Merry Christmas II You

Posted by : foongpc | Monday, December 13, 2010 | Published in

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It's that time of the year again. Yes, I am talking about Christmas!

Are you feeling Christmassy right now? If you aren't, let me recommend you something that will straight away put you in the Christmas mood.

Last week, I bought this Christmas CD and I have been listening to it ever since. Yes, I am talking about Mariah Carey's latest and newest Christmas album, Merry Christmas II You!

I absolutely love this CD! It is undeniably, a classy and cool album totally suited for the holiday season! Believe it or not, I love every single song on this album! But of course, knowing that I am a big fan of Mariah, you may think I am biased, right?

Well, you can now judge for yourself! I have put up snippets of each song from the album in this post today for your listening pleasure!

The first track is a short 23-second orchestral intro of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town without any singing from Mariah so I shall skip that. The intro however leads nicely to the very first single from the album titled Oh Santa!



Oh Santa! is catchy, sweet, endearing and playful all at the same time! It surely brings back the Christmas cheer in a delightful way! Listening to this just makes me want to dance! Not surprisingly, it debuted at No.1 on Billboard's Holiday Digital Songs Chart and amazingly went from No.12 right up to No.1 in just its second week on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart!

Due to some technical problems, I was not able to put up snippets of certain songs like this third track, O Little Town Of Bethlehem/Little Drummer Boy so you may want to listen from YouTube HERE. Listen to how she sang "ra pa pum pum" on the 1.45th minute. Lovely! She sang the whole song with such grace and warmth and with just the right amount of vocal acrobatics which she's known for!

Christmas Time Is In The Air Again is absolutely one of my most favourite songs on the album. It is an original song written by Mariah herself and I find it exceptionally classy, romantic and elegant - enough to stir that emotions inside me. This song definitely showcases Mariah's songwriting skill! Of course, award winning Marc Shaiman's orchestration contributed a lot to the magical feeling of this song!



The First Noel/Born Is The King is a nice medley to listen to, with Mariah belting out the word "Noel" in her signature melismatic way. I love it! Listen HERE.

When Christmas Comes is another original song written by Mariah. My, she's such a fantastic songwriter! This jazzy song reminds me of her Emancipation Of Mimi album and I just can't stop listening to it!



Here Comes Santa Claus is a classic which is made to sound modern, trendy and with all the right hooks! I really, really adore Mariah's version of Here Comes Santa Claus!! The song is infectious! You must listen to this HERE!

Honestly, I have never heard of Charlie Brown Christmas before but it sounds good to me! Well, at least it makes me feel Chrismassy!



O Come All Ye Faithful is one song you must listen as we are introduced to the operatic voice of Patricia, Mariah's mother! Yes, listen to this powerful duet of mother and daughter, the former singing in operatic style and the latter in pop and R&B ! Simply mesmerizing! Watch the video below.



The 10th track on the album, O Holy Night is a recorded live performance of the same title taken from Mariah's previous Christmas album. As such, I have decided not to put up a snippet of the track here. Of course, this song remains one of my favourites on the older Merry Christmas album.

One Child is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard! Written by Mariah Carey, this is another showcase of her songwriting talents! It's truly amazing how she could come out with such beautiful melody and chords to match! Mariah did not do much vocal acrobatics here although I wished she did! But I have to say, the children choir is amazing and I am glad Mariah did not let her vocals overpower them.



All I Want For Christmas Is You needs no introduction. To date, it is already the world's most successful and best selling Christmas song. Every year since its release in 1994, this song is a chart-topper during the Christmas season. Mariah had just made this song "extra festive" for this album and if you want to know the difference between this one and the older version, check out the song!



Lastly, we have the traditional Auld Lang Syne - the New Year's anthem. A fitting end to a perfectly enjoyable album, it started with strong vocals from Mariah and then followed by a countdown which very cleverly turns this song into dance music! Totally a great song to start the new year!



I am really, really impressed with this album. This is exactly the type of Christmas music that I like! I was so used to her new hip hop style since The Emancipation Of Mimi that I was quite surprised that this Christmas album had very little of that but instead reminds me of Mariah of the 90's.

With lots of lush string orchestration and soaring vocals, Merry Christmas II You is indeed my favourite Christmas album of the year and perhaps for many years to come!

FIRST COMMENTER

(68) Comments

  1. lina said...

    First?

    December 13, 2010 at 8:28 AM
  2. lina said...

    Wow! I must've gotten my xmas present early this year. Managed to be FC! XD

    December 13, 2010 at 8:28 AM
  3. jam said...

    Merry Christmas, mate!

    December 13, 2010 at 8:44 AM
  4. Tekkaus said...

    Yeah...just a little bit Christmassy. Haha :D

    December 13, 2010 at 9:20 AM
  5. Tekkaus said...

