Mike Diver of the BBC wrote that "Oh Santa!" is a "boisterous" song which "makes perfect sense" as a lead single. He continued to write that although it fell substandard to "All I Want for Christmas Is You", it would still "warrant revisiting 12 months down the line". "Rolling Stone" writer Caryn Ganz commented on the composition, writing "Mariah bops to a schoolyard-chant beat". Joey Guerra of the "Houston Chronicle" described the song as "irresistible" and predicted that it would "dominate ringtones" in the run up to Christmas. A reviewer for Idolator described the track as a "boppy" Christmas version of Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend".
Critical reception
Oh Santa!
Oh Santa! | Critical reception
There were mixed reviews. Mike Diver of the BBC wrote that "Oh Santa!" is a "boisterous" song which "makes perfect sense" as a lead single. Mike Diver of the BBC wrote that it is a "boisterous" song which "makes perfect sense" as a lead single. Mike Diver of the BBC wrote that "Oh Santa!" is a "boisterous" song which "makes perfect sense" as a lead single
who sang all i want for christmas in 1995
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Mariah Carey.
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who is she?
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She is an American singer-songwriter and actress.
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what was her early days like?
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Racial tensions prevented the Carey family from integrating into their community though she excelled in the arts, such as music and literature in school.
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what are some famous songs she performed during 2010?
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Oh Santa! and Auld Lang Syne (The New Year's Anthem).
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who composed the former mentioned one?
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Mariah Carey.
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how did it perform in the charts?
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It became a record-breaking entry on the "Billboard" Adult Contemporary songs chart.
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how was it received critically?
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Rich Juzwiak of "The Village Voice" was critical of the song, writing "Of the four Mariah-penned new tracks, the Jermaine Dupri/Bryan-Michael Cox collaboration 'Oh Santa!' tries the hardest, an antique kitchen-sink replica that manages to invoke a cheerleading squad, the Pointer Sisters, Mariah's own 'Loverboy', and Hey Ya!'. Full of mumbling and cattiness, it's difficult to sing along to, so its prospects of becoming a perennial favorite are dim."
Oh Santa! | Critical reception
In the United States, "Oh Santa!" became a record-breaking entry on the "Billboard" Adult Contemporary songs chart. It debuted at number twelve for the issue dated December 11, 2010. The track soared to number one the following week, marking the quickest ascent to the peak position since Nielsen BDS began tracking airplay in 1993, in just two weeks. Previously, eight songs had reached number one within three weeks, four of which were Christmas entries due to adult contemporary radio stations playing an increased amount in the holiday season. "Oh Santa!" became Carey's seventh number-one hit on the chart, and her first in fifteen years since "One Sweet Day" (1995–96), a duet with Boyz II Men.
Oh Santa! | Chart performance
He described "One Child" as a "needless retelling", and "Oh Santa!" as trying too hard, and too difficult to sing along to.
Merry Christmas II You | Critical reception
"Oh Santa!" was released as the lead single and premiered on October 1, 2010. It received a positive response from music critics, with many praising its composition and style. It became a record-breaking entry on the "Billboard" Adult Contemporary songs chart. It debuted at number twelve and rose to number one the following week, becoming the first song to reach the peak in two weeks on the chart. It finished at number forty-two on the 2011 Adult Contemporary year-end chart. It also reached number one on the Holiday Digital Songs chart, and number one-hundred on the Hot 100. "Auld Lang Syne (The New Year's Anthem)" was released as a promotional single in the form of a nine-piece remix EP on December 14, 2010.
Merry Christmas II You | Singles
"Santa Tell Me" received mixed reviews following its release. Robbie Daw of "Idolator" opined that the song was a "cute, harmless stocking stuffer that ticks all the necessary boxes, in that there's classic instrumentation, a hummable chorus and lyrics that reflect a mixture of the festive season with the possibility of heartbreak at the holidays", while Brian Mansfield of "USA Today" negatively compared it to Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You", further commenting that the song fell short in its attempt at becoming a "seasonal staple".
Santa Tell Me | Critical reception
Mike Diver of the BBC wrote that "Oh Santa!" is a "boisterous" song which "makes perfect sense" as a lead single. He continued to write that although it fell substandard to "All I Want for Christmas Is You", it would still "warrant revisiting 12 months down the line". "Rolling Stone" writer Caryn Ganz commented on the composition, writing "Mariah bops to a schoolyard-chant beat". Joey Guerra of the "Houston Chronicle" described the song as "irresistible" and predicted that it would "dominate ringtones" in the run up to Christmas. A reviewer for Idolator described the track as a "boppy" Christmas version of Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend".
