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November 30, 2012Mandisa's Free Music Friday
Enjoy a free Christmas music download of “What Child Is This?” from American Idol finalist and CCM artist Mandisa.
American Idol finalist, three-time Grammy nominee, and CCM artist Mandisa has produced five studio albums since appearing on season 5 of American Idol in 2006. Her holiday album, It’s Christmas, was originally released in 2008, and was re-released this year with several new tracks and a concentrated focus on the reason for the season: Jesus Christ.
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Santa Claus or giving gifts or anything like that—I just think we are to remember what the holidays are about in the first place,” Mandisa said. “That’s why we titled the album It’s Christmas—the focus is on Christ. I never ever want to forget what it’s all about.”
The album contains a variety of musical influences, including a hint of Latin on “Feliz Navidad,” soaring R&B vocals on Motown-style track “What Christmas Means to Me,” and a medley of three traditional favorites—“Silver Bells,” “Carol of the Bells,” and “Caroling, Caroling”—on “Christmas Bell Medley.” Guest appearances include Michael W. Smith on original track “Christmas Day,” and fellow CCM artist Matthew West on “Christmas Makes Me Cry.”
Friday’s free download, “What Child Is This?” is a soulful rendition of the traditional carol.
"'What Child is This?' has always been one of my favorite Christmas songs," Mandisa said. “I'm always floored when I consider that the God who created the universe humbled himself to take on the human form of a baby to save me. What child is this, indeed!"
For more on Mandisa, Christianity Today magazine recently recommended It’s Christmas in their “Best New Christmas Music of 2012” article, and has also published articles covering Mandisa’s debut album, True Beauty, as well as a review of her 2011 album What if We Were Real. Mandisa will be on the road with TobyMac’s Hits Deep tour through the month of December.
You can purchase Mandisa’s Christmas album at this link, and preview “What Child Is This?” in this YouTube video:
*Friday's free download period has ended. Check back next week for a track from Steven Curtis Chapman!