Mary J Blige: A Mary Christmas

A Mary Christmas
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Artist: Mary J Blige
Genre: Pop
Label: Verve Music Group

Warning: A Mary Christmas by Mary J Blige is not to be confused with A Mary Mary Christmas by Mary Mary of Shackles (Praise You) fame. With that cleared up . . . Reworking Little Drummer Boy, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and When You Wish Upon a Star (the latter featuring Barbra Streisand), Blige takes a gentle approach to Nollaig. It's all calm until the Jessie J duet Do You Hear What I Hear, which is a war of the warbles, and a jazzified Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Blige sounds as soulful as ever, but the lack of festive oomph means that at no point are you screaming "IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!!!" à la Noddy Holder. A Mary Christmas will be a welcome addition to FM holiday playlists, but for your personal collection stick to the classics. maryjblige.com Download: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer