Once upon a time, it seemed vaguely blasphemous for an artist like John Lennon to infiltrate the hallowed canon of Christmas songs. These days, a song like "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" is as central to our holidays as "Greensleeves." The beauty of McLachlan's new set is that it doesn't distinguish between the ancient carols and the more recent additions: Joni Mitchell's wish for a river "to skate away on" is coolly juxtaposed with classics like "O Little Town of Bethlehem." McLachlan makes equally good calls within the tracks. There's just enough high-production sap to cure our kitsch jones, but she wisely cools the backup choruses in time to give space to her own lush arias.
At its best, the venerable pop music tradition known as "the holiday album" can capture all the sentiments of the season: the warm glow of friendship and family, the bittersweet reflections on the year gone by, the hopeful anticipation of the new year ahead. Sarah McLachlan has created a true holiday classic with Wintersong. The Arista recording artist imbues this splendid twelve-song collection?the first holiday album of her multi-platinum career?with peerless interpretive skill and exquisite musicianship. Set for nationwide release on October 17, 2006, Wintersong is Sarah's first new studio album since Afterglow, released November 2003. Afterglow is certified double platinum for US sales of over two million and has sold more than four million copies worldwide, bringing Sarah's worldwide career sales to more than 26 million albums. Working with producer Pierre Marchand at her home studio in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sarah McLachlan has reinvented her chosen repertoire in ways that transform even the most familiar songs into special gifts. Like the soundtrack for a winter day that passes from snowy dawn to sunny afternoon to the chill of twilight, Wintersong creates its own flow of moods from start to finish. Wintersong begins with Sarah's version of "Happy Xmas (War is Over)." John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and the Plastic Ono Band first recorded this timeless declaration of peace in 1971, with the added voices of the Harlem Community Choir. For her recording, Sarah is joined by a children's choir of students from the music school she personally funds and oversees in Vancouver. (The Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach Program was founded in September 2003 to provide free music education classes to inner city youths whose school music programs have been hit by budget cuts. "As a kid," Sarah recalls, "music saved my life; having that one thing that I knew I was good at made all the difference. It feels so good to be able to see their lives impacted. There's hardly any joy comparable.") Sarah pays tribute to two leading Canadian singer-songwriters on Wintersong. "River" comes from Joni Mitchell's 1971 album Blue, with the memorable lyrics "It's coming on Christmas, they're cutting down trees?" "Song For A Winter's Night" was written by Gordon Lightfoot and originally recorded in 1967 for his second album, The Way I Feel. From the Great American Songbook, Sarah chose "I'll Be Home For Christmas," previously recorded by Elvis Presley and the Beach Boys, among others; and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," made famous by Judy Garland in the 1944 film, Meet Me in St. Louis. No holiday album would be complete without its share of traditional Christmas songs. For Wintersong, Sarah selected "What Child Is This (Greensleeves)," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," "Silent Night," the classically flavored "In A Bleak Mid Winter," and a medley of "The First Noel/ Mary Mary." The title track "Wintersong," a shimmering piano-based ballad, was written by Sarah specifically for this album. Wintersong features guest appearances by Diana Krall, playing piano on "Christmas Time Is Here" (from the 1965 animated TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas); and Jim Creeggan of Barenaked Ladies, who plays double bass throughout the album. Wintersong was produced, engineered, and mixed by Pierre Marchand and mastered by Bob Ludwig. Celebrating three years of renewed growth and self-realization for its creator, the music of Sarah McLachlan takes a joyous and festive turn on Wintersong. It's a timely gift to her universe of fans, both new and old. About The Artist Since her signing with Arista Records nearly two decades ago, every one of Sarah McLachlan's studio and live albums and videos has been certified gold, platinum, or multi-platinum by the RIAA. Touch (1988) and Solace (1991) were both gold sellers. Her 1994 breakthrough, the 3X-platinum Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, was followed by the digitally enhanced multimedia version of The Freedom Sessions (1995, gold). Sarah's landmark fifth album, the 8X-platinum Surfacing (1997), contained two Grammy Award-winning tracks: "Building a Mystery" won for Best Female Pop Vocal and "Last Dance" was voted Best Pop Instrumental. The 1999 Lilith Fair tour brought forth her 3X-platinum Mirrorball and its platinum long-form video counterpart. The Mirrorball track "I Will Remember You" earned Sarah her third career Grammy Award, for Best Female Pop Vocal (1999). The double-platinum Afterglow followed in 2003. Afterglow received a Grammy Award nomina?tion for Best Pop Vocal Album, and the opening track, "Fallen," was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal. In September 2004, Sarah McLachlan released the socially charged video "World On Fire," directed by Sophie Muller. The video made what Jon Pareles, writing in the "New York Times," called "a modestly brilliant gesture: it stacks up budget items for a typical clip against what the same $150,000 budget would buy as relief efforts?cattle, bicycles, housing, education, medicine?The contrast between show-business splurges and practical aid is startling." "World On Fire," a Grammy nominee for Best Short Form Music Video, cost only $15 to make?the price of a Sony mini DV tape. The remainder of the $150,000 video budget was distributed among eleven charitable organizations around the world including CARE, Engineers Without Borders, Help The Aged, Warchild, and Heifer International. Sarah McLachlan's Afterglow tour opened March 12, 2005 in Wellington, New Zealand and continued with dates throughout Australia, Canada, and the US?including a May 24 concert at New York's Madison Square Garden The tour concluded June 12, 2005 with a gala perform?ance in Sarah's hometown of Vancouver. Noteworthy Facts ? Sarah McLachlan has sold over 26 million records worldwide since her recording career began in 1988 with her debut album Touch. ? Sarah is an eight-time Juno Award winner (Canada) and a three-time Grammy Award winner: Grammy Award 1999 "I Will Remember You" ? Best Female Pop Vocal Performance Grammy Award 1998 "Last Dance" ? Best Pop Instrumental Performance Grammy Award 1998 "Building a Mystery" ? Best Female Pop Vocal Performance ? The touring festival called Lilith Fair, founded by Sarah McLachlan, brought together two mil?lion people over its three-year history (1997-1999) and raised more than $7 million for charities. Indigo Girls, Sheryl Crow, Nelly Furtado, Queen Latifah, Emmylou Harris, and Christina Aguilera were among the many artists who participated in Lilith Fair. ? Sarah has been profiled in cover stories for Rolling Stone, Time and Entertainment Weekly. ? Sarah was awarded the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Visionary Award in 1998 for advancing the careers of women in music. October 2006
Genre: Rock & Pop » Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
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