Customer Reviews

Happy Holidays (A Very Special Christmas Album)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

It's a great holiday album, but not in Billy Idol's trademark style. He gets a little close to his 80's rocker shouting on tracks like "Santa Claus Is Back in Town" and "Merry Christmas Baby". The real missed opportunity here, in my opinion, is that he didn't sing "White Christmas" to the tune of "White Wedding". That would have been awesome. (It's a nice day for a...WHITE CHRISTMAS!) What about "Dancing With My Elf"?

I bought this album as a joke, and out of curiosity. Well, I have to say, I rather like it! It gets off to a rocky start with Frosty the Snowman, which just seems weird. But, then, I think Frosty the Snowman is a pretty lame song to begin with. Then, I think he was a little too hammy on Here Comes Santa Claus. But, the other tunes on the album are quite good. He basically sings them straight, with enthusiasm. He sounds like a guy with a good voice who enjoys singing and wanted to record some Christmas tunes. In other words, there's really nothing to dislike about it, and quite a lot to like. My two-year-old son is very keen on Here Comes Santa Claus, and cries for me to play it again when the song ends.

If you like to listen to Christmas music while making cookies or wrapping presents, this will do very nicely. The fact that it's Billy Idol singing it makes it funny, rather than just schmaltzy.

This is a really good album. Sure its weird but thats what gives the album its charm. I love Billy's versions of the christmas songs and I hope he does a volume 2

When I bought this item originally, I expected it to be a hilarious slant at Christmas Albums, done as only Billy Idol can.
I expected pure punk-rock music turning the cheesy entry on it's head.

What I got instead... was absolutely BRILLIANT!
It's a true Christmas Album.
Billy takes it 100% seriously and does the likes of Bing Crosby and Elvis Presley justice.

Even takes the time to send well wishes to the people fortunate enough to be listening to the CD, as well as our good men and women overseas.
And his rendtition of Auld Lange Syne (after the lengthy pause) is the proverbial Icing on the Cake.

A must have for Idol fans and for people that just love Christmas Albums.

I have been listening to Billy Idol since the 1980's. The most important thing to know about this album is that you should not expect it to sound like what you are familiar with (unless you comapre it to the mellow sounds of Sweet Sixteen or All Summer Single, which still have more harshness to them than these songs)from Billy Idol. Forget the hard rocking sounds, the punk style and screams of the rock music - you won't find it here. But then, who really wants that for a chrsitmas album at a party anyway ? Billy Idol himself writes on this disc that he wanted to create something for all ages, including children that may be present, and he has done an excellent job of it. The songs are absolutely perfect for the background of a family get-together, alone in the car or almost anytime you want to hear it. Granted, some will probably never like it because all they can think of for Christmas music is Bing Crosby. It is definitely not comparable to the crooner's songs that most everybody loves, but then Billy Idol is not a crooner, so there again, I'm not disappointed. Billy Idol brings his style to the same songs and is able to find a happy medium for the intended purpose - he is about as close to Bing Crosby in this as he is ever going to be. Again, those looking for a rock and roll Christmas album need not even consider this for a purchase because you won't be pleased. However, if you are looking for someting different to add to your holiday collection to spice up the rotation or to add some variety to your Holiday sound, then this is worth the price. My daughter loves it and she has never heard any other Idol music. But then, it is not like any other Idol music so she has no point of reference other than the songs are about Christmas, good times, and good thoughts. It works for her and it works for me.

It does give a fresh alternative rendition of songs that most know by heart and it does it with a touch of class, Billy Idol-style. People that rated this album excessivly low were probably one of the extremes above - looking for a Rebel Yell Christmas album or expecting Dean Martin. If you go into this purchase expecting a low-key Christmas album for anyone (well, maybe not most people over the age of 50) with a bit of different flair then this is it. It is great, I love it and no less than any other of his albums, but then, I am a true fan.

Billy Idol fans beware!

This is not the usual Billy Idol material here.
It is Billy Idol singing,
but "White Wedding" this isn't.

As a Billy fan myself I thought it was right on for
Billy to make a Christmas album with Classic Christmas tunes.
However, it's not what you'd expect from a rocker like Idol.

There are some light-hearted fun-filled tunes on here,
and I don't regret buying this Holiday offering.
I understand that Billy did this mostly for his family
(his kids) and I respect that.

I can also understand how some fans might feel a little
disappointed in Billy's Elvis Presley/Frank Sinatra approach to
these classic Christmas songs.

Some of these songs could've been
rocked out a bit more. (after all we are
talking Billy Idol here)

Some of them should've never been
let out of their stall.

It is what it is I guess.

It's the ONLY Xmas album I can listen to. Great stuff.
Funny and actually a feel-good album.

After listening to some of the songs and watching a couple of the videos on Billy's MySpace page I knew I had to have this album.

Once again he has proven ne is a versatile entertainer and not a has-been. This novel album is a must have for any Billy fan or Christmas music lover. When I play it so many of my friends are shocked that it's Billy Idol!

Being a 30-something year old Billy Idol fan - I knew I HAD to have this. I wasn't really sure how his take on classic Christmas music would be. Was he gonna rock it out in Idol-style??? The answer - NOT in the least. And yet I still think it's a great CD and totally worth the money. There are a couple of gems on this that outshine the others.

-God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is my absolute FAVE on the entire CD.
-Auld Lang S.yne, also VERY good. Reminds me of a pub full of drunken Englishmen

The other classics like Blue Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, etc are kinda typical - loungy sounding. They aren't bad, just not my favorites. I think you should at least check it out.

Happy Holidays!

I know, I know.... I'ts Billy Idol. The guy with the hair and the sneer and the in your face punk attitude. I saw him live "back in the day" and he sang a ballad. Don't remember what it was but he can really sing when he wants to. He has an excellent voice. He just never dispayed it with all of the punk/pop stuff he's famous for.

Well get ready. He does show his voice off on this cd. He is really good and I promise, if you can get past the fact that it's Billy Idol, you're gonna love it. If you like well produced, traditional Christmas music from a guy with a really good voice, give this cd a try.