIAA, she has attained six gold and one platinum album in the United States. LaBelle has also charted forty-two hits on Billboard's Hot/R&B Hip-Hop Songs, 13 of which reached the Top 10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All I Do Is Win</span> 2010 single by DJ Khaled featuring T-Pain, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg and Rick Ross

"All I Do Is Win" is a song from DJ Khaled's fourth studio album Victory (2010). It was the third single from the album. The track features American rappers T-Pain, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg and Rick Ross. It was released on February 8, 2010, along with "Put Your Hands Up". The song peaked at number 24 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

<i>WOW Gospel 2011</i> 2011 compilation album by Various Artists

WOW Gospel 2011 is a gospel music compilation album from the award-winning WOW series. Released on February 1, 2011, the double CD album features thirty contemporary gospel hits. The album cover pays tribute to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The album debuted straight at number one on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart, and peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200 in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerusalema</span> 2019 single by Master KG featuring Nomcebo Zikode

"Jerusalema" is a song by South African DJ and record producer, Master KG featuring South African vocalist Nomcebo. The upbeat gospel-influenced house song was initially released on 29 November 2019 after it garnered positive response online, with a music video following on 21 December. The music video of the song has generated half a billion views on YouTube. It was later included on Master KG's second album of the same title, released in January 2020. A single edit was released on streaming services on 10 July 2020, after it went viral during mid-2020, garnering international reaction due to the #JerusalemaChallenge. A remix featuring Nigerian singer Burna Boy was released on 19 June 2020. It reached number one in Belgium, Netherlands, Romania and Switzerland, while peaking in the top ten of multiple other European countries. A second remix featuring Venezuelan singer Micro TDH and Colombian singer Greeicy was released on 17 September 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DJ Class</span> Musical artist

Daniel Woodis, better known by his stage name DJ Class, is an American DJ from Baltimore, Maryland. A veteran of the Baltimore club scene, he started his career in the early 1990s and gained attention with his Unruly Records releases, including the local hit "Tear da Club Up". In 2009, DJ Class scored his most commercially successful single to date with "I'm the Shit", which was remixed by several artists and subsequently became a top 40 Billboard chart hit upon being re-released by Universal Republic Records.

Christian R&B is a subgenre of rhythm and blues music consisting of tracks with Christian-based lyrics or by musicians typically known for writing such songs. Music in this genre intends to uplift, entertain, or to give a Christian perspective on a topic. Christian R&B could be considered a subgenre of gospel music, or a cross-genre under both gospel and R&B.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Have to Believe</span> 2015 single by Dave Audé featuring Olivia Newton-John and Chloe Lattanzi

"You Have to Believe" is a 2015 electronic dance song produced by American DJ/remixer/producer Dave Audé, featuring vocals from Australian singer/songwriter/actress Olivia Newton-John and her daughter, singer/actress Chloe Lattanzi. The song was written by Audé, John Farrar, Lattanzi, and Australian singer/songwriter, Vassy, and produced by Audé. The song was released on August 10, 2015 by Audacious Music. It topped Billboard Dance Club Songs chart for one week and peaked at #28 on the Dance/Electronic Songs chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DJ Kass</span> American disc jockey

Luis Rosa, professionally known as DJ Kass, is a Dominican-American disc jockey and recording artist from the Bronx. His single “Scooby Doo Pa Pa” was referred to by E! Online as "the new dance craze that you need to know about" in 2018.

"Use This Gospel" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his ninth studio album, Jesus Is King (2019). The song features guest appearances from hip hop duo Clipse and jazz saxophonist Kenny G. It was produced by West, Angel Lopez, DrtWrk, Federico Vindver, and Timbaland, with co-production from BoogzDaBeast and Pi'erre Bourne. The song was recorded as a new version of the leaked track "Law of Attraction", which West came up with in a freestyle session. Clipse's feature on the song marked their reunion, after West requested for a collaboration. A gospel number with a maximalist style, it samples Two Door Cinema Club's "Costume Party" and includes a saxophone solo from Kenny G.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cash Me Outside (song)</span> 2017 single by DJ Suede the Remix God

"Cash Me Outside," or Cash Me Ousside, stylized as "Cash Me Outside (#CashMeOutside)" is a song by American producer DJ Suede the Remix God. It samples a viral video clip from the TV show Dr. Phil featuring then-13-year-old Danielle Bregoli, who is now known as the rapper Bhad Bhabie, saying "Cash me outside, how 'bout that?". The song was released on January 24, 2017.

Keenan Maurice Webb, also known as DJ Suede the Remix God, is an American hip hop record producer and songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beat Box (SpotemGottem song)</span> 2020 single by SpotemGottem

"Beat Box" is the debut single by American rapper SpotemGottem. It was released on April 20, 2020, while the first remix, titled "Beat Box 2", featuring SpotemGottem linking up with American rapper Pooh Shiesty, was released on December 18, 2020, alongside a video, and as part of Spotem's debut mixtape, Final Destination. The first remix pushed the song to viral status on the video-sharing app TikTok, spawning the "#JunebugChallenge", and later became SpotemGottem's first chart entry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fridayy</span> American singer-songwriter and record producer

Francis Leblanc, known professionally as Fridayy, is a Haitian-American singer, songwriter, and record producer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 2022, he signed with Def Jam Recordings and guest performed on the hit songs "Forever" by Lil Baby and the title track of DJ Khaled's album God Did (2022). Both songs peaked within the top 20 of the US Billboard Hot 100, while the latter earned him three Grammy Award nominations. His 2023 single, "When It Comes to You", marked his first entry on the chart as a lead artist.

References

  1. ↑ "DJ Suede Made #UNameItChallenge Viral Thanksgiving Theme Song in One Hour". www.google.com. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
  2. ↑ "Remix God Suede: I Created The Song For "U Name It Challenge" In An Hour and A Half". YouTube .
  3. 1 2 Shirley Caesar Chart History: Hot Gospel Songs. Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Despite Viral Success, Shirley Caesar's 'Mule' Isn't Kicking up Support from Gospel Radio". Billboard .
  5. ↑ "DJ Suede The Remix God Chart History: Billboard The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard . Retrieved 2021-01-07.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.