Polydor Limited
Release Date: December 1st 2023
Reviewed by: Joshua Andre
Ellie Goulding– Songbook For Christmas (iTunes)
Track Listing:
- River
- Fields Of Gold
- O Holy Night
- Your Song
It’s amazing at how God speaks to you when you are quiet. When there is no noise and no distractions. 2020 basically had no distractions… as we all were at home trying to beat the pandemic (currently COVID-19 is in our community and I guess we just have to live with it!)… and when we’re alone with our thoughts, I guess that’s when we can hear God much clearer. For me personally, I’ve been branching out and listening to all types of music (for Jon’s and my ‘currently-on-hiatus’ blog series about influential artists!)… and one album I had been listening to heavily throughout the pandemic, was Ellie Goulding’s Brightest Blue. Now I myself don’t know much about Ellie’s music (and I still don’t, aside from a few singles here and there, like “Love Me Like You Do”, “Burn”, and “Still Falling For You” to name a few!), however in 2021 when I reviewed her 2020 album, Ellie was present on Jon’s blog series of influential artists of all-time list (we ultimately ended up not writing about her though!); but this meant that I decided to take the plunge one day and listen to her music- starting with the latest effort Brightest Blue. The result is an EDM and dance and inspirational experience unlike any other, and truly one of the most shining lights of 2020. Not a fan of Ellie though? I’m certain that 19 tracks of dance/pop goodness will convince you of Ellie’s brilliance and her ability to speaks works of comfort and wisdom to each one of us when we need it!
Since that time, Ellie has released her latest album Higher Than Heaven, and while we will review the project at a later date in 2024, I also touched upon her 2022 reissue of Halcyon, now called Halcyon Nights. The 32-track album celebrated 10 years of the 2012 album Halcyon, with the original album and rare demos, remix tracks, B-sides, and everything an Ellie Goulding fan could want for and dream about. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not a massive fan of Ellie’s dance/pop/club/experimental/laid-back/chill music (is this an entire genre all on its own?), even after listening to Brightest Blue, and so I approached this new-ish release with trepidation and dread. Because who in their right mind intensely and actively listens to a 32-track album? That’s crazy, am I right? Thankfully, because this isn’t a brand new album per se, and includes songs that some of us have heard before and other songs that people have been aching for and clamouring for, for some time; this means that Halycon Nights is an album that you can place on in the background while you do the dishes, while you cook, while you vacuum, while you watch a movie, while you make your bed and do your chores, while you study, while you eat dinner… you get the picture. You don’t even need to be a fan of Ellie’s music or know what she’s singing about lyrically in this album to fully appreciate the musical genius of Ellie’s project and her 2022 re-issue. Not that Ellie sings super superficial songs (sometimes she does), but the purpose of Halcyon Nights is for celebration, for dancing, for letting your hair down and hopefully for having this album be an album that can be used as a soundtrack for a part in your life. Get what I mean? Yes, the songs drag. I mean, it’s 32 songs!
But we’re not here to tread over old ground in this album. It’s approaching Christmas time, so let’s dive deep into Songbook For Christmas, shall we? And as we are glimpsed into 4 objectively brilliant works of art, the answer we ask ourselves is this- is this collection of holiday themed songs worthy to be listened to this season of Christmas in 2023 and beyond? And the answer is this. a blatant and resounding ‘no’! “River” (Joni Mitchell), “Fields Of Gold” (Sting) and “Your Song” (Elton John) are all worthy renditions, and Ellie’s voice is awesomely amazing. But you cannot release a Christmas EP with these 3 songs and call it a Christmas release. You just can’t. Granted, this may be songs that Ellie sings around Christmas time, given that the album is called ‘Songbook For Christmas’ meaning that these songs don’t’ have to be Christmas songs per se. But when the lone Christmas song is “O Holy Night” (my favourite carol by the way!), and no other holiday inclusion, then I guess you’d be left scratching your head.
To tell you the truth, I’m not really a fan of dance/pop and EDM. But this subdued ‘Christmas’ EP from Ellie Goulding is superb to listen to… only problem is that apart from “O Holy Night”, it’s not a Christmas release. Nit-picking aside, we are still presented with one of the most underrated holiday albums in terms of vocals and music- of 2023 thus far. So what more could you ask for on an album like this? probably more songs and more Christmas-y songs. But other than that, not much more, so Ellie must be commended and congratulated for this effort. Perhaps it was a label decision to release this? When is the full-length Christmas album Ellie?
3 songs to listen to: River, Fields Of Gold, Your Song
Score: 3/5
RIYL: Carly Rae Jepsen, Dua Lipa, Selena Gomez, Jessie J, Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Alicia Keys