Billy Idol: Happy Holidays

Elly Roberts reviews

Billy Idol: Happy Holidays
Distributed by
Superb Records/Bodog Music

    Cover

  • Released: December 2006
  • Rating: 2/10

When recording a Crimbo CD every artist should think about damage limitation.

Obviously, William Michael Albert Broad, aka Billy Idol, hasn’tseriously considered this prospect. Between 1982 and 1994 the former Punk -Cyber Punk singer of Generation X had 17 singles entries in the UK alone,including smash hits White Wedding and Rebel Yell.

He’s also had six Top 50 albums, selling 20 million world-wide, but thiswon’t be a chart addition. Right now it’s nowhere to be seen. Trying toimagine Billy Idol in a Californian recording studio is way beyond myimagination. Idol has delved, and dared, to cover festive standards, whichbrings thoughts of ‘barrel’ and ‘scraping’ of to mind. This ‘karaoke’ soundingCD beggars belief. Its production is way too thin; in addition, his ropeyvocals do little to give it credibility.


Of his efforts Billy said, “I wanted a selection that would please all,while still exploring the awe and mystery that Christmas”. Yeah, right.He continued, “These songs are a real challenge to sing as so many othersingers have interpreted them in their own style. It was fun to come upagainst all that and find that these songs sing themselves.”

Trying to find some redeeming qualities is difficult, but there’s the odd,and I mean odd good bits like a rockabilly Winter Wonderland andRock’n’Roller Run Rudolph Run – and that’s about it.

His Silent Night makes me want to cry, not because of the festiveseason: out of sheer embarrassment.

Be prepared for a delayed and dreadful a cappella Auld Lang Syne.

OUCH – A REAL XMAS TURKEY!


The full list of tracks included are :

1. Frosty The Snowman
2. Silver Bells
3. Happy Holiday
4. Merry Christmas Baby
5. White Christmas
6. Here Comes Santa Claus
7. God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen
8. Santa Claus Is Back In Town
9. Let It Snow
10. Winter Wonderland
11. Run Rudolph Run
12. Blue Christmas
13. Jingle Bell Rock
14. Christmas Love
15. Oh Christmas Tree
16. Silent Night
17. Auld Lang Syne

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