Mandisa - 'What If We Were Real'

Mandisa was a powerhouse when she was on American Idol and five years later, she is all that and then some and we hear it on every song on What If We Were Real. The CD appeals to that part of all of us that is sick and tired of people wearing masks and expecting us to do the same. We're not perfect little characters - we're real people with flaws - and the sooner we accept that about ourselves and others, the sooner we will figure out how to be real!

In a nutshell, What If We Were Real offers up lyrics that say something, delivering them through gospel seasoned pop.

My mom always used to say, "You can fool some of the people and you even fool yourself some of the time, but you can never fool God." After listening to What If We Were Real, I find myself wondering if my mom has been hanging out with Mandisa, sharing those nuggets of wisdom!

While it always hurts to see yourself for who you really are, without the mask and the trimmings, Mandisa takes some of the sting out of, offering encouraging lyrics like 'Cause if He started this work in your life / He will be faithful to complete it / If only you believe it / He knows how much it hurts / And I'm sure that He's gonna help you get through this.

I could practically foam at the mouth over the beats, the groove that makes it impossible to stay still while listening, or the strength of her vocals. I could go on and on about her lyrics and how each song shares a lesson that each and every one of us should learn, while taking some of the "Ouch, that one hit home" bite out of it by being so honest and uplifting. I could even marvel at her faith - faith that has obviously kept her centered and growing despite the temptations that she probably faces daily due to being a "star" in the eyes of the world. Instead, I will simply say this ... What If We Were Real is a CD that will bless you in more ways than you can imagine. It's one of the best that I've heard this year and my day definitely got better after listening to it. Give it a listen and yours will too!

My Favorite Songs on What If We Were Real:

• "Free" (Purchase/Download)
• "Good Morning" featuring TobyMac (Purchase/Download)
• "Just Cry" (Purchase/Download)

Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.