Snowed In
NOTE: This CD came out a week before my birthday last year and unfortunately, I
disappointed my dear friend by purchasing it on the release date when she was planning to
surprise me with it only days later. I have tried to stow this album away and listen to it
only during the Holiday Season, but it’s simply irresistible. The picture is one of
the postcards that came with the "Weird" single. Track by track, I will give you
my impressions of Hanson’s Christmas album. It ROCKS!!
Merry Christmas, Baby
Da-ang!! When I finally got the annoying shrink wrap off the new CD and the sounds of this
first track started to come from my player, I was hit by the rich tone and deeper quality
of Taylor’s voice. Now, I had been somewhat prepared for the change after hearing
“Cried” on the “IWC2U” single, but whoa!! This well-chosen Holiday
Hanson favorite really let him show off that mysterious voice change that had so many
interviewers worried.
However, I can’t listen to this song now without grinning as I think back to Zac shouting Holiday wishes to end the SNL performance of it last year.
What Christmas Means to Me
Don’t you just love the way the guys take turns singing lead on this album? This song
is a real favorite of mine and let me tell you just how much it means to me . . . The
lyrics are just like a candy cane, festive and minty sweet. The opening chords could
lighten anyone’s heart. If Scrooge and the Grinch had gotten a hold of this song as
kids, we would never even have heard of these two meanies.
Can you hear my heart breaking when Zac sings: “I see your smiling face, like I’ve never seen before. Though I love you madly, it seems I love you more. The little cards you give me, they touch my heart for sure. All these things and more . . .” (deep sigh)
Little Saint Nick
Isn’t this a Beach Boys song originally? My favorite part? . . .
“1-2-3-4!!” You can tell Isaac has such a fun time with this number. I love the
way his brothers harmonize with him. Can’t you also picture Jessica, Avery and Mackie
asking their big brothers, “Soldier-style” to tell the story of sled that goes
real fast? One more TIME! Please!
At Christmas
This track just glows with warmth from a crackling fire – the same fire that is
always roasting chestnuts around this time of the year. (grin) It is so peaceful. I pulled
this song out whenever I was feeling blue or missed my family – it just tugs at my
heart to hear Isaac’s reassuring voice singing, “Someone opens the door, with a
smile on their face, and you know you’ve come to the right place.” Oh man, that
is so sweet.
I was surprised to hear the guys incorporate “baby Jesus” into a song they wrote themselves since they usually keep a low profile on their religion. At the same time, it was encouraging to me to hear Isaac sing so tenderly of Christ’s birth in his own words. Beautiful.
Christmas (Baby please come home)
This song could only be sung by mournful, soulful, beloved Taylor and not sound repetitive
and corny. I can’t listen to it though, without an image of Cindy Crawford in the Bon
Jovi video flashing briefly into view – (Jackie shakes her head and smiles.). Who
hasn’t thought of someone they used to care about during this season of mistletoe and
holly?
Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree
This song was written so that one day Zac W. Hanson would cover it on an album. Who else
could possibly deliver this tune and truly mean it? Zac gives it his own flavor during
that instrumental part, “Come on saxophone!!” Visions of “Home Alone”
dance in my head when I hear this tune. Do you remember that scene when Macauley stages a
party with mannequins while this song plays? It’s a classic.
Christmas Time
I’m almost tempted to say this is my all time favorite Hanson song . . . of all time
(grin). But, what about “MMMBop,” “Boomerang,” and
“Sometimes?” Okay, it’s among, my favorites. Besides, I have an
appreciation for ALL of the band’s music, no? (c: I couldn’t betray any of the
songs by saying one was my favorite – could I?
I love that the guys all have their own lines and the way they layer their voices at various times. What makes this song so extra special to me? It’s probably because my family is actually, “Black, yellow and white.” My brother is African-American, I’m from Korea (We were both adopted – in case you’re wondering – (c:) and my sisters and parents are from the Dutch heritage. The words also remind us of the true spirit of Christmas – to love one another on this holy night (and always).
Everybody Knows the Claus
I know some people have a problem with this song since it seems devoted entirely to
Santa’s weight, but to me it’s just really endearing. When I first heard it, I
thought, “This is the kind of song the guys wrote for fun before they were on
MTV.” I mean, you can tell that some of the words they chose were only because they
wanted them to rhyme. For example: I think “Don’t take a cookie off of that pan”
should really be, “tray,” but then it wouldn’t rhyme with “cause you
don’t want to mess with this man.” I also think that “cooking”
should actually be “baking” since you actually bake a turkey instead of cook it.
