Holiday Music 2023: It’s Cher B!^@&
This post went up late but it’s never to late for all you club kids out there in the world. You know in the back of your head you were expecting this album to hit at some point in her lifetime. And here it is. Cher’s first ever holiday album simply titled Christmas . And of course the first single to drop is “DJ play at Christmas song”. I have to admit it was a perfect song to drop on the Christmas music world. My money is on the clubs around the world, playing the song during the month of December. Next can we just talk about how quickly I added the duets with Darlene Love and Stevie Wonder to my holiday playlist. They are both artists I wish would do another holiday album themselves. Darlene Love’s “Christmas”, which she originally recorded back in 1963 and released as a single, and then released on Phil Spector historic compilation holiday album later that year title A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector. Love would then release a duet version of “Christmas” with Ronnie Spector (Phil’s ex-wife) for A Very Special Christmas 2 (1992).
Next is Stevie Wonder’s duet with Cher, “What Christmas Means to Me”. You cannot deny the musical love in this song, it is worthy of all holiday playlists. Now, I get Cyndi Lauper singing a duet for a country Christmas song is epic, I didn’t add it to my holiday playlist but I wish Cher had performed this at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade with Cyndi. Overall, I was really impressed with the music on the album. Cher even gave us two Holiday blues songs to enjoy.
It’s a Christmas miracle! Matt Rogers, who’s star is on the rise, finally! His first holiday album Have You Heard of Christmas, is smorgis morgue fun holiday ballads. I was in heaven with a full album of unique holiday songs pilled into a 12 track album. Are there a few potential DJ remixes with this album, lets talk in 2024. I guess you could say that we have officially moved out of the whole quarantine world. The first single he dropped was “Also, It’s Christmas” which is a naughty little club anthem, which he highlights in the song taking advantage of the season. Then there is “RUM PUM PUM”, giving us beat, then there “God’s Up To His Tricks” which is beautiful Broadway showstopper that you can build a whole holiday musical around. Then Rogers saves the best for last, and holiday playlist worthy for that cocktail brunch, “I Don’t Need It to Be Christmas At All”. This song has it all. I really hope he see’s many other artists recording it over the next 20 years, to bring in more royalty checks.
Last holiday season Chloe Flower dropped a handful of singles celebrating the holidays. This holiday season she’s taken those singles and compiled them into a full album, with Chloe Hearts Christmas. I was very excited for this classical album because her arrangements of such classics last season of “Have Yourself a Merry Christmas” and “The First Noel” were unique. I’m always excited when a classical artist drops a holiday album because it’s a very rare event this day and age. This new holiday album jumps right into the holiday season with “Sleigh Ride”, which reminds me of the fun holiday classical albums that Firestone released in the 60’s. I still have my parents copies.
The next track, Chloe jumps into a song most people find oddly familiar. No it’s not a song from Hocus Pocus, no that song from Nightmare Before Christmas. It’s actually “Once Upon A December” from the animated film Anastasia. I was a little bummed the two songs with Questlove, had the drummed muffled in the background. She made up for in the arrangement of “The Christmas Waltz”, which I’ve added to my holiday playlist. But, I was blown away with not only her selection to include “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence” but her solo orchestration of this lesser known holiday song. Don’t get me wrong, Ryuichi Sakamoto’s original orchestration is amazing. They way this song builds up the piano and the sways, is like listening to a dance. Chloe Flowers managed to capture this dance, perfectly. Strongly recommend adding it to your holiday playlist for sure. Finally, while she released “A Liberace Christmas” as a single in 2022, I still have to call it as brilliant and beautifully orchestrated track, that the man him self would be proud of.
Mark Tremonti of the Creed, a post grunge band jumps into holiday album market with his first ever holiday album. Chopped filled with great Classics, paired with his Conner voice. The album is filled with some really great songs to add to your holiday playlist. The first two singles that dropped “The Christmas Song" and “The Most Wonder Time of Year” were added to my holiday playlist. I just loved how he said “eskimos”. There are several beautiful choral classics, like "The First Noel” and “Oh Holy Night”. Tremonti’s “Have Yourself A Merry Christmas” deserves a aolid B but I really loved “This Christmas” and added it to my holiday playlist. Overall I was really impressed with Mark Tremonti’s Christmas Classics New & Old album.
