Merry Christmas II You

Merry Christmas II You is the thirteenth studio album and second Christmas album by American singer Mariah Carey. The album was released on October 29, 2010 and features four original songs, all-time Christmas classics and a re-recorded version of her 1994 Christmas hit "All I Want for Christmas Is You".[1]

Background and production

After the cancellation of Carey's thirteenth studio album/second remix album Angels Advocate, speculation began to shift onto an alleged Christmas album. Fashion photographer David LaChapelle told The Times on April 24, 2010 that he shot the Christmas album's artwork, thus confirming that Carey was indeed planning to release her second holiday album.[2] It was revealed that long-time collaborators for the project include Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, Johntá Austin and Randy Jackson.[3][4] Roger Friedman of Showbiz 411 said about the album, "Anyway, Mariah's Christmas album is said to be very lush, with lots of strings and no hip hop. A lot of it is said to be 'live' and there's an orchestra. So let's chew on that news, and calm down about the other. And believe me, she won't be announcing anything at Radar Online owned by the National Enquirer. That won't be happening!"[5]

It was later announced that Carey had worked with Broadway collaborator Marc Shaiman, with Carey saying that he was her favorite collaborator since her days with Walter Afanasieff.[6] During a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, in August 2010, Island Def Jam executive Matt Voss announced that the Christmas album would be out in November 2. Several days later, the album's title was revealed. The II represents the follow-up to 1994's multi-platinum Merry Christmas album. An accompanying DVD will also be released.[7] Three track titles have been passed around the web; Bryan-Michael Cox confirmed through ustream that a track named "Oh Santa!" had been recorded.[8] This will serve as the album's lead single.[9] The song premiered on AOL Music on October 1, 2010.[10]

Promotion

On October 20, 2010 Mariah appeared on HSN for an interview about the album and she previewed six tracks from the album.[11] On November 1, 2010, Mariah made a pre-recorded guest appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to talk about her pregnancy and album which aired on November 2, 2010.[12] On November 2, 2010, Carey also appeared on Lopez Tonight.[13]. On 19 November Mariah recorded a performance of Oh Santa! for NBC Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting to be shown on November 30. [14]

Carey will make various television appearances throughout December to promote the album. She will star in ABC's Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to You special, scheduled to air on December 13 at 9/8c,[15] as well as performing on the network's Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade special.[16] She will also make appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show NBC Today, Saturday Night Live Christmas Special, The View and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.[16]

Critical reception

[hide] Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
About.com [17]
Allmusic [18]
Entertainment Weekly B+[19]
Houston Chronicle [20]
Rolling Stone [21]
The Washington Post (mixed) [22]
The album attracted generally positive reviews from contemporary pop critics. Both Allmusic[18] and Rolling Stone gave the album three stars, with Caryn Ganz of Rolling Stone writing "Sixteen years have passed since Mariah Carey released her first blockbuster holiday album, but she hasn't lost her desire to dress up in a Santa suit or the silky flexibility of her voice...Half of the disc's new originals are ballads [and] thick with gooey orchestration... but Mariah bops to a schoolyard-chant beat on "Oh Santa!" and digs out a retro groove for "When Christmas Comes." Ganz concluded that although some songs on the album are lacking, "the LP's warm heart is in the right place."[21] Eric Henderson of Slant Magazine gave the album a mixed review, calling the album "adventureless", he wrote, "Aside from a few tracks co-produced by Jermaine Dupri, Carey's notions of what a holiday album is are exactly as they were 16 years ago. Ditch the hip-hop beats, heap on the figgy orchestral pudding. Pass those synthesizers to the left, gather around the brass section and the little drummer boy."[23] Sean Fennessey of The Washington Post also gave a mixed critical reception to the album. Comparing the album to Carey's 1994's Merry Christmas, Fennessey suggested that, while Merry Christmas II You sees the "return [of] her piercing, five-octave vocal range to its glossy, meretricious roots", none of the new songs are as exciting or timeless as "All I Want for Christmas Is You".[22] The album got 4 out of 5 stars from About.com, with reviewer Bill Lamb describing the album as "relaxed [and] comfortable", and, consequently, "very engaging." Lamb continues, "Some of the best moments evoke a party atmosphere. 'Oh Santa!' is perfect music for a party with friends. Don't be surprised if you find yourself singing along. Mariah Carey's version of music from 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' has an air of relaxed intimacy with breathy, jazzy vocals that will warm your holiday heart. The live version of 'O Holy Night' from WPC in south central Los Angeles will cause chills in its live simplicity. It is an opportunity to hear Mariah Carey tackle some deeper, throatier tones."[17]

The Houston Chronicle gave Merry Christmas II You three stars out of four, lauding the singer's vocal form on the album. Joey Guerra writes, "Carey sounds better than she has in a long time throughout Merry Christmas II You, which keeps her in a swirl of gospel choruses and lush production. Her belting is strong, and she doesn't overdo the breathy coos." Guerra also had strong praises for a number of songs, calling "Oh Santa!" "irresistible", and writing, "'Christmas Time Is in the Air Again' boasts swooping notes and tasteful strings, and 'When Christmas Comes' plays like a holiday spin on the brassy R&B tunes that highlighted Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi disc... The solemn 'One Child' sounds a bit like a Michael Jackson tune (complete with kid chorus). It's a bit overwrought, but it's hard not to be swayed by the sweetness." The reviewer concluded that "Merry Christmas II You should boost the singer's career."[20]

