By Pamela Rose Williams
Introduction
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a lover of good, Godly, Christian music. If you know me well, you also know that I like many styles of Christian music including the great hymns of faith, African Spiritual, Southern Gospel, and Contemporary Christian music. This is why I was excited and honored to have the opportunity to review a great new music CD “Out of the Dark” by Mandisa, a lovely Christian lady with a golden voice. I am thankful to Propeller Consulting, LLC and Fly By Promotions for this opportunity.
About the Artist
Mandisa Lynn Hundley, or simply “Mandisa” is a Contemporary Christian Artist California girl born in 1976. She studied vocal jazz and has a degree with a concentration in vocal performance. Mandisa gained notoriety when she was a contestant on the United States competition show “American Idol” in its 5th season in 2006. She stood firm on her faith and was brave to forgive Judge Simon Cowell for several jokes that he made about her weight, she said “What I want to say to you is that, yes, you hurt me and I cried and it was painful, it really was. But I want you to know that I’ve forgiven you and that you don’t need someone to apologize in order to forgive somebody. I figure that if Jesus could die so that all of my wrongs could be forgiven, I can certainly extend that same grace to you.” In humility, Simon apologized to Mandisa. Though Mandisa did not win the competition she made it as one of the 12 finalists that season and launched a successful music career as a Christian Contemporary artist. She was awarded the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Overcomer at the 56th Grammy Awards in 2016. Her newest CD “Out of the Dark” will be released on May 19, 2017. You can read more about Mandisa at her website About Mandisa
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“It only takes one little flicker of light to dispell darkness …
once I let the light of Jesus shine down on me,
that is when God began to lift me out of the pit”
~Mandisa~
About “Out of the Dark”
“Out of the Dark” is Mandisa’s 5th full-length CD that will be released on May 19, 2017. This comes 2 months after the release of the lead track on the CD entitled “Unfinished”. “Out of the Dark” is a celebration of how God lifted Mandisa out of a deep pit after she lost her dear friend Kisha to breast cancer. Mandisa fervently prayed that God would heal her friend and fell into a deep depression when God took Kisha home to Heaven. Mandisa locked herself away from the world and even from her family and closest friends. It was only after her dear friends staged a sort of intervention that she handed her circumstance to the Lord and allowed Him to use her to share her story through this Scripturally inspired music. Mandisa was on the road to self destruction until she allowed God to help her. Many of the songs on the album are written and co-written by Mandisa. You might recognize some other Christian singer/songwriters too, that help to contribute to the messages that God laid on Mandisa’s heart through this challenging life issue. You can hear some preaching and singing from Kirk Franklin as well as the great voices of TobyMac, Jeremy Camp and Britt Nicole. You will even enjoy some collaboration from Matthew West and Cindy Morgan to name a few. Her inspiration for this new album is also her new life verse:
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:2-3
My Favorite Song
Once you listen to all the songs on “Out of the Dark” you will agree that it is very difficult to choose a favorite. In the style of Mandisa you will hear some great upbeat tunes that will make you want to go leaping and dancing to the Lord. There are a couple of fun ones too, like the one she sings for the ladies with Britt Nicole entitled “What You’re Worth”. And I am all for the power songs that Mandisa sings, like “Good News” and “Comeback Kid” but there is just something about the ballads. Maybe it is because it is in these songs that you really feel Mandisa’s heart and you hear her sweet, pitch perfect voice that God has gifted to her. Among the ballads on “Out of the Dark” is a sweet, honest and loving conversation that she has with her Heavenly Father. In “Prove me Wrong” she confesses her lack of faith in how the Lord can use such a tragedy for His good. Mandisa says it was the very first song that she wrote for the album and it was written when she was still in a very bad place. In her opinion it is the most honest song on the album because, after her friend Kisha died, she was still very angry and disappointed. The song is based on the Scriptures in Job 24:25 and Psalm 38. I hope you can enjoy this lyric video of my favorite song from “Out of the Dark”. Today you will hear her say that she is so happy that God actually did prove her wrong because He lifted her out of the pit of despair and has given her new songs.
Final Thoughts
Did you miss Mandisa? She disappeared for a while BUT GOD brought her back. He is using her to do mighty things and I highly recommend that you purchase her new CD “Out of the Dark”. You will not regret it for a minute! It is available as a download as well as a CD. And when you have enjoyed the music and the messages that she has to share, tell someone else about it. Share the blessings!
You can get her audio CD at Amazon (this is an affiliate link) here: Out of the Dark Audio CD by Mandisa
[This Giveaway has ended] Giveaway (begins 5/19/17 @12:00 AM MDT, ends 5/26/17 @12:00 AM MDT)
This Giveaway has ended. Congratulations to our winner Tracy!
The winner of the giveaway will receive one “Out of the Dark” music CD by Mandisa. This Giveaway is available only to residents in the Continental United States. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Your prize one Mandisa “Out of the Dark” CD will be directly mailed to you by our sponsor.
How to enter:
1.) Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ChristianityEveryDay/ and comment on one of my Mandisa posts with your favorite Mandisa song of all time.
OR
2) Tweet this: Mandisa #OutOfTheDark CD #review and #giveaway. Join now https://bit.ly/2q1hQ7q @ChristEveryDay1 #flyby
Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
photo credits: Propeller Consulting, LLC and https://mandisaofficial.com
