Customer Reviews

American Idol: The Great Holiday Classics

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(60)
3 star:		(30)
2 star:		(18)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

I bought this CD just to hear Clay sing "The First Noel", He was amazing as expected. I really liked most of the songs. Kelly blew me away in "My Grown Up Christmas List". This is the Kelly we fell in love with on AI1. Clay, Kelly, Tamyra & Kimberley "made" the CD. I was a bit disappointed in Christina Christian. I liked her voice on AI1, but I don't think she sang to her potential on "Winter Wonderland". I gave it 4 stars just because of a couple songs that I didn't like.

American Idol: The Great Holiday Classics by far surpasses any of the other American Idol collections. Taking the shows top talents this is the American Idol album to have. Each performer sounds wonderful. Clay's voice is perfectly suited for The First Noel. Tamyra Gray gives a stunning version of Silent Night. Kimberly Locke lends her sultry powerful pipes to The Christmas Song, and Justin has never sounded better on I'll Be Home For Christmas. The ensemble songs are beautifully song. The best is saved for the second disc. Kelly Clarksons O Holy Night is breathtaking and Grown Up Christmas List is lovely. I wish the album included alot more songs. 10 songs seems a little short, but overall a wonderful Christmas album.

This is the first Christmas album I've owned since I had the 8-track of John Denver and the Muppets when I was a small child. As far as the people featured, it's a little different singing style than I'm used to hearing from them, but these are the songs you hear in church and school concerts, so it's perfectly acceptable.

"The First Noel" Clay's performance is a little on the sharp side, but like I said this is a church song, not a love ballad. 4/5.

"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" I feel the same about Ruben and Tamyra's duet as I did about Clay's solo. These are three of the best singers I've ever heard. Hearing them sing Christmas songs simply takes some getting used to. 4/5

"O Come All Ye Faithful" Pretty good effort by the Ensemble. I'm not sure if Ruben was a part of this one. Christina comes in a little sharp for my taste and I felt the harmonizing could have been a little better, but good overall 3.5/5.

"Silent Night" Tamyra sounds really good, just different than what I'm used to. It's growing on me. 4.5/5

"Silver Bells" Clay and Kimberly are my two favorite people on this CD. I enjoy this song, but this isn't exactly my favorite vocal performance from either of them. They sound pretty good, but it feels as though they have slight colds. 4/5

"Santa Clause is Coming to Town" Not my favorite Christmas song, but it's a really great performance by the ensemble. They really compliment each other well with this one. They seem like they had a lot of fun here. 5/5.

"The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" This is the Kimbely I love. She sounds fantastic. This song didn't even have to grow on me. 5/5.

"I'll Be Home For Christmas" I'm not exactly the biggest Justin fan, but I like his performance here. It's good to hear a little power in his vocals rather than the usual light crooning we get out of him. I'm actually feeling some sincerity from him here. 4.5/5

"Winter Wonderland" Christina has a pretty voice, but her vocal style is a little soft for my liking. I wish Trenyce had been on this CD. I kept picturing Christina in a Cabaret dress tickling men with a feather while singing this. It feels like she's singing it through her nose. Good instrumentals save it for me though and Christina does have some pep. 3/5.

"This Christmas" This is the Ruben I love. This is the Velvetly voice I got into early on AI. Not as good as Kim's, but still impressive. It's fun. 4.5/5

"Oh Holy Night"/"My Grown-up Christmas List" Kelly sounds pretty good on these. A little sharp in places on O' Holy Night, but not too sharp. "My Grown-up Christmas List" is superp. 4/5.

Overall, this is definately one of the better Christmas CDs I've heard. Usually people record dreary or over sung Christmas albums, but the people on this CD really get into singing the songs.

This is the double Christmas CD from the American Idol contestants Kelly Clarkson (who's not on the first CD), Justin Guarini, Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, and Christina Christian. Track by track review

Clay Aiken "The First Noel" - Very good vocals!! All of Clay's songs are so good because he can nail them SO well!

