It’s Christmas time, kittens & dawgs! For the entire month of December Mrs. Claus, XmasDolly, and her elves…JAmericanSpice, Stacy Uncorked, Everyday Life, & little ole me are having a jingling good time spreading the cheer with non-stop Christmas music.
I decided to go with a theme within a theme this Christmas season. The first week feature was O Little Town of Bethlehem and last was The Angels Knew. This week, I want to focus on Mary, the holy mother. What would have been her prayer when she learned that she was the chosen one of God? It must have been something like Breath of Heaven.
In a time (and still is in certain parts of the world) where women were put away or stoned to death for getting pregnant outside of marriage, I can not image how scary this brave girl was and that is exactly what she was Just a Girl who found favor in the sight of the Lord who soon had to travel to a faraway place with her husband to pay taxes upon Caesar’s order.
Accepting the responsibility to be the mother of God’s son had to daunting, but you have to wonder….Mary, Did You Know the magnitude of your child’s birth? Keeping with my theme, I want to pit two artists in today’s #BOTB with one of my favorite contemporary Christmas songs in recent years, Mary, Did You Know?. This songs holds a special place in my heart, as a Christian. A number of super artists have performed or recorded it, like Kenny Rogers & Wynonna Judd, CeeLo Green, Kathy Mattea, Pentatonix, and Rascal Flatts ~ all fabulous covers, too. Perhaps one of these is your favorite version. Today, I wanted to shed light on two lesser known artists who spoke to my heart.
I enjoyed both covers, but I think I was most moved by Sanam’s rendition of Mary, Did You Know. That being said, I will start the count with one vote for Sanam. Okay, you know what to do. Who gets your vote ~ Sanam or Tessera?
Thank you for joining the 4M crew. I hope you enjoyed the music. I’ll be by your place soon. Meanwhile, why not dance with your these fellow bloggers below…
For all you regular 4Mers, please dance over to these fine musical buds to listen to their battling duos & vote!
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For some reason it’s only been recent that I heard “Mary Did You Know” – love it! And I can’t decide between the two versions, because I like them both for their individuality! 🙂 Your choices are stellar as always, Cathy! Thanks for the dance! 🙂
The Christmas Song isn’t Red Solo Cup – Santa Tell Me because Baby It’s Cold Outside!
thank you for sharing the Christmas spirit with me and for letting me dance with you every monday.
I’m going with Sanam. Two great versions of a song I love.
That’s a hard choice, because I loved both versions. I also heard a wonderful version of Mary Did You Know sung in church Sunday night by a young Samoan man. I think that one was my favorite of all!
=)
I love O Little Town of Bethlehem! I remember that was a song we sang every Christmas when I was growing up.
I love Brandon Heath’s music 🙂
Thank you for sharing these beautiful music!
Happy Christmas preparations Cathy! *HUGS*
That was quite an emotional lead in to the song. Had me crying. The only other artist I’ve heard this from was Kathy Mattea, and it was beautiful. I also listened to Alyiah; very lovely young voice.
For the battle, I liked both versions, but think my vote goes to Sanam.
merry Christmas Cathy.
I find it hard to not be moved to tears during Christmas. I can’t imagine Mary’s sacrifice t be the vessel for our Savior’s delivery. I kept thinking about young girls I grew up with who became pregnant outside of marriage. It was looked upon as an act of shame and disgrace. But, in Mary’s times? I’m certain the joy and sorrow she carried was greater than anything any mother-to-be today ever experienced, but what a blessing she gave us all!
Beautiful songs. Those first two just moves your heart, don’t they? And Mary Did You Know is always a throught-provoking one – I love it. Thanks for sharing!
Yes, they do move the heart. All season when I hear a song that touches me then I jot it down with the hopes of sharing. That’s how I came to use these selections. I’m so glad that you enjoyed them, as well.
Wow…this was tough. Another one where I had to listen twice, and it’s almost too close to call, so I am going with the crowd, me being a follower at heart…Sanam
Tessera gets my vote. Very distinct voices yet their blending was simply lovely. Sanam has a modern twist I suppose, with the jamming rifts… but I was more captivated by the line choices for the guys in Tessera. Maybe I’m just a bass girl after all. Great BOTB.
I enjoyed both versions of this song. (Honestly, I just really like this song!) Hard to choose, but I think Sanam edges out Tessera, but not by much. It was a close one!!!
Yes, I love the music you’ve selected for today! Very nice!!
Looks like I’m agreement with almost everyone else on this one: Both versions were very good, but I felt the first one by Sanam was a bit more passionate and so that’s where my vote lands.
Good versions of an excellent song, Cathy.
~ D-FensDogg
‘Loyal American Underground’
Mary Did You Know — ah! such a fantastic song. And I think about what Mary must have been enduring every single time I hear it. Especially now that I am a mother now too. I just can’t imagine — but thankfully for all of us she was obedient and strong in her Faith. gotta give my vote Sanam too — although it’s hard to dislike any version of this song.
Breathe of Heaven is another great one too.
I agree, Les! This song really hits home with moms, especially those who have sons. As a Christian mom, I knew my children were on loan from God so to speak and I would have to let go of them one day, but if I knew the outcome, as Mary did from the prophesy then I would go insane. What a burden she carried with her from pregnancy till Jesus’ death! I just love this song and it blesses me so every time I hear it.
Both excellent versions! I think there is a little more soulfulness to the vocals in the Tessera version, but overall, I really like the arrangement and instrumentation of the Sanam version. And I certainly can’t fault the passion in the vocals when they hit the big “I AM”. I think the ending is a little sudden and flat, but I’m still giving Sanam the edge in this battle.
Merry Christmas!!!
Really nice music. I enjoyed them all.
Really liked the vocals of Tessera. They brought a little more passion to the song and get my vote.
I’d actually not even heard this song before, for shame! I now have another lovely Christmas song to enjoy this year, so all of the big thanks to you, and the Merriest of Christmasses!!!
LOL @ Mrs. Claus, XmasDolly, and her elves…brilliant
Loved these Cathy and I also thought Mary Did You Know was my fav out of them 🙂
Have a xmastastic week 🙂
I love “Mary Did You Know” and to have two renditions, thank you, What a novel idea to have a theme within a theme and Mary is a perfect one. All beautiful songs about her. You’ve got Christmas right! And put it right for all of us. Thanks again and I hope you have a wonderful week!
Well, I must agree with the previous comment. I’ve decided that “Mary Did you Know?” is definitely my favorite Christmas song. It always gives me such a feeling. I never heard either of these versions, but it doesn’t really matter does it? I love your choices today. it gave me such a good warm feeling inside. God bless you my friend.
“Mary, Did You Know?” is also one of my favorite Christmas songs of recent times. Both of the versions you offered here are excellent, but I too go with the Sanam version. It’s very moving in delivery and I really like the instrumentation. An outstanding take on the song.
Lee
Tossing It Out