|
|
Dancing About Architecture: Until Adele's Christmas album comes along
by Marc 'Moose' Moder 2015-12-02
|
|
This article shared 4138 times since Wed Dec 2, 2015
|
|
You know, at some point, you have to put down the Adele 25 and come out from under your covers and realize it's December. And since the aforementioned British songbird has yet to put out a holiday collection, there are a few more worthy divas whose holiday offering you might consider.
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings ( Amy Winehouse's backing band on Back To Black ) just never get it wrong. While most holiday joints go for 50/50 sweet and sassy, Sharon and the Kings are 100% spicy on It's a Holiday Soul Party. With her retro mid-'60s-into-early-'70s, big-horns-big-voice Southern groove, even her ballads, like "Please Come Home for Christmas," will have you grinding. Perfect to put on repeat at your next Xmas party.
After a failed reality show and some more pop jaunts didn't exactly make her the thirty-something Taylor Swift, LeAnn Rimes sounds like she's getting back to a rootsier sound with Today Is Christmas. Possibly made with encouragement to capitalize on the opening track's assumed success, Today Is Christmas ( Holiday Theme for NBC's Today ) is a surprisingly strong collection. Once you get past the obvious commercial tie-in, LeAnn brews up a piping mix of soul ( powerful duets with Aloe Blacc and Gavin Degraw ), genuine pop and country. If you were a fan of Faith Hill's 2008 Joy to the World, this will be a welcomed addition to your family time.
Speaking of TV tie-ins, I was hoping the first full Braxton Family album in twenty five years with Toni and her four sisters would be a proper pop release, not an 8-song EP, and not one this weak. This is definitely one to cherry pick off iTunes or stream if just for Toni going full gospel on "Blessed New Year." Skip them butchering the soul standard "This Christmas" … twice! Once where they insert their own names into the chorus, and the second, sans Braxtonism, but remixed poorly.
Cleanse yourself of reality stars and receive a true star ( of Christmas too ), Kylie Minogue. Like Madonna, you wonder how she's not done a holiday-themed album after 30 years in the industry. Well, it was worth the wait. With Kylie Christmas, she's taking you on a pop sleigh ( or SLLLLAAAAYYYY ) ride through 60 years of contemporary tunes with her duet with Frank Sinatra and seven other fully orchestrated classics; into a few Phil Spector Wall of Sound moments; and even three tips to the '80s, duetting with Iggy Pop on "The Waitresses' Christmas Wrapping," covering The Pretenders' "2000 Miles" and the amazingly lovely Yaz cover, "Only You," with late night host James Corden. But of course, it's not Kylie without some electro-pop. She touches on it wonderfully twice, with the Coldplay-written "Every Day's Like Christmas" and the bouncy "100 Degrees," a rare duet with sister Dannii.
So until you hear Adele debut a track mourning the inevitable break of Mary and Joseph, have yourself a very diva Christmas. |
|
|
|
This article shared 4138 times since Wed Dec 2, 2015
|
ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE |
---|
|
| | THEATER 'Mamma Mia!' returns to Chicago with 'Daddyhunt' star Jim Newman 2024-04-24 - "Who's your daddy?" That's the key plot question driving the global hit Mamma Mia! The global smash jukebox musical famously features the song hits of Swedish pop group ABBA, and it returns for a three-week run ...
|
| | Local queer opera composer premiering her first show, a coming-of-age tale with LGBTQ+ themes 2024-04-23 - A Lake View woman is debuting her first opera as a composer, a coming-of-age story with LGBTQ+ themes. Gillian Rae Perry, a fellow with the Chicago Opera Theater's Vanguard program for emerging artists, composed The Weight ...
|
| | Cher, Dionne among Rock & Roll HoF honorees; Mariah snubbed 2024-04-22 - On April 21, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation announced its 2024 inductees, per an ABC press release. In the performer category, the inductees are Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter ...
