The Gift (Susan Boyle album)

The Gift is the second album and first Christmas album by Scottish singer Susan Boyle, which was released on 8 November 2010.[3] Boyle hinted that the album has a 1960s feel "because that was [her] era".[4][5] Despite having a mixed critical reception, the album debuted at number one on both the British and American album charts and received a nomination at the 54th Grammy Awards for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

The Gift
Studio album by
Susan Boyle
Released8 November 2010
RecordedJuly–September 2010
London, England
Genre
Length35:13
Label
ProducerSteve Mac[2]
Susan Boyle chronology
I Dreamed a Dream
(2009)		 The Gift
(2010)		 Someone to Watch Over Me
(2011)
Singles from The Gift
  1. "Perfect Day"
    Released: 8 November 2010

Background

It was produced by Steve Mac, who says, "Now Susan’s used to the studio and the recording process, this time round we might go even further down a traditional route of recording by getting a band together and rehearsing songs before we go into the studio to see what works, how she reacts with certain parts, and so we can change the arrangements that way. I think that’s going to work much better... With Susan it's very important she connects with the public and the public connect with her. She doesn’t want to sing anything that hasn’t happened to her or she can't relate to."[2]

Susan's Search competition

In a lead up to the release, Boyle offered her fans a chance to duet with her, with a competition titled Susan's Search. Applicants had to record a video of themselves singing "Silent Night" and upload it to her YouTube channel.[6] The winner was 33-year-old paramedic Amber Stassi of Brewerton, New York.[7]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic62/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[9]
BBC Music(favourable)[10]
Metro International(mixed)[11]
Yahoo! Music[12]

The album has received generally lukewarm reviews from critics.[8] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic gave the album two and a half out of five stars, complimenting Boyle as the right person to make a holiday album, but referred to the music as "predictable".[9] Graham Rockingham of Metro International gave the album mixed reviews, criticising how the album can be a number 1 charter, but at the same time be well suited for traditional carols.

Commercial performance

In the UK, The Gift debuted at No. 1. However, it remained at the top spot for only one week and dropped out of the chart altogether after eleven weeks.[13] In comparison, Boyle's first album topped the UK chart for four weeks and remained on the chart for 39 weeks.

In the United States, The Gift debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart with first week sales of 318,000 copies.[14] In its second week, the album stayed at No. 1, and sold even more copies: 335,000.[15] In its third week, it dropped to No. 3 on the Billboard 200, selling 263,000 copies.[16] In its fourth week, The Gift returned to No. 1, selling 272,000 additional copies.[17] The album remained at No. 1 in its fifth week with sales of 243,000 copies.[18] By the end of 2010, sales of The Gift totalled 1,852,000 copies in the United States, and was the fifth best-selling album for the year.[19][20] As of November 2014, the album has attained cumulative sales of 2,180,000 copies in the United States according to SoundScan.[21]

The album debuted at No. 3 on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 13,000 copies in its first week.[22]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Original artistLength
1."Perfect Day"Lou ReedLou Reed4:31
2."Hallelujah"Leonard CohenLeonard Cohen3:53
3."Do You Hear What I Hear?" (featuring Amber Stassi)Noël Regney, Gloria Shayne BakerHarry Simeone Chorale3:55
4."Don't Dream It's Over"Neil FinnCrowded House3:47
5."The First Noel"Trad/Arranger Steve Mac, David ArchChristmas carol2:59
6."O Holy Night"Adolphe Adam, John Sullivan Dwight / Arranger Steve Mac, David ArchChristmas carol4:05
7."Away in a Manger"Trad/Arranger Steve Mac, David ArchChristmas carol2:56
8."Make Me a Channel of Your Peace"Trad/Arranger Sebastian TempleChristian hymn4:24
9."Auld Lang Syne"Robert Burns, Trad/Arranger Steve Mac, David ArchFolk song2:45
10."O Come All Ye Faithful"Trad/Arranger Steve Mac, David ArchChristian hymn2:06
11."Vapor Trail" (Japanese bonus track)Yumi AraiYumi Arai3:46

[23]

Release history
Country Release date Format(s)
United Kingdom 8 November 2010 CD, digital download
Canada 9 November 2010
United States
Japan 10 November 2010
Argentina 10 November 2010

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[64] 3× Platinum 210,000^
Belgium (BEA)[65] Platinum 30,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[66] 2× Platinum 160,000^
Hungary (MAHASZ)[67] Gold 3,000^
Ireland (IRMA)[68] 2× Platinum 30,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[69] 4× Platinum 60,000^
Sweden (GLF)[70] Gold 20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[71] 2× Platinum 600,000^
United States (RIAA)[72] 3× Platinum 2,180,000[21]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
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