Chart performance

In its opening week in the United States, the album debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200 with sales of 56,000 copies, surpassing the opening week sales of Carey's previous holiday album Merry Christmas of 45,000 copies, and making Merry Christmas II You Carey's 16th top 10 album.[24] The album also debuted at #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, making it the second Christmas album to top this chart,[25] and the Holiday Albums Chart.[26]. In it's second week, the album sold 30,000 copies falling to #12 on the Billboard 200, and also fell to #2 on the Holiday Album Charts.[27].

Singles

"Oh Santa!" is the lead single from the Christmas album. The song is written by Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox and Carey herself.[28] The song premiered on AOL Music on October 1, 2010.[29] It has been sent to radios and made available for digital downloads since October 11, 2010.[30][31] The music video was directed by Ethan Lader and was filmed at the start of October 2010. [32] The music video premiered on Carey's official website on November 2, 2010.[33] "Oh Santa!" debuted at number one on Billboard's Holiday Digital Songs chart, giving Carey the top two spots on the chart. The original 1994 version of her hit Christmas single, "All I Want for Christmas Is You", sits at number two.[34]
[edit]Other songs
During an interview with USA Today, Carey confirmed that she had recorded the video to "O Come All Ye Faithful".[35]

Track listing

Merry Christmas II You CD
No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (Intro) J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie Mariah Carey, Marc Shaiman 0:23
2. "Oh Santa!" Carey, Bryan Michael Cox, Jermaine Dupri Carey, Cox, Dupri 3:31
3. "O Little Town of Bethlehem" / "Little Drummer Boy" (Medley) Phillips Brooks, Lewis H. Redner, Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati, Harry Simeone Carey, James Wright, Randy Jackson 3:32
4. "Christmas Time Is in the Air Again" Carey, Shaiman Carey, Shaiman 3:02
5. "The First Noel" / "Born is the King" (Interlude) Traditional Carey, Wright, Jackson 4:33
6. "When Christmas Comes" Carey, James Poyser Carey, Poyser 4:46
7. "Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)" / "Housetop Celebration" Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman, Benjamin Hanby Carey, Cox, Dupri 3:28
8. "Charlie Brown Christmas" Vince Guaraldi, Lee Mendelson Carey, Wright, Jackson 2:49
9. "O Come All Ye Faithful" / "Hallelujah Chorus" (featuring Patricia Carey) John Francis Wade, George Frideric Handel Carey, Wright, Jackson 3:38
10. "O Holy Night" (Live from WPC in South Central Los Angeles) Adolphe Adam Carey, Walter Afanasieff 5:00
11. "One Child" Carey, Shaiman Carey, Shaiman 4:26
12. "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (Extra Festive) Carey, Afanasieff Carey, Wright, Jackson 4:02
13. "Auld Lang Syne" (The New Year's Anthem) Robert Burns Carey, Jackson, Johnny Severin 3:48
Total length:
46:58
[show]iTunes pre-order bonus track[36]
[show]Amazon exclusive bonus track[37]
[show]Japan bonus track[38]
[show]Home Shopping Network Deluxe Edition DVD[39]
Collectors Edition[40]
Packaged in a silver box and including:
40-page hardback photo album.
Sticker tag sheet.
Collectable butterfly Christmas/Holiday ornament.
Wal-Mart-only Deluxe Edition[41]
Die-cut ornament.
Five holiday cards.

Chart (2010) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[42] 37
Canadian Albums Chart[43] 14
U.S. Billboard 200[43] 4
U.S. R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[43] 1
U.S. Holiday Albums[43] 1

Release history

Country Date Format Label Catalogue
Czech Republic[44] October 29, 2010 CD, digital download Universal Music 602527498034
Norway[45] November 1, 2010 Standard Edition (CD, digital download)
United States November 2, 2010 Standard Edition (CD, digital download)[46] Island Records
HSN Deluxe Edition (CD + DVD)[39]
Walmart Deluxe Edition (CD + ornament + holiday cards)[41]
Collectors Edition (CD + silver box + ornament + stickers + photo album)[40] 602527516899
Canada CD, digital download Universal Music
Sweden November 3, 2010[47]
New Zealand November 8, 2010[48]
Australia November 12, 2010[49][50]
Poland November 12, 2010[51] [CD + DVD]
Mexico November 15, 2010[52] [53] 602527498034
United Kingdom Mercury Records 2749803
France Mercury, Universal Music
Brazil November 16, 2010[54] Universal Music 602527498034
Japan November 17, 2010[55] UICL1107
Germany[56] November 26, 2010
Taiwan November 12, 2010[57] Standard Edition (CD + holiday cards), Deluxe Edition (CD + DVD) 2749803, 2754330