“A Very Special Christmas 7” – (CD Review)

  

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About: Greg Victor (Parcbench Culture Editor) is a historian, pop culture critic, and theatrical dramaturg and has stage managed theatrical productions on Broadway and on tour, including Billy Joel's "Movin' Out", Monty Python's "Spamalot" and more.See Authors Posts (225) on December 18, 2009

*** (out of 4)
“A Very Special Christmas 7” is the latest installment in the series of albums that have raised over $100 million for Special Olympics. It’s the most successful benefit series in commercial music history. Volume 7 is the first album since 2003 and it features new interpretations of 13 classic holiday songs. Artists contributing to the collection include: Colbie Caillat, Miley Cyrus, Leighton Meester, Ashley Tisdale, Charice, Carrie Underwood, Sean Kingston, Kellie Pickler, Gloriana, Vanessa Hudgens, Mitchel Musso, Kristinia DeBarge, and The Carter Twins.

For a series that began two decades ago with musical acts such as Bruce Springsteen, Run-DMC, U2, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Stevie Nicks, and Sting, this volume might seem a little musically lightweight. But that’s sort of the point.

It’s been several years since a new album was released for the “Very Special Christmas” series. This new youth-oriented album closes that time gap. It also closes a generational gap that no one anticipated would someday exist. More than half of the artists on Volume 7 had yet to be born when the original album made its debut 22 years ago.

The highlights of “A Very Special Christmas 7”:

1) Leighton Meester (of TV’s “Gossip Girl”) steals the show with her pop version of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” It’s a sultry performance that captures the bubblegum spirit of the song perfectly.

2) Colbie Caillat sings a relaxed, acoustic version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” with her two best friends on backup vocals.

3) Kellie Pickler’s sassy version of “Santa Baby” is refreshing in its sincerity. It’s clear she’s not play-acting; Kellie actually wants the things on her Christmas list.

4) Sean Kingston gives the holidays an island twist with “Little Drummer Boy.” Let’s face it – “Little Drummer Boy” can always use a new interpretation. This one is harmless enough.

5) Gloriana offers up a country “Silent Night” with warmth, sumptuous acoustics, and sweet harmonies.

The dismal failures of the album:

1) Miley Cyrus (as Hannah Montana) squeals her way through “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” as if she were Veruca Salt in “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” This one is definitely a download to skip.

2) “Jingle Bell Rock,” sung by Mitchel Musso (another “Hannah Montana” talent… you know him, he’s the one that needs a haircut) has a synthetic, generic rock sound that might just appeal to someone who has no appreciation of rock whatsoever.

All in all, “A Very Special Christmas 7” offers young music customers a chance to shell out some cash for some holiday tunes that only have to be put up with for a few weeks a year. More importantly, in doing so, they will also help bring joy to special needs children around the world for years.

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