Mariah Carey comes back with a festive vengeance this holiday season! Her 13th studio album (and second holiday album) landed a few weeks ago and was performing very well on various charts both on Billboard and other international charts.
Merry Christmas II You is Mariah's second Christmas album (first was Merry Christmas released in Nov 1994), it peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200. The album contains MiMi's version of traditional Christmas/Yuletide cheers and gave them new life, much like how she did it on the first Christmas album and she also came up with new tracks that she worked with the likes of Jermain Dupri. Four new songs: Oh Santa, Christmas Time Is In The Air Again, When Christmas Comes and One Child were included. Oh Santa is the first single released off the album. MiMi also confirmed there is a video in the works for O Come All Ye Faithful
I like how she marked these traditional cheers with her singing character. My favourite rendition would have to Little Drummer Boy and The First Noel / Born Is The King. The album also contains a live version of O Holy Night which was done sometime in the 90s. I inferred so as I can tell by the sound of her voice that it wasn't a recent live recording. But still great, nonetheless. Another highlight of the album is a duet with her mother Patricia Carey for the song O Come All Ye Faithful. Finally, a new (as MiMi claims it, a more festive) version of her chart-topping Christmas hit All I Want For Christmas Is You also made the cut.
In my opinion, she had done an equally great job in rendering traditional songs to her own version however, in terms of the new tracks, I would say Merry Christmas had better tracks: All I Want For Christmas Is You, Miss You Most At Christmas Time, Jesus Born On This Day are three great tracks that you can listen to even if it's not in season. Probably due to better contributors and collaborators - Walter Afanasieff.
The first album renditions sounded like as how her music was at that time while the second album showcased renditions that represent MiMi's evolved and current sound.
Track list:
01. Santa Claus Is Coming Town (Interlude)
02. Oh Santa
03. O Little Town Of Bethlehem / Little Drummer Boy
04. Christmas Time Is In The Air Again
05. The First Noel / Born Is The King (Interlude)
06. When Christmas Comes
07. Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) / Housetop Celebration
08. Charlie Brown Christmas
09. O Come All Ye Faithful / Hallelujah Chorus
10. O Holy Night (Live from WPC in South Central, Los Angeles)
11. One Child
12. All I Want From Christmas Is You (Extra Festive)
13. Auld Lang Syne (The New Year's Anthem)
Your thoughts?
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