Island Christmas

Island Christmas is the seventh studio and first Christmas album by ARIA Award winning, Torres Strait Islander singer Christine Anu. The album features The Voice season 2 finalist, Steve Clisby, actor and children’s entertainer, Jay Laga'aia and Anu's children Kuiam and Zipporah.[1] The album was released on 7 November 2014.

Island Christmas
Studio album by
Christine Anu
Released7 November 2014
RecordedJune/July 2014
GenreChristmas music
LabelSocial Family Records
Christine Anu chronology
Rewind: The Aretha Franklin Songbook
(2012)		 Island Christmas
(2014)		 ReStylin' Up 20 Years
(2015)

At the ARIA Music Awards of 2015, the album was nominated for Best World Music Album. This was Anu's 17th ARIA Music Award nomination. The album lost out to The Gospel Album by Gurrumul.

Background and release

In July 2014, Social Family Records announced Christine Anu had signed to their label. It was announced Anu would release a Christmas album in November.[2] Christine Anu has had a long career singing Christmas song as a regular performer on Carols in the Domain, an appearance in Myer’s Spirit of Christmas and recording the theme song for Blinky Bill’s "White Christmas"[3]

Upon release, Anu said a Christmas album was never something she considered but she did not take long to be 'coaxed around'. “I first thought people wouldn’t like mine and they might think ‘oh my God not another Christmas album’, but this isn’t your traditional Christmas album — there’s no mention of snow. Instead of snow you have colours.” [4][5]

"Silent Night" includes a verse in her native indigenous language and "Island Christmas" is about Christmas Day in the Dreamtime.

“I wrote the title track when my kids and their friends and cousins were quite young – we love singing – and I’d always get them to sing along with me. So even though they’re now a lot older, the inclusion of their voices on the album is incredibly nostalgic for me – it’s what Christmas is all about, in creating and recalling special memories each year,” said Christine.[6]

Promotion

Anu released a music video for the track "Island Christmas" on 2 December 2014.[7] Anu performed tracks from the album and signed copies in December 2014.[8]

  • December 6, Sydney, Westfield Parramatta
  • December 7, Lake Macquarie, International Children’s Games Opening Ceremony
  • December 13, Parklea Markets

Reviews

The Music AU gave the album 3 out of 5 saying; "Favouring simple arrangements, Christine Anu takes a relaxed, sincere and distinctly Australian approach on this holiday album. Her voice is a joy to listen to and she performs these songs honestly and soulfully. Though there are a few bland moments, she largely makes these songs her own. "Silent Night" features a verse in her mother’s native Torres Island language and the unaccompanied "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is haunting. Joni Mitchell’s "River" is beautifully recreated, while Paul Kelly’s "How to Make Gravy" is moving as always. "[9]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Silent Night"Franz Xaver Gruber4:38
2."Carol of the Drum / Peace of Earth" (with Jay Laga'aia) 3:43
3."Island Christmas" (featuring Kuiam and Zipporah Anu)Christine Anu3:13
4."How to Make Gravy"Paul Kelly4:38
5."Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (with Steve Clisby)Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane4:02
6."Christmas! Baby Please Come Home"Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector2:59
7."Ooh Child" (featuring Kuiam and Zipporah Anu)Stan Vincent3:35
8."River"Joni Mitchell3:55
9."Christmas Card" 3:49
10."Christmas Medley" 3:12
11."I'll Be Home for Christmas"Bing Crosby3:10
12."Auld Lang Syne"Robert Burns4:17

Release history
Country Date Format Label Catalogue
Australia[10][11] 7 November 2014 CD, digital download Social Family Records SFR0023

References
  1. "CHRISTINE ANU TO RELEASE A CHRISTMAS ALBUM". Social Family Records. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  2. "Social Family Records Signs Christine Anu, Amber Lawrence, Jason Owen". Noise11. 30 July 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  3. "Christine Anu Debuts Island Christmas VIDEO". Paul Cashmere. Noise 11. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  4. "Christine Anu celebrates her first Christmas album with a tribute to her island home". Rohan Smith. Daily Telegraph. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  5. "Christine Anu: Where is all the Australian Christmas music?". Peter Vincent. Sydney Morning Herald. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  6. "Christine Anu will release a new album on November 7". Williamson Management. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  7. "Christine Anu - Island Christmas (OFFICIAL VIDEO)". YouTube. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  8. "Christine Anu Debuts Island Christmas VIDEO". Paul Cashmere. Noise 11. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  9. "Album Review Christine Anu - Island Christmas". Amorina Fitzgerald-Hood. the Music AU. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  10. "iTunes – Music – Island Christmas) by Christine Anu". iTunes Store (Australia). Apple. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  11. "Island Christmas by Christina Anu– CD". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
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