Ruben & Tamyra "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" - Good little duet. I like it

Ensemble "O Come, All Ye Faithful" - I LOVE THIS!! This is in my opinion the best on the CD. It's accapella and just BEAUTIFUL! This is a must listen

Tamyra "Silent Night" - Pretty good. She's got a good voice

Kim & Clay "Silver Bells" - Clay and Kim sound great together! They make this classic Christmas song beautiful

Ensemble "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" - This is pretty good. They all take a couple lines and sing it together.

Kim "Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire" - I personally get sick of this song but Kim's voice is great in it.

Justin "I'll Be Home For Christmas" - Good. Justin has a good commercial voice and this song is good on him

Christina "Winter Wonderland" - Ummmm... this isn't very good. She has a weird tone to her voice. It kinda sounds like she's muffled (if that makes sense -- I guess if you hear it you might notice it too.) I think the only reason why she's on this CD is because she's signed to Simon's 19 Management and she could be included. Otherwise, they probably would have went with someone else like Nikki McKibbin, RJ Helton, Trenyce, Kim Caldwell, etc etc. I was really looking forward to hear he voice on record... but it's not all that great.

Ruben "This Christmas" - His voice is not that captivating like on the show. It's good singing... but just bland and plain. It's a bit lacking

Kelly "Oh Holy Night" - I love accapella and Kelly's voice is simply AMAZING!! Love this one!

Kelly "My Grown Up Christmas List" - Very good ballady song. Kelly really shines. I'm so glad she was part of this CD.

OVERALL :
Unless you just LOVE to buy Christmas music (and/or are a DIEHARD American Idol fan) then this is for you. I'm SO disappointed that alot of the really good contestants were left out (like Nikki, Kimberly Caldwell, Julia, Josh, Trenyce, and the others.) And it seems a bit too much.. a Christmas CD? American Idol is gonna be a wore-out fad very soon if they don't cool-down on the over-marketing.

1.The First Noel- Clay Aiken - By FAR...the BEST recording on the album. This is the reason I purchased this cd. I heard this and was bowled over - had to have it. Modestly lush arrangement, perfect for this song. Clay Aiken's rendition-beautiful. If I was hesitant about buying Measure of a Man( Clay's new cd)....this would convince me to DO IT!
2. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Ruben Studdard/Tamyra Gray - Ruben and Tamyra blend nicely on this song. I really like these two together!

3. Oh Come All ye Faithful-Ensemble A very nice a capella rendition. they blend well, yet this version is distinct enough so you can enjoy the solo parts.( yes, even Justin Guarini shines here)
4.Silent Night - Tamyra Gray - her beautiful voice soars here.
5.Silver Bells - Clay Aiken/Kimberley Locke - A VERY nice light and happy version here...Kimberley Locke adds such a warm touch to this melody...and Clay - right on the money - as usual.
6.Santa Claus Is Coming to Town - Ensemble - Jazzy touch - this Ensemble version is very upbeat...one of my favorites.
7. The Christmas Song - Kimberley Locke ...If anyone can pull this one off, it is Kimberley Locke... and in STYLE too! Her voice is as welcome and warm sun rays on a cold winter's day. Superb.
8.I'll Be Home for Christmas - Justin Guarini- Although I think Justin Guarini has a lot of talent...I don't feel his heart is in this one, or maybe I just don't like this particular arrangement. All in all, it is pleasant enough though.

9.Winter Wonderland - Christina Christian - Not my favorite, almost sounds like an actress overacting...even though I do like her voice.
10. This Christmas - Ruben Studdard - I really like this one by Ruben - very upbeat..kinda funky...his voice matches the arrangement perfectly. Another favorite.

Bonus Disc - Kelly Clarkson
1.Oh Holy Night- Another a capella song...you can really get a feel for Kelly's awesome voice here. Might make you want to run out and buy Thankful (her cd).
2.My Grown up Christmas List - Very,very nice.

Although I hesitated to buy this cd at first, only choosing to do so on the strenghth of the The First Noel, I now feel I got MORE than my money's worth.

