Published on Nov 29, 2000
The older I get, the more I realize that Christmas truly is for
children – and believe me, if I hadn’t realized it before I
received
Radio Disney Holiday Jams, it was hammered home after just
one listen to this disc.
I mean, where else would you find a collection of songs that
mixes songs I consider to be traditional standards (Bobby Helms’s
“Jingle Bell Rock,” Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas
Tree”) with today’s young hitmakers (‘NSYNC’s “Merry Christmas,
Happy Holidays,” Myra’s “Frosty The Snowman”)?
Of the 15 holiday songs contained within this disc, only three
particular tracks left me cold (no pun intended). The Spice Girls
don’t add anything special to “Sleigh Ride,” and this track just
doesn’t spark any feelings of good tidings of comfort and joy with
me. Likewise, SHeDAISY’s take on “Deck The Halls” doesn’t sound
like it’s the most comfortable version of the song ever
tackled.
And then, there’s “Macarena Christmas” from Los Del Rio. This is
a review of a kids’ CD, so I have to watch the language, but I have
only six words for both the band and the producers of this CD: What
the heck were you
thinking?!?
The only other pet peeve I have with this disc is the constant
interruption by Radio Disney on-air personalities to wish holiday
greetings or to just be silly. Maybe I’m more bothered with this
because they prevent me from using this disc at Christmas parties I
work as D.J., but the kids are probably more in tune with these
people, since they listen to Radio Disney more than people like
me.
The bulk of
Radio Disney Holiday Jams is pretty much predictable, though
enjoyable. You have your omnipresent song from a Disney soundtrack
(“As Long As There’s Christmas” from Peabo Bryson and Roberta
Flack), you have your holiday standards (“Little Saint Nick” from
The Beach Boys), and you even have your silly songs (“Jingle Bells”
from The Singing Dogs, “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” from
Elmo & Patsy).
And what makes
Radio Disney Holiday Jams special is that there’s enough
material that both adults and kids will like. The adults will enjoy
hearing the songs that bring back memories of the holidays when
they were children, while the kids will groove to the bands they
know and love and create their own memories to be passed on in
years to come.
Even with a few clunkers,
Radio Disney Holiday Jams has enough material on it to all
but guarantee a permanent spot in the Christmas music rotation of
your family’s CD player.