Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Ruben Studdard
O Come, All Ye Faithful - American Idol Ensemble
Silent Night - Tamyra Gray
Silver Bells - Kimberley Locke
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town - American Idol Ensemble
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) - Kimberley Locke
I'll Be Home for Christmas - Justin Guarini
Winter Wonderland - Christina Christian
This Christmas - Ruben Studdard
Oh Holy Night - Kelly Clarkson
My Grown Up Christmas List - Kelly Clarkson
You've watched them on TV and followed them in the media. Now six of the American Idol winners perform 10 of the season's holiday best. American Idol: The Great Holiday Classics is a bona fide AI songfest for Christmas, fe... more »aturing Clay Aiken, Rueben Studdard, Tamyra Gray, Kimberly Locke, Justin Guarni and Christina Christian. With two tunes featuring the entire ensemble singing "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," two duets, and a couple of cuts by Kelly Clarkson, including "My Grown Up Christmas List," this is a crowd pleaser arranged and lushly orchestrated for fans of the show and fine mainstream singing. The real stars seem to shine though on Christian's playful and seductive "Winter Wonderland" and Studdard's soulful pipes on "This Christmas." Overall it's a rewarding set that's almost too perfect. It seems to beg for a little levity a la William Hung. --Martin Keller« less
You've watched them on TV and followed them in the media. Now six of the American Idol winners perform 10 of the season's holiday best. American Idol: The Great Holiday Classics is a bona fide AI songfest for Christmas, featuring Clay Aiken, Rueben Studdard, Tamyra Gray, Kimberly Locke, Justin Guarni and Christina Christian. With two tunes featuring the entire ensemble singing "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," two duets, and a couple of cuts by Kelly Clarkson, including "My Grown Up Christmas List," this is a crowd pleaser arranged and lushly orchestrated for fans of the show and fine mainstream singing. The real stars seem to shine though on Christian's playful and seductive "Winter Wonderland" and Studdard's soulful pipes on "This Christmas." Overall it's a rewarding set that's almost too perfect. It seems to beg for a little levity a la William Hung. --Martin Keller
Good first album of the 12. Kelly Clarkson has 2 songs on this CD.
CD Reviews
Good Background Music
josabby | Dayton, Ohio United States | 10/15/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"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."
American Idol: The Great Holiday Classics
J. Martin | Woodside, NY | 10/23/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"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."
American Idol >> Over-Exhausted Franchise?
Mark | 10/14/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"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 reviewClay 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 itEnsemble "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 listenTamyra "Silent Night" - Pretty good. She's got a good voiceKim & Clay "Silver Bells" - Clay and Kim sound great together! They make this classic Christmas song beautifulEnsemble "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 himChristina "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 lackingKelly "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."
Very nice renditions of Holiday Classics
tdc55 | Worcester, MA United States | 12/09/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."