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Deluxe Edition:
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Pros
- Rich voice, beautiful arrangements of standard holiday fare that doesn't get stale
Cons
- Elvis sings "Blue Christmas" better
Description
- 15 tracks of traditional Christmas music, primarily in Spanish with some English-language numbers
- Featuring Natalie Cole, Mary J. Blige and a selection of choirs and orchestras accompanying Bocelli
- Released November 2009 by Universal
Guide Review - Review: Andrea Bocelli - 'Mi Navidad'
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli has amassed a huge following among Spanish-language speakers so that a Christmas album by Bocelli should be a welcome addition to holiday collections.
Mi Navidad is a collection of the classic carols that will not fail to warm hearts during a season that begs for a return to gentler times and traditional music. The albums 15 tracks are primarily in Spanish, with a sprinkling of English-language songs, a few duets and an effective selection of guest choirs and orchestras that add a special touch to each song.
Bocelli's voice has not always received critical acclaim in operatic circles but its rich, warm tones are ideal for bringing more serious music to a pop-loving public. The track list has few surprises on it, going instead for the traditional songs that never grow old and which evoke a longed-for nostalgia for one month out of the year.
The album opener is “Blanco Navidad” (“White Christmas”) followed by “Gloria In Excelsis Deo” (“Angels We Have Heard on High”). Among other noteworthy carols in Spanish, you’ll also find “El Abeto” (“Oh Tannebaum”) where you can also hear Bocelli play the flute and “Noche La Paz” (“Silent Night”) with the help of the Salvation Army Boys Choir. The album ends with “Dios Nos Bendecira” (“God Bless Us Everyone”) which is the theme song for the 2009 Disney movie The Christmas Carol.
Mi Navidad also contains two duets, both in English. Mary J. Blige joins Bocelli on “What Child Is This,’ lending the carol a gospel music flavor while Natalie Cole guests on “The Christmas Song.”
Bocelli has released several versions of the album within a couple of weeks of each other; the English-language My Christmas offers the same track list, sung in English. The album is also available in a deluxe edition that pairs the CD with a DVD of a concert that was filmed live at the Los Angeles’ Kodak Theatre in Sept. 2009.
If one song on this lovely album stands out as something really special, it's Bocelli singing "The Lords' Prayer" with the help of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. This is a song that will bring the true spirit of Christmas to both heart and mind.