|
| | The importance of becoming Ernest: Out actor Christopher Sieber dishes about the Death Becomes Her musical 2024-04-20 - Out and proud actor Christopher Sieber is part of the team bringing Death Becomes Her to life as a stage musical in the Windy City this spring. Sieber plays Ernest Menville, who was originally portrayed by ...
|
| | SHOWBIZ Celine Dion, 'The People's Joker,' Billy Porter, Patti LuPone, 'Strange Way' 2024-04-19 - I Am: Celine Dion will stream on Prime Video starting June 25, according to a press release. The film is described as follows: "Directed by Academy Award nominee Irene Taylor, I Am: Celine Dion gives us ...
|
| | Kokandy Productions now accepting submissions for Chicago Musical Theater Fest returning Aug. 8-11 2024-04-18 --From a press release - CHICAGO (April 18, 2024) — Kokandy Productions is pleased to open submissions for the 2024 Chicago Musical Theatre Festival, returning this summer following a four-year hiatus. Kokandy is thrilled to ...
|
| | SHOWBIZ Jerrod Carmichael, '9-1-1' actor, Kayne the Lovechild, STARZ shows, Cynthia Erivo 2024-04-12 - Gay comedian/filmmaker Jerrod Carmichael criticized Dave Chappelle, opening up about the pair's ongoing feud and calling out Chappelle's opinions on the LGBTQ+ community, PinkNews noted, citing an Esquire article. Carmichael ...
|
| | Judith Butler focuses on perceptions of gender at Chicago Humanities Festival talk 2024-04-10 - In an hour-long program filled with dry humornot to mention lots of audience laughterphilosopher, scholar and activist Judith Butler (they/them) spoke in depth on their new book at Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., on ...
|
| | Andersonville Chamber announces Andersonville Midsommarfest entertainment lineup 2024-04-09 --From a press release - CHICAGO (April 8, 2024) — The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is pleased to announce the full entertainment line-up for Andersonville Midsommarfest, one of Chicago's oldest and most beloved summer ...
|
| | SHOWBIZ Outfest, Chita Rivera, figure skaters, letter, playwright dies 2024-04-05 - For more than four decades, Outfest has been telling LGBTQ+ stories through the thousands of films screened during its annual Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival—but that event may have a different look this year because ...
|
| | SHOWBIZ Dionne Warwick, OUTshine, Ariana DeBose, 'Showgirls,' 'Harlem' 2024-03-29 Video below - Iconic singer Dionne Warwick was honored for her decades-long advocacy work for people living with HIV/AIDS at a star-studded amfAR fundraising gala in Palm Beach, per the Palm Beach Daily News. Warwick received the "Award of ...
|
| | 'Rumors' performers create alternative drag playground 2024-03-24 - At first glance, Dorian's Through The Record Shop (1939 W. North Ave.) looks like a brightly-lit shop with a handful of records on the wall, but there's a secret world behind those unassuming shelves. Visitors are ...
|
| | SHOWBIZ Queer musicians, Marvel situation, Elliot Page, Nicole Kidman 2024-03-21 - Queer musician Joy Oladokun released the single "I Wished on the Moon," from Jack Antonoff's official soundtrack for the new Apple TV+ series The New Look, per a press release. The soundtrack, ...
|
| | THEATER Chicago's City Lit has anxiety on tap with 'Two Hours in a Bar' 2024-03-21 - Two Hours in a Bar Waiting for Tina Meyer by Kristine Thatcher with material by Larry Shue Text Me by Kingsley Day (Book, Music and Lyrics). At: City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.. Tickets: ...
|
| | Lollapalooza announces lineup; SZA, Skrillex among headliners 2024-03-19 - Lollapalooza has released its line-up for the event that's taking place Aug. 1-4 at Grant Park. Headliners include SZA, Blink-182, Skrillex, The Killers, Hozier, Melanie Martinez and Stray Kids, among others. Some of the other acts ...
| |
|
|