But again, this may be more than you wanted to know as you peek into the “mystery
files” of Jackie Lynn.
For those people who don’t really like this song – come on now, it’s hard to resist the end of this song, no? Again, Zac is singing his little heart out! I can’t think of a better reason to roll back the rug for a little Christmas jig. hehe Which reminds me of an embarrassing moment for me. I was at my friend’s boyfriend’s house right after church and I was, well, having some fun with this song, when all of a sudden everybody started staring at me. Before I knew it, I turned around and I saw his parents standing behind me laughing. I’m not really sure how long they had been there. His mom smiled at me and said, “Don’t worry, sweetie. If you keep it up, Mr. S. will probably join you.” Needless to say, I was sitting on the couch by that time.
Run Rudolph Run
Holy! This song makes me laugh! I had to play it back several times, before I would
believe that Isaac is actually saying, “Tay, kick one for Christmas, Baby!”
Well, both of the guys really do KICK it on this track! It was fun to see the band perform
this number on several programs last year so that we could really see them jamming on
their instruments. Amazing!! It also made me smile when, on those same performances, in
typical Taylor-style, he asks the audience to join in on “Run, run Rudolph.”
That’s fine, but it always causes some rhythmically impaired audience members to look
dazed and somewhat confused. On a “Good Morning America” appearance, the father
of a small Mackie-look-alike boy more than gently encourages his son to sing along. (c:
Silent Night Medley
This track comes about as close to my dream of hearing Hanson sing my gospel favorites as
any other Hanson song, except maybe "With You in Your Dreams" on MON and
“River” on 3CG. It’s unbelievably gorgeous! I was thinking that it would be
kind of amusing to hear the guys sing “We Three Kings” or “Little Drummer
Boy,” but they chose some really nice ones for this medley. “O Holy Night”
gave me the shivers even before I heard Hanson’s version. “Silent Night”
has a nice jazzy beat to it. When I heard Zac on “O Come All Ye Faithful.” I
couldn’t help but think of that classic Brady episode when Mrs. Brady loses her voice
right before she’s supposed to sing in church . . . and Cindy’s only wish for
Santa is for her mommy’s voice to get better. Then, in a truly surprise ending, this
is the very song that Carol Brady belts out, completely cured of her laryngitis, to make
Cindy’s Christmas wish come true. I mentioned Taylor’s changing voice earlier,
but – oh my goodness – isn’t Zac’s sweet voice, deepening and
deepening each time we hear him?
My Hanson carol wish list: “Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel” “Do You See What I See?” “What Child is This? (Greensleeves)” – Those are all the ones I can think of right now. I also think it would be fun to hear their version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
White Christmas
First of all, you may have noticed on other pages that the way Hanson pronounces some
words interests me. I forgot to mention that the way they say Christmas always sounds like
“Chris – moss” which sounds kind of cute and funny to me. Anyway, how many
people would put money on a bet that says that there are more than three male Hansons
singing on this song? I don’t know since I’ve never actually heard Jessica,
Avery, Mackie or their parents sing before, but I don’t think I’m alone in
wondering if they might have joined the band in the studio for this number.
This song has always been one of my Christmas favorites. Although, I’m not sure if this version sounds as old-fashioned and sentimental as it does when Bing Crosby or other truly old-fashioned people sing it. However, it is extremely sweet. I don’t know if it’s Zac or not, but whoever sings, “And may all your Christmases be white” just slides completely off the adorable scale. ;-D Then the harmony at the end is really cool to hear.
That little conversation at the end, between Isaac and Mackie – I’ll be honest, it kind of bugs me for some reason. I don’t know why since I love the beginning of “Soldier” when I hear the other siblings’ voices. Hmmm . . . I guess it’s meant to let us know that the Hansons still own an actual record player, but that it might be put to a different use when Mackie gets his hands on it . . . shrug. At the same time, it’s great to hear Isaac being big brotherly, since I picture him in that role at home.
Final Note
Since the Holidays are coming up again – I wish all of you lots of good times with
your family and friends. This morning, I woke up and switched my calendars to November and
said, it’s “SI” time again!! Yay! I look forward to hearing your reactions
to this album as well. Happy Holidays!!
Email: dknstormy@aol.com