Mandisa:It’s Christmas

“It’s Christmas” would be the perfect album for a ‘Social’ Christmas Celebration void of the true meaning of Christmas. It is not your highly anticipated Christian Praise & Worship Christmas Album. It seems that more emphasis was put upon the party-gala type theme of the album, rather than the sacredness of the Holy Day. However, despite the fact that it is filled with a party type groove, nevertheless, the orchestra style quality of its musical accompaniment resounds with a well pleasing attention getting note.

With the first song’s lyrics: “Candles burning low, lots of mistletoe, lots of snow and ice, everywhere we go, choirs singing carols right outside my door, all these things and more, that’s ‘What Christmas Means To Me’ my love,” the mood is set for the entire album and you realize that this would be the sort of song you would expect to be chosen as part of the original soundtrack for a ‘jolly good theater movie’.

Followed by: Feliz Navidad, Christmas Bell Medley, and Children Go Where I Send Thee, “It’s Christmas” again proved to be an album of Social Christmas Celebration, in regards to its overall feel. I was however; touched deeply by the duet “Christmas Makes Me Cry,” with Matthew West: “I think of loved ones passed away, memories of years gone by, and sometimes Christmas makes me cry. I think of soldiers across the sea, and sometimes Christmas makes me cry. Tears of thankfulness, tears of hope, I cry tears of joy at Christmas because I know there is peace on earth for every heart to find,” and the duet “Christmas Day” with Michael W. Smith, which was beautifully done.

Silent Night, Angels We Have Heard On High (a soulful, sultry rhythmic feel, nicely done, but not holiness atmosphere,) and O Holy Night are the well known songs of the year, all done with a Mandisa personal touch added. Standing in a category all by itself is “Mary’s Little Boy Child.” The most stirring song for me was “Little Drummer Boy,” a moving rendition and Spirit of God provoking arrangement of humility: “I am a poor boy, but I’ll give my very best to you. I’ll play for you on my drum, just to honor you. However, this could be a very biased assessment, seeing as though Little Drummer Boy is one of my favorite songs. It is something about the statement: “I’ll give my best to you” and the way in which Mandisa sings it that makes it stand out!

Despite the fact that I did not agree with the party style theme of “It’s Christmas” I have to give praise to Mandisa for a job well done on the quality and musical arrangement of this album, it is absolutely awesome, upbeat, and stirring! And her voice is flawless.

Ladee’s Album Reviews Criteria

Each Category Scale 1 to 5

Divided by # of Categories

Equals Rating

Lyrical/Song Originality = 1

Musical Accompaniment/Arrangement = 5

Praise, Worship, Christian Inspirational Content = 3

Overall Feel/Mood/Theme of Song/Album = 2.5