2008 Woodie Awards
Mandisa concert true to the heart
Ashley Moreland/Online Reporter
Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: Arts and Entertainment
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Before I headed home for Thanksgiving break, I went to the Matthew West/Mandisa concert at Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church in Decatur. Not only did I enjoy great music, but I also heard powerful testimonies of inner beauty and gratitude.
Mandisa, a finalist in season five of American Idol, opened the show with covers by some of her favorite artists, including Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin. Then she performed some of her own songs written by Matthew West.
Mandisa's testimony truly touched my heart. She told the story about Simon from American Idol and her weight.
When she went in for her audition, she was expecting him to say something about her weight. He didn't.
However, when she watched that episode with a group of her friends, she saw that as soon as she left the room after her audition, Simon opened his mouth.
Mandisa said that she was crushed and that her friends and family all gathered around her and prayed. When she went in during Hollywood week, she addressed Simon, telling him that she forgave him. Simon said that he was truly humbled.
Struggling with her weight throughout her life and being a Godly woman, Mandisa is a strong advocate for inner beauty. Her debut album is even called "True Beauty."
"We as women are not defined by the way we look, even though society would tell us otherwise by what we see in music videos, magazine covers and beauty pageants," she said in her biography on her official Web site. "If we really understood that our value is not based on how we look, but in who we are as people-I really think we would be much more free."
Performing in Decatur was special for Matthew West-he graduated from Millikin University in 1999. While he was backstage before his set, he even wrote a short song about Decatur that he then performed for the audience.
West has a lot to be thankful for. One of those was to be able to perform that night. Earlier this year he underwent surgery on his vocal chords and at one point thought he might not ever be able to sing again. His next album, which will come out in January, is titled "Something to Say," which shows his gratitude for being able to sing again.
Mandisa, a finalist in season five of American Idol, opened the show with covers by some of her favorite artists, including Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin. Then she performed some of her own songs written by Matthew West.
Mandisa's testimony truly touched my heart. She told the story about Simon from American Idol and her weight.
When she went in for her audition, she was expecting him to say something about her weight. He didn't.
However, when she watched that episode with a group of her friends, she saw that as soon as she left the room after her audition, Simon opened his mouth.
Mandisa said that she was crushed and that her friends and family all gathered around her and prayed. When she went in during Hollywood week, she addressed Simon, telling him that she forgave him. Simon said that he was truly humbled.
Struggling with her weight throughout her life and being a Godly woman, Mandisa is a strong advocate for inner beauty. Her debut album is even called "True Beauty."
"We as women are not defined by the way we look, even though society would tell us otherwise by what we see in music videos, magazine covers and beauty pageants," she said in her biography on her official Web site. "If we really understood that our value is not based on how we look, but in who we are as people-I really think we would be much more free."
Performing in Decatur was special for Matthew West-he graduated from Millikin University in 1999. While he was backstage before his set, he even wrote a short song about Decatur that he then performed for the audience.
West has a lot to be thankful for. One of those was to be able to perform that night. Earlier this year he underwent surgery on his vocal chords and at one point thought he might not ever be able to sing again. His next album, which will come out in January, is titled "Something to Say," which shows his gratitude for being able to sing again.
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Shelby
posted 12/07/07 @ 4:49 PM CST
I think this is a great report. Keep up the great work!
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