Rose of Bethlehem

Sacred was the birth in a stable, and sacred is the mood of many of the songs, including "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," "What Child is This," "O Holy Night," "Mystery," and "Rose of Bethlehem." These songs are soft, yet powerful and awe-inspiring.

Lead singer Nicol Smith's arrangement of "What Child Is This" conveys the incredible message hidden in the words of the song. The strength of Nicol's vocals does not hinder her ability to provide a gentle, silky smooth rendition. This is also evident in "O Holy Night," which begins softly and pastorally--as if one were sitting alone on a hillside, watching the stars--but quickly escalates into a powerful worship song. "Mystery" captures the debt of gratitude we feel for-and the incomprehensibility of-God's plan, carried out through a baby, to offer salvation to the world. It's not just a baby in a manger--it's the fact that the baby was sent here for *us*; in the words of the song, sung powerfully by co-writer Todd Smith, it's a "Mystery, how He came / to be a man / But greater still / How His death was in His plan."

"Noel" is a fun, light song that provides the Christmas message in Kituba, the language the brother-and-sister part of the trio, Todd and Nicol Smith, spoke while growing up in South Africa.

"Joy" keeps the listener in touch with the meaning of Christmas while evoking an exhilarating feeling. How blessed we are that our joy has finally come! The music is upbeat, and it provides that time-honored "Christmasy" feeling. This song is classic SELAH.

Tight vocals, perfect pitch, inspiring words, and beautiful piano playing from group member Allan Hall--all these make the album perfect for a music aficionado. The enthusiasm for and understanding of the meaning of the words these three singers express through their singing make it perfect for those looking for "real" music in a world of "over-produced" and "performance-oriented" vocals. Song variety and selection mean it's a great addition to any Christian music fan's collection--or to any Christmas music fan's treasury! If you enjoyed Selah's other albums (BE STILL MY SOUL and PRESS ON), you will want to add this to your collection. If you have yet to encounter the heartfelt, thought-provoking words, arrangements, and anointed vocals of this trio, Rose of Bethlehem offers a wonderful introduction to this group's unique, refreshingly accessible style.


excellent all year long   March 8, 2003
Amy LW (Philadelphia)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

My husband and I are still listening to this CD even though it's March! We haven't grown tired of the beautiful melodies and words. It is truly glorifying to the Lord!


Worth Every Dime!   February 10, 2006
Stephanie Anne (Maine, USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

I accidently discovered this album by doing an iTunes search one night. "Light of the Stable" caught my ear many years ago, but I never knew the song other than by "allelulia" and I didn't know the name of it. Selah's version of this song is just "kicking" and really fun to listen to, reminding me of the reasons I fell in love with the song all those years ago. The song that brought me to tears, however, was "Mystery". The message in this song is so powerful I'd sing with any time of the year, regardless of the holiday. As soon as I heard a sample of "Mystery" I bought the album. I played it every day in December. Awesome!


Perfect   May 20, 2003
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

This album is just perfect just as perfect as Be Still My Soul & Press On. It was just what you would expect from Selah, beautifully arranged, a pleasure to listen to and we are not even close to Christmas yet. I am waiting with bated breath for anything else they release.