Belated Holiday Tidings

 I hope you had enjoyed your Thanksgiving. May God please bless this post, this blog, the writer of the blog, and all of this blog's readers and their families and friends. In Jesus' name. Amen!

Alicia Keys "Santa Baby"

 The first version of "Santa Baby" I had heard was Madonna's, and even though Eartha Kitt recorded a version before hers, the delivery was not as snotty and demanding, which could signify her class. I am glad that Keys kept her own style and refused to emulate the former's version.

One of my "Favorite Things" about the record, and the song itself, was the instrumentation and approach to the tired classics found on the album. I wasn't too fond of the whispering in the aforementioned, but it did align with the vibe, and then artistic license subtly says, "back off, grinch!"

"Christmas Time Is Here" and the rest of the soundtrack, as well as the special itself, holds a particular place in my heart. So, when it came to this cover, I was not skeptical, nor surprised, that Keys would deliver.

"Happy X-Mas (War is Over)" is another standout, and it segues nicely into the next song that has Keys wishing upon a star so "You Don't Have to Be Alone." Ok, not you exactly but someone who may or may not be like you.

Nostalgia is a double-edged sword and can either dim or brighten your annual holiday experience as expressed in "Old Memories On Christmas." It is a beautiful song and unfortunate truth. We aim to keep the traditions alive after those who began them passed away, and it is not the same, but we knew that from their final breath, but we would make the succeeding Christmases the best we could in spite of losing several key branches in our family tree.

This girl on fire re-ships the love, and its value, that "Not Even the King" can afford; it was an everlasting love because the lyrics and sentiment were the same. While the old memories from the song mentioned in the paragraph prior must have endured the Mandela Effect because they're not exactly how we may remember. Just like those memories of the "good ole days" may not be as glorious as we remember them to be.

Let's end this review on a good one, "Ave Maria."

Ronnie Martin "Holiday Fable"

 One thing I like about this Holiday Fable is that it does not trudge the beaten path of Christmas classics, but creates its own, and instead of using breadcrumbs to find its way home, it uses whimsical keys. 

The album begins with a scored sleigh ride down the hill that leads to "The Alpine Lodge," where you may be inclined to engage in what I call a holiday strut; you will get the idea once you're close enough to the jukebox inside. "All Christmastime Sings" with its own infectious groove that may lead you to the dance floor, awkwardly in the knowledge that this may be an ode to seasonal affective disorder, but I could be wrong. It is another sad song to sing along to, but not too sad.

"Noble Fir" is not about a knight with a short first name but sounds like it is a walk through a forest of trees with assorted lights, fighting the dragons of depression on dark winter nights. If you hear or read the lyrics, then the path leading to the sled with "Holly on the Bough" is a little different. The pacing of the latter really assists in the vision of gliding with ease, and "racing through the branches and trees."

Martin is aware that the "Yuletide Cheer" cannot outlast the winter months, but still manages to imbue the song with a some of it, and score a holiday march this time. 

"The First Snow of the Season" is a warning for chionophobes, and a declaration for everyone else, that the coldest of seasons is coming, but the song itself is a pleasant walk  amongst beats simulating snow fall and those snowflakes that swirl astray the vertical path, and if you forget when you are whilst thou walk, you will be reminded before you find yourself amongst the "Winterberry Red, Winterberry White."

Mel Gibson's Portrayal of Santa

 Fatman should have been a seasonal sleeper hit several years ago and should be an underground classic soon. While Santa is known to be family-friendly, Fatman is for more mature audiences. He is not a Bad Santa just one making the most of his situation while living in modern times and dealing with the troubles that living in these times can bring.

Seth MacFarlane and Liz Gillies "We Wish You The Merriest"

 When an artist releases a Christmas album as their debut full-length, that is a statement. When an artist releases an album of Christmas duets, that is another statement. With Seth MacFarlane, no less? Despite your appreciation for his humor or his style, he is talented. Am I implying that Liz is not, or that she cannot hold her own on this record? No! I am not merely referring to the banter the two engage in from time to time, one of my favorites happens to occur in Frosty, but her voice complements Seth's quite well. I'm not sure how much fun they had, but it was enough to see if lightning strikes twice with We Wish You The Merriest.

Yes, we've heard these most of these songs before, but (not like this [this is the easy way to end the sentence]) they add their own charm and personality to these tunes, this alternate ending is not much better (but it is true). It would not be fair to fail mentioning the phenomenal band laying the foundation for this consistent and engaging album. They do inspire "The Holiday Feeling" and can host a "Holly Jolly Christmas." How holly jolly? You'll have to hear for yourself.

Cher "Christmas"

I cannot say that I believe in life after love because God is love, and there is no life after God.

Jul-Hi!

 Well, it's that time of year again folks! The first full month of summer!

Also, the month that also has been claimed to host a major holiday in a minor way.

With that said, I will release a few reviews of Christmas CDs I wrote last year this month because they were too distant from the season at the point of completion. Also, I wouldn't be able to share some midway to the holiday, if I had posted them prior.

Yes, I confess this is the first time I had prefaced release of any of my reviews in a post like this, but there is a first time for everything, and I could not resist. It's also been a while since I had been given the gift of gab through this proverbial write, I know that was incorrect usage, I will not proclaim it was tight. I'll stop before I go farther but I hope this offered you an underline and some love and light!

Good Night!

Take Care Sole Reader

 (and anybody else who happens to stop by--HIII!👋🏻)