| This Christmas | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 9 November 2012 | |||
| Recorded | April–August 2012 | |||
| Genre | Christmas,pop,traditional pop | |||
| Length | 43:20 | |||
| Label | Universal Music | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Olivia Newton-John chronology | ||||
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This Christmas is a Christmas album byJohn Travolta andOlivia Newton-John, released on 9 November 2012, byUniversal Music Enterprises. The first time that Travolta and Newton-John worked together was on themusical filmGrease (1978), in which they performed the songs "You're the One That I Want" and "Summer Nights". Both the film and the songs were a commercial phenomenon. This album is the first new artistic work they have done together since the 1983 filmTwo of a Kind (which features the song "Take a Chance", performed by them).This Christmas is also the 25th studio album, following the 2008 releaseA Celebration in Song, and the third all-new Christmas album by Newton-John.
In March 2012 Newton-John was interviewed by Malaysian newspaperThe Star and was asked when was the last time which she talked with Travolta, her answered: "About a month ago. We’re working on a project together. [...] It’s not aboutGrease!".[1] In late September the virtual shops ofBarnes & Noble andAmazon.com listed an album namedThis Christmas by Travolta and Newton-John, set to be released on 13 November 2012. Rav Holly, from Rav Media Group, posted onFacebook a photo with Travolta and Newton-John, and stated that the company was making the album photoshoot. An official statement came on 2 October, with a post on Olivia's official website and Facebook page.
My desire was to makeThis Christmas an intimate album, not something too ostentatious or showy. I wanted people to be able to play it around the house or in the car during the holidays, and make us part of your celebration. Gathering around house listening to Christmas music has always been an important part of that time of the year to my family.
According to statement,This Christmas is "the audio equivalent of thoseclassic network TV specials hosted from the stars’ homes, an intimate, warm set of traditional holiday songs [...]". The album producer was theGrammy Award-winner composerRandy Waldman. All tracks are covers of classic Christmas songs, except "I Think You Might Like It", which was targeted as the "You're the One That I Want sequel." The song was written by Newton-John long-time collaboratorJohn Farrar, who also wrote "You're the One That I Want", according to Newton-John: "If it wasn’t for that song, we wouldn’t be here talking about it 30 years later." The album also features the well-known musiciansKenny G,Barbra Streisand,Chick Corea,Cliff Richard,Tony Bennett,Count Basie Orchestra andJames Taylor as special guests on some tracks.[2] All of the album tracks were recorded in one take.[3]
The idea from recording an album came when Newton-John sent aChristmas card to Travolta, noting that the songs ofGrease become the best-selling duet inpop music history. Travolta commented: "I thought to myself, ‘Wouldn’t people want to hear us do other songs?’ and immediately came up with the idea of doing a holiday album together. [...] From the moment we decided to do this, magic happened. Everyone we contacted agreed to do it." The two have been good friends sinceGrease was filmed, and agree to donate the artist proceeds from the album equally to their respective charities, the Jett Travolta Foundation for children's disabilities and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre.[2][3]
It is the second time that "White Christmas" is featured on a Newton-John album, the first time was on 2003 compilationThe Christmas Collection, as a duet withKenny Loggins andClint Black. The songs "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (also a duet with Loggins) and "Silent Night" also are featured on this album.[4] Her 2007 album,Christmas Wish, features "Silent Night", as a duet withJann Arden, and an instrumental interlude version of "Deck the Halls".[5]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [6] |
| The Courier | (positive)[7] |
| Edmonton Journal | [8] |
| The Guardian | [9] |
| The Independent | [10] |
This Christmas received mixed reviews from contemporarymusic critics.Allmusic editorStephen Thomas Erlewine gave the album three out of five stars, felling that "This Christmas winds up serving both audiences equally well: it'll brighten the season of fans who take this at face value, and for those looking for a ridiculous dose of celeb Christmas cheer."[6] Amanda Ash of theEdmonton Journal gave a less positive review, stating "This Christmas is a train wreck would be an understatement. [...] Depressingly devoid of sentiment, Newton-John and Travolta’s duets also sound incredibly awkward."[8] Phil Johnson ofThe Independent wrote that "If Christmas is a slush-fest, here's your soundtrack", despite "John Travolta might act singing rather than sing."[10]The Guardian writer Caroline Sullivan commented that "The potential for schmaltz here is great, but it bobs along tastefully, even when Cliff Richard turns up". About the vocal performances, she found that "Travolta and Newton-John themselves sound unfeasibly young and earnest, except when they steer 'Baby It's Cold Outside' in a toe-curlingly 'sexy' direction."[9] Josh Nicholson ofThe Courier stated that "It all seems very lovey-dovey which is what you want from a Christmas album. It’s a bit of a stocking filler for the over-40s though. It’s a good album I admit that, but it’s noChristmas with Dean Martin."[7]
The album debuted at number eighty-one on theBillboard 200, making the first Newton-John's album entry on top 100 sinceBack with a Heart, which peaked at number fifty-nine in 1998.[6][11] On 26 December 2012, the album had sold 35,596 in theUnited States.[12]This Christmas peaked at number thirty-three in Newton-John's native countryAustralia.[13]
Travolta and Newton-John made several promotional appearances to promoteThis Christmas in the album release month. They answered questions from fans on theGoogle Play (4 December) and also were interviewed onExtra (4 December),The Ellen DeGeneres Show (5 December),Australia'sToday (5 December),Rove LA (6 December) andLive! with Kelly and Michael (19 December) about the album creation and theGrease phenomenon.[14]
Although no singles were released from the album, a music video for the song "I Think You Might Like It" was released on 4 December 2012.[14] The video was directed by Rav Holly and Corey Molina and received generally negative reviews among music critics and the general public, which criticized the video low-budget production and bad acting.Rolling Stone magazine commented that "the holidays have rarely seemed so sterile."[15] Courtney Hazlett ofToday Entertainment called the video "bizarre."[16] Katie Kilkenny ofSlate magazine found the video "a new Christmas camp."[17]The Huffington Post gave it a positive review, stating: "There is thumbs-in-the-belt-loops line-dancing, an soul patch on a pocket-chain wearing John Travolta, and a running scene straight out of '10.' All in all, fun for the whole family."[18] According toBillboard, the video was the thirteenth most watched music video onYouTube on week of 22 December 2012, having more than 6 million views in its first week.[19][20]
Strings on "Medley"
Studios
| Chart (2012) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums Chart[13] | 33 |
| Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)[21] | 195 |
| USBillboard 200[6] | 81 |
| USTop Holiday Albums (Billboard)[22] | 19 |
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia[23] | 9 November 2012 | CD,digital download | Universal Music Enterprises |
| United Kingdom[24] | 12 November 2012 | Hip-O Records | |
| Canada[25] | 13 November 2012 | Universal Music Enterprises | |
| Germany[26] | |||
| Italy[27] | |||
| Spain[28] | |||
| United States[29] | |||
| France[30] | 19 November 2012 | Polydor Records |
