What Christmas Means

Last updated
What Christmas Means
What Christmas Means.jpg
Studio album by
Kem
ReleasedOctober 16, 2012 (2012-10-16)
Genre R&B [1]
Length42:07
Label Motown
Kem chronology
Intimacy: Album III
(2010)
What Christmas Means
(2012)
Promise to Love
(2014)

What Christmas Means is the fourth studio album by American singer Kem. It was released by Motown Records on October 16, 2012 in the United States. His first Christmas album, the album features traditional Christmas songs, along with original material. Guests on the album features Ledisi and the Detroit Gospel Choir. What Christmas Means peaked at number 64 on the US Billboard 200 and number six on the US Top Holiday Albums. A deluxe edition with four additional bonus tracks was issued on October 29, 2013. [2]

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Andy Kellman, writing for Allmusic, wrote that "Kem followers probably know to approach What Christmas Means without the expectation of hearing a thunderous version of "Little Drummer Boy" or collaborations with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Sure enough, the singer and songwriter's first Christmas album is filled with the same relaxed, romantic, spiritual, and gently uplifting moods of his studio albums. He didn't make this on autopilot, either [...] Kem fans who celebrate Christmas will likely value this disc as a seasonal staple for years to come." [1]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Glorify the King"
  • Kem
  • Melanie Rutherford
  • Troi Owens
3:28
2."What Christmas Means"
  • Kem
  • Rutherford
5:48
3."A Christmas Song for You"
  • Kem
  • Rutherford
5:49
4."Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"4:10
5."Christmas Time Is Here"4:13
6."The Christmas Song"4:13
7."Be Mine for Christmas" (featuring Ledisi)4:17
8."Merry Christmas Baby"
2:46
9."We Three Kings" John Henry Hopkins Jr. 4:35
10."Do Wop Christmas (That's What Christmas Is About)"
  • Kem
  • Rutherford
2:48
Deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Jesus" (featuring Patti LaBelle & Ronald Isley)
  • Kem
  • Rutherford
4:45
12."Bethlehem"
  • Kem
  • Randy Bowland
4:34
13."Home for Christmas"Kem4:15
14."Lullaby Noel"Kem3:01

Sample credits

Charts

Release history

RegionDateEditionFormat(s)LabelRef.
VariousOctober 16, 2012Standard Motown [7]
VariousOctober 29, 2013Deluxe
  • CD
  • digital download
Motown [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Legend discography</span> R&B recording artist discography

The discography of American singer John Legend consists of nine full-length studio albums, five live albums, two video albums, three extended plays, 39 singles and two promotional singles.

<i>Kemistry</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Kem

Kemistry is the debut studio album by American singer Kem. It was released by Motown Records on February 25, 2003 in the United States. The album peaked at number 90 on the US Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) 16 months after its release with an excess of 500,000 copies sold. The song "Love Calls" was released as a single and reached number 25 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

<i>Album II</i> (Kem album) 2005 studio album by Kem

Album II is the second studio album American singer Kem. It was released by Motown Records on May 17, 2005, in the United States. The album debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 with first-weeks sales of 140,000 copies, also topping the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. In 2014, it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Album II spawned the single "I Can't Stop Loving You" which became a hit on adult contemporary R&B radio stations, reaching number 20 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

<i>Trigga</i> (album) Album by Trey Songz

Trigga is the sixth studio album by American singer Trey Songz. It was released on July 1, 2014, by Songbook and Atlantic Records. The album serves as the follow-up to the singer's fifth studio album Chapter V (2012). Trey Songz enlisted a variety of record producers such as DJ Mustard, Mike Will Made It, Da Internz, Soundz, Dun Deal, The Featherstones, D'Mile and The Insomniakz, among others.

<i>Ridin Solo</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Keith Sweat

Ridin' Solo is the eleventh studio album by American R&B singer Keith Sweat. It was released on June 22, 2010 by Kedar Entertainment and Fontana Distribution. It debuted at number 13 on the US Billboard 200, also reaching number four on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

<i>Intimacy: Album III</i> 2010 studio album by Kem

Intimacy: Album III is the third studio album from R&B artist Kem.

<i>Lyrics</i> (Donell Jones album) 2010 studio album by Donell Jones

Lyrics is the fifth studio album by R&B singer Donell Jones. It released by Candyman Music, Jones's own label, through eOne Music on September 28, 2010 in the United States. The album marked his first release with the venture, following his departure from LaFace Records, and features production credits by Mike City and Jones himself. The album debuted at number 5 on the US Billboard Independent Albums chart and number 9 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart with almost 15,000 in sales. "Love Like This" was the album's lead single and reached the top of the US Adult R&B Songs chart.

<i>Kandi Koated</i> 2010 studio album by Kandi Burruss

Kandi Koated is the second studio album by American R&B recording artist Kandi Burruss, released on December 14, 2010 in the United States on her independent label Kandi Koated Entertainment and Asylum Records. The album features production from Kandi amongst others including Jazze Pha, Ne-Yo, Bryan-Michael Cox, and Drumma Boy. Kandi promoted the album with her debut EP, Fly Above EP, released on October 29, 2009. The first single "Leave U" has reached number 89 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The U.S. iTunes Store had a deluxe edition available for pre-order with 3 bonus tracks.

