The Skinty

Onitsha-Church Girl

My Name’s Onithsa Onitsha Onitshaaaa. So glad to meet cha to meetcha to meeetchaaaa they call me O but my name is Onitsha, the Church Girl it’s a pleasure to meet cha”. Belts out the Beverly Hills, California native on the intro cut to her new Cd titled Church Girl. The translation in terms of spelling my own the singer all her and what a blessed voice it is. I cannot recall the first time I heard Onitsha yet I know I was among the list of those patiently waiting for the release of her cd. I’m not one to have favorites when it comes to gospel music in terms of so and so sounds traditional so and so sounds more contemporary and whatever other label we may place on the artist, and therefore this is why I prefer to listen to them over another. However I must say the fact that Church Girl would be released via Hidden Beach Records peaked my interest a bit. With the quality of music that’s been produced via this label I had pretty high expectations and more importantly, I viewed it as an opportunity for one of God’s chosen to reach the masses in their own back yard, pending the actually message of the Cross is presented.

Which brings me to the rest of the Cd, Track #2 is titled Come On Which some what paints the picture for the listener concerning Jesus Christ living in the Church, telling them to “Come on and spread the word cause you know, King Jesus lives here....you can dance, shout, that’s what havin church is all about”. Onitsha teams up with fellow artists Mary Mary, Coko, and Deborah Cox for the track My Life which speaks on not letting anyone hold you back, but living your life to the fullest. One of my favorites and not so favorite cuts on this Cd is He Is, Onitsha speaks on who the Lord is in her life and the beauty that His being in it produces. What I don’t like so much is that it speaks in a way that says He’s there to do whatever she needs of Him. “Whoever I need Him to be He is whatever I asked Him to do........yet He doesn’t always give us what we want, but rather what we need or even what He need of us. So one of those tracks I can listen to and take it for what it is, yet wish it were a bit more meaty in the message. This One seems to pick up a bit in this respect where I felt He is lacked. Onitsha speaks on getting through the tough tests and trials faced in this life and the pain that’s attached. Choosing to get through it rather than throwing up her hands, and believing the Lord who has continuously proved Himself to never leave nor forsake her. Lastly she teams up with Mahalia Jackson on Search Me Lord, asking the Lord to search their heart Mahalia of course comes courtesy of the original track. I enjoyed this track because it hints at the fact that we can pray we can dance sing etc. And if our hearts aren’t right with the Lord as we do it, doesn’t mean a hill of beans as He knows who’s right and who’s wrong in all that’s done.

Overall, Onitsha’s Church Girl did not disappoint, for some reason I was expecting a bit more jazziness coming out of the Hidden Beach camp, yet Shep Crawford did his thing on the production front. Lyrically, Church Girl is a feel good I love the Lord because He first loved me type of cd, a lot of motivation on this cd for the believer that’s down and possibly even the unbeliever who is searching and currently in a place of hopelessness. Or if you’re simply looking to nod or head or work out to some music that won’t offend. I would have just like to see a bigger picture painted of who we are in our sin nature, our need for Him, the full picture of His love so that the believer and unbeleiver alike resists approaching Him on a gimmie gimme tip.

Track Listings
1. O (Intro)
2. Come On
3. Gotta Believe Me
4. Lay Your Trouble Down
5. My Life
6. Don’t Give Up
7. He Is
8. This One
9. Come by Here
10. God Is on Your Side
11. This Joy (Interlude)
12. This Joy
13. Search Me Lord (Interlude)
14. Search Me Lord
15. It’s Over Now
16. So Good
17. My Story
18. This Is Serious [*]