Michael Zandstra | Editor
After Michael Buble’s five-track Christmas EP in 2003 (Let it Snow), loads of fans have been itching for a full-length Christmas album. The wait is finally over. Teaming up with several big-name artists, Bublé gives us a whopping 15 tracks of holiday cheer:
- It’s beginning To Look a Lot like Christmas
- Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
- Jingle Bells (featuring The Puppini Sisters)
- White Christmas (duet with Shania Twain)
- All I Want for Christmas is you
- Have a Holly Jolly Christmas
- Santa Buddy
- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
- Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
- Silent Night
- Blue Christmas
- Cold December Night
- I’ll Be Home for Christmas
- Ava Maria
- Mis Deseos/Feliz Navidad duet with Thalia
Since I was hardly able to wait even until July before loading my iPod with Christmas music, it was no surprise when Bublé’s new album immediately found itself on repeat. The entire album is laced with the warm, fuzzy feeling that inevitably results from his signature voice. ”Jingle Bells” is a veritable time machine. “Santa Buddy” presents a hilarious parody of one of the most hated Christmas songs of all time. Aside from those tracks, nearly every other song on the album is perfect.
One of my favorites, “White Christmas,” is a quintessential example of Bublé’s ability to supply originality in spite of his overall identity as a cover artist. And as a diehard opponent of country, I was blown away by how well Shania Twain’s voice complemented the jazzy feel of the album.
Bublé’s cover of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” is far and away the best on the album. His slower, jazzier take on an otherwise upbeat song is shockingly perfect. His huge voice and big-band style is married perfectly to the lyrics of the song, resulting in a satisfying new perspective on Carey’s piece. I give five out of five stockings for this one.
Author’s website: mzandsra.com
