Album Preview: Mariah Carey â âMerry Christmas II YouâItâs not even Halloween yet, but Mariah Carey is already ushering in Christmas. The pop songbird and Island Def Jam chairman Antonio âL.A.â Reid turned Allen Room at Lincoln Center in New York City into a winter wonderland to host a festive listening session for Merry Christmas II You, the follow-up to her 1994 best-selling Christmas album.
Munching on candy canes and Hersheyâs Kisses and sipping Mariahâs own Angel Champagne, guests including Gayle King, singer Trey Lorenz, and âExtraâ correspondent A.J. Calloway shuffled from the reception room to the soundstage, where Reid took the podium situated on a stage decorated with white pine trees, giant ornaments, and silver boxes of presents.
âItâs challenging. Itâs Christmas in October, I know,â joked Reid before introducing the album. âMariah started making this album in June after three years of asking.â
While Reid emceed the playback by introducing every other song, Mimi made a surprise appearance before the end of the album, bringing her hubbie Nick Cannon up on stage to help her share in the moment.
âFor me, Christmas began in spring or summer. And basically, our house in L.A., Nick was very cool to deal with it,â she explained. âIt was decorated kind of like this but with a little bit of reds and blues and greens and stuff, all since the summer. So Iâve been in the spirit, and this is a very creative moment for me personally and just to be working on this particular album right now has been exceptionally special for me.â
After thanking collaborators Randy Jackson, Jermaine Dupri, and Broadway composer Marc Shaiman, Mimi left the stage, leaving listeners with a few songs to close out the evening. Rap-Up.com is giving you a peek at 11 songs before the wrapping comes off on November 2.
âSanta Claus Is Coming to Town (Intro)â
Produced by Mariah Carey and Marc Shaiman
Chiming bells introduce the album, setting the tone with a lush orchestral background that segues into the following track.
âOh Santa!â
Produced by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri, and Bryan-Michael Cox
Many in attendance had already heard the ebullient sleigh bell-driven single, so they enjoyed the track while watching projected images showing Mariah with her dogs in front of snowmen, skiing with her husband, and sleeping by the fireside.
âO Little Town of Bethlehem / Little Drummer Boy (Medley)â
Produced by Mariah Carey, James âBig Jimâ Wright, and Randy Jackson
The instruments are thick on this traditional jazzy number. Mariah pulls back on her vocals, allowing her voice to flutter over rolling percussion, dulcet flutes, and swelling strings. Of course, it wouldnât be a Mimi track without some bold singing near the end, but it finishes on a softer, heartwarming note.
âThe First Noel / Born Is the King (Interlude)â
Produced by Mariah Carey, James âBig Jimâ Wright, and Randy Jackson
A smoky piano introduces this bare ballad where Mariah flexes her vocal chops with her signature buttery trills. Strings join in after the first verse and chorus, culminating in a grandiose finish.
âWhen Christmas Comesâ
Produced by Mariah Carey and James Poyser
The most contemporary R&B song on the album, this begins with a crackly brass section, playing like classic soul. âBecause this Christmastime/ Get together, itâs gonna be so nice/ Better than ever/ And boy, youâre the one that Iâll treasure/ I canât wait to unwrap your love/ When Christmas comes,â sings Mimi before the song ends with a brief segue into âJingle Bells.â
âHere Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) / Housetop Celebrationâ
Produced by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri, and Bryan-Michael Cox
Sampling Chicâs âGood Times,â this â80s hip-hop-inspired cut updates the seasonal standard with a pounding backbeat, heavily influenced by the classic So So Def sound.
âCharlie Brown Christmasâ
Produced by Mariah Carey, James âBig Jimâ Wright, and Randy Jackson
The classic piano instrumental fits snugly on the album, melding into âChristmas Time Is Hereâ from the classic TV special âA Charlie Brown Christmas.â The song slows to a seasonal, languid pace, heavy on the piano.
âO Come All Ye Faithful / Hallelujah Chorusâ feat. Patricia Carey
Produced by Mariah Carey, James âBig Jimâ Wright, and Randy Jackson
âThis next number is very special because it features a lady that I would probably say is the most responsible for her gene pool spilling over into Mariah,â said Reid, introducing the song. âItâs her mother Patricia Carey, whoâs singing a song with Mariah.â
The gospel-heavy tune sees Mariah taking the first verse, while her operatic mother assumes second verse duties. Mimi comes in right at the end of her momâs portion with a shrieking falsetto, closing out the song with an intergenerational duet.
âTo be able to include my mother and work with her, that was really special,â Mariah later added.
âO Holy Nightâ (Live from WPC in South Central Los Angeles)
Produced by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff
Recorded live at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in South Central Los Angeles, this gospel recording features a full band and backing chorus as Mariah nails the vocals. âItâs really amazing, Iâm so happy she included that on this recording,â shared Reid.
âAll I Want for Christmas Is You (Extra Festive)â
Produced by Mariah Carey, James âBig Jimâ Wright, and Randy Jackson
With a new orchestral introduction, this American classic features newly recorded vocals from Mariah as well as a beefier backing chorus, fresh ad-libs, and an extended outro, sounding just as enjoyable as it did in 1994.
âItâs a little known fact that she was one of the greatest writers of our time,â said Reid of Mariah. âThat song, which she wrote, is the most successful holiday song written and released in the modern eraâand she wrote it. Thatâs just phenomenal. We know a lot of songwriters. How many of them can say they truly wrote a standard? A true standard?â
Mariah later shared that she bugged composer Marc Shaiman about redoing the songâs intro by calling him with ideas at 6 a.m. âI would call him and I was like, âAll I Want for Christmasâ needs a new intro,â she said. âNo, I didnât leave that off this album, if there are any real fans out there, but that one is remade and the intro is so good.â
âAuld Lang Syne (The New Yearâs Anthem)â
Closing the album, this features Mariah performing the classic tune with a mellow piano and strong chorus before voices count back from 10 to 1 and the party begins. âThe New Yearâs Anthemâ is the albumâs sole dance record, capping the holiday release with a feel-good jam.
âSteven J. Horowitz
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