Oh Santa! | Critical reception
"Oh Santa!" is a song by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey from her second Christmas album/thirteenth studio album, "Merry Christmas II You" (2010). Carey wrote and produced the song in collaboration with Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox. It was released as the lead single from the album. It is an up-tempo R&B song about Carey making a plea for Santa Claus to bring back her partner in time for the Christmas holidays. Instrumentation of sleigh bells, jingle bells and hand claps. It received a positive response from music critics, with many praising its composition and style. The track set a record on the United States "Billboard" Adult Contemporary songs chart, debuting at number twelve and peaking at number one the following week for four weeks.
Oh Santa! | Introduction
The album received generally positive reviews. Matt Collar of "AllMusic" gave the album a positive review and praised it as "not only a warm and inviting holiday album, but also a superb classical crossover entry worthy of Bocelli's discography."
My Christmas | Critical reception
The film was nominated for Outstanding Children's Program at the 37th Primetime Emmy Awards alongside "Punky Brewster", "", and "Reading Rainbow" - with the award eventually going to an episode of "American Playhouse". In his review for "The New York Times", John J. O'Connor noted that even though "the special effects encompassing Santa and his helpers are pleasant enough ... the surrounding story doesn't generate much holiday cheer."
The Night They Saved Christmas | Critical response
He applauded Blige's vocals, but specifically criticized her cover of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, calling it unlistenable. Eric Henderson of Slant Magazine gave the album 2.5 out of 5 stars, criticizing the album for not taking any risks, along with the kid-friendly songs included on the album. Randy Lewis of the Los Angeles Times gave the album 2 stars, criticizing the album's overproduction, stating the production made the songs very overwhelming.
A Mary Christmas | Critical reception
"A Holly Dolly Christmas" received positive reviews from music critics. At Album of the Year, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 73 based on 2 reviews.
A Holly Dolly Christmas | Critical reception
The film was considered to be a financial success over several holiday season theatrical releases in the 1960s and 1970s. Broadcast of the film also became a holiday tradition at several U.S. television stations. The film garnered at least one award, winning the Golden Gate Award for Best International Family Film at the San Francisco International Film Festival in 1959.
Santa Claus (1959 film) | Critical reception
"Dear Santa" received mixed reviews from critics. CJ from Therefore I Blog gave the film 3.75 out of five stars, calling it "pretty average, but pleasant fare". Radio Times gave it two out of five stars. In his review for Just Press Play, Rob Perez called the film "part family entertainment, part romance, and part holiday fantasy". According to Perez, while the film presents "good old fashion family values" and attempts to "tug at our heart strings", in the end it lacks substance and originality.
Dear Santa (2011 film) | Critical response
In 2016, "Billboard" music critic Andrew Unterberger included the song on his "Also Worth Remembering" list for 2006.
Why Couldn't It Be Christmas Every Day? | Critical reception
The singer also topped the chart with her debut single "Vision of Love" (her first) and "Love Takes Time" in 1990, "I Don't Wanna Cry" in 1991, and "Can't Let Go" and "I'll Be There" in 1992. "Oh Santa!" remained atop the chart for four consecutive weeks altogether. It finished at number 42 on the 2011 Adult Contemporary year-end chart. For the week ending October 30, 2010, Carey occupied the top two positions on the Holiday Digital Songs chart: "Oh Santa!" debuted at number one while "All I Want For Christmas Is You" charted at number two. On January 1, 2011, the track debuted at number one-hundred on the "Billboard" Hot 100 chart, and number forty on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs chart.
Oh Santa! | Chart performance
Rachel Howdle from "The Irish Times", gave the album a positive review stating, "Put away your ideas of tacky, comedy and general seasonal tack. Pick up your lounge suit, Rat Pack longings and chilled out vibes. Chris Kamara has delivered a smooth, big band swing album that is pure class – and sounds, just like Kammy! And it works. You will fight singing along to the classics Winter Wonderland, It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas, Frosty The Snowman and (the one track I was rather sceptical about) Santa Baby – I had no reason to be, it was just sublime.
Here's to Christmas | Critical reception
"CMJ New Music Report" wrote that the "carols ... alternate between propulsive, pummeling epic shit-kickers (opener 'Gift') and experimental noise tracks ('Accord-O-Matic')."
Christmas (Old Man Gloom album) | Critical reception
Music critic Robert Christgau exclaimed "Why the hell not?"
The Classic Christmas Album (Earth, Wind &amp; Fire album) | Critical reception
Jose F. Promis, writing for Allmusic senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine write that "the endearing, sleek, soulful set finds the Sisters With Voices covering a sweet selection of holiday standards, and it differs from their previous albums because all three gals handle lead vocals [...] This album works because they treat the standards with respect and reverence, while still managing to put the SWV stamp on the recordings, and the sole new track is a highlight, instead of a bore, which many contemporary Christmas songs tend to be. A sweet, endearing, soulful set"
A Special Christmas | Critical reception
While writing for "the Daily Vault", Thelen gave a B- grade and wrote it "does show there is a voice behind the pretty young face, even if this is a strange place to start one's recording career."
