Christmas – the most wonderful time of the year – is fast approaching.
Several franchises (e.g.: Starbucks’ festive cup) and malls have already started rolling out holiday themes, so you might as well get started. While you’re at it, why not add some brand new tunes to your Christmas playlist?
It seems that we aren’t just the only ones feeling the Christmas spirit though. Every year, some of your favourite artistes release holiday albums; 2017 is no different. Pop fans are in for a treat this year because we’ve compiled enough new music in one handy Christmas playlist for your listening pleasure.
Enjoy jamming to these festive tunes while you’re decorating the tree 😉
1. Fantasia – Christmas After Midnight
’Tis the season! Fantasia is treating fans with a dose of classic holiday tunes with her new release, “Christmas After Midnight”. The project features 12 songs including classics such as “This Christmas”, “Silent Night”, “Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto”, and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”. CeeLo Green also makes an appearance on “Baby It’s Cold Outside”.
“I feel like times have changed, families have changed. People are not as close anymore as they used to be, and one thing about our house was music always kept us close,” said the American Idol winner. She added, “This album pays homage to my grandmother and is a gift from me to all of those who remember their grandparents or parents putting up Christmas trees and being a blessing into people’s lives.”
2. Kelly Clarkson – “Christmas Eve”
Never mind that Kelly Clarkson has just released her 8th studio album, “Meaning of Life”. The mother-of-2 also debut an original Christmas song, “Christmas Eve”, complete with jingle bells and upbeat Motown melodies. “Christmas Eve” accompanies the 35-year-old singer’s 2nd children’s book, “River Rose and the Magical Christmas”.
3. 98 Degrees – “Let It Snow”
The last time 98 Degrees released a Christmas record, it was back in 1999. Almost 2 decades later, Nick Lachey and his bandmates – Drew Lachey, Jeff Timmons, and Justin Jeffre – are hoping to recreate the same magic with “Let It Snow”. “We thought, ‘Why not do a 2nd version of that?’ and try to create the same type of timeless classic sound that we thought we accomplished in the 1st one. It just made the most sense. We loved the 1st record and we’re loving the 2nd record, too,” said Nick.
The 14-track album includes 1 original tune, “Season of Love”, and will not repeat any songs from their 1st Christmas album. “We just literally went down our favourite Christmas songs and figured out which would work well and compliment each other. We didn’t just want song after song, we wanted a journey – for the album to be a complete work of art as a unit,” Drew added.
4. Hanson – “Finally It’s Christmas”
Similar to 98 Degrees, it’s been 20 years since Hanson last had an Christmas album. In celebration of their anniversary as a group, Taylor, Isaac, and Zac have finally released a long-awaited follow-up, “Finally It’s Christmas”, and it doesn’t disappoint.
The album not only has covers of modern classics like Paul McCartney’s “A Wonderful Christmas Time” and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas,” it also features a mash-up of “Joy to the World” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain” as well as 4 original songs. Interestingly, the trio’s children also make an appearance on tracks like “Happy Christmas”. Be sure to look out for that!
5. Sia – “Everyday Is Christmas”
Have you been naughty or nice this year? Ready or not cause “Santa’s Coming For Us”, and Sia has a whole song about it. The uptempo single opens with a line about hot chocolate before breaking into the fun holiday spirit. Sia’s mini-muse and main dancer, Maddie Zeigler, can also be seen on the cover art, rocking the singer-songwriter’s signature bob. “Everyday Is Christmas” will feature a whopping 10 original songs.
6. Lindsey Stirling – “Warmer in the Winter”
The holiday season is a lot warmer thanks to Lindsey Stirling’s newly-released Christmas album, “Warmer in the Winter”. Best known for creating her own musical niche as an electronic violinist, this talented musician now presents a collection of 13 songs. Aside from her original holiday track “Christmas C’mon” featuring Becky G, her latest LP also includes Sabrina Carpenter (on “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch”), All Time Low’s Alex Gaskarth (“Time To Fall In Love”), and Trombone Shorty (“Warmer In The Winter”). Stirling’s musicianship is always stellar, and opening track “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”, is a perfect example of that.
7. Blake Shelton – “Cheers, It’s Christmas”
Remember Blake Shelton’s 2012 “Cheers, It’s Christmas” album? Even if you’ve already own that record, you may want to get the re-release 2017 version so that you can listen to his new duet with girlfriend Gwen Stefani. In addition to his previous collaborations with Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson and Michael Buble, the new addition adds “Two Step Round the Christmas Tree”, “Christmas Eve”, and “Savior’s Shadow”.
Speaking of the country crooner’s love interest…
8. Gwen Stefani – “You Make It Feel Like Christmas”
Gwen Stefani also has a new Christmas album out! “You Make It Feel Like Christmas” is a mixture of holiday favourites with a pop twist and original songs co-written by the former No Doubt singer herself. The title track, featuring Blake Shelton, is one of the 6 original tracks on the LP, where the couple sing about their red hot romance.
“I love the idea of being a part of the joy of Christmas. And I love the idea of having a record that will be an annual thing. I really hope we hit on something that people want to hear every year,” the 48-year-old pop star told Entertainment Weekly.
9. Cheap Trick – “Christmas Christmas”
American rock band Cheap Trick love the yuletide season so much that they named it twice. “Christmas Christmas” marks the first Christmas album for the rock veterans. The quartet’s record label, Big Machine Records, released a statement saying, “With ‘Christmas Christmas’, Cheap Trick delivers a sleigh full of Rock & Roll Christmas classics and festive favourites by Wizzard, Slade, Chuck Berry, The Ramones, and The Kinks as well as newly penned offerings like the joyous lead track, ‘Merry Christmas Darlings’.”
10. Josh Groban – “Noel”
In celebration of it’s 10th anniversary, Josh Groban will also be re-releasing his Christmas album “Noel” (originally released in October 2007). The new edition will feature 6 new songs including “White Christmas” with an orchestral backing, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, “Christmas Time Is Here” a duet with Tony Bennett, a cover of the John Lennon classic “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”, “O Holy Night”, and “Believe” (from the “Polar Express” soundtrack).
Sources: iHeart Radio, Pop Sugar / Featured image: Google Images.
