Christmas! A Newsboys Holiday

OiBoyz · 08-14-2010, 06:59 PM

Man, this is disappointing. I'm thinking I should have put this under Secular Music.

Quote:

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE: With the continuous momentum of Newsboys' current CD release Born Again, a No. 1 radio hit and an extensive touring schedule, they continue their whirlwind year with the announcement of their first-ever Christmas project. Christmas! A Newsboys Holiday will release October 12th, courtesy of Inpop Records. The new CD was produced by Dustin Burnett, Michael Tait, and Juan Otero of The Write Bros, half of the production team of Born Again. Comprised of six holiday classics, Christmas! A Newsboys Holiday includes "Winter Wonderland," "Jingle Bell Rock," "All I Want for Christmas is You," "O Holy Night," "The Christmas Song," and "Mary Did You Know."

To help promote Christmas! A Newsboys Holiday, Newsboys will join Newsong the weekend after Thanksgiving to kick off the "Very Merry Christmas Tour 2010." This 20+city nationwide tour kicks off in North Carolina and will finish up in Georgia on December 20th. Check out the tour dates listed below to see if can help ring in the Christmas season with Newsboys at a city near you.

There is no question the momentum keeps continuing to escalate for Newsboys and their July 13th release of Born Again. The current single and No. 1 hit "Born Again" continues to stay high up on the charts, having a total of 7.1 million impressions to date. Following the largest street week of their careers by selling an astounding 45,311 units and hitting #4 on Billboard's overall chart, Born Again continues to keep its place on the Billboard Top 200 chart and is No. 3 on the Christian Soundscan chart, scanning more than 72,000 units in the first month of release.

BenWahrman · 08-14-2010, 08:12 PM

Okay, I get that the Newsboys are coming out with a Christmas album, and that it's only six songs long, and it's all songs that have been done before, but how does that make this a possible candidate for the secular music forum? Or do I detect a hint of sarcasm? Or am I just missing something?

OiBoyz · 08-14-2010, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenWahrman

Okay, I get that the Newsboys are coming out with a Christmas album, and that it's only six songs long, and it's all songs that have been done before, but how does that make this a possible candidate for the secular music forum? Or do I detect a hint of sarcasm? Or am I just missing something?

Man, I'm gonna have to turn up the sarcasm. I was trying to be very sarcastic.

earlessdog · 08-14-2010, 10:19 PM

I'm a huge Christmas music fan, so I don't see a problem with this, other than the fact they are only doing 6 songs. IMO, when bands release Christmas albums, they should be free, unless your buying it in a physical format.

But I won't be buying this, Newsboys died after the Million Pieces era. I miss Shine . . .

OiBoyz · 08-14-2010, 10:25 PM

Here's what I'm thinking, and maybe I'm wrong...

They get a big hit record, their biggest so far. It places well on the Billboard chart. So some genius decides to cash in on that with the secular market. Dumb down the message, throw some "holiday" music together. Don't bother writing anything new.

While I'm sure Michael will sound beautiful on all of them, and I will probably buy him singing O Holy Night. I won't be buying this record.

To me, the 'boys are all about the message. I don't mind that they made money doing it. It's very biblical to earn your living from your ministry. I do mind that this seems to me to be all about the money, and not about the message at all.

Peter never altered the message in the pursuit of the money. Or the audience. Or the fame or anything else. That's what I loved about the newsboys. I don't like the direction change I'm seeing. I hope I'm wrong.

OiBoyz · 08-15-2010, 12:23 AM

Ha ha! Apparently it's not ok to be negative about a newsboys album on Duncan's facebook page. I ruffled a few feathers, and got the typical "OMG! HOW CAN YOU SAY THEY'RE NOT CHRISTIANS?? I LOVE THIS ALBUM, IT'S AWESOME SALAD WITH A SIDE OF AWESOME!!!"

Oy.

BenWahrman · 08-15-2010, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OiBoyz

While I'm sure Michael will sound beautiful on all of them, and I will probably buy him singing O Holy Night. I won't be buying this record.

To me, the 'boys are all about the message. I don't mind that they made money doing it. It's very biblical to earn your living from your ministry. I do mind that this seems to me to be all about the money, and not about the message at all.

