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Celine Dion

Celine Dion

Photo: Tony Barson/Getty Images

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Celine Dion-Inspired Movie Coming In 2020 celine-dion-inspired-power-love-movie-coming-2020

Celine Dion-Inspired 'Power Of Love' Movie Coming In 2020

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French actor and director Valerie Lemercier will be directing the film and playing the role of the lead character based on the Canadian singer's inspirational story
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Jan 31, 2019 - 3:22 pm

French film studio Gaumont shared they are going to begin shooting soon for a film—technically not a biopic—inspired by GRAMMY-winning vocal powerhouse Celine Dion, due out in 2020. The film is tentatively titled "The Power Of Love," from the Canadian singer's GRAMMY-nominated hit song, and will include her music. 

French actress and director Valerie Lemercier will be directing the movie and also starring as the main character Aline, whose story and rise to fame as a teen in a large Canadian family is largely based on Dion's story. While news first circulated yesterday that the film would be a biopic about the star, today Variety shared Gaumont's clarification that it is a "homage" to her with fictional characters sharing a story similar to hers.

The budget is set at $23 million, which, as Variety highlighted, is quite large for French films, and is set to be one of the country's highest-profile movies in 2020. The acting will be primarily in French, with filming to take place in France, Spain, Canada and Las Vegas.

Lemercier felt a connection to Dion after the star lost her manager husband to cancer in 2016, and felt compelled to research her journey and her relationship with her mother and late husband. "I discovered the strength of their love story and their great humor, and I better understood how the alchemy of their three individual ambitions made an unwanted, little girl the greatest star on the planet," she told Variety.

Dion's story is one ripe to be adapted for the silver screen; she was born the youngest of 14 siblings in Quebec in 1968 and rose to fame nationally as a young teen. She began to gather an international following after releasing her first English-language album Unison in 1990, followed by a string of hits, including "The Power Of Love" in 1993, her first No. 1 hit, and "My Heart Will Go On" in 1998. That song, which was the theme song for the blockbuster hit Titanic, earned her two GRAMMY wins, including for Record Of The Year at 41st GRAMMY Awards. She was also one of the first musicians to have a residency in Las Vegas, and has been putting on show-stopping performances for years.

Diana Ross Is Set To Perform At The 2019 GRAMMY Awards

Erik Rojas

Erik Rojas

Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Martens Music & Film Series

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Erik Rojas On Resilience & The Art Of Music Videos director-erik-rojas-art-music-videos-chasing-his-dreams-la

Director Erik Rojas On The Art Of Music Videos & Chasing His Dreams In L.A.

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Just a few years after relocating from Boston, the young filmmaker has already directed music videos for the likes of TROYBOI, Dillion Francis, Jessie J, JAMESDAVIS, Chase Atlantic and more
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Nov 11, 2019 - 4:47 pm

Meet Erik Rojas. He's a young, energetic director/photographer who relocated from his hometown of Boston to chase his dreams of being a filmmaker in the City of Angeles. After just a few years into the L.A. grind, he's began to make a name for himself with his striking visuals, having directed music videos for TroyBoi, Dillion Francis, Jessie J, JAMESDAVIS, Chase Atlantic and more, as well as commercial spots, PSAs and art pieces (L.A. multimedia artist Ginger Q's epic "Cabroncita" video).

As he reveals in our recent conversation, what Rojas really wants to do is create a film in collaboration with his friends, and to lift up fellow creatives in his circle. It's pretty clear he's on the right path; the event we met at is one he was tapped to curate, the second instalment of the L.A. edition of the new Dr. Martens Music & Film Series. The featured artist for this show is his friend De'Wayne; they met a few years back when they were both new to L.A., with not much more to count on than big dreams.



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@idewaynejackson has been a close homie of mine in LA for a while now. When @drmartensofficial gave me the opportunity to curate artists for the campaign I am directing for them, I immediately thought of D. His talent, toughness and work ethic are unmatched. Love you bro! LA pull up to the show tonight! Stay tuned for the lil film we made together

A post shared by erik j. rojas (@erikjrojas) on Oct 23, 2019 at 1:48pm PDT

We caught up with Rojas during the event to learn more about what he thinks is the key for making a great music video, what his biggest creative dreams for the near future are and how his father's story as a Colombian immigrant has inspired him.

So, you've been filming De'Wayne for a short film for Dr. Martens. What has this experience been like for you?

Working with Docs on this project has been amazing, because not only is the brand so authentic, and kind of a huge part of music culture and just culture in general. But the ability to have some creative freedom with such a global brand has been amazing, because they really believe in you and your ability to tell a story, and the story of the artists. It's great, because it feels super organic. They're an amazing brand to work with. Everyone on the team—and the message they have—is so sick. I think the message of the campaign is amazing, I really resonate with it. We're two months in, and it's been amazing. I love it.

What's the biggest thing you've learned about yourself from this project so far?

Oh man. That's a good one. Like I said, there's so much creative flexibility with this campaign. What I've really learned is how to take my storytelling ability and apply it to the stories of these different artists. And myself. I was able to learn how to tell a story about myself, which is a really interesting thing.

Also, there's a different way of crafting a film for each artist, because each have their own voice. The film that I make about De'Wayne; it's not going to be the same film that I made about PJ, because they're completely different people with completely different stories. And I've definitely learned how to adapt my craft to really help push the story and the craft of another person.

And, if I'm not mistaken, you're curating the L.A. events in the series, right?

Yeah. So, it's cool, it's a partnership with Docs, and we're working together to find six artists or bands that have a story of resilience; they didn't have the easiest time in life, in the music industry. Kind of telling a story of how they got over that sh*t, and how it's inspired the music that they make now, or who they are as artists. De'Wayne's lyricism pulls a lot from his experiences moving here with no money, living in his car, sleeping on the floor, having little to no success starting out. He worked four jobs before he started to get a little bit of a success in music.

That to me, their stories, are super inspiring. And it's great, because every single artist that I've worked with or I will work with, has such an inspiring story. It's been great to work with Docs to find these talented people and even just help tell their story to more people.

How did you choose who to work with?

Yeah, it was cool because in addition to Docs, I've mostly been working with a really dope creative cultural agency called Collide. And when we were in the initial discussions about who to feature, I had a list of people that I work with and are friends with, like De'Wayne. And, because they're super in the music scene as well, they had a lot of great options that I was able to go pull from.

And just living out here [in L.A.] for a few years and meeting really dope people has been amazing. There's such a wide network of talented artists with crazy stories, so there's a large swath or spectrum of people to go for.

Yeah, where do you even begin when you're looking for artists living in L.A. doing cool, inspiring stuff like that?

Yeah, there's such an immense amount. Everybody's out making something and everybody's going through sh*t. That's the reality of it is, no matter what success level. De'Wayne's a great example and I can really relate because I went through the same thing living out here, coming out here with an intent to be a filmmaker.

You go through the same sort of trials and tribulations of questioning yourself. Like, "Did I make the right move? How am I going to pay rent?" Then you get those little breaks, and it's like, "Well, something's working." So I'm just going to keep at it. So I think there's a trend with all the people that are out here who are doing cool sh*t. There's a trend of toughness and resilience that I think is really key.

Watch: NEXT With Sierra Lever: The Rising Music Marketer Talks Artist Storytelling, Kendrick Lamar & More

I think it's an important story, too. Nowadays, with SoundCloud and social media, it's technically easier to put your music and art out into the world. But it's also harder to actually get noticed, for people to pay attention for than more than a scroll.

Absolutely. There's such a high volume of people now, and the democratization of like, "Well, I can get a hundred people to listen to my sh*t now." Now everybody can do that. So, how do you rise above that? That also makes you question your own heart. Whether it be the medium of music or the medium of filmmaking or whatever. If you're a painter, there's so many other dope people who are getting their sh*t out there.

