Sing Like No One’s Watching: Holiday CDs
Photo Credit: photo from firestreamvault.com
December 14, 2009
Lindsay Vong, Asst. Editor - A&E and Kaitlyn Jensen, Senior Editor - Opinions
American Idol David Archuleta released his first holiday album this year called Christmas From the Heart. Audiences all over the country fell in love with his surprisingly mature and sultry voice, and awkward but cute personality in 2007. You can’t help but be mesmerized by the beautiful melodies and song arrangements. This album truly embraces what Archuleta represents—a full-hearted family image. One of the best cuts on the album is “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” which he collaborated on with his mom! However, the rest of the songs, while vocally superior to many other renditions, fail to make a lasting impact and serve better as background music to a party than spotlight Christmas carols. Overall, Archuleta succeeded in creating a well-done holiday soundtrack.
A Very Special Christmas, Volume 7 – Various Artists
For the first time since 2003, the A Very Special Christmas project released its latest collaboration of holiday hits. The proceeds of this charity album benefit the Special Olympics. According to USA Today, the franchise has raised over $100 million for the program’s athletes since 1987.
Creators of this latest album decided to focus on selling to a younger audience so many artists from this collection are from an eclectic but more mainstream background in music. Artists include country stars Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler, the Carter Twins and Gloriana; pop stars include Colbie Calliat, Sean Kingston and Charice; and Disney stars include Miley Cyrus, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, and Mitchell Musso. Each song presents itself with a new and interesting rendition of the classic holiday songs that differentiates with each artist.
What are the best cuts? Colbie Caillat’s soothing version of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” puts you in the mood to cuddle up by the fireplace, and Carrie Underwood’s rendition of “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” is upbeat with a nice country twang.
But creators focused on sales when picking artists like Miley Cyrus in “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and Ashley Tisdale in “Last Christmas,” who struggle to come up with decent vocals.
So if you’re looking for some new versions of Christmas songs from your favorite artist and want to support an amazing organization, pick up your copy of A Very Special Christmas: Vol. 7 now!
Trans-Siberian Orchestra – The Lost Christmas Eve
Think you don’t like Christmas music? Think again, because the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is like nothing you’ve ever heard before. This progressive rock band, founded by the big shot composer Paul O’Neill, takes Christmas music from the mellow clichés we have all grown to love to an innovative rock opera worthy of stunning lights and booming pyrotechnics. 23 tracks of classic Christmas songs revamped coupled with the band’s fantastic original music make up The Lost Christmas Eve, the final piece to the band’s epic Christmas-themed trilogy.
Centered around a Christian message, the album follows the story of an angel who is sent to earth on a mission find the person that has best continued Jesus’s work. The album takes off with a symphonic wonder, “Faith Noel,” beginning with a dazzling introduction to “The First Noel,” and easing into a dramatic rendition of “God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen.” The album continues to wow listeners with the power ballads “The Lost Christmas Eve” and “Christmas Dreams.”
The greatest surprise on the album comes in the form of the sensational “What Child is This.” The transformation is brilliant and unexpected for first time listeners, especially when it climbs into an escalated reflection of a life gone to waste. For those who enjoy a good acoustic tune, the TSO supplies quality acoustic guitar in the genuinely warm “Christmas Jazz” and the enlightening closing track “Midnight Clear.” The Lost Christmas Eve is truly ear candy for rock lovers. It just so happens that it’s also Christmas music.
For those who enjoy a more modern sound but feel bad leaving traditional Christmas music behind, Relient K offers a glorious combination of the two. Their hit album, Let it Snow Baby…Let it Reindeer, is the perfect compilation of Christmas cheer and good music. It’s fun and diverse, yet obviously a holiday album. The tracks range from heartrending ballads to blissful ballads to upbeat punk rock songs stylistically similar to Blink-182, all while maintaining a distinctly Christmas quality.
Relient K – Let it Snow Baby…Let it Reindeer
From the cheerful “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” to the religious and somewhat emotional “I Celebrate the Day,” Relient K captures all the best qualities of Christmas in a variety of styles, all of which are accompanied by the superb skills of frontman Matt Thiessen, who wows listeners with both his smooth vocals and his flawless piano playing.
Fortunately, though the album only contains a handful of original music, the covers of the classics are amped up by explosive guitars and impressive harmonies. You’ll recognize the songs, but you’ve never heard them done like this before. After hearing Christmas rock at its best, don’t be surprised to find yourself rocking out to “Angels we Have Heard on High” and “Deck the Halls.” Relient K even includes a couple original, more pessimistic tunes like “I Hate Christmas Parties” and “In Like a Lion.” While not full of ideal Christmas cheer, these more somber tunes might be just what’s needed in the midst of Christmas chaos. With something for everyone, Relient K’s cleverly titled Christmas album is not something you want to miss.
Now that you know the latest and greatest Christmas music, go get yourself in the holiday spirit!
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The recording of the song ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Chjristmas’ in David Archuleta’s Christmas From The Heart album is a collaboration between DAVID and singing phenom CHARICE PEMPENGCO.
David’s mom did sing this song live with son David when she guested in one of David’s singing engagements.
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Just the fact that you have David Archuleta and Relient K in the same article makes me the happiest person alive.
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