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Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 11:36 AM

Time for another forum party TONIGHT ahead of a new series of survivor polls in here! We'd like to kick off a Christmas themed one tomorrow, but, ahead of that - time to familiarise or re-familiarise ourselves with all of Ariana's festive songs. She has released two festive EPs ('Christmas Kisses' and 'Christmas & Chill') and has some collaborations on the side too, including the brand new 'Oh Santa!' remix with Mariah Carey and Jennifer Hudson!

Tonight, at 8:30 BST time, we would like to listen to Ariana's Christmas songs in unison as a forum. Hit 'play' on your preferred platform at this specified time and feel free to comment along. I'll be providing a YouTube embed of each song as we go along if you'd like to catch up a bit later on in the night.

http://www.buzzjack.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=239888 is a link to the 'positions' forum party that we recently hosted if you'd like to get a feel for it.

This is the ordering that we'll be following tonight:

01. Last Christmas (from 'Christmas Kisses')
02. Love Is Everything (from 'Christmas Kisses')
03. Snow In California (from 'Christmas Kisses')
04. Santa Baby (from 'Christmas Kisses')
05. Santa Tell Me
06. Intro (from 'Christmas & Chill')
07. Wit It This Christmas (from 'Christmas & Chill')
08. December (from 'Christmas & Chill')
09. Not Just On Christmas (from 'Christmas & Chill')
10. True Love (from 'Christmas & Chill')
11. Winter Things (from 'Christmas & Chill')
12. A Hand For Mrs. Claus (Idina Menzel feat. Ariana Grande - from 'Christmas: A Season Of Love')
13. Oh Santa! (Mariah Carey feat. Ariana Grande & Jennifer Hudson)

This should come to around 35 minutes - so short and sweet to match this short notice

Here is a Spotify playlist with that exact track list:



YouTube too:



If any Apple Music users are able to make the same playlist too then feel free to share!

See you guys later

Posted by: JulianNial 10th December 2020, 12:27 PM

I mean... Ariana invented COOL Christmas music, so you'd be rude not to join.

Posted by: LewisGT 10th December 2020, 05:31 PM

Can't Wait

I'm pretty over Christmas music in general but of course I'll make an exception for Ari.

Posted by: AdamG 10th December 2020, 06:16 PM

Hi Ariana stans! Popping in for this! <3

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 07:27 PM

Ooooh hello guys <3 one hour to go

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:20 PM

10 minute warning

Posted by: JulianNial 10th December 2020, 08:25 PM

A little warm up!

Posted by: AdamG 10th December 2020, 08:27 PM

That is stunning!

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:28 PM

Great choice, Julian that came up in my Subscriptions box the other day and it was lovely *.*

Posted by: JulianNial 10th December 2020, 08:28 PM

Isn't it! If only 'pov' was the winter single over 34+35.

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:29 PM

#01 Last Christmas

Posted by: AdamG 10th December 2020, 08:30 PM

34+35 is a bop tho! Maybe 'pov' might be pushed in January?

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:30 PM

Ariana has a pleasing amount of original Christmas material... but we begin with a classic instead nice enough version!

"The Rascals!" is a right Yours Truly flashback *_*

Posted by: AdamG 10th December 2020, 08:31 PM

This is my first time hearing the majority of these songs! Excited!

'Last Christmas' is the superior version, come at me

Posted by: LewisGT 10th December 2020, 08:32 PM

Last Christmas is one of the rare examples where an Ariana performance is not my favourite version of a track

Posted by: JulianNial 10th December 2020, 08:33 PM

Thanks! It is rather lovely!


True! I think we will see it for sure. A few years ago pre-streaming I could imagine the label gunning for a Christmas #1 with pov though since it has more of a wintery vibe than '34+35', but I'm glad we got '34+35' as a single anyway.

...

This version of 'Last Christmas' is a good one and probably my favourite of the 3 I have in my playlist. The other two being Wham! and Cascada.

Love the R&B twist and the added refrain.

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:33 PM

#02 Love Is Everything

Posted by: JulianNial 10th December 2020, 08:35 PM

This sounds SO 'Yours Truly', I think this is the only around the 3rd or 4th time I've heard it. It's cute, nothing special.

