Here’s the thing about Carrie Underwood…
She is a “Storyteller” like none other and is the epitome of “sings from the heart”. She makes the old feel new, creates light in the dark, and inspires you to understand life through a better perspective, and she does it with the most beautiful, genuine, and pure vocals that you have ever heard and ever will hear. When she sings cover songs, it always brings new meaning and life to those songs, and she makes them her own. Listening to this CD (and her Christmas music from the special edition of her album “Carnival Ride”), you feel as if it’s the first time you have heard the traditional Christmas tunes.
With her previously-recorded Christmas music, especially her heart-inspiring version of the “The First Noel” and “Do You Hear What I Hear” (which I will keep that CD after this one in a disc changer), along with the tracks on this new album, Carrie fine-tunes your heartstrings and says ‘You may have heard this story before, but I want you to really listen and feel the true meaning’. I can honestly say that songs such as “Do You Hear What I Hear”, “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”, and “Little Drummer Boy” (the incredibly touching duet with her son, Isaiah, whom she humbly lets take center stage) have never resonated with me the way that they do when Carrie sings them. You know that she feels every word she sings, with her entire heart and soul, and she compels you to do the same; the lyrics flow straight from her heart to yours and motivate you to listen with the innoncence and wonderment of a child, to find a stronger truth in them.
When teaching us to preserve our faith in the midst of trials, Psalm 40 in the Bible says: “He has put a new song in my mouth…” – that’s what Carrie has done with this album – she has, through the blessing of God, put a new song in our mouths and hearts. For so many years, Carrie fans have wanted a full Christmas album from her, but with this being a year that has consisted of a global health pandemic and increased division in the world, now the timing of this album all makes sense and is a reminder of why God’s timing is perfect. He continues to bless us with the gift of Carrie Underwood, allowing her to enrich our lives this holiday season with three new Christmas songs, two of which she co-wrote – one of them, “Let There Be Peace”, features these lyrics:
If I had one wish
On my Christmas list
It wouldn’t be for presents under my tree
There’ll be
No more tears for crying
No more wars for fighting
And every mother’s child would have enough to eat~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When I look in the mirror
All I wanna see
Is true compassion looking back at me
I wanna, I wanna love my neighbor
And be the hands and feet of Jesus
Take His love to the least of these
All I’m asking is to be the change
When I get down on my knees, I say
Let there be peace
Peace to every nation
Let there be hope
For all the world to see
Let there be love
And joy to all the children
Let there be peace on earth
For you and me
Although we all love the snow-filled holiday music that wants us to embrace the snowmen, lights, and Santa, I cannot emphasize enough how proud I am of Carrie for releasing an album that asks us to remember the true meaning of Christmas and unite together in faith and love. During a year that, to society, feels like one of the worst in modern history, Carrie reminds us to focus on the most important things in life and put our hope in God and His plan.
In the trailer for the album, Carrie explained the story behind the title and why this is a special year for the cd:
“I love music; I love singing – that is my personal gift that I have, that I get to do, that I’m so blessed to do. And I wanna use that gift, and I wanna give it back to Jesus – that’s kind of why I landed on My Gift as an album title.”
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
- 1 Cor. 12:4-7 (KJV)
“Now more than ever, we all need to focus on what Christmas is about, rely more on our family. And even though it has been a tough year, sometimes I feel like the greatest realizations can come in the worst times, or in the most stressful times, and it makes you more thankful for the things that you do have.”
She certainly has a way with words that captures your heart all over again.
There is only one thing missing from this album…more songs. Here’s hoping one day she will release a two-disc Christmas album.
A special thank you goes to Carrie for allowing her fanclub to experience – yes, experience – this masterpiece album the day before release. It’s the kind of album that will take Some Hearts on a Carnival Ride of emotions, urging listeners to continue to Play On with both the music and in life, while leaving you Blown Away by the powerful Storyteller herself. And though you may not Cry Pretty during some of the songs, you will still be left with a feeling of ‘This is My Gift from God, through the blessing of this beautiful soul.
Carrie Underwood, you have always been and always will be a special gift to your fans and this world. Thank you for never being afraid to let God’s light and blessings shine through you. You chose the perfect title for this album, because your gift is truly one-of-a-kind.
Written by: https://twitter.com/CaliaButterfly
“Let There Be Peace”
Click here to watch "Let There Be Peace" on YouTube
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