Serena Ryder: Christmas Kisses
The title track from her first holiday album is an original Christmas tune, featuring timely lyrics and another strong vocal performance. It is accompanied by a sweetly charming video with a charitable component.
By Kerry Doole
Serena Ryder - “Christmas Kisses” (Serenader Source/Universal Music Canada): This is the title track of Ryder's recently-released first holiday album, one already climbing the Holiday Radio Chart. Its success comes as no surprise, as her vivacious personality and big-hearted voice are perfect for songs of the season.
Superstar producer Bob Ezrin helmed the album, and he explains in a label press release that "Serena is so versatile and has such a command of her instrument that anything is possible with her. So, we picked what we thought would be the most elegant approach to Christmas classics - one that shone the brightest light on the songs themselves, and on her magnificent voice.”
The album features fresh versions of these favourites, but "Christmas Kisses" is an original tune, co-written by Ryder and Simon Wilcox. It is a total charmer, with lyrics that are a timely reminder that there should be more to Christmas than material gifts: "My bank account is closed, and I've got pockets full of holes, would it be enough if I gave you kisses for Christmas?"
In keeping with the spirit of the season, there is a charitable component to the song and the video. Ryder partnered with the Ontario SPCA to feature rescue dogs who are in need of adoption throughout the video (directed by Lisa Mann), and the SPCA has created a unique “Christmas Kisses” page where donations can be submitted to help care for rescue animals. Click here to donate now
Ryder began her East Coast Christmas Kisses Tour with two shows this week at Casino Nova Scotia in Halifax. She plays Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown tonight (Dec. 7) and Casino New Brunswick, Moncton, on Dec. 8.
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