Ten Versions of O Holy Night, Ranked

O Holy Night. The ultimate diva Christmas song. Those long notes. Those high notes. It can only be sung belted. Here are ten recordings available on Spotify, ranked.

10. Carpenters

This is sung all “ooo-oooo-oooh!” What a ripoff! 1/5

9. NSYNC
This is an a cappella version. The introduction is way too long at nearly forty-five seconds. This might have been better as solo voices a cappella. The “fall on your knees” part completely lacks energy. 1/5

8. Christina Aguilera

It's a little too ad-libbed, and she increases volume at odd places. The inclusion of the Our Father is weird too. The choir in the second chorus is a nice touch. However, after that it falls apart into one jazzy ad-libbed mess. It's certainly her own, but it doesn't work. 2/5

7. Carola feat. Paul Potts

This has an unnecessary choral introduction. The vocalists' voices don't mix well together. Their harmony sounds very strange. It might have been better if they performed separately. 2/5

6. Cascada

This is a nice pop ballad version. It's simple, to the point, with no extra affectation, and doesn't go on too long. 3/5

5. Whitney Houston

She treads lightly in the first voice, but the full diva comes out in the second chorus. 3/5

4. Sufjan Stevens

It's sweet. In fact, it's way too twee. It sounds like you and your friends and/or family singing in the living room accompanied by someone's ukelele and toy xylophone/recorder/harmonica. However, it's one of the most emotionally resonating. Maybe it will draw a tear and conjure a memory of a past, happier holiday. 4/5

3. Tracy Chapman

This one also has an unnecessary introduction that doesn't fit with the song. This is a more understated version. The acoustic guitar gives it an almost medieval feel. It's simple but effective. 4/5

2. Susan Boyle

This is a straightforward, lovely version that you'd want to hear at church or a holiday concert. It's beautifully sung but missing that “diva” quality that I suppose misses the point of the song. 5/5

1. Mariah Carey

This is Mariah earlier in her career and at the top of her game. She is loud and clear with none of the breathiness she became prone to. Even those who are sick of “All I Want for Christmas is You” can't get sick of this. The backing choir is sparingly and nicely used here. 5/5

The Christmas Song, This Christmas Song, That Christmas Song

It's hard to add a new Christmas song to the canon. There's only so many ways you can talk about Christmas. But DWV have done it with "That Christmas Song." This is truly a Christmas song for our times, and in these times maybe the cultural images in that Christmas song resonate more than those in the Christmas song.

Ten Versions of The Christmas Song, Ranked

What better music to rank this time of year than Christmas music? “The Christmas Song” was written in 1944 and first performed in 1946 by Nat King Cole, whose version is still the definitive version. It is among those Christmas songs that originated in the “Great American Songbook” period and might as well have existed forever for most people alive. It's far from my favorite Christmas song. Here are ten versions of “The Christmas Song” selected off Spotify, ranked.

10. She & Him

Can't stand her voice, and this version is too moody. At least it's short. 1/5

9. Michael Buble

Can't stand his voice either. If you want jazzy, just listen to the original version. 1/5

8. Christina Aguilera

This song is a good minute longer than the other versions. There's a far too long bell introduction. Christina does her usual diva vocal riffs over a stripped down piano instrumental. It's a little out of place. Too many “ooooh yeeeeah”s for this song. 2/5

7. NSYNC

In a cheesy genre (Christmas music) meeting another (boy bands), this is especially cheesy. The backing vocals are a bit much. 2/5

6. Celine Dion

This was my favorite Christmas album for a long time, but this isn't the best song on there. It's a little too sedated, and doesn't show off the full power of Celine's voice. 3/5

5. Josh Groban

His voice sounds fine, but more than the others he sounds a bit silly, and like he knows it. The instrumental is very mid-century musical, very traditional. 3/5

4. Erasure

This is practically chiptunes. A very fresh take on the song, but maybe a little difficult to play at all but the hippest/nerdiest parties. 4/5

3. Whitney Houston

There's a lot of “ooooh yeeeeah”s here too, but also a very appropriate “ooooh Lord.” Her vocal riffs are flawless. 4/5

2. Stevie Wonder

This recording is from 1967, early in his career. Despite being 30-40 years older than many of these other recordings, it sounds much fresher and livelier. The harmonica solo makes this version stand out. 5/5

1. Mary J. Blige

Mary's voice sounds wonderfully clear here. Beautiful and straight to the point. No excessive orchestral instrumentation or vocal affectation. 5/5

Album Battle: Love Enhanced Single Collection vs Best! Morning Musume 1

It's a J-Pop Album Battle two-fer this week! Today, two greatest hits albums from around the same time are pit against each other. Both were found in the Y100 bin at a used CD store.

