No doubt the year 2020 has been a challenging year for a great number of people on many different levels. There are many people who are feeling lonely and rejected, lost and confused, frightened and uncertain, desperately seeking to know if there is any hope left in the world. In their hours of desperation, they aimlessly search for anything that will give them a sense of serenity and joy.
Phillips Brooks, an American Episcopal clergyman and author so aptly stated, “The earth has grown old with its burden of care, but at Christmas it always is young, the heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair, and its soul full of music breaks the air, when the song of angels is sung.”
It has been said that music is medicine, and as we near the Christmas season, there is nothing quite like the medicinal remedies of traditional holiday music that act as a healing balm for the soul, bringing solace and comfort to the persons listening to it. Camille Nelson helps to spread hope and joy this holiday season as she shares some of that medicine with us with her new Christmas album, which was released on Friday, 23 October 2020.
The 10-track album called “Acoustic Christmas” is filled with traditional Christmas classics that are guaranteed to delight hearts and permeate the air with calmness and peace as it is listened to. Everyone will want to add to this album to their favorite holiday music playlists to listen to time and time again.
Camille beautifully plays the acoustic guitar on songs like “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Joy to the World,” “Wexford Carol,” and “Once in Royal David’s City.” She is also joined by a few guest music artists like Yahosh Bonner who sings the timeless carol, “Little Drummer Boy,” which is track #3 on the album. Camille also released a YouTube video of “Little Drummer Boy” featuring Yahosh Bonner and his children.
Listeners are also blessed as they hear the beautiful voices of KORA on the fifth track as they sing, “Still, Still, Still.” Kimberly Knighton and Britney Holman lend their voices on the seventh track on the album. The song that they sing is a magnificent rendition of the hymn “More Holiness Give Me,” which many would probably not consider to be a Christmas carol. However, after listening carefully to the lyrics, a person soon discovers that the song could well be a silent prayer that many have in their hearts especially during these trying times in which we live. And Marj Desius joins Camille on track #9 and sings an awe-inspiring rendition of “All Creatures of Our God and King.”
The tiny babe who in Bethlehem manger lay was no ordinary child. Some people called Him the son of David. Others called Him the son of Joseph. The scriptures call Him the son of David, the son of Mary, the son of man, the Son of God. He whose name is Immanuel, meaning God is with us, was born to be the King of kings and the Lord of lords. This child was the promised Messiah – even Jesus the Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God the Eternal Father. For hundreds of years prophecies had foretold the birth of a Messiah, and on that starry night in the City of David, the One who would fulfill those prophecies was born in a humble stable with a manger as His cradle.
Camille concludes her album with an acoustic rendition of the ageless Christmas carol, “Silent Night.” It is the perfect ending to a magnificent album, reminding us of that Holy, starry, silent night in Bethlehem when Christ, our Savior was born!
