Ally McBeal - A Very Ally Christmas - Original TV Soundtrack

...or my continuing addiction with Ally McBeal and the fact that it's Christmas with them at the moment...

Inspired by some of the songs that were performed in the third season of Ally, I decided to buy their Christmas CD "A very Ally Christmas". I got it from play.com for 5.99 with free delivery. That's the best offer I could find on the internet, but I'm happy to get advice where to look next time... ;-)

The ...
...roommate Renee in the series Ally McBeal. Those of you, who have seen a few episodes will know that she isn't very reluctant to perform the one or other song on stage. So therefore my expectations were fairly high, and I'm sorry to say that they weren't quite met. Her voice sounds rather squeaky and this song surely doesn't show her full potential.

*I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS*
Oh such a good song. Elaine / Jane Krakowski ... more

For some reason I'm very much ready for Christmas this year already in November. Blame the Christmas decoration that's been up in the shops since September or my continuing addiction with Ally McBeal and the fact that it's Christmas with them at the moment...

Inspired by some of the songs that were performed in the third season of Ally, I decided to buy their Christmas CD "A very Ally Christmas". I got it from play.com for 5.99 with free delivery. That's the best offer I could find on the internet, but I'm happy to get advice where to look next time... ;-)

The CD was just delivered today and has since been playing on my computer, which is why I thought I'd write down the first impressions straight away.

*TRACKLIST*
1. Vonda Shepherd - This Christmas
2. Vonda Shepherd - The man with the bag
3. Vonda Shepherd - Please come home for Christmas
4. Vonda Shepherd - Silver bells
5. Vonda Shepherd - Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
6. Macy Gray - Winter Wonderland
7. Jane Krakowski - Run, Rudolph, run
8. Lisa Nicole Carson - Santa Claus got stuck in my chimney
9. Jane Krakowski - I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus
10. Calista Flockhart - Santa Baby
11. Vonda Shepherd - Have yourself a merry little Christmas
12. Robert Downey Jr - River
13. Rober Downey Jr & Vonda Shepherd - White Christmas
14. Vonda Shepherd - What are you doing New Year's Eve

As you can probably tell, this CD is fairly dominated by Vonda Shepherd - again. This might not come as a surprise since she's usually the one accompanying the series with her songs. However, Christmas sees the actors themselves on stage performing songs, which is why I had hoped that the dominance of Vonda Shepherd wouldn't be quite as ... well, obvious.

Considering that Vonda is performing 7 songs you would have wanted a little more variation than what is actually present. Mostly one song sounds like the next, which is even emphasised by the fact that the first 5 songs in a row are performed by her. Maybe a better mix of the different singers would have prevented or at least weakened that impression.

Once you move past Vonda Shepherd's rather lengthy "overture" singers like Jane Krakowski (better known as "Elaine", Ally's secretary) or Calista Flockhart (Ally) actually manage to create a nice Christmas feeling. Their songs are sung with warmth and expectation but also have a cheeky note to them, especially when Jane Krakowski tells the story of her "Mummy" kissing Santa Claus.

I'd like to say a few words to each song, so that I'll be easier for you to make yourself a picture whether or not this would be a good CD for you.

*THIS CHRISTMAS*
A song about a woman who wants to know her boyfriend (or someone she's having an eye on) better while celebrating Christmas. Nothing that manages to tell a real story or create any feeling of Christmas. Pretty much blends in with whatever background noise you have... :-)

*THE MAN WITH THE BAG*
Probably one of the better if not best songs of Vonda on this CD - if you like Jazz. Accompanied by a Big Band (without being dominated by it), the song has a fresh and happy tone to it. Most likely to make you dance through the room while decorating the tree.

*PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS*
Please. At least Christmas should be happy and we might not really want to face the sadness of everyday life - however bad it might be. A line from the song is "My baby is gone and I've got no friends". Wow, that'll create a warm, fuzzy feeling inside you.