Santa Claus Lane | Critical reception
At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, "Merry Christmas II You" received an average score of 60, based on eight reviews, which indicates "mixed or average" reviews. About.com writer Bill Lamb praised the album, writing that it has a "relaxed, comfortable" which is "engaging". He wrote that the original compositions were "solid", placing emphasis on "Oh Santa!", "One Child" and "When Christmas Comes", but felt that "Christmas Time Is In the Air Again" was overshadowed by its heavy orchestration. He concluded by writing "Mariah Carey does know her way around Christmas albums." Joey Guerra of the "Houston Chronicle" echoed Lamb's sentiments, adding that the album ought to boost Carey's career.
Merry Christmas II You | Critical reception
Amy Nicholson for MTV mockingly referred to the film as "Badly Traumatized Santa", and wrote that "[it] doesn't hate Christmas. It just hates women."
Bad Santa 2 | Critical response
J. D. Considine wrote in the "Baltimore Sun" that "Rivers' idea of 'funny' generally seems the work of a guy who's read too many issues of "Mad" magazine, but there are some good bits here." Helen Bryant of "The Dallas Morning News" wrote "Irving Berlin, it's not" while the "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette" called the album "this year's hip offering."
I Am Santa Claus | Critical reaction
MaryAnn Johanson of "Flick Filosopher" called it "a deeply awful comedy" and "Believe me, it’s even dumber than it sounds."
Santa with Muscles | Critical response
American magazine "Trouser Press" described "'74-'75" as "so sweet [it] borders on cloying". Rob Ross of Popdose called the song "emotionally-charged and poignant".
'74–'75 | Critical reception
Jessica Dawson of the Common Sense Media reviewed the soundtrack and wrote; "the fun and fresh Christmas songs actually capture the excitement and anticipation in a way that's a nice change from the traditional yuletide tunes we're all used to." and gave it 3/5 stars.
It's a SpongeBob Christmas! Album | Critical response
Roger Ebert of the "Chicago Sun-Times" gave the film stars out of four, writing how "Bad Santa" was a "demented, twisted [and] unreasonably funny work of comic kamikaze style".
Bad Santa | Critical response
The theatrical finale featured the girls popping out of Christmas present boxes in Santa coats to croon an almost jazzy version of "Winter Wonderland". The encore was their current single "My Heart Takes Over" as the stage slowly rotated and the snow gently fell. Performing to a packed-out arena, The Saturdays belted out a range of their hits from their four albums with a few added extras for their All Fired Up tour.
All Fired Up! (tour) | Critical reception
"The Christmas Present" received mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 52 based on 4 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
The Christmas Present | Critical reception
Allmusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine considered the song a "pop holiday classic." Steve Leggett noted the song was "a nice and bright backdrop for that Christmas party or dinner". MTV blogger Tamar Anitai praised it as "the absolute holy grail of 1990s pop Christmas songs".
My Only Wish (This Year) | Critical reception
"Music & Media" wrote about the song: "Just when you thought this was just a version of their worldwide smash with a couple of jingle bells added, this seasonal single erupts into a cheerful medley of Joy To The World, Jingle Bells and Silent Night. For all those who are looking for an uncomplicated Christmas."
Macarena | Critical reception
Artistdirect gave the song a positive review and 5 out of 5 stars, describing the song as a "timeless Christmas anthem" with a smooth acoustic guitar build-up, resounding bells, and soaring five-part harmonies. "Entertainment Weekly" also gave the song a positive review, noting that the song has a catchy tune, a little "boy band hook," and a five-part harmony.
It's Christmas Time Again | Critical reception
The track was additionally nominated for the Favorite Song at the 2001 Kids' Choice Awards broadcast on Nickelodeon, but lost to "Who Let the Dogs Out?" by the Baha Men.
Oops!... I Did It Again (song) | Critical reception
At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received a score of 63, based on 16 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. "PopMatters" gave the album a score of 7/10, writing that it was "plain beautiful" and that it was "a calm, simple and easy to listen to recording to sit with and relax." A more mixed review from "Pitchfork" said that the songs were "just fine" but that She & Him "played this one too safe."
A Very She &amp; Him Christmas | Reception
BBC Music's Mike Diver thought that although the album is not necessarily "clever", it is "expectedly big", and that while "Oh Santa!" is not in the "same league" as "All I Want for Christmas Is You", it's a perfect stocking filler. "Rolling Stone" writer Caryn Ganz disliked the two original ballads, "Christmas Time Is In the Air Again" and "One Child", describing them "both thick with gooey orchestration", but praised "Oh Santa!" and "When Christmas Comes" for their uptempo melodies. However, she was confused by the re-recording of "All I Want for Christmas Is You", saying that "It's hard to figure out what's 'extra festive, and quipped that it is "far easier to determine what's wrong with 'Auld Lang Syne' (an awkward dance beat)".