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:35 PM

Swiftly on to an original then this is all so cosy and makes me wish that I got to experience the festive leg of the Sweetener World Tour! Hopefully some of that is included in the upcoming Netflix documentary, I mean, it's definitely the right time of year *.*

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:36 PM

#03 Snow In California

Posted by: AdamG 10th December 2020, 08:37 PM

'Love Is Everything' is cute! Probably wouldn't return to it though...

Posted by: LewisGT 10th December 2020, 08:37 PM

Love Is Everything is a bit basic but nice enough. One of my favourites of her Christmas hits.

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:37 PM

NOT BuzzJack crashing during this already back just in time for 'Snow In California' now! The first two were cute but this is the first I properly love so far <3

Posted by: AdamG 10th December 2020, 08:38 PM

'Snow In California'

First time hearing though and wow, it's beautiful!

Posted by: JulianNial 10th December 2020, 08:39 PM

Yeh I noticed we crashed for a second.

I wish 'Snow In California' was pushed with the EP with a video etc, would easily be a Christmas classic by now. It get's a few streams from me each year anyway.

Posted by: Michael Bubré 10th December 2020, 08:39 PM

Am listening along here since I was here for all the other listenthroughs on here (except 'positions' oops) so might as well ~

Not really getting much from her cover of 'Last Christmas' but I'm not a huge fan of that song in any form really. 'Love Is Everything' was pretty good tho and 'Snow In California' also sounding nice. x

Posted by: LewisGT 10th December 2020, 08:39 PM

Snow In California is nice and warm. I like it more every year.

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:40 PM

#04 Santa Baby (feat. Liz Gillies)

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:41 PM

This gets made fun of a bit for Ariana sounding randomly lispy but it's my favourite version of the song - no regrets!!

Posted by: JulianNial 10th December 2020, 08:42 PM

Really enjoy this version, I remember hearing it in a lot of shops last year doing the Christmas shopping. Still not as prominent as Eartha's and Kylie's versions though. Nice that she got one of her bestfriends involved too.

Posted by: LewisGT 10th December 2020, 08:42 PM

I don't like Santa Baby as a song at all but this is certainly the best version if I have to hear it.

Posted by: AdamG 10th December 2020, 08:42 PM

I CAN'T UNHEAR IT NOW!!

'Santa Baby' - meh, I just don't like the song in general though.

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:43 PM

#05 Santa Tell Me

Posted by: JulianNial 10th December 2020, 08:43 PM

OMG I can't unhear it now. It must be how the vocals are processed?!

Posted by: JulianNial 10th December 2020, 08:44 PM

Snap!!

And now for a real SMASH. This HAS to be one of my most listened to Christmas song of all time now... for sure my most streamed anyway.

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:44 PM

Now the ultimate Ariana Christmas song - can never get enough of this *.* #11 in the mids today so looking good to finally re-peak tomorrow

Posted by: LewisGT 10th December 2020, 08:45 PM

Obviously her best Christmas effort. I hope it can bag an official top 10 peak this year.

Posted by: AdamG 10th December 2020, 08:45 PM

'Santa Tell Me' has really grown on me this year! More so than ever. I'm so glad it's looking like repeaking for her! A modern day classic

Posted by: JulianNial 10th December 2020, 08:46 PM

PRAYING for that top 10 this year. #11 is fantastic but annoying! A future multi-Platinum smash.

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:46 PM

#06 Intro

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:47 PM

#07 Wit It This Christmas

Posted by: LewisGT 10th December 2020, 08:48 PM

Intro's alright for what it is but not one I'd ever listen to outside of the EP.

If 'Intro' has done nothing else, it has managed to mess up my last.fm stats

Posted by: Michael Bubré 10th December 2020, 08:48 PM

The Eartha Kitt version of 'Santa Baby' is untouched, soz x

I wasn't really a big fan of 'Santa Tell Me' when it first came out but it's definitely grown on me a lot over the years, probably among the better post-2010 Christmas songs for me now.

