Ears Like a Hawke
Let's Connect!! --->>>
  • Home
  • Song of the Day
  • Album Reviews
  • Artist Studies
    • Steely Dan
  • Industry Happenings
  • Friends of the Hawke

Glee Cast - Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album, Volume 2

12/14/2011

0 Comments

 
Picture
inquisitr.com
It is time for some much-needed Christmas cheer people!!! I was going to wait until next week, but this CD's exactly what I need tonight, so it's exactly what's you're getting!

Don't click away just looking at the title! PLEASE! This cast is actually incredible, and they have put a spin on so many hits in ways that I adore. Seriously, the arrangers are wonderful. The show has its hits and misses, but I love their treatment of the music, and the music really just makes me happy and want to sing more than usual. The mashups... oh goodness!!!

For those of you living under a rock, the show this cast is from is in its third season, and the character list keeps growing, giving us an even wider variety of personalities, story lines, and most importantly voices to the music. I was a little let down by the first few episodes from this season, but from #4 on, they have been absolutely wonderful. The show deals with issues that some people are still afraid to talk about out loud, and in some really tasteful ways. 

And oi, the music. 

This was their second Christmas episode, and it was adorable. Cheesy as all get out, but so cute. I enjoyed that there was a lot of focus on music performance because they just wanted to get people in the spirit, but they still managed to get a great, sweet message of goodwill to the world in there. 

Let's take a look at the track-by-track while we work on decorating the tree and I make some cocoa.

Good news: We actually have two trees here, so, though lacking for decorations, I will actually be kind of working on decorating and Christmas cards while writing. Bad news: no cocoa. -_-

Amber Riley/Mercedes gets us kicked off with "All I Want For Christmas Is You," originally performed by Mariah Carey. I absolutely love the treatment of this song. She takes it a little lower toned than Mariah, making it more comfortable for those with sensitive eardrums. This is also how the episode opened up, with the club singing and decorating the classroom even nicer than I think I've ever seen one fo my houses. Plus she flirts with Sam a little (sorry non-Gleeks, but thanks to y'all reading that understand) that makes this extra adorable. 

Ahhh I so want to dance around singing this for the rest of the month. "I don't a lot for Christmas, this is all I'm asking for - I just want to see my baby standing right outside my door. I just want you for my own, make my wish come true, baby all I want for Christmas is you." Ah, classic! This song has re-popularized this year thanks to Bieber (*shudder*), but I hope this girl's version gets just as much, if not more, attention. Please radio stations, get a clue and play good vocals. 

Darren Criss/Blaine gets the next song going, which you know makes me smile immediately. Lea Michele/Rachel is in there as the primary female voice as well. This song is by no means going to be a classic anytime soon, if ever, but it's a good Glee song. It's upbeat and fun, and I really like it as a pop song with a purpose (of being a Christmas tune). Although, the line "gonna party until Santa grants my wishes" throws me off a little, as I consider partying a good thing. Oh well, it's still a fun track.

Unfortunately, "Santa Baby" is one of my least favorite Christmas tunes ever, mostly to the slight creepiness of it. Naya/Santana does a nice job, and it's really wonderfully suited for her voice. I just... don't enjoy the song itself. Never really have, other than for a laugh. It wasn't in the episode though, whew.

"Christmas Eve With You" is next with Jalma/Emma Pillsbury and Matthew Morrison/Will Shuester, and it's another cute one, and another Glee original. It's always fun to me to hear Emma sing a little, because she's the one character on the show I'm really okay with not hearing sing, but it's cute when she does. They didn't air this one either I believe, unless I missed something. It's got a very bop-your-head-to-and-fro feel to it though. Again, not a classic, but it's nice to hear happiness.

Kevin McHale/Artie comes up next to sing another that wasn't on the show itself, "Little Drummer Boy." Can't lie, this was also never one of my favorite Christmas songs. I like the gentle feel to this one though. I've heard this incredibly overdone with way too much instrumentation, but this one maintains power without being over-powerful. Yeah, how's that for a statement?

"River" is next, with Lea Michele/Rachel taking lead. I honestly had never heard this song before I listened to this soundtrack! Apparently it's been around for a long time. Either way, I love it. It captures everything I'm feeling right now musically somehow (having a little trouble with the Christmas cheer thing tonight, hence this blog), with lyrics that are gentle and hopeful. It doesn't strike me as a holiday song at all, but I love it as a winter song. It encompasses everything. And Lea isn't driving me nuts with her over-belting. I actually can feel what she's singing for a change. Ahhh.

"Do You Hear What I Hear?" sounds like it features new voices, and it's beautiful. This is a wonderful old school song that allows this cast to display how magnificently it can handle majestic and choral numbers. This is a song that has always been about hope in the season for me every single time I've heard it, and these guys and girls really do it all the justice it deserves. Bravo.

We step it back up with the "Glee Christmas Special" (show within a show) number, "Let It Snow," with Darren Chris/Blain and Chris Colfer/Kurt taking on the song. Now look, I love these two, and this song doesn't both me. However, the cheesy nature of that special had me rolling my eyes more than a few times. This number definitely set the tone for that.

Anyone notice "My Favorite Things" is NOT on this album, but it was performed in the show? Dang it... that means I have to find it in iTunes to purchase separately.

Oh man... please tell me... YES! Cory Monteith/Finn and Mark Salling/Puck are giving "Santa Clause Is Coming To Town" the Bruce Springsteen treatment! Hush, I'm a Jersey girl. :) Seriously though, this is fun, fresh, and awesome. They did a great job at making a song that can get a little annoying from time to time into something I could probably listen to a few more times.

"Christmas Wrapping" has also never been a big one for me in the season, but I don't hate it. They had the cheerleaders take this number, with Heather Morris/Brittany S. Pears taking lead. It was fun, and that's about all I have on this one.

Okay, cue the waterworks. "Blue Christmas" is hitting me hard this year because of some stuff... And that adorable little crooning leprechaun Rory isn't helping the tears dry much quicker. He's got such a wonderful voice that breaks your heart every time in the best way possible a voice can. This is gorgeous, not countrified like I usually hear it as, and just.. *sigh*

We wrap up the album, as well as the episode, with "Do They Know It's Christmas," and the whole cast is in on this one. A little thing here - they sang it to the homeless and it's about realizing the sadness in the world when we have so much. Just needed to point out that little rough flaw in logic there. However, the song, and the passion in the voices that you don't always hear in the regular versions (probably because we've become immune to the same voices again and again each year) did actually move me to do something more. I wanted to go make a positive world impact. 
Actually, as they were singing on the TV screen, and I was choking back a couple of tears, I did make a donation as a gift in someone's honor to Heifer International to help feed a village in Africa. I can't say what it was here, because it'll ruin the surprise of the gift (if they're even reading, which is actually a long shot), but seriously, you should give to this cause!! As the song goes, "feed the world."

Let's see here... what would I listen to again...
  • "All I Want For Christmas Is You" - http://open.spotify.com/track/0sjqNUo0kCODcRZ0BIGUti
  • "Extraordinary Merry Christmas" - http://open.spotify.com/track/0e0lzf4PcSBAA96xSC6Yzi
  • "River" - http://open.spotify.com/track/4nYyiky0yi8swKJdle6GcC
  • "Do You Hear What I Hear" - http://open.spotify.com/track/3lRLQLkWtd0gaqwE6CktjE
  • "Blue Christmas" - http://open.spotify.com/track/5ZJ0rtmWHNhTNkwQHXWE1E
  • "Do They Know It's Christmas?" - http://open.spotify.com/track/2wolVp6ZmJjHGwUaFm99Hz
6/12, and honestly, I will probably add a few others to my holiday playlist in particular. These were all really well put-together, and I enjoyed the compilation as a whole. This series continues to impress me, and I wish that by some miracle I could be a part of this cast!!

Sad thing though, they don't come back until January 17th!! Boo hiss. But it'll be worth the wait I'm sure.

"Glee" definitely helped tonight in regaining some of my holiday spirit. I actually may go back and watch the episode again for kicks. Really, a well done show. Oh, btw, Matthew Morrison (Mr. Shuester) directed this one!!!! How awesome is that???


Go on. Comment. Leave a holiday greeting. Tell me there's a better album for me to review out there. You know you want to say something. =)

0 Comments
    Google
    Custom Search

    Author

    My name's Janelle. I'm a fan of music.

    Archives

    January 2017
    January 2016
    December 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011

    Categories

    All
    10000 Reasons
    18 Months
    1968
    1978
    1982
    1984
    1995
    1996
    2003
    2007
    2008
    2009
    2010
    2011
    2012
    2012 Grammy Special
    2012 Grammys Special
    2013
    2013 Grammys Special
    2014
    2015
    2015 Grammys Special
    2016
    2016 Grammys Special
    2017 Grammys Special
    21
    2478fcc7c85e9
    2 Chainz
    33 1/3
    4
    4x4129e74cfccd9
    6b17225b62
    80s
    Acoustic
    Adele
    A Different Kind Of Truth
    A Different Ship
    A Dramatic Turn Of Events
    Adult Alternative
    Afro Cuban
    Ahmad Jamal
    A Holiday Carole
    Aimee Mann
    Alabama Shakes
    Album Review
    Album Reviews
    Album Title Goes Here239d00844a
    Alexander Glazunov
    Alex Storer
    Al Jarreau
    All Rebel Rockers
    Alternative
    Alternative Folk
    Alternative Hip Hop
    Alternative Rock
    Al Walser
    Ambiant
    Americana
    Amy Winehouse
    Anakin
    And If Our God Is For Us44b8fff38b
    Andrae Crouch
    Andrew Davis
    Anthrax
    Arabia Mountain
    Area 52
    Arrow
    Art Rock
    Artuno Sandoval
    Arun Shenoy
    Astral Weeks
    Avicii
    Bach
    Bad Jokes
    Bangarang
    Barbara Streisand
    Barbra Streisand
    Baroque Pop
    Barton Hallow
    Based On A T.r.u. Story
    Bbc Philharmonic
    Belmont
    Benny Benassi
    Best Of
    Best Song Written For Visual Media
    Beyonce
    Big Beat
    Big Krit
    Biophilia
    Bjork
    Black And White
    Black Taxi
    Blake Shelton
    Blind Pilot
    Blood Bank
    Blood Pressures
    Blueeyed Soul05b96abb11
    Bluegrass
    Blue Moon
    Blues
    Blues Rock
    Blunderbuss
    Body And Soul
    Body Talk Pt 3
    Bond The Paris Sessions40ce2eefdd
    Bon Iver
    Bonnaroo
    Bonnaroo Special
    Bonnie Raitt
    Booker T Jones9ee767620b
    Born Free
    Born This Way
    Bowen
    Boys & Girls
    Bozza Nova
    Brahms
    Break The Spell
    Brian Setzer
    Bring It On Home
    Britt Nicole
    Broadway
    Brothers Osborne
    Bruce Springsteen
    Bruno Mars
    California 37
    Calvin Harris
    Camp
    Canton Jones
    Carly Rae Jepsen
    Carole King
    Ccm
    Cee Lo Green
    Celtic Punk
    Ceremonials
    Chaal Baby
    Channel Orange
    Charlie Wilson
    Cheif
    Cherub
    Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass Section
    Childish Gambino
    Choral
    Chris Botti
    Christian Pop
    Christian Pop Rock
    Christmas
    Chris Tomlin
    Cinema
    Circles Around Me
    City And Colour
    Classic
    Classical
    Cloud Maintenance
    Coheed And Cambria
    Coldplay
    Cole World: The Sideline Story
    Come Around Sundown
    Comeback
    Comedy
    Comedy Rock
    Cool Jazz
    Cosmogramma
    Country
    Cso Resound - Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass Live
    Cuban
    Cut/Copy
    Daft Punk
    Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr
    Dance
    Dance Pop
    Dance-pop
    D'angelo And The Vanguard
    Danger Mouse
    Daniele Luppi
    Danny Brown
    Darondo
    Das Racist
    Daughtry
    Dave Koz
    Davenport Cabinet
    David Guetta
    Dawes
    Deadmau5
    Dean Taylor
    Dear Diz (every Day I Think Of You)
    Delta Spirit
    Derek And The Dominos
    Diddy-Dirty Money
    Dispatch
    Dispatch Ep
    Dj
    Dominionaire
    Donald Lawrence And The Company
    Don't Think
    Doo-wop
    Doo-Wops & Hooligans
    Dream Theater
    Dr John
    Dubstep
    Duck Sauce
    Duets Ii
    Duets With The Dames
    Dylan Connor
    Ed Sheeran
    El Camino
    El Debarge
    Electric Blues
    Electro House
    Electronic
    Electronica
    Electronic Dance Music
    Electronic Music
    Electronic Rock
    Electropop
    Elephant
    Elvis Costello
    Ema
    Eminem
    Eric Benet
    Eric Church
    Erin Mclendon
    Eurodance
    Experimental
    Experimental Rock
    Feist
    Female
    Film Soundtrack
    Fire & Ice
    Fitz And The Tantrums
    Flogging Molly
    Florence + The Machine
    Flower Punk
    Flying Lotus
    Folk
    Folk Blues
    Folk-Noise
    Folk Rock
    Follow Me Down
    Foo Fighters
    For The Good Times
    Foster The People
    Four Hands & A Heart
    Frank Ocean
    Frank Sinatra
    Fruit Bats
    Fun
    Funk
    Funk Rock
    Fusion
    Future Worlds
    Futuristic Soul
    Gaia
    Garage
    Garage Punk
    Gerald Albright
    Gerald Clayton
    Gillian Welch
    Glee Cast
    Glee The Music The Christmas Album Value 2
    Glossary
    Gold
    Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
    Gorillaz
    Gospel
    Gotye
    Greatest Hits... So Far!
    Hands All Over
    Hard Rock
    Harry Connick Jr.
    Heartless Bastards
    Heavy Metal
    Hello Fear
    Hello Tomorrow
    Here We Go Magic
    Heroes
    Hip Hop
    Hip-hop
    Holiday
    Home Again
    Horse Power Ep
    House
    Hugh Laurie
    Hunter Hayes
    I Can't Live Without You
    Impressions
    I'm With You
    In Concert On Broadway
    Indie
    Indie Folk
    Indie Pop
    Indie Rock
    Industrial Metal
    Instrumental
    Instrumental Rock
    Irish Pop
    Jack Bruce
    Jack Bruce & His Big Blues Band: Live 2012
    Jack White
    James Durbin
    Jamie Grace
    Jay-Z And Kanye West
    Jazz
    Jazz Fusion
    Jazz Pop
    J. Cole
    Jeff Beck
    Joan Osborne
    Joe Jackson
    ... Just A Matter Of Time
    Just Charlie
    Kaleidoscope Dream
    Kanye West
    Karen Elson
    Kaskade
    Kathleen Edwards
    Katy Perry
    Kelly Clarkson
    Kevin Hearn
    K Flay
    Khaira Arby
    Kid Rock
    Kim Burrell
    Kings Of Leon
    Kirk Franklin
    Kirtan
    Kiss
    Kisses On The Bottom
    Krishna Das
    Kristjan
    Lady Gaga
    Larry Carlton
    Lasers
    Last Train To Paris
    Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
    Leaving Richmond
    Leonard Cohen
    Let Them Talk
    Levels
    Lioness: Hidden Treasures
    Listen To My Song: The Music City Sessions
    Little Broken Hearts
    Little Hell
    Live
    Live Anada
    Live At Cecil Sharp House Ep
    Live At The Blue Note Tokyo
    Live At The Royal Albert Hall
    Live From Beyond Hell Above Heaven
    Live From The Underground
    Lmfao
    Locked Down
    Long Live All Of Us
    Lost In Time
    Loud
    Lounge
    Love Letter
    Lupe Fiasco
    Making Mirrors
    Man In Motion
    Marie Naffah
    Mark Ronson
    Maroon 5
    Mastodon
    Matt Redman
    Megadeth
    Melody Gardot
    Memories Of A Beautiful Disaster
    Metal
    Metals
    Michael Brandt Demaria
    Michael Buble
    Michael Franti & Spearhead
    Michael Kiwanuka
    Middle Eastern
    Midnight Boom
    Miguel
    Mistaken Identity
    Mom Dad0e99b45cc3
    More Monsters And Sprites Ep
    Mto Plays Sly
    Mumford And Sons
    Muse
    Music Is Better Than Words
    My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
    Mylo Xyloto
    Neo-prog
    Neo Soul
    N.E.R.D.
    Nero
    New Age
    New Music Friday
    New Music Tuesday
    New Prog
    New Wave
    New York City
    Nicki Minaj
    Nico Osborne
    Night And Day
    Nightmare Revisited
    Nine Types Of Light
    No
    Norah Jones
    Norman Brown
    Nothing
    Nothing But The Beat
    Nothing Is Wrong
    Old Ideas
    Once: A New Musical
    One Song At A Time
    Original Broadway Cast Recording
    Our Machine
    Outlaw Country
    Overexposed
    Parody
    Past Life Martyred Saints
    Pat Metheny
    Paul Mccartney
    Peter Kater
    Piano
    Pickin' Up The Pieces
    Pink Friday
    Pitbull
    Planet Pit
    P!nk
    P!nk
    Pop
    Pop Instrumental
    Pop Punk
    Pop Rock
    Pop Vocal
    Port Of Morrow
    Post-Britpop
    Post-grunge
    Post-hymnal Anthematic
    Post-Punk
    Post-punk Revival
    Power Metal
    Power Pop
    Primal Fear
    Progressive Bluegrass
