This time last year, everyone was so excited for a new year to put dreaded 2020 behind us. Here we are a year later, almost 2 solid years into this hideous covid-filled world we now live in and very little has changed. We are still dealing with new variations of the virus and it’s hitting closer to home than it did in 2020, movies are coming back but people aren’t attending like they used to, theatrical events are opening and, on an individual basis, closing as covid affects their casts and crew. We’re still being warned about traveling and gatherings, and the political divide is worse than ever.
On the bright side, this Christmas review and playlist marks a couple of landmarks. It is not only the one year anniversary of the launch of MarkOnThe Arts.com (and thank you all so much for your continuous support of my new platform), but the 20th anniversary of the Christmas CD review and Playlist. Talk about changes, technical and talent over these 20 years. I’d also like to take this chance to thank my partners, Jeff Harrison of Focus4 Digital for guiding me in maintaining this site, and my talented daughter Hayley for graphics as I need them.
First again: the criteria. And there are some new guidelines implemented year. As ever, points are awarded more for taking a particular selection of music and making it not only entertaining and fresh but showing the artist one is famous for being in the interpretation—within the boundaries of the material. Also, while new original breakout singles are encouraged, the CD should be heavy on standards and classics. However, I’ve expanded the list of songs you won’t see any longer. Twenty years in the business and along with the atrocious “Christmas Shoes”, which will still get you banned, there are a few other songs I can no longer tolerate listening to, and they can cost points if I’m in the wrong mood:
“All I Want For Christmas Is You”—for years I tried to hate the bearer but love the message, but a solid decade plus of debacles starting with her insane appearance on the 2004 Disney Christmas parade (complete with a human staircase, crazy-eyed braekdancing elve, and a descent into eternal helfire for the dance break, has become so insane the last few years I can no longer listen to anyone try to save this once beloved hit. It’s literally become the new “Christmas Shoes”.
“This Christmas”—The immortal Donnie Hathaway defined this song, but no one ever who has recorded it seems to be able to live up to his interpretation. This may just be one song that only one artist can do. So, don’t. But the only thing worse than “This Christmas” is…
“Last Christmas”—I’m sorry, but Wham! was pretty much a joke to begin with even in their 80s heyday, and they’ve aged worse than eggnog left out past its expiration date. He left you a year ago, get over it. This song is horrible. But not as horrible as…
“Wonderful Christmastime”—I mean Paul McCartney, you wrote “Let It Be”. This four-note tragedy is all you could contribute to Christmas for the ages? Epic fail.
“Mary Did You Know?” Yes! For the 147th time, she knew! Just stop asking already!!
“Christmastime Is Here, or anything Vince Guaraldi composed for the Charlie Brown kids. Apparently if you’re not animated, these songs are beyond you. It may be a good rule to extend this to any song recorded by a cartoon, because Alvin & the Chipmunks’ “Christmas Don’t Be Late” is equally distressing when attempted by human artists. So yeah, any cartoon except the Grinch. That one rocks.
With that, the results….
Darren Criss A Very Darren Christmas
Criss has been on the top of my wish lists forever and his guest appearance on Lea Michele’s 2019 Christmas in the City just whetted the appetite. And Criss’ holiday debut doesn’t disappoint. It’s pretty much what one would expected, a somewhat new age Mel Tourmé stylized collection. Heavy on crooning ballads, a few upbeat standards, and a novelty track or two equate to a strong collection of holiday classics. Standouts are Ahrens & Flaherty’s “All Those Christmas Clichés”, “The Christmas Song”, and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” for smooth sounds, a mash-up of “Happy Holidays/The Holiday Season” and highlight “(Everybody’s Waiting for) The Man With the Bag” with former Glee guest star Adam Lambert. The only misfire is an unnecessary attempt of “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas”, which stoops far below Criss’ level of talent. Grade: A+
Kelly Clarkson When Christmas Comes Around…
Clarkson, whose 2013 debut Underneath the Tree was one of the best releases of the millennium (having had the misfortune of premiering the same year as Leona Lewis’ slightly better release of the millennium, Christmas, With Love (dubbed by me as the album Mariah Carey wished she released most instead of coasting on her holiday laurels with her 25 year old standard). Clarkson’s sophomore effort likewise swings for the fences in her bid to become the new Queen of Christmas (she has my vote!) and is full of fun contemporary new arrangements (look for “Christmas Isn’t Canceled (Just You)” to be the new addition to the all-Christmas radio playlists) with a running theme of holidays after break-ups, all in the female-empowered “I Will Survive” vein, leaving one wondering how many were inspired by Clarkson’s recent high profile, very public divorce. Adding strength and commitment to the album, Clarkson includes as bonus tracks all three songs she released independently last year—“Christmas Eve”, “All I Want for Christmas is You” (not hers, the Vince Vaughn version), both of which made last year’s playlist, and the duet with competitor Brett Eldredge “Under the Mistletoe”, which would have made the list too if she hadn’t released two better songs without a CD. Fortunately, Clarkson has the advantage of promoting her great new music on her highly popular afternoon talk show, instead of relying on the radio programming gods to deign her worthy. Bonus points for the best version of playlist title song “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” in years. Grade: A+
Brett Eldredge Mr. Christmas
2016 Best CD Champion also returns with a sophomore effort that retains all the fun, joy, and swing as his previous entry Glow, once again with a legitimate voice and none of the hayseed twang required by his day job in Nashville. Again, great appreciation for showing how you can really sing instead of how they make you put on that hillbilly twang for manufactured pop “country” music. He excels on his big band versions of “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, “Jingle Bells”, “Cool Yule”, and the title song, and gives a Springsteen rivaling rendition of “Merry Christmas Baby”, but also turns in pleasant arrangements of other carols when pulling back on the swing. Eldredge continues to be a relevation of what he is truly capable of vs. what he is traditionally known for. Grade: A+
Kristin Chenoweth Happiness is…Christmas
Chenoweth gives us her second entry since 2014’s A Lovely Way to Spend Christmas with, ironically, a much lovelier collection of arrangements. Pulling in the showfans with a salute to her breakthrough Tony Award winning performance in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown , she opens with the title track which is a Schultzian mash up of a re-imagined “Happiness (Is Christmas)” from the show featuring holiday imagery and Vince Guaraldi’s “Christmas Time Is Here” from the TV Christmas special. Unlike the first album where she intended to show off her upper soprano range to those who only knew her as a Broadway belter, she brings a nice blend of holiday standards with upbeat novelty numbers. She gets the best mileage (as everyone seems to) with “(Everybody’s Waiting for) The Man With the Bag” and “Why Couldn’t It Be Christmas Every Day?” but turns in admirable arrangements of stock standards like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Merry Christmas, Darling” (sadly reminding us what Karen Carpenter was never given the chance to accomplish). Her Broadway fans will love it, Those unfamiliar with her as a singer may leave it alone. Grade: B+
Rob Thomas Something About Christmas Time
The former front man from Matchbox 20 turns in a typical “white guy with a guitar” selection of mostly original pieces including an update of his 2004 hit “New York City Christmas ‘21” with a few standards which he performs to satisfaction like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers’ “I Believe in Santa Clause” (duet with Abby Anderson in the Dolly Parton track). He also gets good collaboration from Brad Paisley in “Santa Don’t Come Here Anymore”and Ingrid Michaelson on “Christmas Time”. Grade: B (for lack of traditional songs)
Michael Cavanaugh Christmas
Cavanaugh, who came to fame as the voice and fingers of piano man Billy Joel in the Broadway and touring productions of Joel and Twyla Tharp’s Moving Out” dropped a last minute surprise which hits all the right notes for consideration here. With a smooth voice and an energetic selection of tracks that match his familiar style (which he also plays piano on), there are few weak spots here. Mostly upbeat, he ranges from the fun (“Run Run Rudolph”, “Jingle Bell Rock”) to the standard (“The Christmas Song”, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, “Home for the Holidays”) to the sublime (a top notch “O Holy Night”). He even pulls off the dicier tracks like John & Yoko’s “Happy Christmas/War is Over” and Wham’s dated “Last Christmas”. Technically a Broadway fringe release, Cavanaugh should pick up some crossover fans with one of the more exciting albums of the season. Grade: A+
Norah Jones I Dream of Christmas
The soulful jazz chanteuse give us a selection of odd arrangements manipulated to fit her jazzy style, which is technically a criteria, except when it falls flat, most notably in “Run Run Rudolph” as a slowed down bossa nova and a half tempo (or less) “Winter Wonderland”. Maybe the only track that truly works is her (midnight) blues version of “Blue Christmas”, which can be found better in a dozen different arrangements. This may be a CD to have a glass of wine by the fire with but skip it for your party playlist. Grade: C-
Steve Perry The Season
It’s the season alright, but for what one might ask listening to this somber, overly stylized album. Perry is showing his age vocally and the piercing crystal tenor of the Journey years are replaced by a scratchy, faux-Michael Bolton sound (which says even more depending on your taste for the original real Michael Bolton sound. He finds inspiration from various throwback 80s sources, but not necessarily the best. He opts for a blue-eyed soul Motown-esque “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”, a cheesy “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” with a mock Boyz II Men backup choir, and an odd, off-tempo “Silver Bells” which toggles from 4/4 to 2/4 every 2 measures and the result is a puzzling composite of mush for those who are expecting anything remotely close to what Perry accomplished in the day. It’s OK. He’ll always have residuals from “Don’t Stop Believin’” to fill his stockings this year. Grade: D-
And in the expanded former releases, Ingrid Michaelson’s 2018’s Songs for the Season: Deluxe Edition and last year’s Carrie Underwood My Gift: Special Edition (we know they’re special by the big red bows they added to their previous covers) both improve on the originals, mostly by adhering to my advice and adding more contemporary, upbeat, youthful tracks. As far as grades, Michaelson raises her previous B+ to a solid A and Underwood slightly improves her A to a bare A+.
MOST DISAPPOINTING CD
It’s pretty obvious that there were only 2 disappointing CDs and the question is whose was more? Norah Jones disappointed on content, but her vocal were still solidly in her wheelhouse. Holiday music has much flexibility, even so, they can only bend so far before they become fractured, and some of Jones’ arrangements were far past that breaking point. But Steve Perry’s entry featured not only arrangements that suffered from too many overtly 80s clichés, but his voice is deteriorating beyond recognition. To an 80s boy who knew Perry in his prime when he was a power tenor and his style still relevant, his The Season is by far the most disappointing CD of the year.
BEST CD
There were several strong CDs this year, but the contest boiled down to Darren Criss’ long awaited debut, Kelly Clarkson’s sophomore success, and a surprise dark horse entry from piano man Michael Cavanaugh. Criss is a special talent, and there was a sympathy vote for the fact that his highly anticipated Christmas tour was basically cancelled for lack of sales in all but two venues, which I found out when I went to buy tickets to the canceled Hershey PA stop. Cavanaugh has perhaps the best line-up of songs on any CD in recent years and executes them all perfectly. But Kelly Clarkson has turned out to be one of the most talented and smartest artists performing today, very aware of what her niche is in pop music and exactly how to make the most of filling it. Clarkson’s debut album was runner-up by a nose, but this year’s offering is a wisely executed effort with again great potential for radio play. Clarkson, who like my playlist also marks 20 years in the business since she won the first season of American Idol in 2001, is even smarter and stronger than when she started and wins the year. And I fully support her bid to topple the Tragedy in Times Square herself Mariah Carey from atop her perch as the Queen of Christmas. #TeamKelly
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree 2021
Again, I relied heavily on upbeat, fun arrangements, a little low on ballads and the reverand because we are still suffering under this covid cloud and need a little christmas cheer to help us forget.
1.HAPPY HOLIDAYS/THE HOLIDAY SEASON, Darren Criss
Criss’ opening track mash-up is all the holiday spirit we need to open this playlist.
2. ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE, Kelly Clarkson
Clarkson gives us one of the best contemporary versions in recent years. Mariah never gave us a version.
3. COOL YULE, Brett Eldredge
This track sums up all the cool that big band Eldredge possesses when he distances himself from hillbilly Eldredge.
4. CHRISTMAS VACATION, Jarrod Spector, Jessical Keenan Wynn, & the Cast of Beautiful
While mostly an excercise in madrigals and modestly funny original tracks aimed at theatre geeks, every now and the the Broadway Equity Fights AIDS series Carols for a Cure unleashes a homerun like this one, and there are so many layers to unpack here. This theme from the 1989 Chevy Chase perennial holiday favorite movie, written by 60s Brill Building power couple Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, performed by Spector (The Cher Show, Jersey Boys) & Wynn (Heathers, Mamma Mia Here We Go Again), the actors who portrayed them in the Carole King musical Beautiful, this track works on so many levels, but the most important is it’s totally infectious fun.
5. RUN RUN RUDOLPH, Michael Cavanaugh
Cavanaugh’s vocal energy and wicked piano skills drive this track, one of the best on his CD
6. WHY COULDN’T IT BE CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY?, Kristin Chenoweth
Broadway icon Chenoweth channels her best 60s girl group energy here, and anyone who’s been a fan of my list knows that’s my soft spot.
