Mandisa grew up in Citrus Heights, California (Sacramento County) and graduated from El Camino Fundamental High School. She then attended American River College in Sacramento where she studied Vocal Jazz. Then she was off to Fisk University in Tennessee and graduated with a bachelor's of music degree with a concentration in vocal performance. Mandisa currently resides in the suburban Nashville community of Antioch, Tennessee. When she auditioned for American Idol in Chicago, she asked the judges to call her "just Mandisa", and she has been billed as Mandisa (with no last name) on the show since the shows Hollywood round. Mandisa was a backup singer for famed Christian author and speaker Beth Moore. She has stated her musical influences run the gamut from Whitney Houston to Def Leppard.
Idol judge Simon Cowell made several comments about Mandisa's weight during her audition. When he first saw her, he quipped are we "going to have a bigger stage this year." Later, when Paula Abdul commented that Mandisa had a "Frenchie" growl to her voice, Cowell responded that a more apt comparison would be to France itself. These were among comments that drew the ire of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, and would be one of the reasons Mandisa would entitle her 2007 album "True Beauty".
According to the Stronger Songfacts, the 11 tracks of Mandisa's 2011 album What If We Were Real encourage shining the light on whom we really are, including both the good and the bad; the theme of the record also coincided with Mandisa's public struggles with food addiction and weight loss. "A struggle is a struggle, and Jesus is there through it all," the singer explained. "He is there in compassion and grace. I have found that what He has spoken to me through these songs has been encouraging and I think that'll be true for other people who are going through their own hard times."
Angels We Have Heard On High
Mandisa Lyrics
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Sweetly singing over the plains
And the mountains in reply,
Echoing their joyous strains.
Glo-ori-a
In excelsis de-o
Glo-ori-a
In excelsis de-o
The opening lyrics of Mandisa's "Angels We Have Heard On High" is a rendition of the classic Christmas carol usually sung and enjoyed during the holiday season. The song was written by French composer and lyricist James Chadwick in the mid-1800s, and it is now a popular hymn that can be heard throughout churches and homes worldwide. The verse speaks of angels singing joyfully over the plains and mountains in response to the birth of Christ. The chorus, which is repeated throughout the song, consists of the words "Gloria" and "In excelsis de-o," which means "Glory to God in the highest."
The song is a beautiful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas - the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a time that we take to remember the miracle of his birth and the joy that it brought to the world. Additionally, the imagery of angels singing in unison over the mountains is a beautiful depiction of the celebrations that occurred on the night Christ was born.
Line by Line Meaning
Angels we have heard on high
Celestial beings whose presence we have been made aware of have been conveying a message to us
Sweetly singing over the plains
The angels are creating a beautiful melody that permeates over the flat, open land
And the mountains in reply,
The mountains, being the only other landmark in the vicinity, are echoing back with their own acoustics
Echoing their joyous strains.
The mountains are reverberating with the same joyful tune, amplifying the impact of the angelic choir
Glo-ori-a
An exclamation of praise or glory
In excelsis de-o
A Latin phrase meaning 'in the highest degree' or 'in the highest God'
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: NUNLEY, TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind