The sounds of Christmas

A Viva Popstars Christmas by Various Artists: They are not that far from being kids and therefore still have that bright-eyed wonder usually associated with children during Christmas time. But they are not in any way ordinary. They are talented singers who made their first bid for stardom this year. So while other people their age go caroling or dance to Christmas tunes while doing a merry round of parties, they have gone off and recorded their first Christmas songs for a special album.

Led by Star for a Night million-peso winner Sarah Geronimo, the most sensational new discovery of the year, here are Viva Records’ new generation of singing talents get together in A Viva Popstar Christmas. They come from everywhere. Mark Bautista, Jason Velasquez, Florie Mae Lucido Musica and Angelie Mae were Star for a Night finalists. Athena was a semi-finalist in the same show before she was drafted to join the group 3YO. Ashley was discovered recording a song for her grandmother at Karaoke King. The famous Pilita Corrales found Dexter in Australia. The quartet Streamline was a regular at Gourmet Café in Tagaytay before Viva put them under contract. And Tosca is the daughter of the one and only Rico Puno.

Sarah sings The Christmas Song and The Gift. Mark Bautista does O Holy Night. Then these two duet in Christmas Won’t Be the Same Without You. There are also Little Christmas Tree by Jason; Give Love on Christmas Day by Ashley; Mary’s Boy Child by Dexter; One God by Florie Mae; Mamacita, Donde Esta Santa Claus by 3YO; Do You Hear What I Hear by Streamline; and Grown Up Christmas List by Tosca Puno. Then they all sing together in A Funky Christmas Medley composed of Joy to the World, We Three Kings of Orient Are, Angels We Have Heard on High and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing arranged by Moy Ortiz of Company.

Christmas Chill-out by Stacey Kent: This is not fair. The title of the album is Christmas Chill-out and the cover has a mistletoed window looking out on snow-covered grounds. It’s Christmas and Stacey, the honey-voiced jazz diva from the UK does sing The Christmas Song, Chestnuts roasting on an open fire… But that is all she does. The 14 other songs in the album are the usual standards Stacey is now famous for and the collection is in truth more of a chill-out than of a Christmas celebration.

I complain that Stacey does only one Christmas song in the album because it looks like slim pickings as far as new Christmas releases are concerned this year. Spageti Christmas is all that we seem to be getting. On the other hand though, there is really nothing to complain about once you hear Stacey sing. Besides, although somewhat eclectic, the mix of old love songs, lullabies and one Christmas song makes for easy listening magic. Think cold December evenings indoors with only Stacey’s voice breaking the quiet.

The big treats here are the lullabies Hushabye Mountain and Sleep Warm. The last time I heard them sing was in some put-baby-to-sleep album. Stacey’s versions of these songs plus the torchy ballads Violets for My Furs and Polka Dots and Moonbeams can also put the big kids in a dreamy bedtime mood. The other cuts, all wonderfully done are In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning, One for My Baby (And One for the Road), More Than You Know, They Say It’s Wonderful, I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan, There’s a Lull in My Life, Isn’t This a Lovely Day, East of the Sun, Zing! Went the String of My Heart and S Wonderful.

Apir Tayo! Pataas…Pababa by the Jolly Beans: Speaking of Spageti Christmas, the song makes another appearance in this album. This time around it comes as bed for a medley of 15 Christmas Songs together with another medley of 15 more songs led by Qing Fei De Yi. That title might not be readable to most of us but it is a song that must be very familiar to F4 fans or everybody who enjoys watching those Chinese soap operas. So here in one album are two of the biggest hits of the year all dressed up in Christmas finery. Jolly good! You can now dance to both Spageti and Meteor Garden at the same time.