Peter never altered the message in the pursuit of the money. Or the audience. Or the fame or anything else. That's what I loved about the newsboys. I don't like the direction change I'm seeing. I hope I'm wrong.

I seem to recall hearing a Tait version of "O Holy Night" on the radio around Christmastime. Maybe I'm just insane, but I can totally hear the song in my head.

Just the fact that they're coming out with this so soon after releasing Born Again, even if it was delayed, tells me that whatever production team they have behind them now seems more concerned with visibility and getting more music out faster than anything at this point. My prayer is that, over time, the "New-boys" will settle down, stop trying to light the music world on fire, and come out with some solid, poetic, meaningful albums that have a perfect mixture of heartfelt writing and musicianship. The talent is there, quite visibly. Now they just have to take the next step.

What I want the New-boys to do, and I would love them forever for, is to give Jody some solo time. I have his solo record, and it's probably one of my favorite solo projects done by any member of any band that I've ever heard. He has a great voice and some serious writing chops, I think they should give him a track or two where it's almost completely all his work, like "Stay Strong" was for Jeff F.

OiBoyz · 08-15-2010, 10:30 AM

I agree. They've got talent available, they should use it.

Jonular · 08-15-2010, 10:41 AM

Christmas albums don't sell particularly well, so I find it hard to believe it's about the money. Besides, who would be the person who implanted this idea of a Christmas album for their own monetary gain? Don't they release albums on their own record label? If you think it's for the money, then you're just saying that the newsboys "sold out". In which case, may I direct you to "Handbook for the Sellout" by Five Iron Frenzy? Few people outside of the newsboys would (possibly) turn a profit from a Christmas album project.

Also, why can't a Christmas album just be...for fun? If I were in a band, this is why I would release a Christmas album. Presumably, it would be a pleasant, fairly easy time in the studio getting your Christmas cheer on.

Lots (and lots!) of people do Christmas albums. It's nothing to be so disappointed about...or even something that's such an ordeal that you have to take it to facebook.

OiBoyz · 08-15-2010, 12:03 PM

You're probably right, I am overreacting. I was also dealing with a high drama situation on a forum I moderate and I'm sure my irritation at that bled over into this. Where were you earlier when I needed reining in? :P

I'm still disappointed in the songs, but calling them "sell outs" is harsh. And unfair. But according to their own press release, this was done specifically because of the success of the Born Again album. And I don't see that there was much thought put into it besides that.

I love the newsboys for the message they bring to their music. And they do it in a fun way, so I don't see the need to do a secular album for a supposedly Christian holiday. Third Day did a Christmas album, and they had some secular songs on there "for fun" but they also had some very meaningful ones, and some originals. I would have hoped for something similar for the newsboys. And it's not like they had to release a Christmas album right this minute, except for that whole "catching the moment of popularity" thing.

I can't help but think of what the 'boyz could have done with songs about the Incarnation. What a missed opportunity.

**Role Modlin** · 08-15-2010, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by earlessdog

I'm a huge Christmas music fan, so I don't see a problem with this, other than the fact they are only doing 6 songs. IMO, when bands release Christmas albums, they should be free, unless your buying it in a physical format.

But I won't be buying this, Newsboys died after the Million Pieces era. I miss Shine . . .

I had pretty much given up on them...but I think Born Again is the best thing they've done in years.

dailybeans · 08-15-2010, 01:28 PM

Is there something wrong with having momentum?
It seems like they're just working with what they've got; and right now, that just happens to be a lot of success.
No biggie.

jimtherocker · 08-15-2010, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenWahrman

I seem to recall hearing a Tait version of "O Holy Night" on the radio around Christmastime.

Yup, He did a duet of "O Holy Night" with Leigh Nash (of Sixpence none the Richer) on the City on a Hill: It's Christmas Time. Came out around 2002.

**bravesfan007** · 08-17-2010, 11:17 AM

Michael has already recorded The Christmas Song on another album, so that one is not new.

BenWahrman · 08-17-2010, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bravesfan007

Michael has already recorded The Christmas Song on another album, so that one is not new.

Yeah, IIRC, it was a hidden track on his second solo album, and recorded with a full orchestra.