Saturday, 29 October 2016

Amy Grant - Tennessee Christmas


57 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!

Buy Amy Grant's Tennessee Christmas here (Amazon UK)
Read my 25th anniversary celebration of Heart in Motion here (myfizzypop)

Like many people, I was first smitten with the music of Amy Grant when Baby Baby dominated charts all over the globe. It was the type of instantly catchy, genre crushing pop hit that launched the crossover career of Ms Grant, while remaining true to her inspiring message of love, hope, faith and kindness. And while I adored albums such as Heart in Motion and House of Love, it was her 1992 Christmas collection, Home For Christmas, that has stuck with me most in the intervening years (in particular, the charming Night Before Christmas and Grown Up Christmas List songs). Since then, Amy has shared new musical thoughts on the most wonderful time of the year across a range of different seasonal albums - and returns to one of her favourite subject matters once more on the heartwarming Tennessee Christmas collection. As you may guess, there is more of a country spin to her interpretation of classic carols that, when mixed with delightful new originals, really let the joy and emotional nuance of her soothing vocal resonant across 13 tunes. It is perhaps the most ruminative of her Christmas collections, a lovely languorous approach that lets every sentiment seep out across mellifluous singing and elegant arrangements. And while there is an aura of melancholy permeating the performances, it is never at the expense of belief in hope for a better tomorrow and a brighter Christmas next year.

It all starts with the title track, Tennessee Christmas, which was written by Amy over 30 years ago. Set to a gentle guitar melody, Amy brings to life the anticipation of Christmas Eve (even when you are in a climate that doesn't lend itself to Christmas card pictures). The line "I know there's more snow in Colorado/than my roof will ever see" encapsulates this brilliantly - and the poetic lyrics help the listener find Christmas in the people around them at their home. It opens the album like an aural hug that continues right through to the final track. The acoustic nature sets the musical tone for what is to follow - and this evident on next song, To Be Together. It doubles down on one of the core themes of the album, by emphasising the importance of being with those you love over the gifts you get or more commercial elements. Amy's vocal is beautifully sincere, and underscored by a more textured instrumental that now includes resonant piano and shimmering tambourine infused percussion. Quite lovely indeed. Christmas For You & Me ups the tempo and presents a more playful side of Amy. A lolloping drum beat gives you a finger clicking groove, whilst Amy's voice dances alongside the gleeful lyrics until she really lets loose with the ad-libs during the electrifying, guitar driven middle 8. It makes for a riotous romp that brings to vivid life the loud, crazy, brash, familial vibe of the season - and is a juxtaposition to the Melancholy Christmas that follows. A shuffling rhythm sways soothingly next to an elegiac performance from Amy as every ounce of her voice reminds us that whilst Christmas can elevate the happiest of emotions it also stands as a time when loneliness and sadness are more accentuated. The song really has the power to make you want to reach out and make meaningful contact with those who are likely to experience such sorrow at such a happy time. The repeated "Merry Christmas" refrain feels like it is that type of moment when you have to say something over and over again to get the other person to believe it. This lilting lullaby is the musical equivalent and is achingly wonderful.

As I write this, we are still just over a month away from December, but the song is hauntingly mesmerising and evocative enough to conjure up images of stark landscapes and silver scenes. It naturally flows from the previous song due to the more yearning pathos that is evident in Amy's delivery of the sorrowful lyrics. I've often found in heartbreak comes creative musical magnificence and Ms Grant's rendition of this song is no exception. Each instrument swathes her voice with tender comfort, right through to the descending piano scale as the song draws to it's extended finale. Having a symbiotic relationship with the score of each song really enhances enjoyment of this album - and White Christmas feels deliciously organic and earnest. At times, it slips into Jingle Bells and it is this natural flow of the instrumental that makes the song feel like it is performed with friends, gathered around a roaring fire who just happened to have a full live band set of instruments with them! Joy To The World strips this textured sound back during the opening verse, and Amy's voice accompanied only by piano is reverence and humility personified. This is usually a rousing hymn but taking a more down-tempo approach really lets the message of the song breathe and resonant long after the performance has finished. As such it has arguably a greater impact than if belted from the rafters with a huge choir behind it. It's another mood shift that welcomes Amy's version of I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm. She's an incandescent ball of radiance and sounds positively thrilled to be singing such an undeniable classic. She's an engaging raconteur who knows how to tell a story that has been told many times before, in an insightful new fashion. Equally as engaging is hubby Vince Gill, who has previously duetted with Amy on House Of Love. Here he is joining her on Baby, It's Cold Outside. They have a more relaxed back and forth than this song sometimes encourages, but it shows two people who have danced this dance before and are enjoying the journey to its inevitable conclusion.

The most personal song on the album seems to be Christmas Don't Be Late. The music is interspersed with stories from Amy's Christmas past, merely adding to the sense of anticipation for another year of memories to be made. The layered harmonies add to the aura of this convivial sharing session - no doubt awakening memories in each person listening and singing along. Looking forward to Christmas is equally as exciting as the big day itself and this thought follows through Christmas Don't Be Late to Still Can't Sleep. There's a child like wonder to Amy's vocal that extends to the intricate piano that swirls alongside. I love this more joyous side of Amy - you can actually hear the smile in her voice as it sails over the airwaves as if traversing the passages of time to present how we've felt every Christmas eve since we were born. "Feel like I'm 8 years old inside" indeed. Retrospective of Christmas gone by permeates many of the songs on the album - none more so than Another Merry Christmas. It is a heartbreaking story of loss yet with a final inspiring denouement of "God is with us". Against the bleak story told, the delivery of this lyric suddenly shines like the brightest star in the firmaments. Truly glorious. And what better way to lead into the final song of the album, O Come All Ye Faithful. It's her dad's favourite song and it is not hard to see why. Performed with such grace, it reminds us why this is the greatest story ever told. A truly wonderful album - it brings Amy's family into your home and encourages you to have it as the soundtrack to your own family memories, whatever and whoever that family may be.

Ghosts of Christmas past:


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