There's a lot of like, "Damn, am I doing the right thing?" Or it makes you question yourself as an artist. So I think we're at a very interesting time in the history of creativity in general. We're at a really pivotal time in music and culture, everything.

I was looking on your website, and you've made some really cool music videos. I'm curious about what you think are the key elements of collaborating with an artist, to get a visual that brings new life to their music?

With music videos specifically, at the end of the day, it's like reverse scoring. You're creating the visual score to their music. I think it's always important for it to be super collaborative and for the vision of the artists to be the driving factor in every creative decision. Even if there's just one nugget of creativity that they want to give you, it's going to allow you to build off of that.

And like I said, every artist is their own story, vision, etc. So being malleable, being able to adapt, and being stoked in the process, stoked in their music, is key.

In terms of the way I work with artists, I always walk in with an idea, and then it's important to be super collaborative and mold that idea. No project will ever be [exactly] what was written in the treatment, because there's always going to be stuff on set. There's going to be ideas turned around, and that's dope, because that's the creative jazz that happens on anything, whether it be a photo shoot or a music video or a documentary. With this De'Wayne project, we were like, "Dude, you rap about a lot of heavy sh*t, especially racial injustice." We went to Home Goods and bought a bunch of little pig statues and destroyed them with a sledgehammer.

He's reinvented himself so many times as an artist; at least three times. He's gone through this dope re-envisioning of what his music is. We were like, "What if we just set your name on fire a bunch of times on paper." So we were in an alley and he was burning his hand setting his name on fire on a piece of paper. And it was dope. Those are the really cool things that happen when you're working with somebody and creating together.

So yeah, I think that being super collaborative, and being flexible and malleable is one of those key factors in working with artists, and in that process you develop a voice. You can look at something and be like, that's an Eric and De'Wayne project, or that's a De'Wayne music video.

Touching on your own story, your father is a Colombian immigrant. How do you feel that the different cultural identities you've experienced play into your own identity and the art you create?

You know, it's funny, on every project I'm ever on, people are always telling me how super energetic and happy I am to be doing it, regardless of the scope or whatever it is. It's funny because my dad came from Medellín, Colombia, at a time that wasn't the best.

In the '80s?

Yeah. It was pretty violent. They wanted to get out of there and he didn't grow up very wealthy. So, when he moved to the States, even though he became a normal immigrant worker, he was so stoked on everything, because it was the best thing he'd ever experienced. And to me, having his super optimistic and positive influence growing up, has kind of helped me just be stoked about everything I do.

Even if it's tough, it just helps you. If you're stoked about something, it helps make that final product better. Whether it be a music video, a photo shoot, a branded spot, a commercial or your own film. Having his optimism instilled in me helps me push through sh*t.

Whenever I'm feeling down, or kind of being whiny about something, I think about the fact that he could have died living down there. He busted his ass to get a green card and come up here and give everybody else, his family and his future kids a better life. So I'm just going to push through this, even if it's a tough job, or something I don't want to do or a really rough day on set. I'm just super grateful to even be out here. That super positive energy that he's always had has definitely helped push me in the right direction.

I love that. A positive attitude is important but sometimes can be pretty hard.

Literally, that was one of the only things he'd tell me is, "Just be grateful. Don't be ungrateful. Because you're healthy, you're alive and you have a job." He's literally worked a maintenance and a factory job his entire life. He's the happiest guy ever. I think that's dope, I want to be like that. Whatever I'm doing, I just want to be happy, but I want to stay positive and make sure that I'm just doing it to the best of my ability.

Would you say he's a big role model for you?

Absolutely. He's a role model, for sure. He is the American immigrant archetype. He came from a really rough time in Colombia and he was able to make a new life up here, and give the best to me and my brother. So he's a huge inspo, one hundred percent. I'm just super glad to have him as my dad. He's the man. My mom's amazing too, for sure.



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already un año since I directed this viddy for @dillonfrancis y @fuego ! #WtF

A post shared by erik j. rojas (@erikjrojas) on Feb 8, 2019 at 12:14pm PST

If you could manifest one thing in the next year, what would it be?

Oh man, manifest one thing. One thing that I always say is, I just love working with my friends. It's a long shot because I know a lot of work goes into it; if I make a short or a feature or something and get my friends to work on it, be in it with me, score some music for it, and we're all just a part of this fun, creative process, we make a good film. I'd love to manifest that. That's why I'm out here. I'm here to tell stories, make films, and just have a good time with my friends. And if I can manifest that into something, that'd be dope.

Tei Shi Has Found Her Happy Place

Celine Dion

Celine Dion

Photo: Design: F. Inomata

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Celine Dion Will Never Forget Aretha Franklin celine-dion-says-she-will-never-forget-singing-aretha-franklin

Celine Dion Says She Will Never Forget Singing With Aretha Franklin

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The two GRAMMY-winning vocal powerhouses famously shared the stage in 1998 at the first-ever "VH1 Divas" show
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Mar 7, 2019 - 3:29 pm

GRAMMY winner Celine Dion has had plenty of high points in her career, and the "VH1 Divas" performance she shared with fellow GRAMMY-winning vocal powerhouse Aretha Franklin in 1998 is one she'll especially treasure.

Looking back on that moment, one she would "never forget," Dion said she had an easy decision to make when asked to be a part of the GRAMMY tribute to the late legend. She added her voice to the powerful evening that was "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul," singing "A Change Is Gonna Come."

Backstage at the event, which will air on CBS in full this Sunday, March 10, Dion also reflected on the power that Aretha has had on her and many other singers and music fans.

"Whoever believes that music comes from the soul has a part of her," she emphasized. "We've been singing her, we've been feeling her."

"She has been showing us, all of us, how things are being done and no one will ever be doing that again," Dion finished.

Don't forget to catch "Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul" on Sun., March 10 at 9 p.m. EST / 8 p.m. CT on CBS.

Brandi Carlile Takes Aretha Franklin To Heart With A Special Tribute

Elton John on Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour

Elton John

Photo: Faith Moran/Wireimage/Getty Images

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Elton John Celebrated With Britain's Highest Honor elton-john-celebrated-britains-exclusive-highest-honor

Elton John Celebrated With Britain's Exclusive Highest Honor

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Olivia Newton-John, Roger Taylor of Queen, Billy Ocean and Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol are also among the artists on Britain's 2020 Honours List
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Dec 30, 2019 - 5:00 pm

GRAMMY-winning music legend Elton John is being celebrated by his native Britain for his incomparable contributions to music, philanthropy and culture with the exclusive title of the Order of the Companions of Honor.

"I'm humbled and honoured to be among such highly esteemed company in receiving the Companion of Honour. 2019 has turned out to be a truly wonderful year for me and I feel extraordinarily blessed," the enduring "Rocket Man" wrote on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/ejaf/status/1210888894641819648

We are so thrilled and beyond proud of founder @EltonOfficial today as he is awarded the Companion of Honour for his remarkable services to music and charity.

Congratulations Elton on this wonderful and well-deserved recognition. https://t.co/05PDizJeDu

— Elton John AIDS Fdn (@ejaf) December 28, 2019

The news comes with the recently released 2020 Honours List, in which Queen Elizabeth celebrates 1,097 new rankings of dames and knights each year. GRAMMMY winners Olivia Newton-John and Billy Ocean, along with Roger Taylor of Queen, and Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol are also among the other musical artists on the list of high-level contributors to British society with several different ranks.

Watch: Elton John Discography: Icon Reflects On His Personal Favorite Albums

Australian-British singer/actress Newton-John "was made a dame for services to charity, cancer research and entertainment," as noted by The Guardian. Per Billboard, she is fighting breast cancer for the third time and has worked for years to support cancer research and funding with various philanthropic efforts, including the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in Melbourne.

