Review Summary: Crosby's smooth and dreamy delivery make this a holiday classic.
I'll bet that when most of you think of Christmas music, one of the first songs to come to mind after the classic Christ-centered carols is "White Christmas." I'll also bet that the version your mind jumps to is that by
Bing Crosby.
What most casual listeners don't realize, however, is that Crosby was much more than a one- or two-trick pony. His rich, soothing voice continues to this day to be a great match for these classic Christmas tracks we see on
Merry Christmas.
Take the opening track of "Silent Night." Nearly every single full-length Christmas album has some sort of rendition of it, and for good reason. However, Crosby's smooth baritone-bass voice brings back some of the song's original character as a lullaby. Now, when the choral arrangements kick in, the song loses a little bit of that soothing character that Crosby brings, but it's still a solid arrangement. "Adeste Fideles" follows this one up nicely, bringing a more regal yet still soothing character.
Next comes the big one: "White Christmas" itself. It's no challenge to see why this particular recording is the best-selling single of all time, as it's charming, soothing, suave, and hopeful all at once. Irving Berlin's lyrics are never presented in a more dream-like state then in Crosby's delivery, which makes this the best rendition of the classic tune. Many have tried to bring something new to this classic by both changing things up and trying to copy Crosby's arrangement, with none coming remotely close for one reason: Crosby's dreamy delivery. There are some other versions that do the song justice, but none like Crosby's. Crosby's versions of "Silver Bells," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," and "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" stand out for the same reasons: they have his standard smooth delivery and dreamy qualities.
Crosby follows up "White Christmas" with "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," an amazing arrangement of the classic carol that retains both the somber and joyful tones of the original. This is then followed by "Faith of Our Fathers," an unknown but still good carol that is definitely before my time.
Immediately following "I'll Be Home for Christmas," we get Crosby's fun side popping out for a couple tracks. His version of "Jingle Bells" with the Andrews Sisters is instantly ear-grabbing and infectiously cheery. Another collaboration with them on "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" proves smart as well, bringing the same charm and bounciness as the first. This leads to another change of pace, with "Silver Bells" and "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" slowing things down a bit, again showcasing Crosby's smooth, dreamy delivery. We then get two slightly quirky but still fun tracks in "Christmas in Killarney" and "Mele Kalikimaka." The latter is especially fun to listen to and is a nice tune, even if it feels a little gimmicky.
Overall,
Merry Christmas is a phenomenal classic Christmas record from one of the masters of the craft. Bing Crosby's unique charm and delivery make this worth you and your family's time this Christmas season and many more to come. It's timeless, easy on the ears, and even a little quirky at times. There's something for everyone to like on this Christmas classic.
My rating: 4.5/5
Recommended tracks: "White Christmas," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Jingle Bells," "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"
