Customer Reviews

Merry Christmas Have a Nice Life

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

 

 

Some people seem to be inspired when recording Christmas albums, rising above their previous performances to record the best album of their career. I knew Cyndi was good at what she did, but had never bought any of her music until I bought this after reading some reviews. I sensed, even without hearing any tracks, that this might be one of the best Christmas albums in the history of recorded music, and I was right.
Cyndi clearly enjoys Christmas - it shows in these songs. Who could resist Cyndi's invitation to Do the Christmas conga? I also enjoyed the amusing Minnie and Santa, but all the new songs are brilliant, including Early Christmas morning, which comes complete with children's choir, used effectively and well.

Cyndi has also covered a few old chestnuts - her version of Rockin' around the Christmas tree and other classics breathes new life into them, while paying respect to the originals. Although I could have done without yet another version of Silent night, Cyndi proves here that she has the skill to do the serious stuff just as well as the fun songs. Among the other serious songs, it is particularly pleasing to see that she covered In the bleak midwinter. This is a Christmas standard in Britain, but it's rare to hear it sung by an American. Her version of this song is pure magic - as good as any version I've come across.

This album is truly one of the finest Christmas albums I have ever come across in any genre of music, and you can enjoy it either as background music, or in peace and quiet giving it undivided attention. I have since bought (and enjoyed) some of Cyndi's other music, but this is something special.

You do not need to be a Cyndi fan to enjoy this, but you might become a Cyndi fan after hearing it.

When Cyndi Lauper's MERRY CHRISTMAS...HAVE A NICE LIFE was first released back in '98, I remember reading some capsule review in some popular magazine or other (maybe PEOPLE?) to the effect that it was surprisingly good, better than it "had a right to be," in fact. Huh? Is that a compliment?

I imagine the reviewer thought he was being pretty darn generous to a performer, whom he no doubt recalled as being basically a novelty act from the early MTV days. What's frustrating about reviews like this is that they seldom reference any previous recording other than SHE'S SO UNUSUAL (or, if you're lucky, TRUE COLORS). Cyndi's 90s work(HAT FULL OF STARS and SISTERS OF AVALON) had demonstrated a maturing talent (not that the "immature" stuff was bad--far from it). It's just that, had anybody been bothering to listen, they would have known that she was an artist to be taken seriously and a force to be reckoned with.

Unfortunately, too many had written her off prematurely. And by 1998, her record company was pretty much ready to show her the door. She had one record left on her contract with SONY (who hadn't been offering much in the way of support anyway). Cyndi had gone out touring in '97, opening for Tina Turner, and giving it her all while visibly pregnant...and the record company could scarcely be bothered to promote her excellent SISTERS OF AVALON. A Christmas album seemed like a handy way to meet the terms of the contract and for artist and record company to bid each other adieu.

Christmas CDs are usually lower budget affairs (I'm told) and as it happened, Cyndi already had a couple of Christmas themed tracks in the can anyway. Actually, "Feels Like Christmas" from HAT FULL OF STARS is really more of a love song than a true holiday song, but it had the Noel thing going on in the title and a nice bounce (one of the more upbeat tracks on what was otherwise Cyndi's most serious record to date). "Early Christmas Morning" had appeared on the Japanese version of SISTERS OF AVALON, so that only meant eight or nine new tracks at the most.

It could have been a knock-off, folks, but Cyndi Lauper's sense of artistry and adventure knows few if any bounds, and musically, HAVE A NICE LIFE (the title obviously being something of a kiss-off to SONY) continues to explore the same musical terrain as the previous two records. Queens born Cyndi comes by her multi-culturalism naturally, You've got a little Zydeco here, a little Island music and her version of "Silent Night" starts off with some Mid-Eastern strains, which only begs the question, why hasn't anybody done anything like this before. But that's the closer, let's go back to the beginning.

It's been said that the best Christmas music is tinged with melancholy, and Cyndi's opener "Home for Christmas Day," replete with ringing Byrds-like guitar, is something of a rock rewrite of "I'll Be Home For Christmas." (Ever notice how many holiday albums BEGIN with the latter song: Cyndi honors the tradition in her unique way by starting off with her own updated, similary themed carol.) Then it's off to Cajun-inflected "Early Christmas Morning" and Cajun-Caribbean mix on "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (a wink and a nod to Brenda Lee--a singer she was often compared to back in the day). The fun continues with "Christmas Conga" and the winning, slightly ribald novelty "Minnie and Santa." Gradually, though, the all the spirited fun begins to give way to a more serious, solemn and (dare we say it?) spiritual mood.