"I am extremely excited, honoured and grateful beyond words to be included with such an esteemed group of women who have received this distinguished award before me," the "Grease" star said via Billboard. "As a girl born in Cambridge, I am very proud of my British ancestry and so appreciative to be recognised in this way by the United Kingdom."

Other powerful names in entertainment, like Oscar-winning British film directors Steve McQueen ("12 Years A Slave," "Widows") and Sam Mendes ("American Beauty," "Skyfall"). But as the Guardian points out, the majority of the list (72% this year) are made up of names we are less familiar with, yet nevertheless have dedicated themselves to public service. Simon Stevens, the Chief Executive of England's NHS, is one of these people, who has spent 31 years fighting for better public health funding.

According to BBC News, the honours list is published twice per year—during the New Year and on the Queen's birthday—and are informally approved by the Queen after nominees are approved by committees of "independent experts" divided by subject matter. "The system is overseen by the Cabinet Office Honours and Appointments Secretariat, and British nationals or citizens of the 15 Commonwealth realms can be nominated," BBC explains. Foreigners can receive honorary honours.

Read: 5 Ways Elton John Supports Philanthropic Causes

John was first knighted back in 1998—when he received his "Sir" title—and now joins a group of just 65 as a Companion of Honour. Fellow knighted GRAMMY winner Paul McCartney is also among this group, whose limit of 65 members at any given time includes the royal monarch himself.

He also received France's highest civilian honor, the Légion d'Honneur, earlier this year. The Elton John AIDS Foundation, which has organizations in both the U.K. and U.S., has raised over $400 million towards money to support HIV/AIDS research and prevention since 1992.

One of 2019's biggest music biopics, "Rocketman," highlighted the personal struggles of low self-esteem, toxic relationships and drug addiction John faced while bringing joy to many with his charismatic stage persona and groundbreaking blend of folk, pop and glam rock.

Kicking off in 2018, his massive farewell tour, appropriately titled Farewell Yellow Brick Road, has seen him bringing his joyful catalog of music to his countless fans around the world, with dates extending into 2020.

Giles Martin On 'Rocketman,' Elton John, Reinventing "Tiny Dancer" & More

Kacey Musgraves

Kacey Musgraves

Photo: Manny Carabel/WireImage/Getty Images

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New Holiday Music: Kacey Musgraves, Jacquees, More 13-new-songs-add-your-holiday-playlist-kacey-musgraves-jacquees-flaming-lips-more

13 New Songs To Add To Your Holiday Playlist From Kacey Musgraves, Jacquees, The Flaming Lips & More

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Based on the sheer amount of new holiday music released this year, apparently we all really need a big dose of festive cheer—Los Lobos, Macklemore, blink-182 and more are also here to help
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Dec 24, 2019 - 8:30 am

Before we enter into the next decade, we have to get through the holidays. Whether you're one of the many people responsible for streaming Mariah Carey's 1994 classic "All I Want For Christmas Is You" to the top of the charts this month or you've trying your best to avoid the sound of jingle bells at all costs, the holiday season can create a whirlwind of emotions.

But one thing's clear: we can all use a big dose of festive cheer. Thanks to a rich, diverse selection of new holiday songs and albums from Kacey Musgraves, Taylor Swift, Jacquees, The Flaming Lips, Los Lobos, Macklemore and many others, it's the perfect time to get cozy and pump up the sounds of peace and joy.

2018 Holiday Jams: Don't Sleep On These Brand-New Holiday Songs From RuPaul, Lil Jon & More

"Glittery," Kacey Musgraves ft. Troye Sivan

If Mariah Carey is the reigning queen of Christmas music, Kacey Musgraves is definitely the princess. Back in 2016, the GRAMMY-winning alt-country star released A Very Kacey Christmas, featuring both original and classic tracks and toured with it. This year, she added brand-new shimmer to the album with an Amazon Prime special, "The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show."