Namie Amuro debuted in 1992 as a member of girl group Super Monkey's. She went solo in 1995 with “BodyFeels Exit,” which is worth a listen. Love Enhanced Single Collection was released in 2002 and includes Amuro's singles from 1998 to that date. All of the tracks are rearranged, remixed, or rerecorded from the original single release.

Morning Musume is a girl group launched in 1997. The group members' average age remains about the same since its original formation because of its “school-like” system for line-up changes as older members graduate and newer members selected from auditions are admitted to the group annually. The group has also produced several splinter groups. They had the record for most number one singles by a female group in Japan until 2012, when they were beaten by the similar but larger AKB48. Best! Morning Musume 1 was released in 2001 and is Morning Musume's first of six best of compilations. It contains their first eleven singles, other fan favorites, and a new song.

INTRODUCTION FINISH

Track 1:
“Love Machine” is a classic and is Morning Musume's highest selling single. It also has a hilariously turn-of-the-millennium video. Cheap looking greenscreens, long fur-trimmed coats, goofy line dances. As this uploader says, “I love this video. If you don't;you're an idiot.”“Say the Word” was written by Thomas Johansson and Ronald Malmberg, who are most notable for producing A-Teens' first album.

WINNER: Morning Musume

Track 2:
“Daite, Hold On Me” sounds like a typical dance-pop song of the mid-1990s. It has some surprisingly un-awkward rapping bits. “RESPECT the POWER OF LOVE” is more mellow but has a catchy chorus. The capitalization in the song title looks awkward but it's actually the emphasis on the words used in the song.

WINNER: Namie Amuro

Track 3:

“Koi No Dance Site” has some Dschinghis Khan-like “Hoo! Hah!” In fact, it gets dangerously close to being a ripoff of “Dschinghis Khan” in the verses. Berryz Koubou, another girl group with the same producer, actually covered“Dschinghis Khan” in 2008. “NEVER END” is a calm but uninteresting ballad.

WINNER: Morning Musume

Track 4:

“Summer Night Town” is pretty similar to “Daite, Hold On Me” and was actually the single that preceded it. “LOVE 2000” is edgier and definitely sounds like 2000. It was co-written by Sheila E. and Lynn Mabry.

WINNER: Namie Amuro

Track 5:

“Happy Summer Wedding” is a fun summer singalong. “PLEASE SMILE AGAIN” is a dance-pop song with heavy synth in the chorus. Both are fine but the latter aged a little better.

WINNER: Namie Amuro

Track 6:

“I Wish” was used in Japanese commercials for the 2000 Olympics, but it's kind of bland and lacking in “inspiring” feel. They can't all be “One Moment In Time.” “think of me” was cowritten by Dallas Austin, who has written and produced hundreds of pop songs. This is an emotional pop ballad.

WINNER: Namie Amuro.

Track 7:
“Renai Revolution 21” has an amazing music video that rips off TLC's “No Scrubs.” This is a classic upbeat party song. Chou chou chou ii kanji! “SOMETHING 'BOUT THE KISS” sounds a little like Jennifer Lopez' work or other pop-R&B artists of the time.

WINNER: Morning Musume

Track 8:
“Memory Seisyun No Hikari” is a calm, easygoing midtempo song. “Lovin' It” is a duet with Verbal from M-Flo, and definitely aged better.

WINNER: Namie Amuro

Track 9:

“Manatsu no Kousen” has some 70s pop and disco influence, but not much of a hook and it doesn't sound like a single. “I Have Never Seen” is an understated and delicate ballad.

WINNER: Namie Amuro

Track 10:

“Morning Coffee” is a folky acoustic guitar song with a catchy singalong chorus. “HimAWAri” is a slightly less catchy midtempo pop song.

WINNER: Morning Musume

Track 11:

“Furusato” is a sentimental pop ballad about hometowns. “no more tears” has a more mature, almost Madonna feel somehow.

WINNER: Namie Amuro

Track 12:

“Say Yeah! Motto Miracle Night” is completely bonkers like my other favorite songs from this album.

“I Will” is an orchestral ballad that was released on Valentine's Day. It's beautiful, but craziness wins out this time. Despite what Wikipedia says, the backing vocalist is Will Wheaton Jr the soul singer, not the actor.

