This is a great CD to POP in while you decorate the tree. It has the classic songs, her rick songs, her funny songs.

1.) Home on Christmas Day - A slow rock song that has the typical guitar the is a trademark of her music.

2.) Early Christmas Morning - Starts off with kids singing like if it was a Chrismas Carroll, then she comes in and adds her punk style to the album to get you in the mood.

3.) Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - I think we all know this song, she does it with like a funky beat and he high pitched voice.

4.) Christmas Conga - Definately the best song on the cd, with her funky beats and her funny lyrics. Really should be a Christmas single. I think if radio played it, we would have a hit. Bonga Bonga Bonga do the Christmas Conga.......

5.) Minnie and Santa - Another funny song with her humor. A slow song but funny.

6.) Feels Like Christmas - Sounds like it starts off with bad quality, like she is singing live, but then starts to be another soft rock song.

7.) Three Ships - A slow song with a flute at the beginning, must be her playing. Typical Christmas but why three ships? Was the Columbus Day lol.....

When Cyndi Lauper's MERRY CHRISTMAS...HAVE A NICE LIFE was first released back in '98, I remember reading some capsule review in some popular magazine or other (maybe PEOPLE?) to the effect that it was surprisingly good, better than it "had a right to be," in fact. Huh? Is that a compliment?

I imagine the reviewer thought he was being pretty darn generous to a performer, whom he no doubt recalled as being basically a novelty act from the early MTV days. What's frustrating about reviews like this is that they seldom reference any previous recording other than SHE'S SO UNUSUAL (or, if you're lucky, TRUE COLORS). Cyndi's 90s work(HAT FULL OF STARS and SISTERS OF AVALON) had demonstrated a maturing talent (not that the "immature" stuff was bad--far from it). It's just that, had anybody been bothering to listen, they would have known that she was an artist to be taken seriously and a force to be reckoned with.

Unfortunately, too many had written her off prematurely. And by 1998, her record company was pretty much ready to show her the door. She had one record left on her contract with SONY (who hadn't been offering much in the way of support anyway). Cyndi had gone out touring in '97, opening for Tina Turner, and giving it her all while visibly pregnant...and the record company could scarcely be bothered to promote her excellent SISTERS OF AVALON. A Christmas album seemed like a handy way to meet the terms of the contract and for artist and record company to bid each other adieu.

Christmas CDs are usually lower budget affairs (I'm told) and as it happened, Cyndi already had a couple of Christmas themed tracks in the can anyway. Actually, "Feels Like Christmas" from HAT FULL OF STARS is really more of a love song than a true holiday song, but it had the Noel thing going on in the title and a nice bounce (one of the more upbeat tracks on what was otherwise Cyndi's most serious record to date). "Early Christmas Morning" had appeared on the Japanese version of SISTERS OF AVALON, so that only meant eight or nine new tracks at the most.

It could have been a knock-off, folks, but Cyndi Lauper's sense of artistry and adventure knows few if any bounds, and musically, HAVE A NICE LIFE (the title obviously being something of a kiss-off to SONY) continues to explore the same musical terrain as the previous two records. Queens born Cyndi comes by her multi-culturalism naturally, You've got a little Zydeco here, a little Island music and her version of "Silent Night" starts off with some Mid-Eastern strains, which only begs the question, why hasn't anybody done anything like this before. But that's the closer, let's go back to the beginning.

It's been said that the best Christmas music is tinged with melancholy, and Cyndi's opener "Home for Christmas Day," replete with ringing Byrds-like guitar, is something of a rock rewrite of "I'll Be Home For Christmas." (Ever notice how many holiday albums BEGIN with the latter song: Cyndi honors the tradition in her unique way by starting off with her own updated, similary themed carol.) Then it's off to Cajun-inflected "Early Christmas Morning" and Cajun-Caribbean mix on "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (a wink and a nod to Brenda Lee--a singer she was often compared to back in the day). The fun continues with "Christmas Conga" and the winning, slightly ribald novelty "Minnie and Santa." Gradually, though, the all the spirited fun begins to give way to a more serious, solemn and (dare we say it?) spiritual mood.

Two songs in row celebrating Cyndi's recent motherhood? Why not? It might be a little much for some artists, but for one as open hearted and honest as Cyndi Lauper, it works. I've had a few "Well, I dunno about this moments" with Cyndi's ballads before (including classics like "Time After Time" and "True Colors"), but they always win me over eventually. "New Year's Baby (First Lullabye)" and "December Child" are no different, delicate songs that avoid slipping into the precious by dint of Cyndi's sheer conviction.

After starting out on such a sunny, tropical note, the album ends on an appropriately winterlike note with the Celtic flavored "In the Bleak Midwinter" and a relatively stark reading of "Silent Night." From the festive to the hauntingly fragile...Cyndi Lauper sums up the season. Definitely, not a knock-off.

Fast forward to 2003-2004, Cyndi's back with SONY (at least for now), doing the standards thing (but definitely doing them her way), and now the record company has now come out with a remastered version of this album. I haven't heard the new version yet, but it did actually seem as though this yuletide offering, delightful as it is, could have used some brightening (of sound and spirit). Looks like everyone may just be having a nice life after all.

This excellent cd was released in 1998 and I'm just now getting around to buying it in 2004. After just a few listens I know all the songs and can't wait to hear them again.

1. Home on Christmas Day - vintage 80's Cyndi pop song. Sweet with a bit of an edge. Catchy chorus.

2. Early Christmas Morning - Catchy song with a children's chorus.

3. Rockin Around the Christmas Tree - You know this one. Done in a fun style.

4. Christmas Conga - goofy fun, lots of humor.

5. Minnie and Santa - Bawdy little sea shanty with a great sense of humor.

6. Feels Like Christmas - This was previously released on another album, great any time of the year.

7. Three Ships - Here's where the tone changes. Really interesting take on a song you don't hear much on pop Christmas albums.

8. New Year's Baby (First Lullaby)- This is so touching and beautiful - the lyrics seem odd at first and then you get caught up in the moment of her singing to her new baby, and get to hear him gurgling in the background. Just a gorgeous song about the passage of time.

9. December Child - Lovely spiritual song, telling her newborn son about another baby whose birth is celebrated in December.

10. In the Bleak Midwinter - Haunting, beautiful.

11. Silent Night - Beautiful rendition.

There is such a range of emotion in these 11 songs from this multi-faceted performer, but the album as a whole flows beautifully. Do yourself a favor and don't let any more time pass before you get it for yourself.

I have had this album for 3 years now, I think. I play it to DEATH every December. I love it! It's amazing. I am not at all big on the traditional versions of Christmas songs.. I tend to want to BARF in the shopping malls. This is probably my all time favourite Christmas Album. And it is the best version of SILENT NIGHT that I have EVER heard!

Listening to this CD brings out all the joy of the holiday season -- from fun and laughter to sentimental feelings. "Christmas Conga" is so much fun, and Cyndi's take on "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" is simply one of the best versions I've ever heard. "New Year's Day (First Lullaby)" is a beautiful track sure to bring a lump to the throat of any parent. "When I first looked into eyes like mine," she sings, "I wondered what I'd see through them in time." Just beautiful...