Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas II You Album Review

 

Welcome back everyone, today we are going to continue to review Mariah’s catalog and we are going to review the only album I haven’t reviewed of hers, her thirteenth album Merry Christmas II You. This was Mariah’s second holiday album, and the obvious sequel to 1994 Merry Christmas. Some people call this the pregnant album, as she had not one but two cakes in the oven baking while recording this project (that’s what hanging with Nick Cannon would get you). Anyway, her second holiday album, does it live up to the status of the original? Stay tuned to find out

                   Mariah Carey “Merry Christmas II You”

1.       Santa Claus is Coming to Town (intro) (N/A)

2.       Oh Santa: The most recognizable song of the from this era. It always confused me on why this wasn’t a holiday staple and listening to this, I understand why. The song comes off as cheerleader energy as she sings about her former lover moving on from her (it’s one of those songs). Mariah’s wish from Santa is that he leaves his new lover, Santa scoop him up, and shove him down her chimney. This song has one big problem and it’s how wordy the verse come off. She is trying to cram too many words in said verses. This is kind of a shame because I wanted to like this song but it never clicked for me. It happens. (DECENT)

3.       O Little Town to Bethlehem/Little Drummer Boy (melody): Now we begin the covers and this one meshes two holiday staples into one. This one suffers from Mariah’s vocals being overproduced. Also I’m not the biggest fan of Mariah meshing the two songs into one. Rather have the songs into two separate tracks. In other words, I say take it or leave it (DECENT)

4.       Christmas Time in the Air: The second original song on the album and this one is pretty heartwarming. I love how Mariah sets the mood for you to get into the Christmas spirit. The mood is so strong that even the Grinch and Scrooge can’t deny it. Vocals are lush and this is one for the easy listener. If I have to nitpik, is that the song feels safe doesn’t try and take a risk but that okay for this atmosphere. Overall, don’t have any major issues with this song (GOOD)

5.       The First Noel/Born is the King (interlude): Time for an admission. My favorite cover of The First Noel was sung by All-4-One. For this song, I wish this match but it’s still solid relying on strings and piano. Mariah is strong enough presence to make this work. Meanwhile, Born is the King interlude felt like it was suppose to be a song but either the idea never came into floriation or the song never got completed or she just playing with the word Born is the King from the song previous. Overall, it’s another good performance not quite in the Amazing tier (GOOD)

6.       When Christmas Comes: Original song #3 and the best way to describe this song was that this sounds like a song that could’ve came out during the Emancipation era. Someone else said this is the Christmas song fro grown folks, the type of song you play while the kids are in bed. There’s not much to the content, just a grown folks Christmas song with adult R&B production with little evidence that it could pass off as a holiday tune with Mariah herself mentioning it. Overall, it’s a song that took a risk and I believed that it worked out. I’ll say this osong is a win (AMAZING)

7.       Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)/Housetop Celebration: Ugh, this is what happens when she teams up with Jermaine Dupri to make a Christmas tune. Production weighs this one down bigtime. Again cover song prevents me from diving in. I’ll give it one thing and one thing only. This song provides roller rink energy which Mariah has done before and done afterwards, but for a holiday album this needed ice skating energy. I’ll leave it at the rink, speaking of ice-skating energy… (DECENT)

8.       Charlie Brown Christmas: A direct cover of the Charlie Brown special and this turned out pretty well. There is one big issue that can’t be ignored. The song spends about a minute with “Linus & Lucy” before we hear Mariah. The intro should’ve been used as the Linus and Lucy interlude. But once she get’s to Christmas Time is Here, she sounds beautiful. Overall, childhood nostalgia will likely win over every time, but I always liked the original and Mariah cover is one of the best. I’ll call it a win (AMAZING)

9.       O Come All Ye Faithful" / Hallelujah Chorus (featuring Patricia Carey): is the best song on the album there is one big reason. Her mother. If you don’t know Patricia Carey was a trained opera singer and is part of the reason why Mariah has a huge vocal range. So when Patricia Carey when she comes in you feel her presence and I’ll admit it gave goosebumps. Also the song has the gospel elements Mariah love to use throughout her catalog. So I’m going to close with this, thanking Patricia Carey for giving us one of the greatest vocalist of all time. May you continue to rest in peace. (AMAZING)

10.   O Holy Night (Live from WPC in South Central Los Angeles): Again, okay the only difference with this song is that it was performed at the WPC in South Central and that was recorded ten years prior to this album coming out. Problem is while I was lukewarm with the original, I had a hard time finding any stark difference between the two outside of the live setting. It makes me question the purpose of the being on this album? Sure the arrangement is decent but the era of streaming just stick to the original, even that might be telling. (DECENT)

11.   One Child: The last original song on the album and this basically set the scene in Bethlehem with the birth of Jesus Christ. Not going to go through the entire story because if you the story you know. This song tries to sell the “one child can change the world” trope and the child that changed the world was Jesus Christ. Normally, children chorus can make or break a song and this time it makes sense here given the songs title and message. Also did anyone notice the little drummer boy snares in the production. Overall, it’s another good song with minimal issues (GOOD)  

12.   All I Want For Christmas Is You – Extra Festive: NO, I’ll be fair to this one by asking the question, why is this song NOT on streaming? That was the question I posed on Reddit and the answers I got mad me like the song considerably less than I already do. It was alleged that the reason why this version was removed from streaming was that they didn’t want this version to take away from the original so the original could make its annual run at #1. It is also alleged that the song is usually available on streaming between February-August, once again Christmas capitalism that leaves me to sour on this song. Crazy that I haven’t talked about the song itself, watch the Merry Christmas review if you want to hear why I dislike this song so much. I just don’t feel like repeating myself again. (BAD)

13.   Auld Lang Syne (The New Years Anthem): Okay final song on the album, and what do you know a the last song is not a Christmas song but instead a New Years one. But man I think this was a mistake. Who told Mariah that making this song an EDM anthem would work. Granted that sound was huge in the early 2010s and Mariah wanted to test the waters. The song sounds like what you hear at mall retail stores, but again who would play this song. Overall, this song is the anthem of cash grab to take advantage on a moment that has aged pretty roughly today. Not the best way to end an album. (BAD)

That concludes this album review. While not matching the same level of the original, the sequel does have good moments but the album didn’t end great. I didn’t mind Mariah releasing another holiday album but this feels like a cash grab. I’ll bet Merry Christmas 3.0 will come by decades end given how everyone will do anything and make unnecessary decisions for the almighty dollar. As for a ranking, I gave the original a 6/10 and I don’t want to give the sequel album a higher score than that. So I’ll settle with that there are moment where the album shines and moments that leaves you scratching your head, it’s only okay at best.

Best Songs: When Christmas Comes, Charlie Brown Christmas, O Come All Ye Faithful" / Hallelujah Chorus (ft. Patricia Carey)

Worst Songs: All I Want For Christmas is You (Extra Festive), Auld Lang Syne (The New Year Anthem)