    Progressive House
    Progressive Metal
    Protest
    Psychedelic Rock
    Pub Rock
    Punk Rock
    Rachel Platten
    Radioactive
    Radiohead
    Random Accessed Memories
    Random Discoveries
    Rap
    Rare Groove
    Rave On Buddy Holly
    R&B
    R&b
    Recommendations
    Red Baraat
    Red Hot Chili Peppers
    Red River Blue
    Reggae
    Reggaefusion
    Relax
    Remixes
    Requests
    Richard King
    Rihanna
    Ringo 2012
    Ringo Starr
    Rize Of The Fenix
    R. Kelly
    Robyn
    Rock
    Rock And Roll
    Rock 'N' Roll Party Honoring Les Paul
    Rock Opera
    Rodrigo Y Gabriela & C.U.B.A.
    Rolling Papers
    Romantic
    Rome
    Roses
    Royal Tailor
    Rumbadoodle
    Russian National Orchestra
    Sam Bush
    Sarah Jarosz
    Save The World
    Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites
    Second Chance
    Seraphic Fire
    Seth Macfarlane
    Setzer Goes Intru-Mental!
    Shamrocks
    Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
    Shemekia Copeland
    Short Of The Sun
    Showtunes
    Sia
    Sigh No More
    Singer Songwriter
    Singer-songwriter
    Sixx:A.M.
    Ska
    Skrillex
    Slipstream
    Sludge Metal
    Smashing Pumpkins
    Smooth Jazz
    So Far
    Soja
    Solo Albums
    Some Nights
    Sorry For Party Rocking
    Soul
    Soul Time!
    Soundtrack
    Southern Hip Hop
    Southern Rock
    Special Edition Post
    Speed Of Darkness
    Standards
    Steampunk
    Steve Aoki
    Steven Bernstein's Millennial Territory Orchestra
    Stomp And Smash
    Stoner Rock
    Storm Corrosion
    Strange Mercy
    Stranger
    Strength To Survive
    Stronger
    St Vincent
    Sunshine Pop
    Susan Boyle
    Swedish House Mafia
    Synthpop
    Talk That Talk
    Techno
    Teenage Dream
    Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection
    Tenacious D
    Th1rt3en
    That's How We Roll
    That's Why God Made The Radio
    The 2nd Law
    The Absence
    The Antlers
    The Band Perry
    The Beach Boys
    The Bird And The Submarine
    The Black Keys
    The Black Lips
    The Bristol Sessions
    The Cars
    The Chemical Brothers
    The Chieftains
    The Civil Wars
    The Clare Fischer Latin Jazz Big Band
    The Cranberries
    The Credins
    The Decemberists
    The Devil Makes Three
    The Edges Of Twilight
    The Fall
    The Ghost Who Walks
    The Gift
    The Harrow & The Harvest
    The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack
    The Hunter
    The Hybrid
    The Journey
    The Kills
    The King Is Dead
    The King Of Limbs
    The Lady Killer
    The Light Dreams
    The Little Willies
    The Lonely Island
    The Love Album
    The Lumineers
    The Metropole Orkest
    The Music City Story
    The Road To Memphis
    The Shins
    The Staves
    The Tea Party
    The Truth About Love
    The White Stripes
    Thrash Metal
    Together
    Tony Bennett And Various Artists
    Top 10
    Torches
    Traditional Pop
    Traditional Vocal
    Train
    Trance
    Tribute
    Trip-hop
    Tripper
    Tron: Legacy Reconfigured
    Turtleneck & Chain
    Tv On The Radio
    Tv Soundtrack
    Unbreakable
    Unique
    Until Now
    Valient Thorr
    Van Halen
    Van Morrison
    Various Artists
    Vernon Reid
    Voice Of Ages
    Volbeat
    Volume One
    Voyageur
    Wakey!wakey!
    Warren Haynes
    Wasting Light
    Watch The Throne
    We Are The Tide
    We Don't Know Any Better
    Weird Al
    Welcome Reality
    Weloveyoursongs.com Artists
    What It's All About
    What Matters Most
    When You're Through Thinking Say Yes
    White Denim
    Wild And Free
    Willie Nelson
    Wind Rock Sea And Flame
    Winner Selections
    Wiz Khalifa
    Wonderland
    World
    Worship Music
    Wrecking Ball
    Ya Rassoul
    Yelawolf
    Yellowcard
    Young The Giant
    YRM (Your Righteous Mind)
    Ziggy Marley
    Zonoscope

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.