Let It Snow

Beautiful!!

My one word for this Christmas album is: Exceptional!Mr. Bublé is a young man who has a bravura voice and style. I originally purchased one song from this album via Amazon download since there were only a few on the album and the tracks are pretty standard. I only had to listen once to "Grown-Up Christmas List" (just listen to his take on the verse "No more lives torn apart...", spectacular) to know I wanted the whole album. As with all his albums, Mr. Bublé adds a very unique take to the songs he sings. "Let it Snow!" is now part of my standard Christmas music and I have added it to my iPod for shuffle play. Others have mentioned that there are few songs on this album, however, when they are all gems, it is worth it.

I bought this CD because I love Michael Buble and this CD had the song Grown Up Christmas List and he sings it beautifully. I was disappointed that it couldn't be streamed on Amazon Music so I bought the CD. This CD only has 6 songs on it and I don't know where this was sold originally because he always says he has just one Christmas CD "Christmas".

Michael Buble has been riding quite a seemingly never-ending wave since his eponymously-named debut album, Michael Bublé, was released in 2003. The now 32-year-old (as of 2007) singer from suburban Vancouver, British Columbia (whose not-very-distant descendants emigrated to Canada from Italy), won his lucky shot when he performed at the wedding reception for former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's daughter in 2000. Mulroney's assistant had heard Buble sing at another function, hired Buble to perform at the wedding reception, and then asked the former PM to listen to a recording of a few of Buble's songs so that he could listen to Buble more closely than in the wedding reception setting. Mulroney, in turn, was so impressed with Buble that he personally introduced Buble to uber-record producer David Foster, himself a native of B.C.'s provincial capital, Victoria. The rest, as they say, is history. Foster worked with Buble to mold and craft his talent, David Foster-style, and turned Buble into another Foster prodigy like classical/pop crossover sensation Josh Groban, who also happens to be good friends with Buble. Groban, in fact, surprised Buble onstage (or so Buble insists) in a filmed live concert that recently aired as a pledge-week special on PBS. [Groban, as it just so happens, has his own 2007 Christmas CD release out, aptly titled Noel].Growing up listening to his grandfather's big-band, jazz, and swing records of the '30s, '40s, and '50s, Michael Buble has become the 21st century's consummate male jazz singer and epitome of the word "cool." Like Harry Connick Jr. before him in the late '80s and throughout the '90s, and in fact, arguably surpassing him (not taking into account Connick's considerable acting career), Buble has attracted a rabid mass of fans that absolutely adore him--if not idolize him. Most of them, of course, are female, but many men are solid fans, too (among them--and quite gushingly so--is conservative radio and Fox News pundit Glenn Beck, for whatever that's worth). They want to be like him for his "coolness," and they enjoy his music in bringing them back to the time of Sinatra's heyday and that of many other big-band titans.Currently running high on his 2007 CD release Call Me Irresponsible, in October 2007 Buble released Let It Snow (EP), a repackaged re-release of his original 2003 Christmas EP with an added live version of the title track. The EP sandwiches the title tune on both ends. The first track is a studio recording, while the sixth and final track (better known as the '07 addition to the '03 EP) is a live recording of the same tune with virtually the same arrangement, although this time with his own big band instead of the studio musicians. The "filling" of the sandwich are the romantic ballad tracks: "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)," the Mel "Velvet Fog" Torme-written classic made into a holiday institution by Nat King Cole; "Grown-Up Christmas List," written by Foster and ex-wife Linda Thompson; "I'll Be Home for Christmas," originally featured in the 1944 Judy Garland film "Meet Me in St. Louis," achieved veritable holiday standard status when the song's lyrics became a tribute for and about WWII soldiers serving away from home during the holidays--and it's no less poignant and relevant today for those fine young men and women serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and all around the world in our Armed Forces; and Irving Berlin's immortal "White Christmas," the all-time most frequently-recorded Christmas song ever. Bing Crosby's original 1942 recording (from the soundtrack to his film "Holiday Inn") remains the second-best selling single of all time in units sold, behind Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997," his tribute to the late Princess Diana. Crosby would go on to re-record "White Christmas" a number of times, including for the 1954 film of the same name in which he starred with Rosemary Clooney and Danny Kaye, but his original 1942 recording is the standard by which all superlatives are judged.All of Buble's performances are exquisite. "The Christmas Song" is impeccably sung and lushly and lovingly orchestrated. Buble pulls himself back and sings with restraint, something most singers don't do on this particular song. This gives the tune a fresh feel and brings new meaning to the Torme/Robert Wells standard's lyrics."Grown-Up Christmas List" is a relatively contemporary song that asks Santa for real-world solutions in a life that has no easy answers. Foster's music and, more importantly, ex-wife Linda Thompson's lyrics, are stunningly deep and poignant, and Buble wrings every iota of emotion from the song. It was first introduced in Foster's 1990 release River of Love, featuring Natalie Cole's smoky vocals. [Grateful thanks to CATHERINE GOLTZ for her contribution to my research in this link. Updated 08.09.09.] Because I love this song so much and received important new information from Ms. Goltz, I did additional research into the genesis into the popularity of this song which has now become an important Christmas standard over nearly two decades.Foster released Natalie Cole's "Christmas List" as a single in 1990 for the holiday season in advance of the "River of Love" CD (which was then released the last week of 1990). "River," in fact, was not a "holiday" album at all. It was a compilation of tracks featuring a number of vocalists, as Ms. Goltz kindly informed me. Despite a remarkable pedigree of artists including Bryan Adams, Mike Reno of Loverboy, Bruce Hornsby, Warren Wiebe (briefly a member of All-4-One, a film soundtrack duet singer with a then still-unknown Celine Dion, and a vocalist on the charity single "Voices That Care"), and composers that included Beach Boys member Brian Wilson, the incredibly ambitious project was considered a failure and did not enter the Billboard album chart. Natalie's single also did not chart and failed at radio upon its original release. It wasn't until Cole released the original 1990 single again on her own 1999 CD Magic of Christmas with Foster's blessing, that Cole's version began to attract attention. The CD charted on Billboard's Top 200 albums during that holiday season, and the single received considerable airplay on adult-contemporary radio stations during the 1999 holiday season, and has become a standard during each holiday season since.The first artist to release the song with immediate success was Amy Grant, from her 1992 CD Home for Christmas, which was reissued in 2007. Grant was granted co-composer status when she added an extra verse and "bridge" that extended the roughly 3-1/2 minute song to five minutes. However, her addition to the Foster/Thompson original has taken the already poignant and reflective lyrics and made the five-minute Amy Grant version turn an exceptional song into an instant classic. While all of the other tracks make the CD a glorious holiday addition to your collection to begin with, in this writer's opinion, Amy Grant's version of "Grown-Up Christmas List" cannot be surpassed. But since she added her own lyrics, it is not the official (Foster-Thompson) version of the song, so virtually all artists who have subsequently recorded the song have used the original version that Cole recorded in 1990. That's unfortunate, however; the song is literally more complete and is a better composition with Grant's contribution.While Cole's original is homey, gorgeous, and nostalgic, Grant's interpretation is reflective, plaintive, and yearning. The lyrics pine for a world so much better than the one in which we live. And today, we hear the song with different ears. Thompson's and Grant's lyrics are literally prescient: We now live in a post-9/11 world where wives, husbands, parents, children, and friends hope and pray that their loved ones abroad serving in the Armed Forces, in harm's way, could be "Home for Christmas" (and all year through, to be sure). That's what Amy imparts, and I believe that's the interpretation this former married couple intended in what is easily one of the most important compositions of their profoundly impressive careers. As for Michael Buble's read on the song (I haven't forgotten who I'm reviewing here, although it may appear so), he gives a somber and heartfelt performance, somewhere between Cole's and Grant's. Sadly, it's the short version: yet another wrong turn. Since Buble is Foster's protege, one would assume that Foster would want the world to hear the combined, post-9/11 song in its entirety, for Linda's and Amy's lyrics could not possibly be more relevant today. This recording would be the perfect platform for a post-9/11, "album" cut instead of a "single" version. But, as the saying goes, "you know what happens when you 'assume.'" I just don't get it. Amy, your perfect 1992 recording remains safe and intact!While Buble's "I'll Be Home for Christmas" actually features the seldom-heard opening verse (so explain the above paragraph for me, someone?), "White Christmas" does not--which is a shame, because it offers the listener an interesting twist on the chestnut that the regular chorus does not. Regardless, all four above-referenced ballads are simply delicious and lovely. Rehashing "Let It Snow!" to cap off the EP in a live version serves little purpose but to feature his female fans singing "Let It Snow!" where necessary in the tune instead of Buble. It features his live-band's musical director and co-composer on most of his new original material, Alan Chang, on piano, in lieu of David Foster, who played on the studio version. If Buble wanted to really serve his fans--such as releasing a new, full-length holiday CD (it's time) instead of re-releasing a four-year-old EP--he would have at least offered a different sixth track instead of a live version of a song already on the EP. For that reason, I must take off a star. But that is the ONLY reason. Buble fans will undoubtedly disagree and grant him the full five stars anyway.For those of you who haven't given the young Canadian singer a try, this inexpensive "test drive" perhaps might be the right vehicle for you. It has two up-tempo tracks (and "White Christmas" picks up the tempo toward the end as well) and a lush, beautiful, virtually perfect selection of Christmas standards that will truly warm your hearts by the fire's glow--along with an important song that will also make you think while you're dreaming.Michael Buble just keeps getting better and better with each successive release, and it's getting harder and harder to criticize him. That's the mark of a true vocalist--and musician. He's a musician who uses his voice as an instrument. There aren't too many of that kind of musician left in the business these days. And at only 32 (as of the original review date), here's hoping Michael Buble will be around to entertain us for a long, long time. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone. Get this EP to get you in the mood just a little bit!CD RATING: **** (out of 5) - Original review: 03 Dec 07 - Updated: 09 Aug 09 - BOBBY BOURBEAU

