Bette Midler - Cool Yule
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Free Music Notes for Cool Yule
Free Music Review: Very Cool Yule
Hit: 5 Stars
The first question that comes to mind about Bette Midler's Christmas album, Cool Yule, is what took so long? Bette Midler has been a shining star since her smash debut album, The Divine Miss M, 35 years ago. Lucky for us, she's recorded a holiday album that's reminiscent of the style we fell in love with all those years ago. The title track (penned by Steve Allen) is a sparkling up-tempo ditty that reeks of the big band sound that Midler so proudly reclaimed and brought back to life in 1972. When I think of Bette Midler, I think of nostalgia and her clever way of recapturing an era that brought us some of the best music ever written and recorded. Another one of the many gifts Midler possesses is that she can make you laugh and cry at the drop of a hat and she can alter your emotions quicker than you can say Merry Christmas. This is most evident when she goes from the brassy and boisterous duet with Johnny Mathis of "Winter Wonderland/Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" and shifts gears faster than Santa jumps rooftops when she launches into the ever-so-melancholy "I'll Be Home For Christmas." Bette also doesn't escape her hometown roots of Honolulu on the sensational recording "Mele Kalikimaka," where you can almost envision Miss M playing a ukulele in a grass skirt while her hunky Don Ho-ish back-up boys accompany her on the sands of Waikiki in Santa hats. I'll leave the rest of their wardrobe up to your imagination! If anyone can conjure up Christmas Hawaiian style, it's unquestionably a toss-up between Ho and Midler herself. Bette also stays true to the traditional songs of the season, such as a sincere rendition of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." Her romantic side gets us in the mood with such wonderful offerings as "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" and "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" which sounds as if it could've been recorded 50 years ago. That's the knack that Midler sincerely possesses when she makes you long for the innocence of days gone by. The two closing numbers are true gifts that complete this album superbly. The first is her revisit to her Grammy Award-winning song from 1990, "From A Distance," which is newly recorded with additional lyrics, and begins with a sample of "Little Drummer Boy." Finally, on the Bing Crosby holiday favorite "White Christmas," Bette stays true to the original Irving Berlin standard by including the rarely recorded introduction, and launches into the melody with so much heart and soul that she makes this well-recognized masterpiece truly her own. This entire disc resonates so deeply with the season it makes Midler's long overdue recording of holiday music stand up and be recognized with the best of them.Free Music Review: Bette's Cool Yule Shall Rule !!!
Hit: 5 Stars
This is one incredible Christmas CD from Bette Midler. Bette's first Christmas album is full of great renditions of the standards of this time of year including "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas;" "Ill Be Home For Christmas;" "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?;" "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" and "White Christmas." Bette throws in a lot of her own pizzazz and wonderful eggnog with a new song "Cool Yule" and she does a wonderful duet with Johnny Mathis as they perform "Winter Wonderland/Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" Terrific!
The CD opens strong with "Merry Christmas." This song boasts a great musical arrangement and Bette's voice is in excellent form--as it is throughout this album! Then the CD shifts gears and revs up the motors a little bit with "Cool Yule." This song, written by Steve Allen with additional lyrics by Eric Kornfeld, is a lot of fun and you'll be eager to listen to it again and again!
Another fun song on this CD is "Mele Kalikimaka." This is how to say "Merry Christmas" in Hawaiian; this adds a very personal touch to the CD because Bette was born in the state of Hawaii. It offers a great musical composition that starts off with a brief romantic flavor and then twists into a very catchy tune! Could this be a new classic in the making? I think this song will become increasingly popular with time as it is very well written and Bette does a great job with it. The numerous background vocalists are wonderful as well.
Bette Midler fans will recognize the special Christmas version of "From A Distance." It is touching as it was when it was first released and it remains just as relevant today as it was when it was first released in 1990. Newcomers will enjoy this special song as well.
I especially like how Bette masterfully handles the romantic, sentimental lyrics of "I'll Be Home For Christmas" as well as "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" Bette breathes new life into these standards with her beautiful voice, energy and passion.
The quality of the sound is excellent even on a portable CD player. The liner notes are wonderful, too. There are nice photos of Bette both in the liner notes and on the back of the CD artwork, too. You get the song credits and there's a well written essay by Jay Landers. Nice!
Overall, I would recommend this CD for Bette Midler fans and anyone who appreciates beautifully arranged Christmas music. Bette's voice has never sounded better and I applaud her fine efforts to make her first Christmas CD a splendid reality. "Mele Kalikimaka" to you! SMILES
Free Music Review: A Cool Jewel for the Top of the Tree!
Hit: 5 Stars
Yes people your favorite Seer is back. Don't ask, I will tell you later. My main point today is to spread cheer and joy by reviewing this very cool and considerable proffering by the incredible Bette Midler. Accolades! Bravo! So well done! Welcome back Bette! Who would have thought you would do a holiday album? But you did, and we are all the better for it! An incredibly wise choice.
