作者  amo07 (Details in The Fabrix)                             看板  MARIAH 
 標題  [情報] About.com：MC II You 四顆星!!                                   
 時間  Tue Nov  9 00:00:44 2010                                               
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http://top40.about.com/od/albums/fr/Mariah-Carey-Merry-Christmas-Ii-You.htm

★★★★☆
Released November 2010 by Island Def Jam

瑪麗亞凱莉引領著聽眾們進入高格調的節慶音樂當中。在上一張叫好不叫座的不完美天使
之後，本來只是計畫要用幾首新remix的歌曲發行混音專輯的瑪麗亞，選擇了在今年冬天
用全新的聖誕專輯呈現給歌迷。這張讓人放鬆、充滿歡愉氣氛的聖誕專輯將會成為人們
必聽的經典之作！
Mariah Carey ushers us into the holiday music season in high style. Following
the relative commercial disappointment of Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel, she
initially planned a remix album with a few new tracks. However, a Christmas
collection was chosen instead. That seems a wise decision. The result is a
relaxed, joyful and fun holiday celebration. Just like her first
multi-platinum Christmas album Merry Christmas, this set of traditional
carols and new holiday songs should quickly find its place on your seasonal
playlist.

Merry Christmas II You整體呈現了輕鬆舒適的雰圍，但在不少片段也充滿了熱鬧的
派對氣氛。"Oh Santa!"是一首絕佳的聖誕派對歌曲。瑪麗亞也改編了查理布朗聖誕
歌當中的經典，以屬於她那招牌的氣音將原曲詮釋成一首具有爵士風格的新歌。現場
演唱版本的O Holy Night則用最單純的背景音樂襯托出瑪麗亞驚人的好嗓音。聽眾們
可以聽到咪咪也非常優秀的低音部分。
Relaxed, Celebratory Feel for Mariah Carey
There is an overall relaxed, comfortable feel to Merry Christmas II You that
is very engaging. Some of the best moments evoke a party atmosphere. "Oh
Santa!" is perfect music for a party with friends. Don't be surprised if you
find yourself singing along. Mariah Carey's version of music from A Charlie
Brown Christmas has an air of relaxed intimacy with breathy, jazzy vocals
that will warm your holiday heart. The live version of "O Holy Night" from
WPC in south central Los Angeles will cause chills in its live simplicity. It
is an opportunity to hear Mariah Carey tackle some deeper, throatier tones.

專輯當中的新歌也都相當精彩！包括了前奏充滿了靈魂味的"When Christmas Comes"
、找來兒童合唱團一同演唱，整首歌曲都充滿力量的"One Child"等。然而只有
"Christmas Time Is In the Air Again"有點拖泥帶水，像是被淹沒在一片黏湖湖的
弦樂背景裡頭。不過，一張聖誕節的專輯裡頭能有超過四分之三的好歌都表現得很
到位就已經是件非常難能可貴的事情了！
New Songs Including Another Contemporary Classic
In general the new songs here are solid. "Oh Santa!" is mentioned above.
Bryan Michael Cox and Jermaine Dupri have helped Mariah Carey concoct a new
Christmas classic. "When Christmas Comes" takes on a very pleasing retro soul
vibe. "One Child" is pure holiday power ballad. A children's chorus is used
effectively, and then Mariah Carey brings it all back down to earth by song's
end. Only "Christmas Time Is In the Air Again" stumbles. It seems to drown in
a sea of orchestral schmaltz. However when talking about new holiday songs,
hitting the right tone three out of four times is a good batting average
indeed.

推薦歌曲
Top Tracks On 'Merry Christmas II You'
"Oh Santa!"
"When Christmas Comes"
"Charlie Brown Christmas"
"O Come All Ye Faithful / Hallelujah Chorus"
"O Holy Night"

這是一張所有喜好流行音樂的樂迷們今年必聽的聖誕專輯。然而既然主角是瑪麗亞凱莉，
難免會有些地方搞得太花腔了點。最明顯的例子就是原曲本來樸素純真的The Fisr Noel。
另外找來聲樂媽媽合作的"O Come All Ye Faithful"，也華麗燦爛到一種地步。瑪麗亞
在這首歌裡頭火力全開，把聲樂、鳥叫、花腔等所有技巧全使了開來，還好整首歌到最
後還算是賞心悅目。。。除此之外，專輯當中還稍微改編了上一張聖誕專輯的經典"All
I Want For Christmas Is You"，並且以disco舞曲版本的跨年歌曲"Auld Lang Syne"
作結，瑪麗亞真的很會安排屬於她的聖誕假期！
Mariah Carey's Christmas Celebration Should Not Be Missed
This is a Christmas album that should be on most pop fans' must hear list for
the 2010 holiday season. Since it is Mariah Carey, there are moments that the
melismatic approach gets a bit out of hand. Her version of "The First Noel"
is the most notable example. The collaboration with Mariah Carey's mother
Patricia Carey, an opera singer, on "O Come All Ye Faithful / Hallelujah
Chorus" is over the top and gloriously so. Here Mariah Carey is at her best
as she threatens to take everything too far sonically with operatic tones,
impossibly high notes, and melisma in full force, but somehow it all holds
together in exhilarating fashion. Merry Christmas II You also includes a
slightly updated version of her previous classic "All I Want For Christmas Is
You" while closing with a disco dance party version of "Auld Lang Syne"
leading us all into the New Year in full force party mode. Mariah Carey does
know her way around Christmas albums.