Merry Christmas II You | Critical reception
"Christmas Songs" received mixed reviews from music critics upon its release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 60, based on 15 reviews, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.
Christmas Songs (Bad Religion EP) | Critical
At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 59 based on 6 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
Everyday Is Christmas (album) | Critical reception
The film has been nominated for several independent film awards including a 2016 Independent Spirit Award.
Christmas, Again | Critical reception
British magazine "The List" reviewed the EP favorably, praising the "wicked jingly-jangly guitar solo" in "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", but noting that it had little chart potential.
Merry Xmas from X | Critical reception
The album received generally favorable reviews by critics. Popdust complimented its "blistery bold arrangements," and the group's "truly remarkable, pinpoint precision." Markos Papadatos from "Digital Journal" described it as "pure joy and one of the best projects I've heard this year." FDRMX gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars, claiming the album has "a good mix of traditional holiday songs, religious ballads and originals thrown in." The "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel" dubbed it a "Christmas miracle," citing a "streak of beautifully sung, creative arrangements."
That's Christmas to Me | Critical reception
Club" was more mixed, calling it "a joyless bit of redundant, obvious, competent cheese, recycling itself at every turn and soliciting songwriting from such soulless hacks as Diane Warren and assorted Swedes." The album has listed as the 64th best female album on Billboard 200.
Oops!... I Did It Again (album) | Critical reception
Critical reception of the compilation was mixed, with reviewers often complimenting or criticizing select tracks. In the United States, the album reached a peak position of number thirty-eight on "Billboard" Top Holiday Albums chart.
Maybe This Christmas | Introduction
"Merry Christmas, Baby" received mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 53, which indicates "mixed or average reviews", based on 6 reviews.
Merry Christmas, Baby (album) | Critical reception
"A Christmas Story Live!" received mixed to negative reviews, with the general audience reacting more harshly than professional critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the production received a 46% rating based on 13 critics' reviews and 32% based on 56 audience reviews. The show's three-hour length and musical numbers drew the most negative reactions, as Fox did not promote the program as a musical, and the lavish Broadway musical numbers were perceived to clash with the story's Midwestern setting. However, most of the individual actors' performances were positively received, as were the technical aspects of the special (such as scene and wardrobe changes).
A Christmas Story Live! | Critical response
The AllMusic review states "It sounds pretty much as you'd expect, especially given the cover art, but this collision of Bakersfield country music and traditional Christmas material has a certain charm..."
I Wish I Was Santa Claus | Reception
Andrew Le of Renowned for Sound gave the album 3.5 out of 5 stars, saying that the tone is generally upbeat and "soulful vocals with retro touches and rich, heavenly harmonies are what Human Nature do best".
The Christmas Album (Human Nature album) | Critical reception
The song was given mixed reviews by musical critics: Mark Guarino of the Arlington Heights, Illinois "Daily Herald" called the song "earnestness at its slickest", while Ann Powers of "The New York Times" said that it was "splendidly corny".
It's Your Song | Critical reception
Grande's version of "Santa Baby" received largely positive reviews from music critics. Jocelyn Vena from MTV enjoyed Grande's take on "Santa Baby", comparing it with Kitt's original version. Carolyn Menyes from "Music Times" ranked it as the best song on "Christmas Kisses", awarding particular praise to its production and Grande and Gillies's chemistry. However, Menyes felt the mix of their vocals together could have been improved. "Billboard"s Piedra described the collaboration as a "fun duet" and an "experience like no other".
Santa Baby | Critical reception
Tim Sendra from AllMusic gave "A Mary Mary Christmas" a three and a half out of five stars rating. He found that ""A Mary Mary Christmas" is filled with plenty of joy and excitement," also noting: "While "A Mary Mary Christmas" is a solid addition to the holiday CD blizzard, a few more originals and fewer classics would have made it even more enjoyable."
A Mary Mary Christmas | Critical reception
John J. O'Connor reviewed the concert in a television column in "The New York Times" on 11 December 1991. He had mixed feelings about the producers' choice of music, some of which he thought hackneyed. "Am I the only person in New York", he asked, "who, after sitting through hundreds of ornate renditions, finds 'The 12 Days of Christmas' numbingly tedious?" He was more complimentary about the calypso-infused 'Mary's Little Boy Chile' and a sequence of traditional American Marian numbers, as well as rousing ensemble versions of 'Go Tell It on the Mountain' and 'Angels We Have Heard On High'.
A Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert | Critical reception
Deborah Evans Price of "Billboard" gave the song a favorable review, saying that it "has a hauntingly beautiful melody and affecting lyric about the mercurial nature of love" and that "Wright possesses a strong voice, full of emotional depth and presence."
It Was | Critical reception
"Oh My God" received universal acclaim from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 81, based on 20 reviews.
Oh My God (album) | Critical reception
In the issue dated October 29, 1966, "Billboard" published a review of the album, which said, "The album's beautiful songs include "Country Christmas", "Away in a Manger" — all great programming material for country music stations, and this will create high sales. The "Manger" tune deserves a single. Possibly her best effort to date."
Country Christmas | Critical reception
Elsewhere, the track debuted at number thirty-six on the South Korean Gaon International Digital Singles Chart for the week ending November 20, 2010. It later peaked at number thirty-two for the week ending December 25, 2010. On the International Download Singles Chart, the track peaked at number thirty. "On Santa!" peaked at number sixty-eight on the Japan Hot 100. The song peaked at number seventy-three on January 1, 2011, for two consecutive weeks on the Canadian Hot 100 chart.
Oh Santa! | Chart performance
"Billboard" editor Paul Verna called this song 'thoughtful produced original composition, her first co-writing credit'.
Don't Save It All for Christmas Day | Critical reception
Awarding the album four stars at "CCM Magazine", Grace Aspinwall states, "the heart of this album lies in its gorgeous arrangements." Lins Honeyman, giving the album a seven out of ten for Cross Rhythms, writes, "a varied release that pushes Christmas music forward whilst acknowledging the genre's glorious past." Reviewing the album from AllMusic, Thom Jurek says, "a collection of (mostly) traditional carols and hymns with worship choruses and cadenzas woven in for maximum effect."
Christmas Worship | Critical reception
"A Mary Christmas" received generally mixed or average reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 49, based on 5 reviews. Andy Kellman of AllMusic rated "A Mary Christmas" three out of five stars. He felt that the album "won't likely reach the high status of, say, Mariah Carey's "Merry Christmas", but it's a full-effort holiday release that many of her fans should be able to enjoy for several years." Tim Jonze of The Guardian gave the album 2 stars, saying that it seemed very similar to a formula used by The X Factor contestants of putting out Christmas albums.
A Mary Christmas | Critical reception
In addition, online publication "Ultimate Twang" gave the record a positive reception in their review. "The Judds made a lot of great music during the 80’s, but this album may well be the epitome," writers commented.
Christmas Time with The Judds | Critical reception
Philip Weyhe of the Northfield News called it "largely enjoyable, rather funny and a good time." Weyhe criticized the film for being sappy and predictable, but praised Isadora Swann's and Marguerite Moreau's performances. Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gave the film an audience rating of 47%, based on 17 reviews, with a rating average score of 3.2/5.
Love Always, Santa | Critical Response
Allmusic editor Jose F. Promis called "This Christmas" a "likeable collection of easygoing holiday confections. The songs prove quite endearing, but in some cases are marred by somewhat dated production [...] Oftentimes, holiday albums such as this – composed of new, untraditional recordings – are somewhat tepid, but that's thankfully not the case here. Despite a few dull moments and some lackluster production, this is quite an enjoyable and endearing holiday set, and will no doubt please the legendary singer's many fans."
This Christmas (Patti LaBelle album) | Critical reception
Oh, and all the reindeer are dead." Ebert concluded that "this is a fine film. An original, daring, carefully crafted film, that never for one instant winks at us that it's a parody. In its tone, acting, location work, music and inexorably mounting suspense, this is an exemplary horror film, apart from the detail that they're not usually subtitled "A Christmas Tale" and tell about terrifying wild Santas." Novelist and critic Kim Newman gave the movie 4 out of 5 stars ("Excellent") and praised its "very black humour and a strange mix of revisionist mythology, gruesome horror and authentic Christmas spirit.
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale | Critical reception
Allmusic critic Stewart Mason calls the album "a rather skimpy but nonetheless useful compilation of Christmas songs" and says it "wisely steers mostly clear of the annoying novelty Christmas songs of the rock era." While it does include the "horrifyingly bad 'Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer'," it also includes "Charles Brown's 'Please Come Home for Christmas', maybe the best R&B Christmas song ever".
Billboard Greatest Christmas Hits | Reception
A slightly more mixed review came from James Masterton of Yahoo! Music, who said that "as a pop record it isn't half bad", but that it was "never going to be particularly cool, no matter how hard anyone tries".
This Little Light | Critical reception
"Christmas: Live from Phoenix" prompted positive reactions, echoed in reviews about the collection from critics within the Contemporary Christian music genre. Alex Caldwell from Jesus Freak Hideout described the album as a story that was "deserving a musical soundtrack" filled with warm feelings and nostalgia. He praised the band's original Christmas songs like "Baby Boy" and "Glorious" for their "seamless fit into the concert flow".
