Cyndi Lauper Album: “Merry Christmas...Have A Nice Life”

Some people seem to be inspired when recording Christmas albums, rising above their previous performances to record the best album of their career. I knew Cyndi was good at what she did, but had never bought any of her music until I bought this after reading some reviews. I sensed, even without hearing any tracks, that this might be one of the best Christmas albums in the history of recorded music, and I was right.

Cyndi clearly enjoys Christmas - it shows in these songs. Who could resist Cyndi's invitation to Do the Christmas conga? I also enjoyed the amusing Minnie and Santa, but all the new songs are brilliant, including Early Christmas morning, which comes complete with children's choir, used effectively and well.

Cyndi has also covered a few old chestnuts - her version of Rockin' around the Christmas tree and other classics breathes new life into them, while paying respect to the originals. Although I could have done without yet another version of Silent night, Cyndi proves here that she has the skill to do the serious stuff just as well as the fun songs. Among the other serious songs, it is particularly pleasing to see that she covered In the bleak midwinter. This is a Christmas standard in Britain, but it's rare to hear it sung by an American. Her version of this song is pure magic - as good as any version I've come across.

This album is truly one of the finest Christmas albums I have ever come across in any genre of music, and you can enjoy it either as background music, or in peace and quiet giving it undivided attention. I have since bought (and enjoyed) some of Cyndi's other music, but this is something special.

You do not need to be a Cyndi fan to enjoy this, but you might become a Cyndi fan after hearing it.

This CD is one of the best Christmas CD's I have heard in a while. Usually, superstar holiday cd's are artist indulgences filled with forgettable material. Leave it to Cyndi to come through with an invigorating mix of wonderful original tunes, sprinkled with a few reinventions of holiday chestnuts, Lauper style.

The whole CD is immensibly listenable, with the highlights being "Home on Christmas Day", "Early Christmas Morning", a rollicking "Christmas Conga" for all your xmas parties, and a haunting version of "Silent Night."

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This Christmas CD has such enjoyable music on it, if it weren't for the fact that the lyrics deal exclusively with Christmas, we'd be playing it year round. The music is THAT GOOD. It rocks, it gets soft, and it's never harsh.

The set combines some standards and some originals, plus some less often heard Christmas carols (such as a true beauty from Gustav Holst, who wrote The Planets).

For me, the stand out recording is "Early Christmas Morning," a new song by Lauper. If you're like me, you have a low threshold for new Christmas songs that attempt sentimentality and come off sounding really maudlin, with gratuitous little melodic touches that make your skin crawl. (Think about Elvis' 2nd Christmas album, for instance...) But this song is rich and sincere, with a simple pure melody that sounds as if it's been around for ages; it uses a standard melodic structure where there's a vocal peak that starts the chorus. The instrumentation combines a zither, a children's choir, a zydeco band, a loud bass... It's just plain wonderful. (Several other songs are very good too: by no means is this a one song CD.)

This is my new favorite Christmas CD. Lauper is in fine musical form, and the return of Rob Hyman from SHE'S SO UNUSUAL is a welcome addition. The opening song "Home for Christmas" is an instant classic.

A definite must whether or not you are a Cyndi Lauper fan. I cannot think of a better time where Cyndi has sung so well..... the birth of her son must have been her inspiration. After I first listened to the CD in its entirety, I immediately knew this album is a true winner. Nice remix and chorus add-on in Early Christmas Morning. Christmas Conga is sure to stir so much fun to a Christmas party. Minnie and Santa is a true original confirming why Cyndi is one of the best female artists of the modern pop era. Her signature vocal style and quirkiness shows in true Cyndi spirit. I can see myself drunk with many friends being jolly listening to this tune in a beer hall. Lauper's rendition of Silent Night is breath-taking. I could go on and on but I think and hope you get my point. All in all, this album has brought a big smile to my face for this big Lauperhead! :-)