Late to the game but worth the wait. Christina Perri’s second holiday album titled songs for Christmas mimics her recent release of lullabies for her one-year-old daughter. Her angelic version of “Silent Night” deserved a good B-. I loved Christine’s first holiday album, A Very Perri Christmas. This albums audience a is a little more narrowed. For her second album, Songs For Christmas, the sound youthful and soft. A perfect example and delightful find is Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime”. A energetic song, transformed into not only holiday ballad, but also a lullaby. Talk about an amazing fete!
Now, it’s no surprise Johnny Mathis is one of the kings of Holiday albums. His rendition on his firth holiday album in 1958 of “Winter Wonderland” is still one of my all-time favorite versions. For 2023. He’s released a new album and my account it’s his 7th holiday album in his career spanning seven decades. Mathis only duet on the album is the amazing Kristin Chenoweth. Anything with Kristin is an automatic add for me. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town” made this year holiday playlist cut. I loved friendly banter in the song. The last song I added to my holiday playlist this year is “Auld Lang Syne”. Overall the long wait for a new holiday album, was well worth the wait. Mathis still has a beautiful voice.
Its Country Time. Jon Pardi’s debut holiday album finds it gems in the classics. I have to say “Beer for Santa” and “400 Horsepower Sleigh” are a miss and “Merry Christmas From the Keys” are just nonstop repeat melodies. I liked “Santa Looks Like Daddy” because it was a fun twist on the song you rarely see on albums. It reminds me of the Brad Paisley’s release back in 2006. One song I liked in the album but I didn’t add to my holiday playlist, because it’s just so loud, was “I’ve Been Bad, Santa”. If you love the twangy country sound, then this is album for you this season. I love country but I guess I like contemporary country.
Sia has released an expanded version of her 2021 album. With just one new song on the list of songs. Her Gimme Christmas album features “Gimme Love” which is a cute anthem but not really a holiday song. The remaining songs are just remixes. Too bad because I truly loved “Candy Cane Lane” on the first album. Nothing new here really. Just need to rack in some holiday cash.
Samar Joy’s first holiday album is full of great songs for you holiday dinner or party. I bought the entire album and added all of the songs to my holiday playlist, as well as my holiday dinner playlist. While the album is pretty short with just six songs tight on it. This is definitely a classic album in the making. I have to give her rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Christmas” a solid A. Definitely in my top 20 now of all time. It’s melodic and smooth and just get you in the right kind of spirit. Then there’s “O Holy Night” which is probably the most beautiful version I’ve ever listened to. Joy is joined with her entire family under the group name, McLendon family singers. The group was formed by her grandfather and father, who are all great voices of the gospel world.
Last, but at least we are treated with another spectacular album by the Golden pipe man himself, Mr. Seth McFarlin. This season he’s created a duet album along with Liz Gillis from the big band arrangements to the classic selection. This album has a few surprises. First up is a rare holiday tract on most contemporary items today. “Here Comes Santa Claus” is a great Addition to your Holiday playlist. A classic sound but Seth’s deep voice makes for a great arrangement. Another rare track on most holiday albums today is “That Holiday Feeling”. The friendly banter in the song carries through the melody. I added this song to my Holiday playlist. Seth and Liz’s rendition of “Have Yourself A Merry Christmas” is a rare duet and I have to give it a solid B, plus It’s a random duet, but also along the awaited rendition, since McFarlin’s first holiday album back in 2014. Finally another great add to your holiday playlist is Liz’s shinning voice on “Christmas Time All Over the World”.
“Christmas Time All Over the World”
“Have Yourself A Merry Christmas”
Each holiday season we see less and less artists jumping into the pond for the holiday music genre. It’s nice to see some repeats, but it’s really nice to see artists who manage decades to avoid the genre, but I do enjoy seeing artists jump back into the water, with someone along their sides. Hats off to Cher for finally giving us a gift to last a lifetime. Happy to see Joy Samara make her presences known, and look forward to many more releases. And a big thank you Seth, for giving Liz’s amazing voice as a surprise gift this holiday season.