Idina Menzel is a gifted songstress who is well-respected in the world of theatre. This holiday season, she has brought her fans a holiday album titled “Christmas: A Season of Love.”
Menzel filled this album with a lot of flair and style. Her signature nasality and ability to belt the huge notes suits her well on this album. The album feels very classic – like you’re watching an old holiday movie. It also reminds me of shopping in a department store where it seems every song is sappy or overly peppy.
“The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” was a fantastic choice for Menzel to record. It’s fun and her vocals are incredibly engaging. She takes both the classics and the original songs here and makes them sound as if they were in a broadway musical. She is a powerhouse diva that knows how to use her voice to keep an audience hanging on note after note.
One awesome track is “Christmas Just Ain’t Christmas.” It’s an upbeat and soulful song that is different from the usual Idina in that it has a more R&B feel. She has a choir in the background, and this song is pure joy. It makes listeners want to get up and dance or sway in their chair.
“Christmas just ain’t Christmas without the one you love,” Menzel sings. “New Years just ain’t New Years without the one you love.”
A track that is cute and jazzy is “A Hand For Mrs. Claus,” which features pop star Ariana Grande. Grande loves musical theatre, and she and Menzel sound wonderful on this song.
“I’m not complaining, I’m sure it’s very draining,” Grande sings. “Pulling off a Christmas Eve world tour.”
Grande goes on to sing that Mrs. Claus is truly the one who pulls off Christmas and she deserves credit where credit is due.
“My point in this is it’s his marvelous Misses,” Grande sings. “Who gets it done the other three-six-four.”
The stand-out track on the album is “At This Table.” This is an original song that is about people coming together and accepting people as they are. It’s a beautiful song that may make listeners shed a tear. At a time where people are so divided, it’s a song we really need to hear this time of year.
“At this table, everyone is welcome,” Menzel sings. “At this table, everyone cares.”
While this may be a review of an album, it’s a great reminder that how we treat each other matters. We must remember love and respect this holiday season, and hopefully it will roll over into 2020. Everyone is welcome to have a seat at the table.
Menzel recorded “Seasons of Love” from “Rent,” and once again it’s a reminder that this is a season of love. As this year comes to a close, I hope we all can hold on to feelings of love and hope.
Sometimes all it takes is one smile, one laugh or one nice gesture to change another person’s day. Let’s try to spread love wherever we can. Let’s make sure everyone feels welcome at the table. Let’s make this a season of love.
