Christmas Is Here! is the seventh studio album by American a cappella group Pentatonix. It is also their third full-length holiday album following A Pentatonix Christmas in 2016.[1][2]

Christmas Is Here!
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 26, 2018 (2018-10-26)
Recorded2017–2018
GenreA cappella, Christmas music
Length32:40
LabelRCA
Producer
Pentatonix chronology
PTX Presents: Top Pop, Vol. I
(2018)
Christmas Is Here!
(2018)
The Best of Pentatonix Christmas
(2019)

It was released on RCA Records, and the first single is a cover of "Making Christmas" from The Nightmare Before Christmas.[1] Pentatonix has promoted the album through a tour of the same name, which started in November 2018 at The Theatre at Grand Prairie.[3]

Reception

edit

Chuck Campbell of the Knoxville News Sentinel rated the album four out of five stars.[4]

Track listing

edit

Unless otherwise noted, Information is taken from the album's Liner Notes[5]

No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."What Christmas Means to Me"Allen Story, Anna Gordy Gaye, George GordyScott Hoying, Kirstin Maldonado, Mitch Grassi2:54
2."Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" (Brenda Lee cover)Johnny MarksHoying, Maldonado, Matt Sallee2:07
3."It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"Meredith WillsonMaldonado, Hoying, Grassi2:23
4."Grown-Up Christmas List" (featuring Kelly Clarkson; Amy Grant cover[a])Lyrics: Linda Thompson, Grant / Music: David FosterClarkson4:41
5."Greensleeves (Interlude)[b]"Traditional
Arranged by Pentatonix & Ben Bram
Pentatonix0:59
6."Sweater Weather" (The Neighbourhood cover)Jesse Rutherford, Zachary Abels, Jeremy FreedmanSallee, Hoying, Grassi3:22
7."When You Believe" (featuring Maren Morris; from The Prince of Egypt)Stephen L. Schwartz, Kenneth "Babyface" EdmondsMorris, Hoying[6][7]3:52
8."Waltz of the Flowers" (from The Nutcracker)Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Arranged by Pentatonix & Ben Bram
Pentatonix2:00
9."Here Comes Santa Claus" (Gene Autry cover)Gene Autry, Oakley HaldermanMaldonado, Hoying, Sallee[8]2:36
10."Making Christmas" (from The Nightmare Before Christmas)Danny ElfmanHoying, Maldonado, Grassi[9]2:12
11."Where Are You, Christmas?" (from How the Grinch Stole Christmas)Mariah Carey, James Horner, Will JenningsGrassi,[10] Maldonado, Hoying[11]3:30
12."Jingle Bells" (with Orchestra; Barbra Streisand cover[c])James S. Pierpont
Adapted by Pentatonix & Ben Bram
Maldonado, Grassi[13]1:55
Total length:32:40
Christmas Is Here! — Remixes bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" (Cutmore Remix)3:47
14."It's Beginning to a Lot Like Christmas" (Country Club Martini Crew Remix)3:35
15."It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" (Country Club Martini Crew Pop Remix)2:51
16."When You Believe" (Black Stereo Faith Underground Mix)5:15
17."When You Believe" (Dave Aude Remix)3:56
18."When You Believe" (John "J-C" Carr Remix)3:35
Total length:54:38
  1. ^ The song was originally performed by composer Foster, but was popularized by Grant, who added a new verse she wrote for her cover. The Pentatonix version is a cover of Grant's, featuring her additional verse.[6]
  2. ^ Kevin Olusola is not featured on the track.
  3. ^ While the song is a traditional Christmas Carol, the Pentatonix version is based on the Barbra Streisand recording, which was arranged by Jack Gold and Marty Paich[12]

Track listing adapted from Billboard[14] and iTunes.[15]

Personnel

edit

Unless otherwise noted, Information is taken from the album's Liner Notes[5]
Pentatonix

Others

  • Ed Boyer - audio mixing
  • Ben Bram - producer, recording engineer
  • RaVaughn Brown - choir vocals (1, 7)
  • Busbee - Maren Morris' vocal producer on "When You Believe"
  • Kelly Clarkson - guest vocals on "My Grown-Up Christmas List"
  • Deonis Cook - choir vocals (1, 7)
  • Jack Gold - musical arrangement on "Jingle Bells"
  • Jason Halbert - vocal producer on "My Grown-Up Christmas List"
  • Kerri Lawson - choir vocals (1, 7)
  • Maren Morris - guest vocals on "When You Believe"
  • Sean O'Loughlin - conductor, orchestration on "Jingle Bells"
  • Orchestra Members - various instruments on "Jingle Bells"
  • Marty Paich - musical arrangement on "Jingle Bells"
  • Tiffany Palmer - choir vocals (1, 7)
  • Chelsea West - choir vocals (1, 7)
  • Brandon Winbush - choir vocals (1, 7)

Charts

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Pentatonix Announces Fourth Holiday Album 'Christmas Is Here!' & Tour". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
  2. ^ Schilz, Libby. "Pentatonix's new Christmas album puts twists on traditional carols". The Daily Nebraskan. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
  3. ^ "It's still September, but it's starting to look like Christmas for Pentatonix fans". The Star-Telegram. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  4. ^ "Pentatonix's Christmas album is reliable as Santa; McBride also feels the holiday spirit". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
  5. ^ a b Pentatonix. “Christmas Is Here” (Album Notes). RCA Records. 2018.
  6. ^ a b Despres, Tricia (26 October 2018). "Maren Morris Joins Pentatonix for...'When You Believe'". Taste of Country.
  7. ^ Pentatonix with Maren Morris (11 December 2018). "When You Believe". YouTube: PTX-Official.
  8. ^ Pentatonix (25 December 2018). "Here Comes Santa Claus - Christmas in Rockefeller Center...2018". YouTube: Clark Destry.
  9. ^ Pentatonix (5 October 2018). "Official Video: Making Christmas". YouTube: PTX-Official.
  10. ^ Rodgers, Arleigh (5 November 2018). "Review: A Capella Pop Adds Cheer to Christmas Carols". The Ithacan.
  11. ^ Pentatonix (6 December 2018). "Official Video: Where Are You, Christmas?". YouTube: PTX-Official.
  12. ^ Jack Gold & Marty Paich (16 August 2018). "Jingle Bells - Score & Sound". YouTube: Alfred Music Choral.
  13. ^ Pentatonix (6 December 2017). "Jingle Bells Cover (Official Video)". YouTube: Johnson Art Production Studios.
  14. ^ "Pentatonix's Latest Holiday Album 'Christmas Is Here!' Has Arrived: Stream It Now". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
  15. ^ "Christmas Is Here! by Pentatonix on iTunes". iTunes (US). Retrieved 2018-11-07.
  16. ^ "ARIA Chart Watch #502". auspOp. December 8, 2018. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  17. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Pentatonix – Christmas Is Here!" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  18. ^ "Ultratop.be – Pentatonix – Christmas Is Here!" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  19. ^ "Pentatonix Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  20. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Pentatonix – Christmas Is Here!" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  21. ^ "Pentatonix". Oricon. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  22. ^ "Travis Scott's 'Astroworld' Returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart, 6ix9ine's 'Dummy Boy' Debuts at No. 2". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  23. ^ "Pentatonix Chart History (Holiday Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  24. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2020.