<i>Miss Pattis Christmas</i> 2007 studio album by Patti LaBelle

Miss Patti's Christmas is a studio album by American singer Patti LaBelle. Her second holiday album, it was released by Def Soul Classics on October 9, 2007 in the United States. Chiefly produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, it marked LaBelle's first Def Jam recording since abruptly leaving the label in 2006 over a dispute with then-president Antonio "L.A." Reid. Miss Patti's Christmas peaked at number 22 on the US Top Holiday Albums.

<i>Pieces of Me</i> (Ledisi album) 2011 studio album by Ledisi

Pieces of Me is the fifth studio album by American R&B recording artist Ledisi. It was released by Verve Forecast Records on June 14, 2011 in the United States. Released to critical and commercial success, the album debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200 album chart and at number two on R&B Albums chart. Her first top-ten entry on the former chart, it is Ledisi's highest-charting album to date as of 2021. The album spawned three singles that were released to moderate success on the Billboard charts.

<i>Cee Los Magic Moment</i> 2012 studio album by Cee Lo Green

Cee Lo's Magic Moment is the first Christmas studio album and overall fourth studio album released by American recording artist Cee Lo Green on October 29, 2012, in the United Kingdom. It was released to the US on October 30 by Elektra Records. Green's versions of "Mary, Did You Know?" and "What Christmas Means to Me" peaked at numbers 22 and 23 on the December 22, 2012 R&B Songs chart in the United States. The album has sold 181,000 copies in the United States in 2012. It is Cee Lo Green's first solo album to not contain a Parental Advisory label.

<i>A Mary Christmas</i> 2013 studio album by Mary J. Blige

A Mary Christmas is the eleventh studio album and first Christmas album by American R&B recording artist Mary J. Blige. It was released on October 15, 2013, by Matriarch, Interscope and Verve Records. The album was primarily produced by David Foster, and features guest appearances from Barbra Streisand, Chris Botti, Jessie J, The Clark Sisters, and Marc Anthony.

<i>Testimony</i> (August Alsina album) 2014 studio album by August Alsina

Testimony is the debut studio album by American R&B singer August Alsina. It was released on April 15, 2014, by Def Jam Recordings. The album was supported by six singles: "I Luv This Shit", "Ghetto", "Numb", "Make It Home", "Kissin' on My Tattoos" and "No Love"; along with the release of his promotional single, "Benediction".

<i>Promise to Love</i> 2014 studio album by Kem

Promise to Love is the fifth studio album by American singer Kem. It was released by Motown Records on August 25, 2014. The album debuted and peaked at number three on the US Billboard 200.

<i>Hollywood: A Story of a Dozen Roses</i> 2015 studio album by Jamie Foxx

Hollywood: A Story of a Dozen Roses is the fifth studio album by American R&B singer and actor Jamie Foxx. It was released on May 15, 2015, by RCA Records. The album includes musical appearances from Chris Brown, Fabolous, Kid Ink, Pharrell Williams and Wale, while production on the album was handled by Boi-1da, DJ Mustard, Mario Winans and Vinylz, among others.

<i>What Im Feelin</i> 2016 studio album by Anthony Hamilton

What I'm Feelin' is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Anthony Hamilton. It was released on March 25, 2016, by RCA Records.

<i>Face the Music</i> (Avant album) 2013 studio album by Avant

Face the Music is the seventh studio album by American singer Avant. Released on February 1, 2013 in the United States, it marked his debut released on his own label Mo-B Entertainment. Distribution was overseen by Caroline Distribution and EMI Records. The album features collaborations with J'Lyn, Kriss "Kajun" Johnson and singer Keke Wyatt. As of August 2015, Face the Music has sold over 77,000 copies in the United States.

<i>Savage</i> (Tank album) 2017 studio album by Tank

Savage is the eighth studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter Tank. It was released on September 29, 2017, by Atlantic Records and his synergetic label R&B Money. The album debuted and peaked at number 24 on US Billboard 200 and at number 17 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album's leading single "When We" became his first US Billboard Hot 100 entry as a solo artist in over a decade and peaked at number one on the Adult R&B Songs chart.

<i>Forever</i> (Donell Jones album) Album by Donell Jones

Forever is the sixth studio album by R&B singer Donell Jones. It was released on July 9, 2013, through eOne Music. The album debuted at number 20 on the US Billboard 200 with sales of 12,000 copies.

<i>Missunderstood</i> (Queen Naija album) 2020 studio album by Queen Naija

Missunderstood is the debut studio album by American singer Queen Naija. The album was released on October 30, 2020, through Capitol. The production on the album was handled by multiple producers including Boi-1da, T-Minus, Jahaan Sweet, Hitmaka, Lil' Ronnie and Pooh Beatz among others. The album also features guest appearances by Lil Durk, Russ, Toosii, Jacquees, Mulatto and Kiana Ledé. The deluxe version features guest appearances by Ari Lennox, Wale and J.I the Prince of N.Y.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kellman, Andy. "What Christmas Means". AllMusic . Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "What Christmas Means (Deluxe edition)". iTunes (US). Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  3. "Kem Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  4. "Kem Chart History (Holiday Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  5. "Kem Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  6. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  7. "What Christmas Means". iTunes (US). Retrieved September 20, 2020.