Wednesday , March 27 2024
Cee Lo's Magic Moment is a delightful, soulful Christmas CD which offers surprising versatility from the serious to the silly.

Music Review: Cee Lo Green – Cee Lo’s Magic Moment

If your holiday spirit needs a boost, then Cee Lo Green is here to deliver it! Cee Lo’s Magic Moment truly does deliver a series of magic Christmas moments from the first notes to the last. Green shows a surprising range of styles, from the expected soul, to the silly, to the sensitive.

There’s an authentic Motown sound to some of these songs, such as “What Christmas Means to Me,” “All I Want for Christmas,” “This Christmas,” and “White Christmas.”

There’s plenty of soul and a touch of jazz as well. The marvelous version of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” with Christina Aguilera, is one of the best of the many versions of this song I have heard, playful and smooth at the same time. Other musical guests Rod Stewart and Trombone Shorty help provide a thoroughly rocking blues on “Merry Christmas, Baby.” Even the obligatory “The Christmas Song” sounds fresh and new here.

Then there’s several numbers just for sheer fun. “You’re a Mean One, Mister Grinch,” with Straight No Chaser, will delight members of the family of all ages. So will the number with the Muppets, “All I Need is Love,” which will become a favorite around here for Christmases to come (despite the opinion rendered by the Muppets’ critics, Statler and Waldolf, “The Muppets have reached a new low…Cee Lo.”) “Run Run Rudolph,” too, will make everyone smile with this all-out rock and roll rendition.

But Green also shows a softer, more sensitive side here, with thoughtful, heartfelt renditions of “Mary, Did You Know?”, “River,” and “Silent Night.” “Mary, Did You Know?” is one of this reviewer’s least favorite Christmas songs, but Green makes it almost palatable.

Green proves himself here as one of the best and most versatile performers of this generation. He’s a natural for providing Christmas music to please the entire family and will continue to make the Christmas favorites list for years to come.

About Rhetta Akamatsu

I am an author of non-fiction books and an online journalist. My books include Haunted Marietta, The Irish Slaves, T'ain't Nobody's Business If I Do: Blues Women Past and Present, Southern Crossroads: Georgia Bluesand Sex Sells: Women in Photography and Film.

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