Christmas: Live from Phoenix | Critical reception
It's a brief Christmas album, only 30 minutes in length, in which Braxton covers a lot of familiar ground ("Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," "Silent Night," etc.) yet puts forth maximum effort. In some cases, the amount of energy exerted is greater than what's required—most audibly so on an a cappella update of "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" that features Trina Braxton and dollops of melisma. "Sleigh Ride" and "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" get traditional vocal arrangements with contemporary beats, while some songs—like "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," including an undeniably stunning closing note, and a serious "Santa Baby"—are played straight.
Winter Loversland | Critical reaction
At Alpha Omega News, Tom Frigoli graded the album an A, and stated West really knows the meaning of this special time of year. Tyler Hess of Christian Music Zine rated the album three-and-a-half out of five stars, and alluded to how the album has a "few hints of spice and personality" that help distinguish it from the rest. However, Allmusic's Jon O'Brien rated it three stars, which was the only mixed review, and felt that with respect to the album it "doesn't exactly break any new ground, but it's a heart-warming affair".
The Heart of Christmas (album) | Critical reception
He also felt the band's musical changes to the traditional songs showed their care for them.
The Christmas Sessions | Critical reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 79% based on 29 reviews, with an average rating of 6.23/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "With a bombastic performance from Jim Broadbent, "Get Santa" brilliantly captures the joys of the Christmas holiday." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 52 out of 100, based on 6 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
Get Santa | Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 24% based on 134 reviews, with an average rating of 4.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Loaded up with the same scatological and misanthropic humor as its predecessor but precious little of its heart or genuine wit, "Bad Santa 2" presents a foulmouthed shadow of Christmas past." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 38 out of 100, based on 36 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C+" on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported filmgoers gave it a 69% overall positive score and a 51% "definite recommend".
Bad Santa 2 | Critical response
Larry Flick, of "Billboard" magazine reviewed the song favorably, saying that the melody is "infectious and the production is positively inventive." He goes on to call it "fun, frisky, and totally entertaining."
We Really Shouldn't Be Doing This | Critical reception
"Oops!... I Did It Again" received favorable reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, "Oops!... I Did It Again" received an average score of 72, based on 12 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Giving the album four out of five stars, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic noted that the album "has the same combination of sweetly sentimental ballads and endearingly gaudy dance-pop that made 'One More Time'," but remarked that, "Fortunately, she and her production team not only have a stronger overall set of songs this time, but they also occasionally get carried away with the same bewildering magpie aesthetic, [...] giv[ing] the album character apart from the well-crafted dance-pop and ballads that serve as its heart.
Oops!... I Did It Again (album) | Critical reception
The title track is about a man returning home to his love on Christmas, after his love wished that Santa would "bring [her] baby home tonight." SBK Records released one single to radio and retail. "Hey Santa!", backed with their cover version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", was issued on cassette single and on a green vinyl 45 rpm, SBK S7-17648-A, and reached #22 on the "Billboard" Top Adult Contemporary chart. It also reached #1 on the "Billboard" Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart, often shown as #101 on the Hot 100 in "Billboard" reference books. Despite being a commercial failure, the single still receives recurrent airplay during the Christmas holiday season.
Hey Santa! | Introduction
Melinda Newman of HitFix wrote, "It's a finger-popping, bell-ringing pleaser that could achieve that rare feat of becoming a new Christmas standard. That hasn't happened since Carey's "All I Want For Christmas" in 1994;" while "The Independent"s Hugh Montgomery applauded it as having a sass, jingle and a sax solo, saying that it is "a winner on all fronts."
Underneath the Tree | Critical response
Oh, and did we mention Kylie's singing on it?" He concluded "it's no wonder this latest offering is so good, because they've clearly got chemistry. We can't get enough of this and we reckon you'll feel the same..."
Every Day's Like Christmas | Critical reception
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic rated the album three stars out of five. "[It] does everything a modern mainstream holiday album should do," writes Erlewine, "it plays upon memories of Christmas while appealing to the moment at hand." He added that the original songs "feel like radio tunes" rather than seasonal material. Chuck Dauphin of country music blog "Sounds Like Nashville" wrote a positive review in which he praised Young's "classic approach" to the holiday fare. "Whether it be a "New" classic or an evergreen one," he writes, "Young hits all the right notes on the album."
It Must Be Christmas | Critical
"Actually" was well received by critics. Robert Christgau gave the album an A– grade, writing "this is actual pop music with something actual to say—pure commodity, and proud of it." In his retrospective review, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that "Actually" is the album "[where] the Pet Shop Boys perfected their melodic, detached dance-pop".