*SILVER BELLS*
Rather mediocre and monotonous song about the feeling of Christmas in the streets. It's jolly happy and cheerful, but has nothing distinctive about it.

*LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW*
You will probably all know the old classic and sometimes Vonda has the power to recreate a cover song in a way that you'd never thought be possible - but this? No. You're afraid she might fall asleep any minute.

*WINTER WONDERLAND*
I'm not a big fan of Macy's voice, I'm afraid. Other than that, this is probably the song that sounds most like what we know as "traditional" Christmas song. With bells in the background and all... :-)

*RUN, RUDOLPH, RUN*
Jane's first performance is definitely a good one. The Rock 'n' Roll song describes how Rudolph has to hurry to make sure Santa is getting to town in time. Another song that'll make you dance while decorating the house.

*SANTA CLAUS GOT STUCK IN MY CHIMNEY*
Lisa Nicole Carson is the actress starring Ally's roommate Renee in the series Ally McBeal. Those of you, who have seen a few episodes will know that she isn't very reluctant to perform the one or other song on stage. So therefore my expectations were fairly high, and I'm sorry to say that they weren't quite met. Her voice sounds rather squeaky and this song surely doesn't show her full potential.

*I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS*
Oh such a good song. Elaine / Jane Krakowski at her best - telling the story of a little girl who walks in on her mummy with Santa Claus (whoever it was *grins*). She tells the story with the voice of a young innocent child, while at the same time being sassy and provocative. Very well done!

*SANTA BABY*
In the episode where Calista Flockhart performs this song, she's trying to prove that she can in fact be sexy. Dressed in a Santa Claus costume she draws everyone's attention to her. And I think she still manages that when you listen to the song on the CD. Again, sung with a rather fragile voice she still sends some very suggestive signals - "Santa Baby, I have been an awful good girl"

*HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS*
Back to Vonda again, and I can't say I'm any more impressed than I was at the beginning. Yes it's melodic and it sings about that jolly happy Christmas that we all want, but it's again fairly good at blending in.

*RIVER*
Robert Downey Jr stars in 15 episodes of Ally McBeal (according to IMDb), but is probably better known from Good Night and Good Luck or Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. As the only male voice on this CD he surely stands out, but the song is also performed with a lot of emotion and it does tell its story memorably. Unfortunately again a rather sad story of someone who's observing that people get ready for Christmas, but has himself managed to pretty much mess up his life so that he can't get to enjoy Christmas as he would like to. *sniff* Well, good song, but arguably on the wrong CD? While on the other hand we know that Ally isn't usually a happy bunny, it might work in the context that the CD is accompanying the series.

*WHITE CHRISTMAS*
Robert Downey Jr. comes to rescue a song that would have been boring with only Vonda performing. Again, she seems to think that the slower the better, but his voice brings back some of the energy that is needed. It's a good song, because it's a duet, but otherwise probably wouldn't get my approval.

*WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEAR'S EVE*
And to conclude, Vonda again. I can't find many words anymore, since this song isn't much different from the others she's done on this CD. Sorry, but again there's nothing that I could find that stands out.

Reading through these again, it seems that I'm maybe a bit too critical, but then again the recipe for a good CD could have been so easy - just cut the songs that Vonda is performing and replace them by more songs from the Ally McBeal crew. And there would have been plenty to choose from, but unfortunately this CD seems to be trying to promoto Vonda Shepherd more than having Christmas as its central theme.

I like the CD for the fact that most of the songs performed will be rather unfamiliar, so it gives a new touch to Christmas and the old classics that we hear day after day. However, I would have liked a selection that is a little more careful and moves away from just promoting Vonda Shepherd. I'm going to give 3 stars because I really like some of the songs, especially those from Jane Krakowski and Calista Flockhart. But I would still not recommend it, and instead advise you to buy the good songs over the Internet rather than wasting money for the whole CD.

Thanks very much for reading, rating and commenting! 

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