7. (EVERYBODY’S WAITING FOR) THE MAN WITH THE BAG, Darren Criss & Adam Lambert
Criss teams up with his former Glee Does New York castmate Lambert and delivers this superior version of one of the most popular songs of the last few years with two of the most amazing voices of the last decade.
8. IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS, Kelly Clarkson
Clarkson scores with a great arrangement of this Meredith Willson classic from the musical Miracle on 34th Street (formerly Here’s Love). Great version of a great song. but another missed chance to pair it with Willson’s counter melody Pine Cones and Holly Berries. It’s beginning to look like this dream duet of mine is becoming more of a pipe dream.
9. SILVER BELLS, Lea Michele
Throwback to her outstanding 2019 effort.
10. LITTLE SAINT NICK, 98⁰
The Lachey Brothers continue to churn hit tracks from their 2017 holiday album, effortlessly channelling the Beach Boys here.
11. CHRISTMAS (BABY, PLEASE COME HOME), The Mavericks
No one’s released a great recording of this in the last few years, so I mined the leftover bin for the best song on their 2018 Hey! It’s Christmas!
12. CHRISTMAS ISN’T CANCELED (JUST YOU), Kelly Clarkson
The best of Clarkson’s feminist anthems about broken relationships, a la Gloria Gaynor, she isn’t letting this clown’s shenanigans ruin her holiday this year.
13. WHITE CHRISTMAS, David Archuleta
The former American Idol runner-up shpws off his range by covering both parts of the classic Drifters arrangement from his 2018 entry.
14. SANTA BABY, Gwen Stefani
Just to show how deep her stellar 2017 album was, we can still pull some good B sides to fill the list. I’m trying to get away form this song, but this cut has lingered for 4 years as an almost addition.
15. A NEW YORK CITY CHRISTMAS ’21, Rob Thomas
The original made the cut over a decade ago so it’s a comforting familiar sound for the holiday.
16. HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, Michael Cavanaugh
Cavanaugh utililzes an unusual “Hand Jive” beat to drive this upbeat version of the standard.
17. AWAY IN A MANGER, Carrie Underwood
Since she released a Deluxe version, another cut from her fan favorite CD
18. HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING/O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL, Blackmore’s Night
The British band that has a talent for adding contemporary life to standard Christmas hymns with their stock baroque rock sound knocks out two in this mash-up.
19. LITTLE THINGS, ABBA
I owe my web designer Jeff Harrison for the lead here. How did I miss the event of the season–the first Christmas release from ABBA in history from their landmark Voyage reunion album (unless you consider their 1980 Happy New Year, which I kind of do). This is in the gentler, quieter vein like Happy New Year. Though I wish it were more Waterloo, it’s still a beautiful entry and there was no way ABBA getting back together after 40 years to find me a Christmas song wasn’t making the list.
20. ANOTHER ANGEL GETS ITS WINGS, Vince Gill & Trisha Yearwood
I’ve spent all fall producing a musical version of Frank Capra’s iconic film It’s a Wonderful Life. Without even really looking, I stumbled across this duet from Yearwood’s 2016 solo album. Seemed like fate.
21. O HOLY NIGHT, Stephanie J. Block
I have Spotify to thank for this one. In their year end wrap up of what I’ve listened to in 2021, they found Block, one of my favorite Broadway voices ever, to be my most-listened to vocalist of the year. Considering that in addition to giving many unique performances over the years, from Liza Minelli in The Boy from Oz to Pirate Queen Grace O’Malley and the beleaguered ex-wife in Falsettos whose rendition of “I’m Beaking Down” is a modern classic, she’s also embodied two of my favorite musical icons on stage–Jane Fonda’s character Judy Bernly in 9 to 5, and her Tony winning performance as Cher herself in personal favorite The Cher Show. So sorry, Michael Cavanaugh who owned this spot until Spotify dumped this early Christmas gift in my lap just hours before going to print, the slot is yours next year. I owe you. And would it be too much to add Miss Block as a wish list for an entire album next year? I mean, being in the top half percent of her fans and all, as Spotify pointed out in my annual report.
22. HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS, Lea Michele
Another leftover and a soothing way to close the CD from the always dependable Glee alum doing her best impression of Barbra Streisand doing her best impression of the legendary Judy Garland.
(All selections available for preview or purchase at Amazon.com and iTunes, and available through Spotify)
Or, to make it easy, follow me on Spotify and listen to “Christmas 21”:
All previous playlist from Christmas 15 on available by following me on Spotify.