Christmas has come early for Mariah Carey!
The 40-year-old powerhouse singer gave JustJared.com an early listen of her upcoming holiday album, Merry Christmas II You, at NYC’s Lincoln Center on Wednesday (October 20).
“This is her love, this is her passion, this is her real joy,” Def Jam exec L.A. Reid said, adding that Mariah goes “all out” for Christmas and has been in the spirit ever since she started recording in June!
Mariah and hubby Nick Cannon were both on hand and came onstage during the celebration to thank those who made the album possible!
Here are some tidbits from the album:
“Oh Santa!” - The audience clapped along to this uptempo, energetic song!
“O Little Town of Bethlehem / Little Drummer Boy Medley” - A powerful mix of two Christmas classics - the song showed off Mariah’s legendary pipes!
“Christmas Time Is In The Air Again” - Slow, sultry and understated number.
“The First Noel / Born is the King (Interlude)” - The song begins with a piano arrangement paired with Mariah’s melismatic singing - as the chorus builds, an orchestra comes in and she belts it out big!
“When Christmas Comes” - A soulful R&B song featuring a horn section and an interlude of “Jingle Bells”
“Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) / Housetop Celebration” - The song features Akon and samples the bass line of Chic’s “Good Times” and turns the original on its head!
“Charlie Brown Christmas” - The song begins with the Peanuts classic “Linus and Lucy” before slowing down and going into a sexy, breathy update of “Christmas Time is Here”.
“O Come All Ye Faithful / Hallelujah Chorus” (feat. Patricia Carey) - Mariah’s mom, Patricia, sings classical opera while Mariah hits those sky high notes. Super powerful song and our favorite track from the album! Both Mom and Mariah’s voices blend perfectly!
“O Holy Night” - Live - Mariah sings over an organ and backing choir at a church in South Central Los Angeles. If you don’t get goosebumps on this track, check your pulse!
“All I Want for Christmas is You - Extra Festive” - The most successful holiday song in recent history gets a new orchestral introduction! When Mariah came out on stage, she dished that she’d call the song’s arranger at 6 a.m. with thoughts on how to change it - and thanked him for his patience.
“Auld Lang Syne - The New Year’s Anthem” - Begins with a piano introduction and a backing choir before a countdown begins and the song turns into a club banger
Source:justjared