Was Hoku's "You First Believed" too personal?

[George Tropicana]

All Hoku fans thought the song Hoku sung, wrote, and produced called "You First Believed" was a surefire Christian hit.

However, it was never embraced. I believe the song was too personal.

I think everyone should give it a listen. The album "Hoku" is out now and it's the last track. It sends shivers down my spine, even more than Joy Enriquez's "With This Love."

[strong4PMB!]

It was too secular! It could have applied to Don Ho.

[George Tropicana]

But Hoku wrote in her thank-yous: "Finally, I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What can I say? You are all that I am, and I'll never forget that it was You who first believed."

And the lyrics are not that secular: "How many times did I pray/You'd find me" and "You held my hand and showed me life."

[JCMF3]

Does Hoku present herself as a Christian artist? Because Christian radio stations play artists that present themselves "to the ministry". If she did not make that claim explicitly or market herself as a Christian artist, then she will not get the airplay.

[George Tropicana]

Yes, her father said she was a good, Christian girl when the media found out she secretly eloped and was married (Interscope didn't want people to find out since it could damage her record sales).

[George Tropicana]

Featured on the "Dreamsounds" compilation!

News taken from Yahoo Group "Hokuradar":

'Dreamsounds'
www.inq7.net/ent/2004/mar/30/ent_20-1.htm

UNIVERSAL Music Philippines' new CD, "Dreamlands," features soft rhythms and soothing versions of recent R&B hits: "Because of You" by Keith Martin, "Home" by Brian McKnight, "Make Me Whole" by Amel Larrieux, "For You" by Kenny Lattimore, and "If You're Not the One" by Daniel Bedingfield.

Completing the UMP-Wave 89.1 compilation are "Don't Change" by Musique, "I Won't Cry" by Profyle, "Negative Things" by Selwyn, "All My Love" by Inner Voices, "I'll Wait Right Here" by Jersey Ave., "Something to See" by Glenn Lewis, and "You First Believed" by Hoku.

Hopefully this becomes a hit! :) The Hokuradar group also said the song was featured on an episode of NBC's popular soap opera "Passions"!