I love all kinds of Christmas music and from the beginning of December, I listen to Christmas albums all the time. Apart from the classic ones, I try to get at least one slightly different each year. Naturally as soon as I heard that Annie Lennox was doing a Christmas album I immediately ordered it. This emotional Christmas album with the unique voice of Annie Lenox, and a significant African influence, did not disappoint me at all.
Focusing on children and the hope a new birth brings, with the heart breaking beautiful traditional "Coventry Carol" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem", this album is the very meaning of Christmas. Apart from the well known Christmas songs, the album includes Lenox's new song "Universal Child" inspired by her work in Africa and the suffering of children that she witnessed.
Lenox performs in her own way, classic Christmas songs like "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen", "The First Noel", "The Holly and the Ivy", and "Silent Night". However what I loved most about this album is that it includes less known Christmas songs, and it was such a lovely surprise to get them in this collection. Songs like the traditional French "Il Est Né Le Divin Enfant", and the very old and beautiful "See, Amid The Winter's Snow" are songs we don't come across often and it was great to have in this album.
In addition to all those rare songs, the album includes one of the most beautiful songs; the somewhat sad and loving, "In the Bleak Midwinter", written as a poem by Christina Rosseti. Somehow, I had never heard this song before and learning about it, was my first Christmas present this year.
Have a Very Happy Christmas!!!