GOKEY. His expressive voice makes his songs smolder and soar.
There aren’t a lot of musical innovations in Kylie Minogue’s first holiday album, “Kylie Christmas,” but its glitzy and glittery carols—from the feisty “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and the frisky “Santa Baby” to the fun-filled “Let It Snow” and “Winter Wonderland”—are guaranteed to chase the Yuletide blues away!
The album is boosted by a lively mix of disco, pop and EDM—but, its biggest draws are her guests: Kylie sings with 68-year-old punk luminary Iggy Pop in “Christmas Wrapping,” collaborates with Coldplay’s Chris Martin in the original tune, “Every Day’s Like Christmas,” and sings the gorgeous ballad, “Only You,” with singer-actor-TV host James Corden, whose rich baritone beautifully complements Kylie’s appealing “girlie” pipes.
Another extraordinary novelty: “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” her posthumous duet with Frank Sinatra, whose voice is digitally incorporated into the fun and frothy mix.
‘Christmas Is Here’
Danny Gokey’s first Christmas album, “Christmas Is Here,” proves that the third placer of “American Idol, Season 8”—where champion Kris Allen bested Adam Lambert for the title—is here to stay.
Tracks like the celebratory “What Christmas Means to Me,” the EDM-infused “Lift Up Your Eyes” and the uplifting title track, “Christmas Is Here,” provide tunes that you can sing along with and groove to. His expressive voice makes them smolder and soar.
In his must-hear cover of “Mary, Did You Know?,” the season’s most covered carol, Gokey demonstrates how powerful he is as a vocalist when he utilizes his exceptional skills to help essay something so vocally and dramatically challenging, especially when he “reminds” Mary that “the Child that you delivered will soon deliver you!” Grab that hanky!