Posted by: JulianNial 10th December 2020, 08:48 PM

Intro: A nice touch, but blink and you miss it. Necessary? Maybe not.

Wit It This Christmas: The lyrics used to make me cringe but now I'm into it more. It's the most 'positions' sounding Christmas song of hers for sure.

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:49 PM

Oops this briefly crashed again for me

Yay 'Christmas & Chill' time *.* love how trappy the intro is! Now time for the very pretty 'Wit It This Christmas' - already hyped for the strings <3

Posted by: JulianNial 10th December 2020, 08:49 PM

Omg our power team, causing all these crashes.

Oh yes! I feel that!

Posted by: AdamG 10th December 2020, 08:49 PM

'Wit It This Christmas' LITERALLY sounds like it's straight from TUN or positions

It's alright :/

Posted by: LewisGT 10th December 2020, 08:50 PM

Wit It This Christmas is a really good song but doesn't really sound very Christmassy. It wouldn't sound that out of place on one of her albums.

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:50 PM

#08 December

Posted by: JulianNial 10th December 2020, 08:52 PM

Uhhh I love this for her vocals stylings, it really gives me 'My Everything' vibes.

It's very cool and sweet... For a lack of better adjectives.

Posted by: AdamG 10th December 2020, 08:52 PM

OMG I've heard 'December'! I don't know how or when?! It SLAPS though

Posted by: LewisGT 10th December 2020, 08:52 PM

December is sounding better than I remembered it. It still needs to be another minute long though.

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:52 PM

I always forget how 'December' goes until it's on the "merry Christmas here I am boy" bit is actually quite catchy but the title just doesn't register for some reason!

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:52 PM

#09 Not Just On Christmas

Posted by: Michael Bubré 10th December 2020, 08:53 PM

The hook on 'Wit It This Christmas' was just making me think of 'six thirty' lol ~ (it is better than that though, probably my fave song so far (excluding 'Santa Tell Me'), yay for the strings x).

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:53 PM

This is STUNNING and really underrated from what I've seen in the fanbase!

Posted by: JulianNial 10th December 2020, 08:54 PM

It's crazy to me how familiar most of these songs have been to me so far considering they only get a couple of spins a year usually. Another stunner, but not a highlight for me.

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:54 PM

#10 True Love

Posted by: LewisGT 10th December 2020, 08:54 PM

Not Just On Christmas is probably the weakest on the EP for me (apart from the intro). She sounds lovely but the song just plods along a bit.

Posted by: Michael Bubré 10th December 2020, 08:55 PM

Enjoyed the production on 'December' but I can see why it might be a bit forgettable overall.

(sorry I am a song behind, I am using pleb free Spotify so I have ads xo)

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:55 PM

'True Love' has never really clicked with me for some reason! Thankfully this EP ends on a high though.

Posted by: JulianNial 10th December 2020, 08:56 PM

I'll agree with that.

Goodness some of these songs are SO short, but somehow I quite like that for a Christmas EP.

'True Love' is also very nice but not one I go back to. At this point I'm pining for 'Winter Things'.

Posted by: AdamG 10th December 2020, 08:56 PM

Hmm, the last two haven't done much for me unfortunately

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:57 PM

#11 Winter Things

Posted by: JulianNial 10th December 2020, 08:57 PM

Don't apologize! We appreciate you joining us!

WINTER THINGS!!!

Posted by: LewisGT 10th December 2020, 08:57 PM

I really like the little, subtle Christmas additions in the instrumental in True Love. It's sounding really good tonight.

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:58 PM

'Winter Things' is a big favourite for me a nice change of pace to see out the EP!

Posted by: JulianNial 10th December 2020, 08:58 PM

Petition to get Ariana to randomly push this next year with a cute video.

This is firmly my 2nd favourite Christmas track she's made thus far.

Posted by: LewisGT 10th December 2020, 08:58 PM

I don't love Winter Things as much as everyone else unfortunately.

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 08:59 PM

#12 A Hand For Mrs. Claus (with Idina Menzel)

Posted by: Michael Bubré 10th December 2020, 08:59 PM

Found 'Not Just On Christmas' a little in one ear out the other oops ~

'True Love' another decent song, especially when the sleigh bells started kicking in

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 09:00 PM

Can't see this one lasting too long in the survivor Ariana does sound great though!

