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It’s late October. The weather is changing – at least in those regions of the country that have seasons. That means the roll out of Christmas albums from gospel and secular artists is starting. And gospel superstar Marvin Sapp is joining the rush with his latest project, Christmas Card.
At one level, it hardly matters if these projects have commercial success. The artists – whether they are gospel or secular performers – all have the deep cultural connection to the Christmas holiday. Christmas evokes strong memories of holiday gatherings, gifts and church services as well as painful memories of the person missing from the holiday portrait or in recent years the struggle to have a normal Christmas despite economic upheaval. All of these memories work together to make these holiday album projects labors of love for all of these artists.
It’s late October. The weather is changing – at least in those regions of the country that have seasons. That means the roll out of Christmas albums from gospel and secular artists is starting. And gospel superstar Marvin Sapp is joining the rush with his latest project, Christmas Card.
At one level, it hardly matters if these projects have commercial success. The artists – whether they are gospel or secular performers – all have the deep cultural connection to the Christmas holiday. Christmas evokes strong memories of holiday gatherings, gifts and church services as well as painful memories of the person missing from the holiday portrait or in recent years the struggle to have a normal Christmas despite economic upheaval. All of these memories work together to make these holiday album projects labors of love for all of these artists.
At the same time, a performer such as Sapp wants people to listen to Christmas Card. His challenge is how to make sure this album is heard in a musical din that includes the Top 40 pop tunes, other recently released holiday projects and the classic Yuletide tunes we have been singing for years. Sapp does so by sprinkling Christmas Card with his take on a couple of holiday classics, painting the familiar picture on several other tracks and, most interestingly, presenting stories that make his listeners look at those iconic Christmas stories and settings in different ways.
Take the track “Joseph’s Song.” Several religious songs look at the birth of Christ from Mary’s standpoint. “Joseph’s Song” finds Sapp looking at the Jesus’ birth from the view of his earth father, Joseph. The tune reminds us that Joseph not only had to confront all of the fears and uncertainties faced by any father, he had to deal with the fact that his fiancé became pregnant under circumstances that can only be considered odd.
Sapp confronted challenges to his faith with the death of his wife a little more than three years ago. That personal tragedy informed at least three tracks on Christmas Card: the title track, “Home For Christmas” and “Dance (Christmas Step).” At first listen, the last cut could be dismissed as a lame attempt by Sapp to profit from the “Two Step,” “Wobble,” “Shuffle” line dance thing. Then you sit back and to lyrics that have poignancy and wisdom that might get lost in track’s upbeat arrangement. Sapp reminds us that even considering the holiday’s religious significance and the hustle and bustle that people take on to find the perfect gifts and cook the perfect meal, Christmas is also a fun time. “Dance (Christmas Step)” is Sapp’s plea for people to slow down for a minute and enjoy the human gifts that are a part of our lives. “You need to dance/ Christmas might just be your only chance/To hit the floor and grab your loved ones hands/and experience the joy/The holiday can bring to your heart,” Sapp sings in the hook.
“Christmas Card” is a reminder that the laws of economics don’t get suspended during the holidays. Sapp is a Michigander and people throughout that state have had a hard time financially since the auto industry tanked in 2008. A simple gesture such as giving someone a card may represent the most that can be done. It might also be the only time someone tells the recipient that they are appreciated and loved. “It seems like every year/you gotta make some decisions/cuz each year it’s hard to do all the things that you want to do/so open up this Christmas card/and I hopes it will touch your heart/This is my prayer/to let you know someone cares.”
The album also contains two Christmas classics that Sapp has probably performed in church since he was a child. Sapp is joined by his old group, Commissioned, on an acoustic rendition of “What Child is This?” while “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is at times intimate and acoustic and at time orchestral.
Sapp’s second collaboration with Commissioned, “Honor The King,” has a traditional feel. Sapp goes big on this cut both in terms of musical arrangement and the tight harmonies of Commissioned.
Christmas Card includes the familiar musical touch points that people expect to hear during the holidays. However, Sapp also addresses topics rarely touched on in holiday songs and that might even be a little uncomfortable to some listeners. Still, it’s that diversity that gives Christmas Card a feel that distinguishes it from other holiday albums, and makes this a card worth receiving. Recommended.
By Howard Dukes