Two songs in row celebrating Cyndi's recent motherhood? Why not? It might be a little much for some artists, but for one as open hearted and honest as Cyndi Lauper, it works. I've had a few "Well, I dunno about this moments" with Cyndi's ballads before (including classics like "Time After Time" and "True Colors"), but they always win me over eventually. "New Year's Baby (First Lullabye)" and "December Child" are no different, delicate songs that avoid slipping into the precious by dint of Cyndi's sheer conviction.

After starting out on such a sunny, tropical note, the album ends on an appropriately winterlike note with the Celtic flavored "In the Bleak Midwinter" and a relatively stark reading of "Silent Night." From the festive to the hauntingly fragile...Cyndi Lauper sums up the season. Definitely, not a knock-off.

Fast forward to 2003-2004, Cyndi's back with SONY (at least for now), doing the standards thing (but definitely doing them her way), and now the record company has now come out with a remastered version of this album. I haven't heard the new version yet, but it did actually seem as though this yuletide offering, delightful as it is, could have used some brightening (of sound and spirit). Looks like everyone may just be having a nice life after all.

This is a great CD to POP in while you decorate the tree. It has the classic songs, her rock songs, her funny songs.
1.) Home on Christmas Day - A slow rock song that has the typical guitar the is a trademark of her music.
2.) Early Christmas Morning - Starts off with kids singing like if it was a Chrismas Caroll, then she comes in and adds her punk style to the album to get you in the mood.
3.) Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - I think we all know this song, she does it with like a funky beat and he high pitched voice.
4.) Christmas Conga - Definately the best song on the cd, with her funky beats and her funny lyrics. Really should be a Christmas single. I think if radio played it, we would have a hit. Bonga Bonga Bonga do the Christmas Conga.......
5.) Minnie and Santa - Another funny song with her humor. A slow song but funny.
6.) Feels Like Christmas - Sounds like it starts off with bad quality, like she is singing live, but then starts to be another soft rock song.
7.) Three Ships - A slow song with a flute at the beginning, must be her playing. Typical Christmas but why three ships? Was the Columbus Day lol.....
8.) New Years Baby ( First Lulliby) - I have a feeling she wrote this for her song who is in the album cover. Also on the cover is santa ( or is it her husband). Anyway another good ballad.
9.) December Child - Very slow ballad, almost acoustic.
10.) In The Bleak Midwinter - Again a slow song, by this time you want more of the beginning and that is why this cd gets a 4 rating. I feel she could have more faster songs around this part of the cd.
11.) Silent Night - And finally the typical Christmas Anthem with a touch of Cyndi.
Overall a great Christmas Album. If you like Cyndi you will love the beginning of the album. Play the end when you are tired and want to take a nap. If you have any questions ask me. I love Cyndi and this is my review. I hope it was helpful, vote for me :)

I bought this originally on cassette in 1998. I finally got it on CD. I've read that this was Cyndi's final project when she was originally with Sony/Epic - thus the title "Have a Nice Life." Seven of the 11 songs are originals written or co-written by Cyndi. My favorites are Early Christmas Morning, Home on Christmas Day, Christmas Conga and Minnie and Santa. She also puts her own personal spin on Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree and (I Saw) Three Ships.

Silent Night with the bagpipes is unusual, but then so is Cyndi, as she's admitted herself publicly with one of her album titles (She's So Unusual). The only thing that would have made this CD better is if they had included her duet with Frank Sinatra of Santa Claus is Coming To Town. It was released on A Very Special Christmas 2. Other than that, this is a nice CD with new stuff.

Some of the songs are decent, and all have the Lauper flair, but overall it's mediocre. I prefer more traditional Christmas albums.

Love the CD - Bought it for the Christmas Conga, which is such an upbeat Christmas song..

Cyndi Lauper's Christmas album is a real treat. It isn't "just another Christmas album". Seven of the eleven songs are originals that Cyndi co-wrote, and they are all fine songs. If you like Cyndi, you'll like this album.