22 Dec 2025 2 min read Blog

Music Video Monday: Hallelujah!

A little deep dive into the 1992 music video for the Mervyn Warren arranged "Hallelujah!"

Even though this isn't technically a Christmas song, I grew up hearing this it around Christmas time, so I think about it and its music video every Christmas season.

ROLL THE FOOTAGE!

Let's talk about "Hallelujah!" from the 1992 gospel album, Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration.

Here are some cool facts about the album:

1. It was recorded at A&M Studios. (A&M Records was created by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss. They bought the former Charlie Chaplin Studios on the corner of La Brea Avenue and Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood from CBS in 1966. From 1966 to 1999, it was the headquarters for A&M Records and their recording studios. Since 2000, the property has been the headquarters of The Jim Henson Company.)

2. The album received the 1992 Grammy for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album and the 1992 Dove Award for Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year.

3. In 1993, the artists featured on the album were collectively nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Gospel Artist.

Here's what I love about the song and music video:

1. The arrangement, arranged by Mervyn Warren, Michael O. Jackson, and Mark Kibble. Hearing Handel's Messiah in a Black/Gospel context is just... chef's kiss. It's my favorite arrangement of the song.

2. The early 90s outfits. The kufis. The African prints. The Afrocentricity of it all.

3. Mervyn Warren and Quincy Jones directing the choir!

4. The choir itself. It was loaded with amazing artists. Below is a list of the choir members. (I linked to random things that I automatically think about when I think of each person, by the way.)

Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Patti Austin, Bernie K., Daryl Coley, Commissioned, Andrae Crouch, Sandra Crouch, Clifton Davis, Charles S. Dutton, Kim Fields, Larnelle Harris, Edwin Hawkins, Tramaine Hawkins, Linda Hopkins, Al Jarreau, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Lizz Lee, Dawnn Lewis, Babbie Mason, Johnny Mathis, Marilyn McCoo, Mike E., Stephanie Mills, Jeffrey Osborne, David Pack, Phylicia Rashad, Joe Sample, Richard Smallwood, Sounds of Blackness, Take 6, Darryl Tookes, Thomas Whitfield, Vanessa Williams and Chris Willis.