ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011
NEWS/FEATURES 26
People & Places
Music
Offerings for all ages
Holiday music from
Bieber, Buble & .....
H ere are The Associated Press’
reviews of selected holiday
albums:
recorded throughout your career.
This greatest hits album compiles
holiday tunes from the 85-year-old
Justin Bieber, “Under the crooner’s repertoire over 40 years.
Mistletoe” (Island) He released his first holiday album,
Parents are likely to buy Justin “Snowfall: The Tony Bennett
Bieber’s Christmas album for their Christmas Album” in 1968. Over
kids and pray that their young ones the years, he has recorded Christmas
will play it only through their head- music with the London Symphony
phones. Orchestra and the Count Basie
But the elders would be missing Band.
out. Bieber’s “Under the Mistletoe” While these songs have all been
is a thoroughly entertaining offering heard before, there’s an eclectic
for all ages, sometimes even more magic to listening to them in succes-
so for the adults. sion. Maybe it is the younger tone of
Although he still is a teen heart- his voice on early recordings like
throb, there is little that is childlike “My Favorite Things,” or the swag-
about this album (except for the ger on “Winter Wonderland.”
song “Someday at Christmas,” The collection includes a lush
which closes out the deluxe CD, mix of jazz, orchestral, and big band
where a much younger Bieber chan- backgrounds to such holiday clas-
nels Michael Jackson). sics as “Have Yourself a Merry
Bieber’s voice has deepened, and Little Christmas,” a peppy version
the bubble gum sound has given of “Santa Claus is Coming to
way to a more mature, soulful Town,” and the beautiful choral tone
sound. Bieber sounds convincingly of “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”
romantic on the album’s opener, Joey + Rory, “A Farmhouse
“The Only Thing I Ever Get For Christmas” (Sugar Hill
Christmas.” And on the soulful Records/Vanguard Records)
upbeat groove “Fa La La,” with If you feel the need to freshen up
guests Boyz II Men, he sounds your holiday music collection, you
almost — dare we say it? — sexy. could do much worse than this
But before we venture into country duo.
Mariah Yeater territory, let us focus Joey is the woman and Rory is the
on some of the other songs on the guy always wearing overalls, even
album. He joins Mariah Carey on on the album cover. Yes, they are a
her holiday classic “All I Want for couple just as that cute plus sign in
Christmas Is You”; the Band Perry their name implies. They harmonize
for a powerful “Home This better than most husbands and
Christmas”; enlists mentor Usher on wives, though. Rory is a working
a charming rendition of “The songwriter when not recording with
Christmas Song”; and gets funky his wife and it shows in some of the
with Busta Rhymes on a hip-hop lyrics. Sample from the album open-
version of “Little Drummer Boy” er “It’s Christmas Time”: “We’ll eat
(here simply called “Drummer too much and swear again / that
Boy”), as both trade rap verses. come New Year we’re getting in /
Bieber breathes new life into old the best shape that we’ve ever been
standbys, and offers up new songs / but we know we’re lyin’./ So pass In this CD cover image released by Reprise/Wea Records, the latest holiday release by Michael Buble, ‘Christmas,’ is shown. (AP)
that have the potential to become the pie and one more roll / and pass
future classics. Even if you don’t me that remote control / oh, lookee Influential US jazz player Motian dies
have kids, “Under the Mistletoe” here, I love this show! / It’s
should be under your Christmas Christmas time.” The influential US jazz drummer and Masabumi Kikuchi among others, Lovano described Motian as “one
tree. There are only two holiday stan- composer, Paul Motian, died and he also worked as a composer. of most influential mystical and magi-
She & Him, “A Very She & Him dards here — “Away in a Manger” Tuesday at the age of 80 in New However as far back as the 1950s cal musicians of all time.”
Christmas” (Merge Records) and “Blue Christmas” — plus a York, a close friend said. Motian began to shine in the influen- “Paul was a hard swinging free
Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, cover of Merle Haggard’s “If We “Paul did pass away early this tial core of the jazz world, according jazz drummer with an uncanny sense
the she and him of folk rock duo She Make It Through December,” fea- morning,” Carole d’Inverno, a painter, to The New York Times, both a mem- of time, phrasing and form beyond
& Him, have patterned a sparse yet turing background vocals by the told AFP. Jazz producer Hans Wendl ber of Bill Evans’ trio and later in the description,” Lovano said in a state-
satisfying Christmas album that, on man himself. The rest are nontradi- said Motian had died from complica- 1970s with Keith Jarrett’s American ment. “Playing and knowing Paul
listen after repeated listen, brings to tional or original, with song titles tions from Myelodisplastic Syndrome, quartet. over the last 30 years under his lead-
mind a subtly hip holiday vibe that like “What The Hell (It’s the a bone disorder. “Paul Motian was my hearbeat,” ership in multiple Quartets, Quintets
In the latter half of his career Wendl quoted bassist and Motian and in Trio with Bill Frisell since 1984
is edgy enough to impress the most Holidays),” ‘’Come Sit on Santa Motian became a band leader, play- playing partner Charlie Haden as has been the foundation of my devel-
jaded Brooklynite and innocent Claus’ Lap” and “Let It Snow ing with saxophonist Joe Lovano, saying on hearing of his friend’s opment as a leader and composer.”
enough to play for grandma, too. (Somewhere Else).” If you’re sick guitarist Bill Frisell and pianist death. (AFP)
Across the 12 tracks presented on of the classics and need to have
the album,— available digitally, too, something festive in the background
Deschanel and Ward glide through
some of the holiday classics with
while you entertain or cook for fam-
ily and friends this holiday season,
Mercury’s star still burning brighter
low-key yet inspired gait, including this is a fine choice for any house,
Queen still reigns 40 yrs on
a rendition of “Baby, It’s Cold even without a farm.
Outside” that’s smooth and silky but Various artists, “This Warm
earnest in its affectations. December: A Brushfire Holiday,
The interplay between Ward and Volume 2” (Brushfire Records) In this Nov 9, 2005 photo, drummer
Deschanel on “Silver Bells” and Someone liked this idea enough Paul Motian is shown. Motian died in LONDON, Nov 23, (AFP): Freddie Aid concert in 1985. mates painstakingly produced full tracks
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas” is to put out a second volume, but this a New York hospital on Nov 22, due Mercury died 20 years ago on Thursday “Even though physically he is not from scraps of vocals an ailing Mercury
quick and bouncy, lending a decid- reviewer is not that someone. to complications of a bone marrow but his star has only burned brighter in here, his presence seems more potent had recorded there in 1991, in precious
edly prominent sense of mirth and Featuring 13 tracks by 11 artists disorder. He was 80 years old. (AP) the two decades since, with Queen and than ever,” May wrote in a blog marking hours when he could muster the
merriment — always critical com- from the Brushfire stable (Zach Gill, their larger-than-life frontman as popu- Mercury’s 65th birthday in September. strength.
ponents of a good Christmas album. G. Love, Rogue Wave, Jack lar as ever. “He will always epitomise the perfect Once he could no longer record,
Is it groundbreaking and new? Johnson, Bahamas, Neil Halstead, The British rockers, marking their frontman — the consummate channel of Mercury decided to come off his med-
No, not by a long shot, but it is
clever, entertaining and filled with
Zee Avi, ALO, Money Mark, Paula
Fuga and Matt Costa), the arrange-
Variety 40th anniversary this year, are among communication between a band and an ication. The subsequent album, “Made
the world’s biggest-selling artists ever audience. In Heaven”, released in 1995, is one of
holiday cheer. ments are ho-hum and there is not a — with most of their sales coming in the “He devoured life. He celebrated Queen’s best sellers.
Scott Weiland “The Most sing-along song in the bunch. The NEW YORK: Three months after losing
musical and life partner Nick Ashford, 20 years since Mercury died. every minute. And, like a great comet, Facing up to life without Mercury was
Wonderful Time of the Year” best of the baker’s dozen is an orig- Valerie Simpson acknowledges that she still Queen’s guitarist Brian May and he left a luminous trail which will tough.
(Atlantic) inal tune by Johnson (“In the has a hard time performing any of the clas- drummer Roger Taylor are busier than sparkle for many a generation to come.”
Sometimes the line between bal- Morning”) that’s perfect if you’re sic songs they created together.
