Total Praise
{{Infobox song
| name = Total Praise
| cover =
| alt =
| artist = Richard Smallwood with Vision
| type = song
| album = Adoration: Live in Atlanta
| released = April 30, 1996
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Gospel
| length = {{duration|m=4|s=59}}
| label =
| writer = Richard Smallwood
| producer =
}}
"Total Praise" is a song written by Richard Smallwood, first recorded by Richard Smallwood with Vision on the 1996 album, Adoration: Live in Atlanta.{{cite web|title=Adoration: Live in Atlanta - Richard Smallwood|work=AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/adoration-live-in-atlanta-mw0000182474|access-date=September 17, 2024}} It has subsequently become one of his most popular songs.
Background and composition
Smallwood wrote the song, during a time when he was serving as a caregiver to his mother who was experiencing dementia and a family friend who was dying of cancer. Smallwood explained, “I felt left by God, I was trying to write a pity-party song, but God pulled me to do a praise song. God said, ‘I want your praise no matter what the situation you are in, good or bad.’ It’s about trusting him.” The song is based on Psalm 121 ', in which David wrote about relying on God during his most difficult times: “You are the source of my strength/ You are the strength of my life/ I lift my hands in total praise to You.”{{cite news|author=Alexander, Keith L.|title=Millions of gospel fans know Richard Smallwood's music. But not his struggles|date=July 23, 2015|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/the-richard-smallwood-you-know-4-doves-10-stellars-8-grammy-noms/2015/07/22/553d5cfc-0a28-11e5-9e39-0db921c47b93_story.html|access-date=2020-03-29}}
Covers
- Destiny's Child covered the ending "Amen" chorus of "Total Praise" on their "Gospel Medley", released on the albums Survivor (2001) and Heart to Yours (2002), the latter being the solo debut of band member Michelle Williams, who suggested the Smallwood composition be included in the medley. In 2002, they recorded a live version at Rotterdam Ahoy in Rotterdam, Netherlands released on the Destiny's Child World Tour DVD (2003).{{cite AV media notes|author=Destiny's Child|year=2003|title=Destiny's Child World Tour|type=DVD|publisher=Columbia Records, Music World Entertainment|id=CVD54246}}
- Fred Hammond recorded a cover in the song titled "You Are My Life", on the album Speak Those Things POL: Chapter 3 (2002).{{cite web|author=Gerard Bonner|title=Fred Hammond DVD: Speak Those Things: POL Chapter 3...Live in Chicago|url=https://www.gospelflava.com/reviews/vid-fredhammondspeak.html|date=2003|website=gospelflava.com|access-date=October 6, 2024}}
- Donnie McClurkin, featuring Richard Smallwood, covered the song on the album Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs (2005).{{cite web|title=Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs - Donnie McClurkin {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/psalms-hymns-and-spiritual-songs-mw0000260252|work=AllMusic|access-date=October 6, 2024}}
- Anita Wilson covered the song on the album Sunday Song (2017).{{cite web|title=Sunday Song - Anita Wilson {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/sunday-song-mw0003062337|work=AllMusic|access-date=October 6, 2024}}
- The Aretha Franklin Celebration Choir, accompanied by Smallwood on piano, covered the song at the funeral of Aretha Franklin in 2018.{{cite news|author=Ryan Garza|title=Aretha Franklin's funeral powered by music, ministry of the black church|date=August 31, 2018|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|url=https://eu.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/aretha-franklin/2018/08/31/aretha-franklin-funeral-black-church-music/1164698002/|access-date=September 17, 2024}}
- Kanye West's Sunday Service Choir covered the song on the album Jesus Is Born (2019).{{cite web|author=Shane Cashman|title=Kanye West / Sunday Service Choir: Jesus Is Born Album Review|date=January 8, 2020|work=Pitchfork|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/kanye-west-sunday-service-choir-jesus-is-born/|access-date=September 17, 2024}}
- Libera covered the song on the album If (2021).{{cite web|title=If - Album by Libera - Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/if/1577393910|work=Apple Music|access-date=October 6, 2024}}
- Travis Malloy, Darrell Walls and Le'Andria Johnson released a cover of the song in 2023.{{cite web|title=Total Praise (feat. Darrel Walls & Le'Andria Johnson) - Single - Album by Travis Malloy - Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/total-praise-feat-darrel-walls-leandria-johnson-single/1665079624|work=Apple Music|access-date=October 6, 2024}}
- Stevie Wonder covered the song at the memorial service for Dexter Scott King on February 10, 2024.{{cite news|author=Kristi York Wooten|title=Watch: Stevie Wonder performs an emotional musical tribute to MLK’s son Dexter Scott King in Atlanta|date=February 11, 2024|work=Georgia Public Broadcasting|url=https://www.gpb.org/news/2024/02/11/watch-stevie-wonder-performs-emotional-musical-tribute-mlks-son-dexter-scott-king|access-date=September 17, 2024}}
- Other notable performances include those by Patti LaBelle,{{cite news|author=Bev Wolfe |title=REVIEW: Patti LaBelle Still Has It (State Theatre)|date=January 29, 2017|work=Twin Cities Arts Reader|url=https://twincitiesarts.com/2017/01/29/review-patti-labelle-still-has-it-state-theatre/|access-date=September 17, 2024}} Fantasia, Chrisette Michelle, the marching band at Florida A&M University, the Makhelat Ha-Mercaz at the Jewish Choral Festival,{{cite news|author=Alexander, Keith L.|title=Whitney Houston, Destiny’s Child and Chaka Khan among many to cover Richard Smallwood’s gospel chart-toppers|date=July 23, 2015|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/style/wp/2015/07/23/whitney-houston-destinys-child-and-chaka-khan-among-many-to-cover-richard-smallwoods-gospel-chart-toppers/|access-date=September 17, 2024}} the Dublin Gospel Choir,{{cite web|author=Catriona Graham|title=Dublin Gospel Choir at The Button Factory {{!}} Review|date=April 15, 2014|work=GoldenPlec|url=https://www.goldenplec.com/live-reviews/dublin-gospel-choir-button-factory-review/|access-date=September 17, 2024}} the Richmond Symphony Orchestra{{cite web|author=Antoinette Essa|title=These Richmond Symphony performances are tribute to gospel legend, Martin Luther King Jr.|date=January 13, 2024 |work=WTVR-TV|url=https://www.wtvr.com/cbs6-community/richmond-symphony-martin-luther-king-holiday-weekend-concerts-jan-13-2024|access-date=September 17, 2024}} and The Kingdom Choir.{{cite web|title=Performance of 'Total Praise' by The Kingdom Choir|date=January 7, 2024 |work=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0h21rvk|access-date=October 6, 2024}}
Charts
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| Chart (2020)
! Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Gospel Digital Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121094108/https://www.billboard.com/artist/richard-smallwood/chart-history/|archivedate=November 21, 2021|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/richard-smallwood/chart-history/|title=Richard Smallwood History|format=select 'Gospel Digital Song Sales' from drop-down menu|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 17, 2024|via=Wayback Machine}}
| 11 |