As soon as the public found out Mariah Carey was making a new holiday album, a frenzy of anticipation ensued. With the success of ""All I Want For Christmas,"" the hit from her 1994 holiday album, Merry Christmas, the diva had fans begging for more. Thus, people are excited about Merry Christmas II You, but also uncertain of the album's ability to live up to the success of the original or the hype surrounding it. But with just one listen, all doubts are forgotten: the album is great.
As the name implies, Merry Christmas II You is the perfect continuation of its predecessor, with Carey's distinctively soulful pipes belting out the R&B sound her fans love. With four new original songs, a few festive classics, an updated version of ""All I Want For Christmas"" and a live performance of ""O Holy Night"" featuring a church choir from Los Angeles, the album is the perfect combination of new and old.
One of the highlights of Merry Christmas II You is a duet with Carey's opera singing mom, Patricia Carey, in ""O Come All Ye Faithful/Hallelujah Chorus."" The combination showcases their impressive vocal ranges. Prepare for goose bumps, as this ballad is performed beautifully.
""Auld Lange Syne (The New Year's Anthem)"" has been transformed into an upbeat dance song, one that adds pizzazz to an otherwise traditional collection of songs. What starts out as a mellow tune quickly turns into a club banger that will be the perfect way to welcome 2011. The first single off the album, ""Oh Santa!,"" shares this foot-tapping beat, which is perhaps why it recently debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Holiday Digital Songs chart.
One song that is sure to put a smile on everyone's face is Carey's rendition of ""Charlie Brown Christmas."" The familiar cheerful chords from the famous dance scene start the song on a faster note, but Carey's sultry crooning transitions the song into ""Christmas Time is Here.""
The live orchestra included on several tracks adds a genuine Christmas feeling, one that is lost on so many other modern holiday albums. ""O Little Town Of Bethlehem / Little Drummer Boy (Medley)"" and ""The First Noel / Born Is The King (Interlude)"" showcase this authenticity so well it feels as though her versions have been classics for years.
Many people will ask, ""Mariah, why try to compete with your original record, one of the most successful modern Christmas albums? Why no just leave things the way they are?"" But this singer knows how to play her cards. Not only does Merry Christmas II You include highly polished pieces, but it also proves that Carey is still a force to be reckoned with, a important message since many critics are saying her time in the spotlight has expired. But it's worth remembering Carey holds the record for most No. 1 hits by a solo artist, and it's likely her new album will add a few more songs to that list.
Carey's love for the Christmas season pushed her to make this sequel, and the outcome is sure to put listeners in the same yuletide spirit no matter what the time of year. Everyone needs to have Merry Christmas II You if they want their collections of holiday music to be complete.