WINNER: Morning Musume

Tracks 13-15

Love Enhanced Single Collection ends at 12 tracks, but Best! Morning Musume 1 still has 3 more songs. “Dance Suru no Da!” and “Never Forget” aren't particularly remarkable. “Ai No Tane” is the group's unofficial debut single and sounds really dated.

WINNER: Love Enhanced Single Collection

Album Battle: A Song for xx vs. Rainbow

I've talked about Ayumi Hamasaki in the distant, distant past. According to Wikipedia she is known as the "Empress of Pop." This Japanese pop singer has released 14 full-length albums, 5 EPs, and countless remix albums. I have a couple of her CDs that I picked out of bargain bins at a used music store. A Song for xx is Hamasaki's major label debut album and debuted at #1 on the Oricon charts, where it stayed for 5 weeks. Rainbow is Hamasaki's fifth album, which also debuted at #1 and even reached #2 on the yearly charts. These, like her other albums, were big hits. They're also both 16 tracks long, if you include the hidden track on Rainbow, so let's compare them track by track.

Track 1
Really, both are prologues, but "Prologue" is a plain piano piece, while "Everlasting Dream" has more going for it with some ethereal vocals.
POINT: Rainbow

Track 2
"We Wish" is a little more complex, but "A Song for xx" is lovely example of late 90s J-Pop.
POINT: A Song for xx
 
Track 3:
This isn't a contest. "Real Me" is one of my favorite songs off this album. "Hana" is still peppy and fun.
POINT: Rainbow

Track 4:
Also not a contest. "Free & Easy" has that beautiful chorus with strong piano, then after the haunting string and bells. "FRIEND" is very bland, very "album track filler."
POINT: Rainbow
 
Track 5:
Both "FRIEND II" and "Heartplace" are kind of middle-of-the-road, mid-tempo, mid-whatever pop songs. "Heartplace" has a bit of an edge. It's not a real edge, but a pop edge. It's still a good one.
POINT: Rainbow

Track 6:
"Poker Face" was Ayumi's debut single. It is very, very 90's idol J-Pop. There isn't really an edge or personality to it. Just a safe coolness and sweetness. "Over" is a pretty but unmemorable ballad.
POINT: A Song for xx

Track 7:
"Wishing" is a sweet but bland ballad. "Hanabi" is emotional and sad and has some subtlety.
POINT: Rainbow

Track 8:
No contest. "You" was Ayumi's second single and is my favorite song from this album, and it's even better remixed. "Taskinillusion" is an instrumental.
POINT: A Song for xx

Track 9:
"Everywhere Nowhere" is another favorite off this album. It has such energy and a very catchy chorus. "As If..." is cute but the chorus isn't much of a hook. It kind of fizzles.
POINT: Rainbow

Track 10:
What contrast these two songs have. "Powder Snow" is a winter ballad, "July 1st" is an uptempo summer song. As I'm writing this when it's freezing outside and it's not even winter yet, I'll give "Powder Snow" the win.
POINT: A Song for xx

Track 11:
Does it look bad if I keep giving the win to the singles from Ayumi's first album? "Trust" was the third single and is a fine uptempo late 90s J-Pop song. "Dolls" is is more complex and more slickly produced, but ultimately not as exciting.
POINT: A Song for xx

Track 12:
Fun yet unpolished pop song vs spooky instrumental track. "Everlasting Dream" sounds like it would fit in on the Final Fantasy X soundtrack, which was released the previous year, or any other JRPG from that era. If it was more developed I would give it the win, but it's too short so the win goes to "Depend on You."
POINT: A Song for xx

Track 13:
This exercise is really showing that I prefer uptempo songs. "Signal" is much more interesting than the mellow "Voyage." Even though it's less polished, it's more charming. It has that sort of girl-next-door feel that a debuting idol typically has. "Voyage" was much more successful, charting for 28 weeks as Hamasaki's longest charing single.
POINT: A Song for xx


Track 14:
"From Your Letter" is kind of bland. "Close To You" is a beautiful ballad.
POINT: A Song for xx
 
Track 15:
"For My Dear..." isn't a particularly exciting ballad, but it has that single feel that shows more effort was put into constructing its melody. "Independent" is very middle of the road with some guitars for a fake edge.
POINT: A Song for xx

Track 16:
"+" is actually a hidden track on the album. There's a little too much "la la la la." "Present" isn't very exciting either but the tempo and the title is making me think of Christmas so due to the season it gets the edge.
POINT: A Song for xx


WINNER: A Song for xx