I am a HUUUUGE fan of Christmas music and the holidays just aren't the holidays without Michael anymore. That being said, I gifted this to a friend who is sick and tired of Michael and it was the BEST PRESENT IN THE WORLD for me. She was so mad it made the entire season. Oh and the music was good, decent delivery even with how close it was to xmas and the casing arrived well. But yeah, best gag gift of the season.

Whats not to love about Michael Buble'?I would've liked for there to have been more songs on the EP. But for the material itself...its beautiful.My all time , absolute favorite Christmas song is: Grown-up Christmas List.No one beats Amy Grant's version...but Michaels version is an extremely close 2nd.

Imagine my dismay when my husband went to put our old copy on the CD player for Christmas and the case was empty and the CD lost who knows where! I immediately ordered a new copy so I won't have another Christmas without this CD. It's one of my all-time favorites.

I was searching looong and hard for this cd! So glad I finally found it! Qust have!

Fantastic Christmas songs.

raro CD che poche canzoni natalizie, ma immancabile per chi ama Michel Bublè e il suo swing vintage

Good quality. Well packaged

Ce remarquable crooner interprête ces chansons de Noël avec une aisance digne de lui. Le seul regret est qu'il n'y a que 5 chansons. Mais cela fait du bien.

シーズンではないのに何回も聞いてしまいました。有難うございました。