Actually | Critical reception
"Rockin' Rudolph" received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic rated the album three out of five stars and states: "Rockin' Rudolph deserves to sit proudly alongside the Brian Setzer Orchestra's other five Christmas albums because it serves up snazzy seasonal swingers, tunes that revel in their retro-kitsch."
Rockin' Rudolph | Critical reception
But it also creates a dramatic world in which singing seems to be the only appropriate medium." Williams concluded by observing that the "warm response of the Santa Fe audience suggests the work may have legs." In the "Denver Post" Kyle McMillan commented: "The piece, which runs an economical 100 minutes with no intermission, has virtually all the essential — and expected — ingredients, including style, humor and grit. The only thing missing, unfortunately, is heart." McMillan believed that the score's "unnatural leaps in pitch and non-intuitive phrasing" made it difficult for the audience to empathize with the opera's characters.
The Letter (opera) | Critical reception
It became the first song to reach the summit in two weeks. It further became Carey's seventh number-one song on the chart. Carey filmed a 1960s style music video to accompany the song's release as a single, and performed it on various programs in the lead up to Christmas, including her own TV special called "Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to You". It was later adapted to be the finale of "A Christmas Melody", a 2015 Hallmark Channel Christmas movie, with its lyrics tweaked to be relevant for Broadway child performer Fina Strazza's character singing about her single mom finding love.
Oh Santa! | Introduction
"The Village Voice" writer Rich Juzwiak felt that "Christmas Time Is in the Air Again" was the only song on "Merry Christmas II You" that matched "the magic" of her 1994 single "All I Want for Christmas Is You", describing it as "exquisite". He continued to write that it is "a sweeping big-band ballad that you'd swear was a cover from some Judy Garland movie you didn't pay that much attention to once. Not even Santa himself has the power to conjure the spontaneous nostalgia found here." BBC critic Mike Diver was complimentary of the track, writing that, although the effect is "less instant" compared to the first single, "Oh Santa!", it fits in well with the rest of the album and is "perfectly formed".
Christmas Time Is in the Air Again | Critical reception
Matt Collar of Allmusic complimented the classic Christmas songs composed in a "light, contemporary pop fashion," noting Aly & AJ's original songs as standouts on the album. Logan Leasure of Jesus Freak Hideout commended Aly & AJ's "powerhouse" vocals on the tracks, but said carols such as "The First Noel" and "Deck the Halls" were a bit boring, due to the acoustic feel of the set. Overall, Leasure said "This album has its good share of standout tracks that are sure to satisfy any fan of modern Christmas music." He specifically pointed out "Little Drummer Boy" and the impressive lyrical content of "Not This Year.
Acoustic Hearts of Winter | Critical reception
"My Kind of Christmas" debuted at number 38 on the "Billboard" 200, and later climbed to number 28, its peak. It eventually peaked atop the "Billboard" Holiday Albums. Due to its chart success, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album platinum, having sold more than 1,015,000 copies in the country. "The Christmas Song" became Aguilera's fifth top-twenty hit on the "Billboard" Hot 100, peaking at number 18 on the chart.
My Kind of Christmas | Critical reception
Critical response to "Holly & Ivy" was primarily positive upon its release. Clarence Waldron referred to it as a "top favorite among music lovers this season". Describing the album as a "fine outing", AllMusic's Robert Taylor praised Cole's choice of holiday classics and lesser known songs such as "The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot" and "No More Blue Christmas". David Browne of "Entertainment Weekly" commended the singer's ability to make "the usual yuletide tunes brassy and bustling", and highlighted her interpretation of 'Winter Wonderland' as sounding "like Christmas Eve at the Copa". He described Cole's voice as "warm and toasty" even when the material is lowered "from overly gushy arrangements".
Holly &amp; Ivy | Critical reception
The song was listed at number 127 on "Pitchfork Media"'s top 500 songs of the 2000s.
Oh (Ciara song) | Critical reception
It received a positive review in "Billboard", with the uncredited review calling the song "soft and believable".
Jesus and Mama | Critical reception
are just plain cute". In his review of classic Christmas songs, "The Sydney Morning Herald" Richard Jinman said that this track and Mariah Carey's 1994 single "All I Want for Christmas Is You" were "ho-ho-horrible singles", and Adam Graham of "The Detroit News" also commented that the "sleigh bells and holiday cheer abound on this bouncy teen-pop ditty ... follows in the tradition" of Carey's single. Sam Lansky of PopCrush included the song on his list of Top 10 Original Christmas Pop Songs, writing, "another millennial teen pop jam, Britney Spears' 'My Only Wish (This Year)' follows the time-honored tradition of asking Santa Claus for love", and finding it "a sweet throwback to the simpler days of [Britney]".