The show was filled with special guests, including Aussie pop star Troye Sivan, who joined her to sing "Glittery," a new, original holiday song about a lover that makes you feel like a beautiful snow globe. The special also spawned a live album, meaning you can tune into this track and the rest of the fun moments anytime. Musgraves is truly a better-dressed, modern Santa.

"Christmas Tree Farm," Taylor Swift

The Swifties had a great year, as GRAMMY winner Taylor Swift released her currently GRAMMY-nominated seventh studio album, Lover. As if the LP and the singles and videos that led up to it weren't enough, the pop star gave her fans another gift just in time for the holidays, a new song called "Christmas Tree Farm."

Her lyrics are filled with nostalgia for the farm she grew up on and the simpler times of childhood, as they dance over the classic, bright holiday song melodies. The music video even features cute footage from the Swift family's home videos.

"It's Christmas Time," Macklemore Ft. Dan Caplen 

Like Swift, GRAMMY-winning rapper Macklemore is also feeling a similar childhood nostalgia on his new track, "It's Christmas Time," featuring rising U.K. soul singer Dan Caplen. The cheerful song is paired with a cute, festive music video, in which the kids drink eggnog out of one of the Seattle artist's golden gramophones (which he won three of with Ryan Lewis back at the 56th GRAMMY Awards).

"Every year around Christmas time I think to myself 'Just do it Ben. Make the song. You can be the new Mariah Carey.' Well, this year I finally am," Macklemore joked on Twitter.

Watch: Mariah Carey Releases A New Video For "All I Want For Christmas Is You"

"7 O'Clock News / Silent Night," Phoebe Bridgers Ft. Fiona Apple and Matt Berninger

Tuning into the news in 2019 can be surreal and overwhelming. Apparently this was not so different in 1966, when GRAMMY-winning folk heroes Simon And Garfunkel released "7 O'Clock News / Silent Night," featuring a recording of the current news over their singing of the Christmas classic.

While technically not an original song like the rest on this list, Phoebe Bridgers, Fiona Apple and The National's Matt Beringer update the heart-wrenching song for our current reality, offering 100 percent of its proceeds to Planned Parenthood. Berninger plays the newscaster in this version, reading headlines about gun violence and anti-abortion legislation. The important, haunting song is part on the compilation album co-created by Berninger, 7-Inches for Planned Parenthood, which, of course, benefits the nonprofit organization.

"Miss You This Christmas," Letters to Cleo

"The days get short, the nights are really cold. / This year Christmas ain't the same / I'm not used to stringing lights alone, I miss you this Christmas," Kay Hanley of Letters to Cleo sings on "Miss You This Christmas," from their new EP, OK Christmas. It is one of the two original songs on the Boston alt-rockers guitar-slicked holiday album, which also features two fun covers.

"Hanukkah in '96," Alex Frankel

In addition to all the new Christmas-themed music that dropped this season, Hanukkah+, a fun, star-studded compilation album, brought—finally!—a whole new batch of Hanukkah-themed bops. Frankel, a "Hebrew school dropout" and half of New York electro duo Holy Ghost!, contributes the synth-y, nostalgic "Hanukkah in '96." He says the fun new song is "the greatest Jewish song ever written (in a major key)."

Read: Holy Ghost! On What "Do This" Is Really About & Why They Feel So Good About 'Work'

"Sing It Now, Sing It Somehow," The Flaming Lips

Also a new track featured on Hanukkah+, The Flaming Lips' "Sing It Now, Sing It Somehow," is gorgeous, haunting and ecstatic, all at once. The producer of the album, GRAMMY-winning music supervisor Randall Poster said, "Seeing the Flaming Lips is like going to temple—if they had unicorns and body glitter as sacraments. So, I thought their spiritual connection would be relevant to celebration, contemplation and the spirit of the holiday." Amen.

"Christmas and You," Los Lobos

Read: Los Lobos' Louie Perez & David Hidalgo Working On A Ritchie Valens Musical

GRAMMY-winning Los Angeles rock greats Los Lobos recently released their first holiday album, Llegó Navidad, four decades into their illustrious musical career. Along with reimaginings of under-sung holiday classics "Feliz Navidad," "Dónde Está Santa Claus," "It's Christmas Time In Texas" and more, the album also offers a heartfelt original song, "Christmas and You."

