Christmas isn‘t the happiest time of the year for many people and as much as
Olivia likes Christmas many of her fans don‘t call the holiday season a favorite.
But the Lady graced us with lots of Christmas Music over the years. Facing the upcoming re-release of „Friends for Christmas“ with aussie buddy John Farnham it came to my mind that it‘s already the 10th Anniversary of „Christmas Wish“ (2007) this year. If I had to pick a Christmas record by Olivia I‘d chose this one, because it‘s unique !
Apart from the critics who slaughtered her collaboration with John Travolta (This Christmas, 2012) as cheesy and commenting on „Friends for Christmas“ (2016) having no personality (which is probably true, but the Jazz-feel of the recordings are undeniably smashing!!) her collaboration on „Christmas Wish“ with Amy Sky as a producer and musician was a great choice and delivered flawless classics and new songs in the manner of „Grace & Gratitude“ (2006) with a sometimes celtic touch.
„Christmas Wish“ was available from November 1rst in 2007, but Olivia sold around 300 signed copies by pre-order through her own website back then. I was lucky enough to get one of those! Referring to her Television Interviews in Winter 2007 most of her duet partners weren‘t with her in the Studio, apart from Jon Secada and Jann Arden. That isn‘t unusal for duet recordings and actually most of Olivia‘s duets are produced so classy that you won‘t guess the other part hadn‘t been in the studio at the same time (the big exception is e.g. „I‘ll be home for Christmas“ with B. Streisand on „This Christmas“. The sound proves it all…).
Barry Manilow, who duetted with Olivia on „This can‘t be real“ in 2004 contributes a track here called „A gift of love“, which is lovely. Their voices blend very well, even if Barry‘s solo version on „A Christmas gift of love“ (2002) was already nice enough. Seems they‘ve used the same 2002 vocals of his for the duet version.
A very touching ballad called „Little star of Bethlehem“ had it‘s origin in 2006, as an instrumental piano track by Stephan Moccio called „Porcelain“. It is featured on his eponymous CD „Exposure“ (2006). Moccio himself appeared already on Olivia‘s „Grace & Gratitude“ CD and plays frequently some piano/keyboard parts on „Christmas Wish“ as well.
Another name we find on „CW“ is Mark Masri who would later appear on Olivia‘s remake of „Grace & Gratitude“ (2006) called „Grace & Gratitude renewed“ ("To be wanted“, 2010). He also asked Olivia to use her vocal part of „Every time it snows“ (originally recorded for CW with Jon Secada) for his own Christmas debut CD called „Christmas Is“ in 2008. For „CW“ Mark provides backing vocals on „Underneath the same sky“ and „Christmas on my radio“.
Just a year after „Grace & Gratitude“ there‘s a new, slightly over-produced version of „Instrument of peace“ included on „CW“. Still a great song with a holiday feel to it. I always thought that Marc Jordan (Amy Sky‘s husband) did an extraordinary Job on the harmony vocals for this song! He also sang on „We three Kings“, just for the record. And even Marc‘s and Amy‘s daughter Zoe Jordan did choir vocals on „Oh come all ye faithful“.
The track „A Mother‘s Christmas Wish“ was written by Olivia with Chloe in mind. Olivia performed this on a TV Show called „Frosted Pink“ in 2007 to promote the album. Jim Brickman, who played piano on the track included the song on his „Homecoming“ Christmas CD in 2007.
Amy Sky, again, re-recorded the song with Olivia‘s 2007 vocals for her own Holiday CD called „The Lights of December“ in 2008. 2008 also saw the Target re-release of „Christmas Wish“ with a great bonus track „In the bleak midwinter“.
Although „CW“ charted only at # 187 on the Billboard 200 the album became a Christmas standard, seemingly because of it‘s uniqueness. On the Billboard Independant charts it even made an impressive position # 21.
Looking back to the year 2007 Olivia did a lot of TV promotion for „Christmas Wish“ and did perform a lot of tracks live on television, which never happenend again with her follow-up Christmas records.
Look out for her performance of „Instrument of peace“ with Jon Secada , „A Mother‘s Christmas Wish“ and „Christmas on my Radio“
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LE TWEET DU JOUR
est celui de la chanteuse canadienne Liona Boyd vue en coulisse avec ONJ .. lors d'un de ses LIV ON Concerts au Canada !
Liona Boyd : @lionaboyd 19 hil y a 19 heures
Plus
@olivianj at your great concert @RHCPA
Tell your fans I’m playing RH Dec 2nd and #Toronto Nov 25th thanks!:) xox
http://www.lionaboyd.com/tour
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LA REVUE DE PRESSE DE KAY
Pauvre ONJ qui traînera cette histoire comme un boulet ..
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