My Only Wish (This Year) | Critical reception
In a review for "It's Christmas Time", "Chester Chronicle" reviewer Polly Weeks called the song something that "will keep teenagers happy". In a review for "Now That's What I Call Christmas! 4", J Matthew Cobb of "HiFi Magazine" called "Christmas Tree" part of a "good list" of new material and described it as "naughty, but nice".
Christmas Tree (Lady Gaga song) | Critical reception
"Dear Darlin'" was one of the three songs that was previewed prior to the album's release. Robert Copsey of Digital Spy gave the song a positive review commenting, "it's reassuringly familiar without feeling dated." He ended his review writing, "There are Christmassy chimes to be heard throughout, so we wouldn't be surprised if this is the next pre-Christmas single."
Dear Darlin' | Critical reception
Tyler Hess of Christian Music Zine rated the album four stars, which he said the album was just "nice", and the album should "[bring] a soft comfort for those looking forward to enjoying the Holiday." At The Christian Music Review Blog, Jonathan Kemp rated the album three-and-a-half stars, and wrote that the listener should just get the songs they liked rather than buying the whole project because it was not the "best" of Christmas albums.
Songs for Christmas (Phil Wickham album) | Critical reception
Only their record company would claim that emotional vocals, dramatic dynamics, poppy-punky tempos, and not actually all that catchy tunes add up to their own sound." "IGN" was very negative towards the album, giving it a 3.6 out of 10 saying: "Pop-punk had to begin somewhere, and when it rains, it apparently pours; Fall Out Boy is merely another addition to a stable bursting at the seams."
From Under the Cork Tree | Critical reception
"Oh Santa!" was written and produced by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox for Carey's second Christmas/thirteenth studio album, "Merry Christmas II You" (2010); Rye Songs administered by Songs of Universal (BMI)/Shaniah Cymone Music|EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP)/WBM Music Corp Inc./Pamela & Lorrence's Publishing LLC (SESAC). Her vocals were recorded by Brian Garten, Marcus Johnson and Thomas Kanarek, Martin Cooke, Nicholas Essif and Peter Mack, and the music by John Horesco at Guardian Angel Studios, Westlake Recording Studios, Henson Studios and Capitol Recording Studios. It was mixed by Phil Tan and Damien Lewis at The Ninja Beat Club. Dupri played the drums and Randy Jackson performed bass.
Oh Santa! | Background and composition
The film received generally positive reviews from the critics. On Rotten Tomatoes the film has a "Certified Fresh" approval rating of 71% based on 56 reviews, with an average rating of 5.86/10. The consensus from the site is ""The Santa Clause" is utterly undemanding, but it's firmly rooted in the sort of good old-fashioned holiday spirit missing from too many modern yuletide films." On Metacritic the film has a score of 57% based on reviews from 13 critics. Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade A- on scale of A to F.
The Santa Clause | Critical reception
Fraser McAlpine of BBC Chart Blog awarded the song five stars and gave a positive review, stating: "Oh now this is the kind of thing we can all get behind, isn't it? Song titles as crossword clues! You don't even have to know that this is largely based on reswizzled chunks of the MGMT song 'Kids', because you can work it out from the title".
Opposite of Adults | Critical reception
It also received a Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) Award for "Award-Winning Song".
Check on It | Critical reception
That is, it's not the kind of groundbreaking all-new Christmas recording but it is well-made and should be an easy addition to any Christmas music fan's collection of yuletide music."
Christmas with Scotty McCreery | Critical reception
The song received mostly positive reaction from the music critics.
Chumma (song) | Critical reception
At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 63, based on 8 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
As U Were | Critical reception
Assigning the album nine stars out of ten at The Front Row Report, Reggie Edwards responds, "MercyMe have outdone themselves". Sarah Baylor, signaling in a 4.8 out of five review from The Christian Beat, replies, "MercyMe has managed to create a brilliant Christmas album that contains their own unique, spirit-filled sound."
MercyMe, It's Christmas! | Critical reception
The EP—and "Christmas Time Is Here" in particular—received positive critical reception overall. In the United States, "Oh Blue Christmas" peaked at number 87 on the "Billboard" 200, at number three on "Billboard" Top Holiday Albums chart and at number 28 on the Top Rock Albums chart. A Fine Frenzy was touring the United States when "Bomb in a Birdcage" and "Oh Blue Christmas" were released.
Oh Blue Christmas | Introduction
"Pop Dust" criticized the lack of consistency in the production of the song, calling it as unattractive: "The song's not that bad—it's professionally mediocre at the very least—but it's hard to not wish that Disney had used this chance to at least attempt to humor the teenage-outsider contingent. Something to demonstrate at least token awareness of high-school misfitdom extending beyond the slightly goofier Jonas Brothers".
Somebody (Bridgit Mendler song) | Critical reception