"Absolute Christmas" is a Swedish double-CD containing both classical Christmas songs and modern pop songs about Christmas.
Some of the songs are Swedish, including Adolphson & Falk's "Mer jul", which is actually a low key lampooning of various Swedish Christmas traditions. Most of the pop songs are (unsurprisingly) American, British or Irish.
Highlights include John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)", Band Aid's "Do they know its Christmas", Wham's "Last Christmas" and the corny "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", featuring Kim Wilde and Mel Smith. There are also songs by The Pogues, Slade, Bon Jovi, Chris Rea and Enya. The German-Jamaican disco band Boney M performs "Mary's Boy Child".
The second CD features famous artists performing classical Christmas songs. Elvis Presley, Bing Crosby, Cliff Richard and Harry Belafonte are included. The latter performs..."Mary's Boy Child". The entire collection ends with ABBA's "Happy New Year".
"Absolute Christmas" is an absolute classic. I and my parents listen to this CD every Christmas Eve. And, frankly, all year long, as well! I also suspect that all Swedish radio hosts have this album, since the Christmas songs played on Swedish radio stations are almost the same ones as those found on this collection - including a couple of rather unusual songs.
This compilation could have some interest for Swedes living in America, Americans living in Sweden or collectors of X-mas paraphernalia.
Merry Christmas a.k.a. Happy Holiday!
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