BeBe Winans

BeBe Winans

BE'BE'S KING
Gospel Veteran BeBe Winans Talks About His Inspired New Set of Love Songs
Contemporary gospel darlings BeBe and CeCe Winans have melded their inspirational message to R&B grooves since their self-titled 1987 debut. The siblings have also made separate strides toward crossover success. CeCe has several solo albums and teamed up with pal Whitney Houston for a soaring, inspirational duet on the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack. Now BeBe scores with his sophomore solo disc Love & Freedom, which features collaborations with secular soulsters Stevie Wonder, Brian McKnight, and Joe. Barnes & Noble.com's Neo Brentacious spoke with the Grammy award-winning artist about his latest crossover move.

Barnes & Noble.com: How does Love & Freedom differ from your first project?

BeBe Winans: If anything, Love & Freedom is just another step in perfecting what I'm all about. I look at all of my albums as close and dear to me. But this album is just a little more perfected. Perfection comes with age and with maturity. I'm a little bolder and braver, so it reflects those things. I reflect on issues I believe I understand. When you experience something, you have more authority to speak on it. Love & Freedom reflects a more mature BeBe Winans.

B&N.com: This is the furthest I've heard you stray from gospel. What motivated that decision?

BW: CeCe and I have always been contemporary and never very traditional.

B&N.com: Yes, but before there were always gospel overtones present.

BW: At the same time, we've been crossover from day one. On this album I speak about natural love a little bit more than I've ever done before. Songs on the album talk about love and the beauty of it.

B&N.com: What is the disc's most definitive song?

BW: There's a song with me and CeCe called "Tonight Tonight" that talks about urgency. I think we need God to intervene in every aspect of our lives, especially in our relationships -- whether it's a relationship with a spouse, with a friend, or to help the relationships between different countries. Look at the state of emergency in the Middle East. So that song is a plea from us to God to help us to be more loving in our relationships.

B&N.com: How did your collaborations with Stevie Wonder, Brian McKnight, Joe, and Stephanie Mills come about?

BW: Joe was the first person I got with to write the song "Coming Back Home," and that parlayed into us singing together. Then we decided to grab another guy, and we agreed that it should be Brian McKnight. I sang "Jesus Children of America" several years ago at a celebration in honor of Stevie Wonder. And when I went into the studio for this album, I wanted to do the song again. The moment I called Stevie, he agreed to join me.

B&N.com: What about Stephanie Mills? We haven't heard from her in a long while.

BW: Stephanie's a dear old friend, and I had to twist, pull, and yank her into the studio. But I'm glad I did, because her voice has been sorely missed. Others have been thanking me for coaxing her out of retirement.

B&N.com: What has been the highlight of your career thus far?

BW: I would have to say coproducing The Bodyguard soundtrack. That was an award-winning adventure in my life. I love the executive side of the business, and I'm very proud to have been a part of the production process of what has become one of the bestselling albums of all time.

B&N.com: What has been the most difficult part of your professional life?

BW: Having my two young daughters tell me "I want you home" when I have to go out and promote my music is difficult. They mean more to me than anything. So finding balance in what I do is hard. Before they came along, I could simply be selfish. But when you're a parent, you can't be selfish.

B&N.com: What do you listen to when you want to relax with your family?

BW: When I'm at home, it's nothing but Barney and Cinderella. [laughs] When I'm home, my world becomes [my children's] world.

October 27, 2000