As is custom with these Idol compilation albums, my hopes are too high and I get let down. But anyway...
The First Noel - Clay Aiken: I'm a HUGE Clay fan and he didn't disappoint...his voice was rather excellent here, though he got kinda gypped on the song choice. Oh Holy Night would have been PERFECT for him.

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Ruben/Tamyra: Meh. I expected a better vocal performance from Ruben...after all, he's the supposed winner from this season. Tamyra has a beautiful voice, though, so it's worth hearing.

O Come All Ye Faithful - Everyone: It's pretty good, they do a nice a capella version.

Silent Night - Tamyra Gray: Her voice is still amazing, though she kind of overdoes it toward the end. This is a really serene and peaceful song and she turns it into a Whitney Houston pwoer ballad. Not that her voice can't do that, but it's not right for the song.

Silver Bells - Clay/Kimberley: It's cute, but you can SOO tell they recorded it separately. I wish Kimberley had used more of her voice though, she's totally holding back.

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Everyone: It's painful. I really just can't stand listening to it. Sorry.

The Christmas Song - Kimberley Locke: She does an excellent job. Her voice is impeccable and she hits the note on "fly" toward the end so perfectly it gave me chills the first time I heard it.

I'll Be Home For Christmas - Justin Guarini: I was surprised by Justin, because he did a much better job than I would have excepted. That being said, I can only take about 2 minutes of it, which is okay, because the song is only that long.

Winter Wonderland - Christina Christian: I think she was trying to sound cute/sexy and she just...failed. She wound up sounding like a little kid. Not a fan of it.

This Christmas - Ruben Studdard: It grated on me after a while, though I gave it a fair shot. It just wasn't my kind of song, I guess.

Oh Holy Night - Kelly Clarkson: She does a good job, but the backup choir is kind of, well, strange. That's the only way I know to describe it. However, her voice is gorgeous and kinda makes it worth it.

My Grown-Up Christmas List - Kelly: Yeah. I love this song. And she does an amazing rendition of it. Yay for Kelly. A big non-yay for this being a separate CD. I find it kind of annoying to have to switch CDs to hear two little songs.

If you like Christmas music, you'll like it. There has been better, but there has also been much worse, and it's worth it.

First song on the cd is done by Clay Aiken. I have never heard "The First Noel" done better and with such reverence and grace to the powerful ending. When I hear a hymn this is how I want it done. Very disappointed with the sound and background mix of some of the other songs on the first disc. Kelly Clarkson's added tracks were well done as she gives a soulful rendition of "Oh Holy Night", did not like the vocal add ins and a little overdone. I prefered her second choice better of "My Grown Up Christmas List" which is also the best rendition of that song I have ever heard.

A year since I bought this album, and it still sounds good! I liked Clay Aiken's The First Noel, Ruben Studdard and Tamyra Gray's Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (pretty), Kimberly Locke's offering on here, the ensemble songs and Ruben's This Christmas (with shades of Donny Hathaway in his voice). The only song I didn't like was Christina Christian's Winter Wonderland, which lacked something. A very moving and uplifting Christmas album.

I wasn't sure about this CD at first. I only bought it because of Clay, so I wasn't really planning on liking much of the rest of the CD. However, it's pretty good. Clay, of course, get's all of the stars I could possibly give him. His version of "The First Noel" is beautiful, and he also sings on "Silver Bells", "Oh Come All Ye Faithful", and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", so I definitely think Clay fans should buy this. I also thought Kelly sounded really good on "Oh Holy Night" and "My Grown Up Christmas List," but as usual, I was a little bit disappointed that she gave it her touch of soul. I think Christmas songs sound better as pop, but maybe that's just me. I also really enjoyed Kim Locke. The rest of the idols were good, but not really my cup of tea. I like more than 75% of this album, and it really put me in the Christmas mood, so I would recommend it!

I think this is one of the best in the American Idol series cd's. The songs are done so beautifully and even Justin Guarini can sing very good and he is my least faviorte one. They all do a good job and it opens with The First Noel sung by Clay Aiken who in my mind should have won the last American Idol show!!! Good job people, keep it up.