Yolanda Adams Christmas [Enhanced]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The queen of modern R&B-influenced gospel soul brings a typically updated approach to this, her first Christmas album. Although the singing is less intense and earth-shatteringly amazing than on last year's breakthrough, Mountain High... Valley Low--how intense can one be when singing "Little Drummer Boy"? Her take on "It Came upon a Midnight Clear" is so thick with slow-jam funk that it almost loses its way, but it never does, and is instead a highlight of this solid (although not superlative) disc. Unfortunately, this is mostly a set of secular shopping mall tunes. One notable exception is "Born on This Day," which drops a heavy choir funk vibe. And her take on "O Holy Night" is so truly transporting that it'll have you taking a cue from the song and falling down on your knees in thanks for the many blessings of the holiday season. --James Conde --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Tracks:

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Little Drummer Boy
Born This Day
The Christmas Song
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
Carol Of The Bells/What Child Is This
Silent Night
The First Noel
O Holy Night
Joy Medley (Joy To The World)/Angels We Have Heard On High/Hark The Herald Angels Sing/Ode To Joy)

Amazon.com

The queen of modern R&B-influenced gospel soul brings a typically updated approach to this, her first Christmas album. Although the singing is less intense and earth-shatteringly amazing than on last year's breakthrough, Mountain High... Valley Low--how intense can one be when singing "Little Drummer Boy"? Her take on "It Came upon a Midnight Clear" is so thick with slow-jam funk that it almost loses its way, but it never does, and is instead a highlight of this solid (although not superlative) disc. Unfortunately, this is mostly a set of secular shopping mall tunes. One notable exception is "Born on This Day," which drops a heavy choir funk vibe. And her take on "O Holy Night" is so truly transporting that it'll have you taking a cue from the song and falling down on your knees in thanks for the many blessings of the holiday season. --James Conde

Customer Reviews:

I Didn't Know Yolanda From Oleta...But I Like This.......2007-01-04

I was poking around the holiday section of the local library's CD collection, just hoping to find something a little different, when I came across this collection by Yolanda Adams and thought,"Hmmm. "Get Here" was a powerhouse song, so how bad can this be...?"

How embarrassing to get my Adams(es?) confused, but then I had the same problem back in high school when I'd constantly be mixing up John and John Quincy. Call it a mental block. Or something. All I know is there are two soulful, powerhouse singers named Adams out there (more, if you count Ryan, Bryan--still more confusion--and Edie).

I always tell folks that if there's a singer whose work they DON'T know, check out their holiday album (if any). It's often cheaper, and it does provide the ultimate test. I mean, if you can breathe new life into some of the standard Xmas warhorses, you can pretty much do anything. So believe you can fly, Yolanda, cuz it's clear you can.

Adams is never less than professional when attempting the standard holiday fare, and much of the album is just that: soulful but not overwrought interpretations of songs like "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," the umpteenth version of "The Christmas Song" (nicely done, if not exactly a revelation) and, yes, even "The Little Drummer Boy." But the gospel inflected original (I believe) "Born This Day" truly soars. There is also an imaginative medley of "Carol of the Bells" and "What Child Is This?" And while soul versions of "Oh Holy Night" are hardly unheard of, you'd better be worth your salt, frankincense and myrrh to even attempt it. Yolanda Adams is up to the task.

Good stuff. And a great stocking stuffer.

Can't stop listening to Christmas with Yolanda.......2006-10-11

What sheer delight listening to this, one of the finest ever Christmas CD's. Could listen to this one 12 months of the year and keep the Spirit of Christmas gloriously alive. Yolanda's voice simply radiates with beauty, clarity and that motivating energy of pure love. This is one of those "must" albums you have to buy for yourself and then for your friends - just maybe in that order!

Christmas Ruined.......2006-10-10

Born this Day, the song is quite beautiful so I was upset when I heard- "Christ The Lord He's God the Father, God the Son and Holy Spirit [Jesus]." This is all sung on the song as one phrase. Note, the "Jesus" at the end is in the audio but not in the lyrics I found online.

Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ IS God, but NOT that He ~is~ the Father, NOR that He is the Holy Spirit. Yolanda is teaching the ancient heresy called "modalism" which is rejected by Christians of every stripe... protestants, Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Eastern Orthodox....

Her doctrine destroys the importance of Christmas itself because if true we would no longer have the incarnate Christ, our great High Priest interceding for us. There are other implications, but that particular one seems to kill the meaning of Christmas itself.

Truly Amazing!!!!!!.......2005-12-20

Christmas with Yolanda is truly an amazing work of art. Although I'm just getting around to writing a review, I had to take a moment to let all of you know what a terrific cd this is. Yolanda is not only an amazing singer, she is a person who truly blesses the Lord with her musical abilities. If you're looking for a good Christmas cd this year, then definitely purchase this one! You and your family will be blessed! I promise :)

Glorious!.......2004-12-15

Her voice was made to sing Christmas songs. I purchased this album and it immediately became my favorite Christmas CD. Hearing her sing "The Christmas Song" when she sings "Merry Christmas to You" you can't not be filled with the joy of the season. Every track is exceptional. (second favorite Christmas CD: Nancy LaMott)

Music:

Music

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