I’ve been a fan of Mary J Blige going back to “Be Without You” which Billboard listed as the top R&B song of the 2000’s. Even before that, I recognized her huge talent as a singer/songwriter.
Now the Grammy-winning queen of Hip-Hop Soul has come out with her first-ever Christmas album and it is among my favorites!
I first listened to this cd when I got it in the mail alone in my car. It not only brought back wonderful memories but the songs combined with the purity and richness of her vocals touched my heart and filled me with emotion.
I later played the cd with family and friends and they enjoyed it immensely as it brought a delightful holiday atmosphere!
In this cd, Mary J Blige collaborates with legendary producer David Foster and has teamed up with some of the best musical talent in the business for Matriarch Records/Verve Records/Interscope Records.
The collaboration is truly magical:
“Working with David Foster is a singer’s dream,” says Mary J Blige.
And Foster comments, “There’s so many things that I find inspiring about Mary, but I guess it always comes back to the fact that she has no limits and no boundaries. She doesn’t think of herself as black or white, or yellow or red, or male or female. She just thinks of herself as a singer and she’s a great singer.”
TRACK LISTING:
Little Drummer Boy
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
My Favorite Things
This Christmas
The Christmas Song
Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer
When You Wish Upon A Star – Duet with Barbra Streisand
Winter Wonderland
Do You Hear What I Hear – Duet with Jessie J.
Petit Papa Noël
The First Noel – Duet with The Clark Sisters
Noche de Paz – Duet with Marc Anthony
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
My Favorite Things
This Christmas
The Christmas Song
Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer
When You Wish Upon A Star – Duet with Barbra Streisand
Winter Wonderland
Do You Hear What I Hear – Duet with Jessie J.
Petit Papa Noël
The First Noel – Duet with The Clark Sisters
Noche de Paz – Duet with Marc Anthony
This cd is a R&B take on classic holiday tunes. Some of these songs are some of my absolute favorites and I love Mary’s soulful version of them.
Among my top picks are “The Little Drummer Boy,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and “Mary, Did You Know?”
I also love the way she’s jazzed up “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” adding scatting and new life to this classic Christmas song.
“The First Noel” with the Clark Sisters has a lovely gospel feel and I was happy to find songs in both French and Spanish like the beautiful “Noche de Paz” (Silent Night) with Marc Anthony. Marc and Mary’s voices blend in seamless perfection.
“When You Wish Upon a Star” with Barbra Streisand is beautiful and simply soars.
I highly recommend this cd for the holidays and for any day. It is timeless and uplifting and the clarity of Mary’s voice remains a revelation.
WIN:
One Strange Daze Indeed reader will win their own A Mary Christmas CD personally autographed by Mary J. Blige.
CONNECT:
Twitter for Mary J. Blige
Shop “A Mary Christmas”
Verve on Facebook
Verve Music Group
Rules:
This giveaway will end on December 10 at 12 am EST. One winner per household, email address or home address. If you have won this prize on another blog you are ineligible to win again. Winners must have a U.S.-based address to receive their prize.
Disclosure: I participated in this event on behalf of Wendy‘s Bloggers for Verve Music Group. I received the A Mary Christmas CD to facilitate my review.
One of my favorite things about the holiday season is giving beautifully-wrapped gifts to my family and friends!
My favorite thing about the holidays is spending more time with family.
My favorite thing about the holidays is spending more time with family.
The atmosphere is my favorite thing.
1 of my fave things is all the Christmas lights! I LOVE them! I wish people would keep them up all year. 🙂
family together and enjoying rekindling relationships with them and friends
I love wrapping presents! I arrange my supplies, put a Christmas movie on tv, arm myself with fresh baked cookies and milk– it’s a whole ritual that I look forward to every year. – Jenna O.
I love the music and decorating the tree not to mention getting together with family.
Spending time with my family and seeing my kids faces opening their presents.
Listening to Christmas music and eating chocolate covered cherries!
I love having more time to spend with my family!
the decorations and music is my favorite part of the season!
rypm25@aol.com
I’m a weirdo== I really love the Christmas lights and decorations, trees, etc.
I like the holidays because I get to spend time with family members who live out of state that I don’t get to see very often.
abfantom at yahoo dot com
I love the 3Fs ~ Family, Friends and Fellowship!
I love the desserts!
One of my favorite things about the holiday season is getting my family and grandchildren all together and that they still like each other and all play so well together. It is a lot of fun.
the optimism. and the lights
I love how my daughters get excited.:)
I enjoy spending time with my family
I love most about the holidays is getting my family together and spending time together.
Spending time with my family and friends that I have not seen for awhile.
Lorina Padgett
all the lights! – regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com
I like going to stores and seeing all the decorations and hearing the Christmas music playing.
Laurie Emerson lauraemerson17 at yahoo dot com
I love all the lights and decorations.
I love riding around and looking at Christmas lights.
Tara Woods mizztuts AT bellsouth DOT net
Seeing Christmas ligfhts with my husband
Being with my family, eating and playing games!
vikki.billings@yahoo.com