Idina Menzel's Holiday Wishes: Review

Holiday Wishes is a sweet album filled with classics, old and new, as well as her own original song “December Prayer”. This easy listening album would be great for a christmas get together, while cooking your Christmas Cookies, or doing the chores that happen around the holidays. It is very Christmas-centric despite the title of “Holidays” so it may not work for those of you celebrating Chanukah, or Kwanza.


We all know Idina Menzel from the instant classic, Rent. Oh, and of course from her show stopping performance as Elphaba in the broadway musical Wicked. Some of you dont? Okay, okay she is probably most widely known for her role as Elsa in the Disney motion picture, Frozen. Which has seemingly taken the country by storm. Ice Storm.

Okay, I’ll show myself out.

Idina Menzel is known for her clear crisp voice. It is high quality, makes me wonder why she hasn’t released more studio albums. Her voice is beautiful and perfect for that contemporary crowd. The kind that love Michael Buble (who does a duet with her in Holiday Wishes).

Holiday Wishes Track Listing:

Do You Hear What I Hear

The Christmas Song

Baby It’s Cold Outside (Duet with Michael Buble)

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

All I Want For Christmas
What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?
December Prayer

When You Wish Upon A Star

Silent Night

River

Holly Jolly Christmas

White Christmas

Despite saying “Holiday Wishes” almost all of Idina’s musical selections are Christmas tunes with a few exceptions for holiday tunes. I had hoped there would be a few more exceptions on there, for example, Jewish songs that encompass the time of year.

My favorite two songs on the album are Joni Mitchell’s “The River”, and the only original song, “December Prayer”. They are hands down the best sung pieces, beautifully done. Tasteful and in an arrangement that makes you want to hit repeat over and over again.

That is not to say that any song is less than good, Idina’s voice is amazing and she brings her talent to each and every classic, or new classic song. From “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” To “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

Listening to this album reminds me of the kind of music my Granny would have loved, and it brings back all those memories of family Christmas. If she were still here with us, it is certainly a gift I would give her.


Holiday Wishes is a great compilation with a talented voice behind it.

Pick it up today!

Where to Buy:

* iTunes: http://bit.ly/IMHolidayWishes
* Amazon: http://bit.ly/IDINAHOLIDAY

Social Media: 

* Official Idina Menzel website: www.idinamenzel.com
* Twitter - @idinamenzel
* Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IdinaMenzel
* YouTube - http://bit.ly/IMHWVID

Heart on My Sleeve Review

I've been hearing the name Mary Lambert everywhere. Everywhere. The first time I heard her melodic voice was in Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's smash hit Same Love. Tackling the hard topics of sexuality and prejudice. I knew I wanted to hear more of her voice in that instant, so when I was offered by One2One to review it, I jumped at the opportunity. This two time Grammy nominee Mary Lambert carries it all in her new album Heart On My Sleeve released Tuesday, October 14th, 2014. I found myself lost in her raw emotion.

Secrets is the first single off the album, with an already released video. It pushes away the ethos that we should hide who we are, hide those things that we don't like. "I don't care if the world knows what my secrets are." 

I can personally resonate with "Sometimes I cry the whole day," and a host of other lyrics on this entire song. It grabs you, surprises you, and makes you want to go along for the ride. There is a good reason it is the opener on the album. It is the epitome of what we all want to say, all while trying so desperately to hide.

Lyrics like "Kiss me like the world is gonna disappear," (So Far Away) pull me into the deep emotion that is her life. That is my life. It is the kind of album filled with songs that almost anyone, anyone who has been vulnerable in their life, can resonate with. I am a sucker for music that does this, and I find it rarely. 

Mary Lambert captures this voice, the little voice in so many people, the one calling to be heard. The one full of fear, and hope, and vulnerability. And she shines a light on it, unafraid of the exposure of all those things.

Her poem, Dear One, really speaks to me. The love and want and raw emotion of finding the one, her Dear One. It pulls me in and makes me want to hold my Dear One close.

I'm totally in love with this album, and I know it is going to be one of those that I rely on for writing, for working out, for those moments when I just need to vegetate to something that speaks to me.

Mary Lambert can speak to us all. I recommend that you discover what resonates with you in Heart On My Sleeve by picking up a copy via Amazon or iTunes Today, Tuesday, October 14th. You can  more about Mary Lambert by following her on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube, and visit her website at www.marylambertsings.com.

Include the following disclosure statement: I participated in the Mary Lambert Heart On My Sleeve album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided a free album to review but all opinions are my own.