CLAY AIKEN'S CHRISTMAS BELLS ARE RINGING
This is Clay Aiken's second holiday album. The first arrived two decades ago, the year after he gawkily crooned his way to second place on the second season of American Idol (2002 to present). In the intervening time, he has been on Broadway, run for political office, and been on The Masked Singer (2019 to present).
But he never lost his voice. He still sings with a lovely flutter, and real punch too. His first holiday collection, Merry Christmas With Love, was overflowing with earned pomp - a singer who excelled at targeted bombast given free melodramatic reign.
His new one, a covers collection, is more polished, although he does convey true mischief on Magic Moments and, on Do You Hear What I Hear, accesses the kind of pyrotechnic fifth gear that is the stuff of Idol finales and Christmas morning celebrations.
CARPENTERS' CHRISTMAS ONCE MORE
The Carpenters' 1978 holiday release Christmas Portrait is not only one of the most enduringly enjoyable Yuletide pop albums of its era, but also one of the most ambitious works that Richard Carpenter arranged: a grandly orchestrated, elegantly realised suite that weaves together an extended medley of Christmas favourites as if they were a single song.
That fluidity is preserved on the new collection, Christmas Once More, even though it is a compilation that features remixed and remastered material culled from both Christmas Portrait and its 1984 sequel, An Old-Fashioned Christmas.
These 16 tracks represent most of the highlights from each release, including a festive take on (There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays and a rerecording of the American duo's own 1970 holiday hit Merry Christmas, Darling, featuring accompaniment from Britain's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Passengers say Turkish Airlines flights have bedbugs
Shortly after boarding her Turkish Airlines flight from Johannesburg to Istanbul in March, Ms Patience Titcombe from Phoenix noticed a small bug crawling on her seat when she got up to use the restroom.
Actor Ben Yeo shutters restaurant after incurring $1 million loss in two years
Local actor and F&B entrepreneur Ben Yeo is shutting down the high-end modern Chinese restaurant he founded, Tan Xiang Yuan, after two years.
Director Jeff Baena elevated dark themes with humour in his works
American director and screenwriter Jeff Baena, who co-wrote the dark comedy I Heart Huckabees (2004) and directed films including Life After Beth (2014) and Horse Girl (2020), died on Jan. 3 at a residence in Los Angeles. He was 47.
Squid Game star denies ties with South Korea ruling party's former leader
Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae has distanced himself from the party of South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol after a photo of him with the party's ex-leader resurfaced online, according to Korean media.
Japanese cast dominates as Shogun breaks new ground
Comeback stories and Asian representation at the awards show celebrating the best in film and TV
A toast to Switzerland
The country is adopting a sip-and-stay approach to spread the word on its best-kept secret – wines
Saving the mysterious African manatee in Cameroon
Ever since his first hard-won sightings of African manatees, award-winning marine biologist Aristide Takoukam Kamla has been devoted to protecting the little-known and at-risk aquatic mammals.
'CRAZY' CHUA TURNS PRO
S'pore triathlete aims to win SEA Games, qualify for Asian Games and Olympics
The fall in sport is cruel, inevitable and hard to digest
In sport, this is the guarantee. Falls will be hard. The boxer sent to the canvas. The rugby winger brought to earth. The gymnast slipping off the high bar. And the hero tumbling from his pedestal.
AMORIM WANTS SAME 'MENTALITY EVERY DAY'
United need to replicate the fortitude shown in draw at Liverpool to become a better side