This c.d. is a wonder. The arrangements are right on the money and constructed in a way that harkens back to the offerings of the older holiday classics by such artists as Bing Crosby, Perry Como and Nat King Cole. But make no mistake - it jazz swings with zest and the slower ballads are well thought out with just the right nuances to compliment Bette's vocals. And speaking of her vocals, if I close my eyes I feel like I'm back in the 1940s- this people is the magic of the recording. It can be modern and timeless at the same time-which is a remarkable feat in this day and age.
This c.d. has a relaxed, easy feeling about it. It is comfortable. I envision myself on a sofa, having a hot toddy, having a fire in the fireplace with embers crackling, the smell of pine, and the wind swirling snow outside. A classic setting for a classic seasonal c.d., don't you think?
I could get into the tunes, most of them are well known Christmas fare. The duet with Johnny Mathis "Winter Wonderland/Let It Snow! Let it Snow! Let It Snow!" is a joy to hear and one of my favorite tunes "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" is done with an interesting arrangement while still giving the song the due reverence and respect it deserves. And, as one would expect, she does a version of "Mele Kalikimaka" that gives new verve to that Bing Crosby chestnut. Where is Bette? She's in that 1940's recording studio again???? How very great! But make no mistake -ALL of the songs here are gems.
People, it has been my contention that Bette Midler doesn't have to cover other artists, which she has been known to do as of late. No. Bette Midler is at the top of her game doing Bette Midler. The proof is here. Nobody comes close when she is herself. Point blank! She takes these songs and makes them her own. A lovely, good feeling, relaxing and marvelous treat. It is my pleasure to hear this c.d. and also my pleasure to report all this.
Thank you Bette, this is quite a gift. And have yourself a wonderful holiday!
Spiritual light and love--------your Metamorpho.
Free Music Review: THE Holiday Album of the Year!!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
Finally, Bette Midler has released a Christmas album. As a huge fan of Midler's this is something I've wanted to see her do for years and years, and now it's here, and it's perfection! I mean, who BETTEr to do a Christmas album than the Divine herself? What makes this album special is the fact that Midler didn't record the same songs as everyone else does on their Christmas albums. Granted, some of the usual standars are here, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, White Christmas, Merry Christmas, and Winer Wonderland/Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow. But it's the other songs that make the album so enjoyable. Two of the best songs on this album are Cool Yule and Mele Kalikimaka (appropriate for Midler as she grew up in Hawaii). These two songs are uptempo and cheery and nothing but fun. A great way to get into the holiday spirit. Another upbeat song is her duet with Mr. Christmas himself, Johnny Mathis, on Winter Wonderland/Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow. The song starts off with a little comical banter between Midle and Mathis and continues it's fun all the way through. Midler's version of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (not a song you see too much on Christmas albums) is absolutely Divine. Midler is known for her ability to reach the listner with the power of her voice and this is the song on the album that does that. A couple of jazzier sounding numbers are What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? and I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm. The latter is an amazing song in which Midler's vocals are in top form. The highlight of the album is the Christmas version of From A Distance. It's a song we all know and Midler did a splendid job in turning it into THE ultimate holiday song. The lyrics are beautiful and just as touching, if not more, than the original.
All in all, Midler sounds FABulous and the arrangements are perfect and stunning. Anyone who is a Christmas music fan, this album is for you. This album would be a perfect stocking stuffer for the holidays, so buy one for yourself and for your loved ones! Thanks Bette for an absolutely wonderful holiday treat!
Free Music Review: An excellent Christmas album
Hit: 5 Stars
Containing a mix of familiar and less obvious material, ballads and up-tempo songs, this album has something for everybody The booklet contains liner notes including comments from Bette in which she acknowledges the passing of her long-time producer Arif Mardin. So it seems that she had to find a new producer for this album, but the quality of this album shows that Robbie Buchanan was an able replacement.
The set opens with a lovely slow song titled Merry Christmas, then explodes into life with the rousing, joyful Cool Yule, followed by the very familiar ballad Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Johnny Mathis joins Bette for a playful medley of Winter wonderland / Let it snow let it snow let it snow, which they have a lot of fun with. Next comes the reflective I'll be home for Christmas, one of best Christmas ballads there is. After this Bette sings another fine ballad, What are you doing New Year's Eve?, which isn't strictly about Christmas but it's close enough. In any case, I'm not sure that that there are enough New Year songs to compile an album of them.
The next ballad, I've got my love to keep me warm, mentions December and snow but not Christmas. Nevertheless, it's most welcome here. Bette follows this song with O come o come Emmanuel, the only religious song here. After all those slow songs, the tempo picks up again for Mele Kalikimaka, the Hawaiian Christmas song normally associated with the Andrews sisters. Of course, this isn't the first time that Bette has recorded one of their songs. Two very familiar songs close the album, these being the Christmas version of From a distance (not that different from the original, though the differences are noticeable) and White Christmas, which includes the oft-omitted first verse setting the scene in Beverley Hills.
Overall, this is an excellent Christmas album that Bette clearly enjoyed recording. One wonders why it took her so long to record a Christmas album, but whatever the reason, it was worth the wait.