Cherie
has Gifts
By Michelle Roberts, BYU Meridian Correspondent
The
Christmas season is upon us, and with it, the hustle and bustle
of busy shoppers trying to get that perfect present for their
special someone. In all of this chaos, it can often be difficult
to find a quiet spot to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas
— why it is we endure the long lines and bruised ankles to
celebrate a single day.
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Cherie
Call, in her new CD entitled Gifts, combats this dilemma.
On the CD, there is not a single track that advocates one
word about Santa Claus, expensive presents, or keeping up
with the Joneses. Instead, the CD brings the spirit of the
true Christmas season and its real reason — the birth, life,
and atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ.
The
title track is representative of this fact. The precious “Gifts”
of which Cherie sings are those from the heart. They’re not
the “sweaters [or] the diamonds [or] the chocolates [or] cologne.”
Instead, they are the gifts that will matter for forever —
a heartfelt note from a child, precious time with a dear friend,
Christ’s Atonement — anything given in true love.
When
you first turn on the CD, there is nothing immediately astounding
that catches your ear. That is, until you listen to the lyrics.
The first song on the CD, “Peace on Earth to Me,” begins a
little country-ish, and you may wonder what you’re listening
to. However, as you continue to listen, the song takes on
a much deeper sound. Singing about the baby Jesus, and what
makes life meaningful to her personally, the song contains
incredible truth of finding peace on an earth that is in constant
turmoil.
The
second track, “Starting Again, Again” is about resolutions
— making each year better than the one before. A great song
for leaving the past behind, it’s a message of hope and having
the strength to move on.
One
of the greatest things about the CD is the unique approach
it takes to the Christmas season. The world has plenty of
songs about snow and lights and quiet nights, but Cherie has
written songs that mix these distinctively “Christmas” metaphors
with people — real people and real subjects.
Both
the third and fourth songs are embodiments of this. The third,
a song about Joseph entitled “The Man behind the Scenes,”
is an intensely thought-provoking and heartfelt ode to the
Savior’s surrogate father. The fourth, “I Just Knew,” is an
inspiring song about Mary and the way she must have felt.
Unlike
more temporal “Mary” songs like the recent “Breath of Heaven,”
“I Just Knew” is a spiritual song about the feelings of inadequacy
and challenge Mary may have experienced in raising a holy
child. It’s about the love that Mary felt for Jesus, and He
for her. It’s definitely one of the best pieces on the album.
With
songs about not only colloquial Christmastime but about people,
Cherie Call is sure to have made a hit. The song, “Broken
Hearts Like Mine,” is a song about the challenges of the Holidays
for a person who has lost a loved one. It’s about holding
on to the love, and letting go of the sadness. “One Star”
is a song of wonderment about the miracles surrounding Christ’s
birth. Included in these mixes of creative original pieces
are traditional Christmas carols such as “I Wonder as I Wander,”
and “Silent Night.” Throughout all of the tracks, the entire
album is heavily influenced with guitar, making the sound
earthy, real, and deep.
In
the end, it may be difficult to find time to single-handedly
bring peace on earth to the world, but you will be able to
bring peace to yourself with this new CD. At just over a half
hour long, listening to Gifts will be a rejuvenating
and refreshing moment to supplement your shopping sprees and
tree decorating. Collectively, the songs are upbeat, thought-provoking,
and, as testaments to the real reason for Christmas, they
ring true.
Purchase Gifts by clicking
on the artwork above, or look for it from LDS booksellers.