Posted by: JulianNial 10th December 2020, 09:00 PM

This is a first listen for me.

Posted by: AdamG 10th December 2020, 09:00 PM

'Winter Things' was stunning, loved that!

Posted by: AdamG 10th December 2020, 09:01 PM

Erm, skip... lol

Posted by: Michael Bubré 10th December 2020, 09:02 PM

'Winter Things' a bit understated but sounding pretty cute. Think that would be my 2nd fave of the songs I hadn't heard before after 'Wit It This Christmas'.

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 09:02 PM

#13 Oh Santa! (with Mariah Carey & Jennifer Hudson)

Posted by: LewisGT 10th December 2020, 09:02 PM

It's a bit too 'musical theatre' is A Hand For Mrs. Claus.

Posted by: JulianNial 10th December 2020, 09:02 PM

Unfortunately not a fan of Idina's vocals. I'd much rather listen to Demi's 'Let It Go' than the Disney original even. But Jade is right. Ari's vocals are great as always.

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 09:03 PM

Ending on a real high now 'Oh Santa!' was an underrated favourite of mine for years so I'm glad it's getting another time to shine, with a great remix at that.

Intrigued to see how far this one can get in the survivor! Maybe this vs. 'Santa Tell Me' fight to the death.

Posted by: AdamG 10th December 2020, 09:04 PM

Preparing to get banned from this AF but 'Oh Santa!' is complete trash...

Ariana sounds amazing and the whistle harmonies are incredible but other than that I've no intention of listening to it...

I've added Winter Things and December to my playlist though based on this listening!

Posted by: JulianNial 10th December 2020, 09:05 PM

I'd never heard the original until I heard they were re-releasing it with Ari and Jennifer. I feel like it definitely wouldn't have worked as a Christmas single back when it was released, but it really works now and I love what each vocalist brings and I LOVE that Mariah and Ariana are in a song together. Already stuck in my head.

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 09:05 PM

'pov' came on straight after this playlist for me, what a great fit!

Thanks everyone for attending, this was good fun

Posted by: LewisGT 10th December 2020, 09:05 PM

Oh Santa is much better than AIWFCIY for me at least.

It's not one I see myself returning to too much though.

Posted by: JulianNial 10th December 2020, 09:06 PM

Don't worry darl', we appreciate that people have different opinions on this forum.

Thank you and EVERYONE for joining us

AND

THANKS FOR HOSTING JADE.

Posted by: AdamG 10th December 2020, 09:07 PM

Thanks for hosting Jade! <3

This is actually my first time doing one of these listening parties on Buzzjack, was fun!

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 09:07 PM

No problem guys, glad you had a good time!

Really looking forward to the survivor

Posted by: JulianNial 10th December 2020, 09:08 PM

Do join us again!

And look out for our Christmas track survivor coming tomorrow.

Posted by: LewisGT 10th December 2020, 09:08 PM

Thanks for hosting again Jade, great fun as ever

Posted by: Michael Bubré 10th December 2020, 09:09 PM

'A Hand For Mrs. Claus'... is a thing that exists

First time hearing 'Oh Santa!', I thought that I'd never heard the original but it does actually sound familiar so I must have come across it somewhere before. Pretty decent. I was waiting for the harmonised whistle notes that seem to be the main point of discussion of the song - I see it turned out to literally be for like 1 second at the end of the song it did sound nice though. x

Thanks for hosting Jade

Posted by: Alohomara 10th December 2020, 09:36 PM

I barely missed out but thank you Jade for holding this. Also yeah "Winter Things" is my favorite Christmas song and C&C is one of my favorite Ariana projects.

Posted by: Slade 10th December 2020, 10:05 PM

So sorry that you missed out my bad for the short notice! The combination of waiting for correspondence from three busy mods, trying to consider other activities on the forum plus December flying by resulted in this but yeah hopefully we can do more of these in the future and the survivor is 100% planned to start tomorrow