Customer Reviews

Christmas With Babyface

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This CD is not just for R&B lovers, but enjoyable for everyone, especially jazz lovers. Babyface showed me a side that I had never seen in him before. He showed his versitility in a major way on this project. The selection of musicians was perfect...The sound quality is superb...It's a must buy!! To me it didn't have to be about writing original Christmas songs...The traditional songs that we all know and love have endured over time far more than any new songs will. However, Babyface created a masterpiece by adding his personal touch to each one. ENJOY!

Babyface is the latest in a long line of artists to put his spin on the old seasonal Christmas classics. The 9 seasonal chestnuts included here were co-produced by Walter Afanasieff, who is responsible for production duties on Celine Dion and Mariah Carey albums amongst others and he brings a polished feel to the album that adds to the overall warm feeling of this collection. Babyface brings a slightly different style to each track ranging from soul to jazz to reggae. His version of "White Christmas" is enough to melt even the coldest of hearts but on "Winter Wonderland" you feel his heart isn't in it, but the same can't be said for "Sleigh Ride" which bounds along with endless energy and Babyface sounds as though he had great fun singing it. His rendition of "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" proves that even after multiple Grammy wins he doesn't take himself too seriously!!! When I hear "The Little Drummer Boy" I always feel there is something missing, especially after Bing Crosby and David Bowie incorporated it with "Peace On Earth" - the mixture of these two songs worked so beautifully together that the song on it's own doesn't stand up. "The Christmas Song" has been covered by so many artists ( as have all the songs on this collection !!!) with the Luther Vandross version produced by Quincy Jones being among the best. "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" moves seamlessly into "The First Noel" and this track is one of the highlights of the album. "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and "Silent Night" complete the collection with the exception of the self-composed and produced "You Were There" which is tacked on at the end of the CD. This track is taken from the soundtrack to the motion picture "Simon Birch" and even though it's not a Christmas song the inclusion of the bells chiming at the beginning of the track and the lyrics about people being there for each other add to the feel of this collection. Babyface being such a brilliant composer begs the question why hasn't he written any new contemporary self-penned Christmas tracks as these would have added greatly to this collection, as can be seen on the Mariah Carey and Luther Vandross Christmas collections. Overall though, a wonderful festive CD that will keep your heart glowing throughout the holiday season. Peace and goodwill to all men ( and women !!! ).

WHat YOu Think OF when You Think Of Babyface is what you get from Babyface In this album. He dosen't change the words or anything like that but he does bring that voice and talent that you expect. However it is only so many ways to sing these songs for we have all grown up to singing and listening to these songs since we were little. I think thathe changes these songs moderately but in a rightful way and in the harmony and only the quality that we come to expect from Babyface IT IS A KEEPER. BUY IT YOU WON"T REGREET IT

Babyface is such a brilliant songwriter that it is disappointing there weren't some original Christmas songs on this CD. However, his jazzy version of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer is the best and most original I've heard. My favorite song on the CD is the only one written by Babyface, "You Were There" from the movie Simon Birch. It seems a bit out of place on this CD, but it is a very touching song.

As a collector of many Christmas albums and CDs, I was quite disappointed with Babyface's extremely by-the-numbers holiday package. Here we've got one of the world's most talented and romantic songwriters - a man with the potential to write a whole heap of new holiday classics (or at least two or three). (I mean the R & B world could certainly use something new to sing at the holidays other than Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas" again and again.) But the only original song on this CD isn't even a Christmas song - "You Were There" is a schlocky movie feel-good number from the flop, "Simon Birch". Otherwise, do we really need the romantic yearning of Babyface crooning "Rudolph, The Red-nosed Reindeer"? No.

I'm not going to slam this CD completely. Babyface is a nice, unique singer and these are very straightforward arrangements. If you like his voice, don't have these classics a million times already, and want a professional package - this could fit the bill for you. Otherwise, I'd ignore it and hope that Santa encourages Babyface to make a real effort on a Christmas CD sometime in the future. The potential remains unfulfilled.

It's just an other album of Babyface. He changed Christmas song into a style I love most. However, it's far from Christmas now, for this I can listen them for months...

Bought this CD as a christmas gift for my son. Babyface is one of my favorite artists, and I'd thought my son would enjoy the songs as well.

I had a copy of this CD when it was originally released. I usually start playing it after Thanksgiving and continue until New Years. This year I could not find my copy so I purchased another. I can't wait to received it. The holiday season is just not the same with out it.

This is a beautiful Christmas CD. If you are a fan of Babyface, this is one CD that you must add to your collection.

This is so endearing and heart warming at that special time of year that we call the Christmas season. I absolutely love it and it makes you have the warm and fuzzies inside. Start playing this on black friday to get you in the Christmas spirit.