Legacy
ever and Mercury’s songs such as In a statement on November 23, 1991,
ladeer and rock singer converges; planning a yuletide luau. The worst? “I get a big lump in my throat when I May plunged into severe depression,
sometimes it does not. That is why it Zee Avi making “Frosty the “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Don’t Stop Mercury confirmed from his death bed
try to sing one of our songs right now,” Me Now” still endure as classics. that he had AIDS. having also lost his father and his mar-
comes as a surprise that Scott Snowman” even more depressing she said. riage and contemplated suicide.
Weiland would attempt to croon an than the lyrics. There is some good She will get a little help next week as
The Independent on Sunday newspa- Within 24 hours he had fallen into a
per said the singer’s death “seemed a coma and passed away, having handled Like May, Taylor produced two solo
album of Christmas music as if he news, though: Twenty-five percent Usher is set to sing from the Ashford & albums in the 1990s, but despite their
were Perry Como on “The Most of the profits from record sales sup- Simpson catalog for what promises to be mere hiccup in his career”. his illness in private and never com-
In the years since, Mercury’s stock plained of his suffering. efforts to move on from Queen, they
Wonderful Time of the Year.” port musical education. a poignant moment in the usually upbeat learned to embrace their legacy.
The songs range from fun to pow- Michael Buble, “Christmas” Grammy nominations prime-time special. has risen, with a new generation of As one of the highest-profile victims
It will be part of a joint tribute to Ashford artists citing Queen among their influ- of AIDS, his death brought greater Bassist John Deacon retired in 1997
erful to laughable, as Weiland tack- (Reprise/Wea) and has vanished from the public eye,
les holiday standards like “Silent “Christmas” comes early with and Jerry Leiber and will feature Mike ences, including Lady Gaga, Robbie awareness of the virus and helped
Stoller, who was Leiber’s longtime writ- Williams, Foo Fighters and Muse. remove the stigma from a disease now though May and Taylor have his bless-
Night” and “The Christmas Song.” Michael Buble’s holiday record. It’s ing partner. ing to carry on.
He delivers these tunes as if it were his second seasonal release, and it Mercury, 45, died at his London home ravaging southern Africa.
Leiber and Stoller wrote classics such on November 24, 1991. He had been Launching the rock theatrical “We
Bing Crosby night at a local karaoke seems as if he’s got a knack for as “Hound Dog,” ‘’Jailhouse Rock,” Classic Will Rock You” in 2002 was a gamble
bar. Not that there’s anything wrong making cozy Christmas music. His diagnosed HIV positive several years
‘’Yakety Yak” and other hit songs that earlier and died of bronchial pneumonia, In a 1987 interview, Mercury told that paid off, breathing new life into
with that, especially if parody is smooth voice perfectly covers clas- came to define early rock ‘n’ roll. journalist David Wigg he had no fears of Queen’s music by allowing fans to enjoy
your thing. But fans may expect sics like “Silent Night,” ‘’Have a Ashford and Simpson helped define the brought on by AIDS.
becoming a lonely, rich 70-year-old. their hits played live.
more than a hardcore alternative Holly Jolly Christmas” and “Jingle Motown sound with hits like “Ain’t No Captivating “I’ve lived a full life and if I’m dead More than 13 million people have
rocker trying to sound like a lounge Bells.” There’s even an original Mountain High Enough,” ‘’Reach Out Queen’s lead singer is remembered tomorrow, I don’t give a damn. I really seen it worldwide, including 5.5 million
singer. song called “Cold December and Touch Somebody’s Hand” and
“You’re All I Need to Get By,” as well as for his captivating live performances, have done it all,” he said. at London’s Dominion Theatre.
The former Velvet Revolver and Night.” spellbinding vocals and enduring hits Born Farrokh Bulsara on September A sequel is planned, using songs not
Stone Temple Pilot singer slightly Buble also covers Mariah Carey’s soul hits for themselves and others.
