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Culprit Eternal and BeBe Winans
Title I Wanna Be The Only One
Year 1997
Written by BeBe Winans and James "Rhett" Lawrence
Submitted by srussell

This ball-breakingly shameless succession of gear changes provided Eternal with their first UK no. 1 hit in 1997. There's a certain calm before the storm ahead of the first one, which creates in me a sinking feeling of inevitability, a bit like when you're happily listening to a Beatles album and you suddenly realise that the next song is the Ringo Starr one. And then the storm kicks in with an over-the-top "whoooooo!"

Clearly infused with gospel sentiment, submitter srussell writes: "Note the almost evangelical nature of the gear change, suggesting a tearful joy because what seemed like perfection has now been lifted into uncharted territories of spiritual bliss – when in fact the true effect is of a desperately mediocre piece of pap staying that way." But that doesn't stop them changing gear twice again, with the trumpets getting more and more exuberant each time.

Listen to the MP3Listen!

Related stuff

Benjamin "BeBe" Winans is one of Eternal's regular collaborators, and has helped contribute much of the gospel element in their sound. Now a solo artist, he started out as half of a duo with his sister, Priscilla "CeCe" Winans, and he is the younger brother to Marvin, Carvin II, Ronald and Michael, collectively the "contemporary gospel" group The Winans. They are not to be confused with their parents, who put records out as Mom & Pop Winans. Other Winans family outings have included (and this is far from an exhaustive list) BeBe's sisters Angie & Debbie; yet another brother, Daniel; Marvin's wife Vickie; and the group known as The Winans Phase 2, which comprises Mom & Pop's grandchildren Marvin Jr, Carvin III, Michael Jr and (slightly letting the side down) Juan.

Jackson family take note.