Sunday, November 20, 2011

Review and Giveaway: FFH "One Silent Night"

I don't often review music, as I just don't think I'm good at it, and I don't enjoy doing it.

I love music though, adore Christmas music, and on a whim I decided to say "yes" to the opportunity to review the recently released album from FFH -- One Silent Night.

Good decision.  Though I still don't think I do a very good job of reviewing music.

You've probably heard of FFH -- they've sold more than two million albums, have had seven #1 singles, and have toured extensively.

I went to iTunes and listened to samples, and my kids were immediately interested in getting this album.  Some pop-type songs I immediately recognized -- Baby, It's Cold Outside, I'll Be Home for Christmas, and Winter Wonderland to name three.  And some more traditional songs were easily recognized too -- O Come O Come Emmanuel and O Little Town of Bethlehem.

And some I didn't recognize, for a good reason.  One Silent Night, The Birthday of the King, Glorious Impossible, and Heaven and Nature Sing.  I'd have a hard time deciding which of these is my favorite... probably the title track.

Once we received the download for the album, I listened through it, and was struck by how well it flows... fun, lighthearted and familiar mixing with powerful original pieces and familiar hymns.

Jingle Bell Rock brought me back to junior high though... something about the way this is sung, I don't know.  I was part of a special school choir... oh, what was it called?  Anyway, we performed Jingle Bell Rock at the Christmas concert... and I was partnered with David Hovde, and at one point the actions we did in this one ("Giddyup jingle-horse, pick up your feet") had the girls all pretending to whip their "horse" (the boys went down on one knee in front of us) -- oh, that sounds horrid... it was cute and funny and we all had a hard time doing this without just cracking up.  And yeah, this song brought back a lot of the movements we performed in that song.  This performance is not something I've thought about in a lot of years...  something about this version of the song brings it back though.

Okay, so now that story convinced you either to avoid this album, or that I'm just crazy.  Well, the latter is true, I am.

But... this may just be my favorite Christmas album... well, I have a Bing Crosby one that still holds the #1 spot... so this could just be #2.  I'll have to let you know after I dig them all out this next weekend.  Regardless, this is the best Christmas recording I've gotten in a very long time...

And you can win an album to download too!  This giveaway will end Monday, November 28 at 10:01 p.m. MST.






Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

27 comments:

Leigh Owens said...

My favorite Christmas song is "O Holy Night."
clowens9144 at yahoo dot com

Leigh Owens said...

On the FFH website, I saw that Jeromy has a new bog, entitled So This is What it Feels Like.
clowens9144 at yahoo dot com

esther said...

I like to hear "O Holy Night" -- can't sing it too well!

esther said...

I agree with Meridee's Monday and how children can toss you from one spectrum to the other!

Anonymous said...

I love "Joy to the World"! It means a lot to me because my husband proposed to me on Christmas and put my ring in a small music box that played that song.

noel.christmas365 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

While visiting FFH's site, I learned they started near where I grew up.

noel.christmas365 at gmail dot com

Mary said...

My favorite Christmas song is Mary, Did You Know and Strange Way to Save to World.

Anonymous said...

It's Called Christmas with a Capital C

pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
thanks

Unknown said...

I like "All I Want For Christmas Is You." :)

Linda Trinklein said...

I love "oh come oh come emaneuel"

:)
lzamudio02 @ hotmail .com

Linda Trinklein said...

FFH was founded in 1991 :)

lzamudio02 @ hotmail .com

Anonymous said...

Oh Holy Night
robinlscott4 at hotmail dot com

Anonymous said...

merridee has a blog
robinlscott4 at hotmail dot com

corey1971 said...

I like "Hark the Harold Angels Sing" (Corey Olomon)(olomon@hotmail.com)

corey1971 said...

I learned that they will be preforming in Liberal, KS (which is very near my hometown) in Feb. of next year (Corey Olomon)(olomon@hotmail.com)

Ashley said...

I like "Silent Night."

mrs.marcus2 at yahoo dot com

Diane W said...

favorite Christmas song is Joy to the World.

myfirstbaby said...

Let it Snow, Let it Snow!


mhcommet (at) yahoo (dot) com

McKim said...

My favorite Christmas song is Silent Night. A lot of people are complaining about it being on the radio alrady, but I love listening to Christmas music.

Michelle H said...

My favorite Christmas song is "I Wonder As I Wander" Very understated and beautiful.

Kat said...

I think my favorite is the Carol of the Bells--we used to sing it every year when I was in choir

Janelle said...

Mary Did You Know? is one of my contemporary favorites! O Holy Night is one of my classical ones.
Best wishes and thanks for a chance to win this wonderful giveaway!
Chanticlear1(at)gmail(dot)com

Janelle said...

On the site you'll see the new blog: So This Is What It Feels Like!
Best wishes and thanks for a chance to win this fantabulous giveaway!
Chanticlear1(at)gmail(dot)com

Sara said...

My favorite christmas song is The First Noel
sara.iteachk@gmail.com

Sara said...

I learned that they came back together after a long break
sara.iteachk@gmail.com

Christian said...

We wish you a merry christmas (Christian N cnfc800@gmail.com)

Christian said...

I learned that he had a hard time overcoming his MS. (Christian N. cnfc800@gmail.com)