As NPR's Michael Martin explained, "It is a classic Los Lobos operation—a lovingly curated collection of songs from across North, Central and South America with, of course, an original song that makes you want to cry."  

"Alabaster," Andrew Bird

Like Los Lobos, current GRAMMY nominee Andrew Bird has dropped his first holiday album several decades into his career (his first album came out in 1996). The indie folk-rock violinist's new EP, Hark!, follows his aptly-titled, GRAMMY nominated LP, My Finest Work Yet. The six-track surprise project is very much an Andrew Bird Christmas album, filled with his trademark whistling, melancholic lyrics and a mellow, lo-fi "White Christmas" cover. One of the original tracks, "Alabaster," feels both like a church hymn and a local pub's winter closing song, in the best way possible.

Of the project, the "Olympians" singer said, "A lot of folks have a hard time with the holidays but they serve a purpose to us as a people—to create comfort, warmth and atmosphere within the darkness and the cold that can crush one's spirit. There are a couple originals in here that address this idea of light and warmth in the darkness as well as some classics that have some nostalgic resonance with me. Hark! What sounds come flowing alabaster?"

Watch: Andrew Bird Covers Neil Young's "Harvest Moon" For ReImagined

"Christmas Party," Jacquees

The self-appointed "King Of R&B" Jacquees serves up a sexy dose of holiday spirit with his latest project and sophomore studio album, Christmas In Decatur. The nine-track LP of original holiday music, labeled as "HOTTTTT" by Hot New Hip Hop, arrived just one month after King Of R&B. The new album, whose title is a nod to his Georgia hometown, opens with the bubbling "Christmas Party," and also includes the amazingly NSFW "Like Santa Claus," ending on a celebratory high note with "Happy Holidays."

"Tell your people Happy Holidays (Happy Holidays). / We're so blessed to see these better days. / Oh, what a year it's been / All the up's and down's … / It's a New Year, baby, so glad that we made it out / all drinks on me, uh (all drinks on me)," Jacquees soulfully sings on the last track.

"Jolly Liver," Beach Slang

"I want beer!" James Alex of Philly rock outfit Beach Slang repeatedly growls over the chorus of their new rock 'n roll bah-humbug track, "Jolly Liver." Alex, who penned the song, closes it out with the amazing lines: "A-well-a-well-a, ho, ho, ho / and a-all that junk. / There ain't no halo hangin' 'round this dump. / I meant to be a saint. I ended up a drunk."

The new, rocking holiday-inspired song, released earlier this month, came along with the news that the band's next album, The Deadbeat Bang of Heartbreak City, is due out Jan. 10.

"Not Another Christmas Song," blink-182

Apparently not one to follow their own advice, pop-punk group blink-182 follows 2001's "Won't Be Home For Christmas" with 2019's "Not Another Christmas Song." The new Christmas song has Mark Hoppus singing, "I'm burned out like lights on a tree. / Old songs, can't listen to these. / Fake a smile but all I can see is empty boxes and trees. / Another year not a coffin / Growing up or whatever you call it."

"Christmas Techno Dance," Klaus Blatter

This year, Santa was generous, as there are actually more new holiday songs than we can include on this list. We'll go out with the bizarre, hilarious holiday club track, "Christmas Techno Dance" by German comedic dance outfit act Klaus Blatter. It's paired with an equally wacky music video, for which the YouTube description explains, "The Christmas Techno Dance video is basically a summarized updating of the Bible with all the boring elements of the story removed… If you wish to enter the kingdom of god all you are for needing is this video and single of Klaus Blatter. The story is told!"

From the Recording Academy family to you and yours, please have a safe, joyful, music-filled holiday!

Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" Hits No. 1 25 Years After Its Initial Releas

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