This Christmas-Songs from the Motion Picture [SOUNDTRACK]
Amazon.com
The first minute of this R&B-flavored soundtrack’s title song is a little scary: Chris Brown fires off a volley of sugary, overdone melisma, and you think this may be the one of the most treacly holiday tunes ever–until the beat comes in and Brown morphs into Stevie Wonder. Phew! His tendency to over-emote flashes again on the cover of “Try a Little Tenderness,” but Brown gets back on course and indicates why he’s turned into a genuine R&B hopeful. On the other hand, American Idol (and new Brown label-mate) winner Jordin Sparks’ take on “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” is undermined by the cheap synths in the background. Sparks makes less of an impression than another newcomer, Lina, an L.A. singer who got less media coverage but whose jazzy “Santa Baby” is a lot of fun. Still, the young ‘uns have a way to go before they get close to the awesome power of the trifecta of soul/R&B greats (Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross) that makes up the core of the CD. –Elisabeth Vincentelli
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2 Responses
This is a movie soundtrack and it is one of the best to come along in a long time. A previous reviewer subtracted a star for it having non-Christmas songs, but Chris Brown’s rendition of Try a Little Tenderness would make me rate this album at 5 stars on its own. His voice is so different from Otis Redding’s but he still performs the song magnificently. I saw the movie and it was definitely one of the highlights for me.
I haven’t seen the movie yet, but the soundtrack was playing at a local bookstore and I had to pick it up.
“This Christmas” is one of my favorite holiday songs. Loved it the first time I heard it from Donny Hathaway. I have at least two other covers of the song, but Chris Brown’s faint tremelo is as good as the Hathaway version in its own way. There’s this subtle tremelo in his voice that just gives you shivers.
Jordin Sparks’ “I’ll be home for Christmas” takes a song I normally don’t like and turns it into something fine.
B2K’s “Jingle Bells” is just plain FUN. Makes you want to get up and dance.
And WHY would anyone want to listen to Kenny G if Boney James was playing “Silent Night.” This take with Anthony Hamilton on vocals would best be described as urban gospel jazz. I didn’t know Mr. James had a Christmas CD, I suspect it’s going to be on my wish list very soon.
Lina’s smoking “Santa Baby” might just steam your eggnog.
The reason for my one star deduction is because there are 3 non-holiday songs: “Got to Give it up, Part 1″ Marvin Gaye, “Try a Little Tenderness” Chris Brown, and “I never loved a man the way I love you” by Aretha Franklin. While I like all three of these songs and I own them on other collections, I’m cutting them out of the playlist because they detract from the mood. Otherwise, it’s a great CD and well worth the money.