“I knew both Jerry Leiber and Nick including “We Are The Champions”, 5, 1946 to a Parsi Indian family living on in the existing musical, though the orig-
shifts music style over the course of “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” “Killer Queen”, “Crazy Little Thing the East African spice island of Zanzibar inal keeps packing out theatres.
the record’s 10 tracks with hints of but adds his own twist by slowing it very well,” said Ken Ehrlich, producer of
the nominations special and the Grammy Called Love”. and educated at an English-style board- Queen went back on the road again in
bossa nova, reggae, and big band down. It sounds like a completely broadcast, on Monday. “It was pretty The jukebox musical “We Will Rock ing school in India, the shy teenager 2005 when they joined forces with for-
flair, yet nothing remarkable that different song that is noteworthy in rough for me in August when they both You”, launched in 2002, still plays to a arrived in London when his family fled mer Free singer Paul Rodgers.
sounds like him. its own right. “Christmas” is an passed away. ... We lost two of the great- packed house in London and has been the 1964 Zanzibar revolution. Their collaboration spawned giant
Two of the album’s most interest- instant classic that would go nicely est songwriters of the formative rock and staged around the world from Australia The classic image of Mercury is him arena tours plus a studio album “The
ing tracks include a bouncy version in anyone’s collection. R&B era.” to South Africa, Japan, Europe and Las in his 1986 touring costume, mousta- Cosmos Rocks” (2008) before Rodgers
of “What Child Is This?” and a fun Mark O’Connor, “An Appala- The tribute will be a change in tone for Vegas. With interest still high, a film chioed and with one fist raised to the returned to his solo career.
version of “Winter Wonderland,” chian Christmas” (OMAC) the fourth annual special, to air live from
about Mercury, starring Borat creator sky, a pose captured in the statue of him One outdoor show in Kharkiv —
though he sounds a little like The title is misleading, with Mark the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on
Sammy Davis Jr. O’Connor playing more like a vio- CBS on Nov. 30. The one-hour special in Sacha Baron Cohen, is in the pipeline, in Montreux on the Swiss shores of Lake Queen’s first in Ukraine — played to
While channeling the old croon- linist than a fiddler, and his guests past years usually focused on select nom- focusing on the years leading up to Geneva. 350,000 people, highlighting the endur-
ers, the one voice or style that’s include opera star Renee Fleming inations and performances from those Queen’s stellar performance at the Live When they felt able, his three band- ing support for the band.
missing is Weiland’s own. Easily and jazz singer Jane Monheit. The likely to get those bids. Rihanna, Katy
regarded in the top echelon of 1990s stylistic sprawl results in a set about Perry, the Band Perry, Sugarland and
Lady Gaga are among those scheduled to
rock singers, Weiland sets himself as rustic as choir carols at Lincoln participate.
Need to Get By,” but she is happy not to very end,” she said.
up for criticism by stepping too far Center. be doing most of the singing. The pair were married for 36 years.
But Ehrlich did not want to wait until She said she still goes to their New York
out of his comfort zone on this one. O’Connor’s first holiday album the Feb 12 Grammy broadcast to honor “It certainly would make it a lot easi-
Tony Bennett “The Classic includes new recordings but also er,” she said of Usher performing. “I will City restaurant and club, the Sugar Bar,
the lost legends. where they nurtured new talent over the
Christmas Album” (Columbia) previously released material dating “It felt to me like it might be appropri- be very happy to lean on him.”
When you have been around as back as far as 1987. Several tunes She called the death of her husband, years, and she does not rule out writing
ate to do it at the end of the year, closer music on her own.
long as Tony Bennett, you do not have little to do with Christmas, to the time of their passing,” he said. with whom she had two daughters, “the
The segment will feature both Simpson most difficult thing I’ve had to do in my “I figure the residue of what he leaves
release an album of Christmas including “Ol’ Blue,” sung by James life.” here will give me something to carry on
favorites; you put out a collection of Taylor, and “Now It Belongs To and Stoller on separate pianos, as Usher
sings. Simpson says she might join in Simpson said his illness came quickly. with,” she said. “I expect he’ll be whis-
the best Christmas songs you have You,” sung by Steve Wariner. “Nobody ever really thought of him pering in my ear and pointing me in a
when Usher sings one of their songs,
which she expects to be “You’re All I being sick, and he really wasn’t until the Ashford Leiber direction that is right, in time.” (AP)