Idina Menzel: Holiday Wishes
Idina Menzel
Holiday Wishes
(Warner Bros.)
With exactly 45 days to Christmas (yes folks, the countdown has begun) itâs time to get your iPads, iPhones or any form of MP3 players ready for those catchy and seasonal Christmas songs. This season, get ready for Idina Menzelâs Christmas album, Holiday Wishes.
Any fan of Idina Menzel appreciates not just her powerful voice, but also the contribution that Menzel has made to musical theatre. Fans will not be disappointed with Menzelâs first attempt at a Christmas album. The introduction of Holiday Wishes is âDo You Hear What I Hear.â Beautifully arranged and beautifully sung, it is the perfect introduction to the album. On Menzel and Michael Bubleâs version of âBaby Itâs Cold Outside,â Menzel and Mr. Christmas himself do a fun, flirty, and ever-so-cute rendition of the holiday classic.
âWhat Are You Doing New Yearâs Eve?â is easily one of my favorites. Menzelâs voice and the arrangement of the music are nothing short of perfection for this classic. This is followed by another beauty, âDecember Prayer.â
Menzel does great covers of some favorite holiday songs. âAll I Want for Christmas Is You,â the famous Mariah Carey song, is one of my all-time personal favorite songs this time of year. There’s something about it that has a really jingle bells, eggnog-sipping type of feel. Covering this song would NOT be an easy feat, but Menzel steps up to the plate and delivers. This is followed by âWhen You Wish Upon a Star.â Yes youâre right – this song is NOT a Christmas song, but I donât think Walt Disney would disapprove. And nor would Joni Mitchell of Menzelâs cover of âRiverâ or Bing Crosby of âWhite Christmas,â both of which are beautifully sung and arranged.
Everything about this album is enjoyable and perfectly festive. So much so that although itâs still early November, I found myself singing along and wanting to sip on some yummy eggnog or if youâre Puerto Rican like me, coquito. I have only love for Holiday Wishes, a beautifully done Christmas album, and canât wait for the official start of the holiday season when some of these songs make it to the radio. Iâm sure any loyal fan or newbie fan will thoroughly enjoy it.