    Really? It is that good bro? Her latest album? Then I should it give it a try.

    December 13, 2010 at 9:20 AM
  6. Tekkaus said...

    Really? It is that good bro? Her latest album? Then I should it give it a try.

    December 13, 2010 at 9:21 AM
  7. Tekkaus said...

    I wanna buy the album and try to listen to it to see if you are right bro. :p

    December 13, 2010 at 9:21 AM
  8. இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

    Not feeling it just yet but hope to as time gets nearer and dearer..tQ for the lovely songs.

    December 13, 2010 at 11:34 AM
  9. இ Baŋäŋaz இ said...

    Love the first song 'Oh Santa'..

    December 13, 2010 at 11:38 AM
  10. iamthewitch said...

    All I want for Christmas is You!!! Not you, panda :P But you, Santa! haha... I agree this is the most successful christmas song to date!!

    December 13, 2010 at 11:55 AM
  11. khengsiong said...

    aiseh... all video clips blocked here...

    December 13, 2010 at 12:36 PM
  12. HappySurfer said...

    I like "All I want for Christmas is you". Thanks for the snippets and the video. Merry Christmas, Foong!

    December 13, 2010 at 2:45 PM
  13. Anonymous

    I love O Come All Ye Faithful. One of my favourites.

    December 13, 2010 at 11:26 PM
  14. bluedreamer27 said...

    me, i started to download Christmas songs on my music player and play it all out loud...

    December 13, 2010 at 11:29 PM
  15. bluedreamer27 said...

    we started placing some decors inside and outside our house to make it feel so christmassy..

    December 13, 2010 at 11:30 PM
  16. bluedreamer27 said...

    i don't like Oh Santa..... hahah so current and i hate that LOL... you know... i love old songs haha and i like Christmas song with very soothing sounds like a lullaby

    December 13, 2010 at 11:32 PM
  17. bluedreamer27 said...

    but i love Christmas Tome is in the air again and When C hristmas Comes

    December 13, 2010 at 11:34 PM
  18. bluedreamer27 said...

    Charlie Brown Christmas is so MC... i hear the whistle style in there haha

    December 13, 2010 at 11:35 PM
  19. bluedreamer27 said...

    Oh i have watched the version of C and his mother in Youtube... so great!!

    of all the songs listed here
    All I want for Christmas is You is MC's most notable version

    December 13, 2010 at 11:37 PM
  20. wenn said...

    I love Xmas songs..

    December 14, 2010 at 1:12 AM
  21. Bengbeng said...

    Merry Christmas brother :)

    December 14, 2010 at 6:51 AM
  22. TZ said...

    Dude, are you going to host a Xmas party?...

    December 14, 2010 at 8:39 AM
  23. levian said...

    you are introducing every single song in the album! this might just be the best collection to left playing throughout this merry season. :)

    December 14, 2010 at 10:05 AM
  24. Cloudia said...

    You started Christmas feelings!



    Aloha from Hawaii

    Comfort Spiral

    ><}}(°>


    <°)}}><

    December 14, 2010 at 11:12 AM
  25. Twilight Man said...

    So fast you bring us Christmas excitement!!

    December 14, 2010 at 12:45 PM
  26. Twilight Man said...

    Before I buy that CD, maybe you can pinjam me first! Boleh??

    December 14, 2010 at 12:46 PM
  27. Twilight Man said...

    Besides my prize, will you also give me a X'mas gift? Santa Foong, I have been a good boy whole year! LOL :)

    December 14, 2010 at 12:46 PM
  28. Twilight Man said...

    Last weekend, I went to Karaoke and sang all the available Christmas songs! Alamak! All old songs only, outdated Karaoke! Cheh!

    December 14, 2010 at 12:48 PM
  29. Twilight Man said...

    Merry

    December 14, 2010 at 12:49 PM
  30. Twilight Man said...

    Christmas

    December 14, 2010 at 12:49 PM
  31. Twilight Man said...

    To

    December 14, 2010 at 12:50 PM
  32. Twilight Man said...

    Panda

    December 14, 2010 at 12:50 PM
  33. Twilight Man said...

    Foong!!!!!

    December 14, 2010 at 12:50 PM
  34. kyh said...

    I LOVE OH SANTA! I've already downloaded it. sorry for not buying original. :P

    And i love her version of O Holy Night too. One of my faves. Very jazzy. And I love Celine's version too. Both very different feelings to it. ;)

    December 14, 2010 at 7:35 PM
  35. Caroline said...

    nice! love this album! not regret to buy it!1 ;)

    December 14, 2010 at 9:02 PM
  36. [SK] said...

    oooh, really standard Mariah Carey fans huh?? bought the album and blog so detail about each song here..

