Michael's Christmas (Music Thoughts: "Christmas," Michael Buble)

Every year, it's always an "event day" for me when I listen to my very first Christmas release for that year, and for 2011, it's a doozy : Michael Buble's "Christmas." Yes, the title is spare and direct to the point, just that word. And this is going to be a huge hit, I predict, and will be the "go-to" Christmas album. I suspect we will be hearing songs from this album when it's time to buy our Christmas gifts. And why not? It's a solidly-produced album, and Mr. Buble sings all these songs with as much gusto as he can, and no stone is left unturned to make sure this release appeals to everyone. There really is nothing wrong with that. Sure, Mr. Buble sounds like he swallowed Bobby Darin whole, but that is just part of why I like him - his phrasing is pretty good,  he can swing, he makes the songs his own. He even injects a couple of surprises, like a "Jingle Bells" arrangement that sounds like he is singing them with The Andrews Sisters. There's a swingy "White Christmas" that he has fun singing with Shania Twain, and a more contemplative take of Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You."  And for the first time ever, a singer doesn't ape the Eartha Kitt arrangement of "Santa Baby," with Mr. Buble singing it as "Santa Buddy." He even visits the Ghost of Elvis, Buble style, in "Blue Christmas." It's a jam-packed album, with eighteen or so songs that run the gamut of every Yuletide style you can think of, from modern to classic.  Where else can you find "Ave Maria" and "Feliz Navidad" in the same album? (The latter he duets with Latin songstress Thalia) On his interviews, Michael Buble says he wanted to make an album that is reminiscent of Bing Crosby's, but I think he does Bing better, because he brings these songs to our modern times and he makes it appealing enough to, I suspect, get the attention of everyone. From Grandpa, to father, to the hipster kids, even to the Bieber fans, I am sure there will be something to appeal to each family member. This year, it will be a Buble Christmas.