    December 14, 2010 at 10:20 PM
  37. [SK] said...

    i never buy christmas albums lah, already have enough of them in shopping malls already.. hahaha~~ :D

    December 14, 2010 at 10:20 PM
  38. [SK] said...

    the same case to CNY albums, i really never interested to get one.. already have enough bombarding in the malls~~ :D

    December 14, 2010 at 10:21 PM
  39. Pete said...

    Merry Xmas!

    December 14, 2010 at 10:26 PM
  40. Ken Wooi said...

    xmas is comminnggggg! :D

    December 15, 2010 at 12:14 AM
  41. Kelvin said...

    Merry Christmas and a happy 2010 ^_^

    December 15, 2010 at 5:20 PM
  42. comedyrocks.com said...

    A great FIRST blog!

    December 16, 2010 at 11:10 AM
  43. bluecrystaldude said...

    Yes, I can feel the Christmas mood already! Thanks for sharing Foong! ;)

    P/S: I want a Christmas gift. Thanks :P

    December 16, 2010 at 5:10 PM
  44. LifeRamblings said...

    can't wait for X'mas.

    December 18, 2010 at 10:39 PM
  45. foongpc said...

    lina, congrats for being first! : )

    December 30, 2010 at 10:34 PM
  46. foongpc said...

    jam, merry christmas to you! : )

    December 30, 2010 at 10:35 PM
  47. foongpc said...

    tekkaus, go buy the album! : )

    December 30, 2010 at 10:35 PM
  48. foongpc said...

    bananaz, once you listen to this album, you will feel the Christmassy mood straight away! : )

    December 30, 2010 at 10:36 PM
  49. foongpc said...

    iamthewitch, not me? Why?! LOL!!

    December 30, 2010 at 10:36 PM
  50. foongpc said...

    khengsiong, go back home and play the clips here again! : )

    December 30, 2010 at 10:37 PM
  51. foongpc said...

    happysurfer, you are welcome! : )

    December 30, 2010 at 10:37 PM
  52. foongpc said...

    mei teng, yes O Come All Ye Faithful is a classic and made nicer by MC here :)

    December 30, 2010 at 10:38 PM
  53. foongpc said...

    bluedreamer27, Merry Christmas!!

    Christmas Time Is In The Air Again is my absolute favourite!!

    When Christmas Comes is also very nice!

    Haha! You like MC's whistle style of singing? : )

    December 30, 2010 at 10:40 PM
  54. foongpc said...

    wenn, I think most people do! : )

    December 30, 2010 at 10:40 PM
  55. foongpc said...

    bengbeng, Merry Christmas! : )

    December 30, 2010 at 10:41 PM
  56. foongpc said...

    TZ, no I am not going to play host, but I'm visiting many open houses! : )

    December 30, 2010 at 10:41 PM
  57. foongpc said...

    levian, yes every single song! Haha! And yes, this is a really good Christmas album even if you are not a Mariah Carey fan!

    December 30, 2010 at 10:42 PM
  58. foongpc said...

    cloudia, Merry Christmas! : )

    December 30, 2010 at 10:43 PM
  59. foongpc said...

    twilight, wow! You go karaoke to sing Christmas songs?! LOL! Thanks for spamming haha! Merry Christmas to you! : )

    December 30, 2010 at 10:44 PM
  60. foongpc said...

    kyh, you like Oh Santa? High5! Oh, don't apologize to me, I did not sing it! Haha!!

    I love Celine's version of O Holy Night too! Very powerful vocals!

    December 30, 2010 at 10:46 PM
  61. foongpc said...

    caroline, yeah no regrets at all! Really nice album - love all the songs in it! : )

    December 30, 2010 at 10:46 PM
  62. foongpc said...

    SK, of course I bought the album and of course I blogged about it! Haha!

    You never buy Christmas albums? maybe becoz you don't celebrate it!

    Oh, but I never buy CNY albums too! LOL!!

    December 30, 2010 at 10:48 PM
  63. foongpc said...

    pete, Merry Xmas to you too! : )

    December 30, 2010 at 10:48 PM
  64. foongpc said...

    ken, enjoy your Christmas holidays! : )

    December 30, 2010 at 10:48 PM
  65. foongpc said...

    kelvin, thanks! Same to you too! : )

    December 30, 2010 at 10:49 PM
  66. foongpc said...

    comedyrocks.com, thanks!! I'll take that as a compliment! : )

    December 30, 2010 at 10:49 PM
  67. foongpc said...

    bluecrystaldude, haha! I am Panda, not Santa! LOL!

    December 30, 2010 at 10:52 PM
  68. foongpc said...

    life ramblings, me too! : )

    December 30, 2010 at 10:52 PM