Merry Christmas is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, and her first Christmas album. Released by Columbia Records on October 28, 1994, at the peak of the initial stretch of Carey's career, between Music Box (1993) and Daydream (1995), the album features cover versions of popular Christmas songs in addition to original material. Carey worked with Walter Afanasieff, with whom she wrote all of the original tracks, as well as producing Carey's interpretations of the covered material. Three singles were released from the album, of which "All I Want for Christmas Is You" went on to become one of the best-selling singles of all time and the best-selling Christmas ringtone in the United States.
Ayaka Iida, known simply by the mononym Ayaka, is a female Japanese singer, songwriter and record producer formerly signed to Warner Music Japan. Born in Osaka, she moved to Tokyo to pursue a singing career. She married actor Hiro Mizushima on February 22, 2009.
"Santa Baby" is a song performed by American singer Eartha Kitt with Henri René and His Orchestra and originally released in 1953. The song was written by Joan Javits and Philip Springer, who also used the pseudonym Tony Springer in an attempt to speed up the song's publishing process. Lyrically, the song is a tongue-in-cheek look at a Christmas list addressed to Santa Claus by a woman who wants extravagant gifts such as sables, yachts, and decorations from Tiffany.
"8 Days of Christmas" is a song recorded by American girl group Destiny's Child for their Christmas album of the same title (2001). Written by group members Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland along with Errol McCalla Jr., who handled its production, it is a Christmas-themed song with heavy R&B and dance pop elements.
"Days"/"Green" is the forty-fourth single by the Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki, released on December 17, 2008. In addition to the A-sides "Days" and "Green", the single contains re-recorded versions of Hamasaki's songs "Love: Destiny" and "To Be". The single was Hamasaki's 31st single to reach number one on the Oricon chart and 19th consecutive single to do so.
Future Kiss is the ninth studio album by Japanese singer and songwriter Mai Kuraki. It was released on 17 November 2010, by Northern Music. The album was originally scheduled to be released on 20 October 2010; however, it was pushed back to 17 November 2010.
"Oh Santa!" is a song by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey from her second Christmas album and thirteenth studio album, Merry Christmas II You (2010). Carey wrote and produced the song in collaboration with Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox. It was released as the lead single from the album on October 1, 2010 by Island Def Jam Records. It is an up-tempo R&B song about Carey making a plea for Santa Claus to bring back her partner in time for the Christmas holidays. It received a positive response from music critics, with many praising its composition and style.
"Mr. Taxi" is the first original Japanese song recorded by South Korean girl group Girls' Generation. It was released as a double A-side single with the Japanese version of "Run Devil Run" on April 27, 2011, as the third single from the group's eponymous debut Japanese album. Composed by STY, Chad Royce and Scott Mann, with the Japanese lyrics written by STY and Korean lyrics written by Jung Hye-young, "Mr. Taxi" is an electropop and R&B song. A Korean version was later recorded and included on the group's third Korean studio album The Boys, and was released as the album's second single in December 2011.
Tone is the fifth Japanese studio album by South Korean pop group Tohoshinki, released on September 28, 2011, by Avex Trax. It is Tohoshinki's first Japanese album since becoming a Duo, with members Yunho and Changmin. Tone was released in three physical versions – Version A, a CD+DVD version with music videos; Version B, another CD+DVD version with off-shot movies; and Version C, a CD only version with a bonus track. Composing sessions for the album began in 2009, bull full production began in early 2011.
Boyfriend (Korean: 보이프렌드) is a South Korean boy band formed by Starship Entertainment in 2011. They are the first boy group to have twin members. The group consists of Kim Dong-hyun, Shim Hyun-seong, Lee Jeong-min, Jo Young-min, Jo Kwang-min and No Min-woo. They debuted on Mnet's M Countdown on May 26, 2011, with "Boyfriend".
The videography of South Korean K-Pop band Secret consists of twelve music videos, 1 concert tour video, 2 music video compilations, 1 music video single and three promotional videos. In 2009, Secret signed a recording contract with TS Entertainment and released their first single "I Want You Back" which became their first music video. Secret's first music video to receive attention in South Korea was "Magic" and became one of their popular songs because of its choreography. The same year, the group released "Madonna", which featured a sophisticated image for them, as the song lyrically tells about living with confidence by becoming an icon in this generation, like the music icon Madonna. In early to mid-2011, the group departed from their sexy image and released "Shy Boy". The song ushered a new image for Secret which was inspired by the American 50's fashion and features a "cutesy" concept. Secret continued to channel the image of their previous single with the release of "Starlight Moonlight" and maintained the "retro" theme.
Seventh Mission is the Japanese debut album by the South Korean boy band Boyfriend. It was released on May 29, 2013, in four different editions.
"Rōdō Sanka" is the 6th single by the Japanese female idol group Momoiro Clover Z, released in Japan on November 23, 2011.
Christmas Kisses is the debut Christmas record and extended play (EP) by American singer-songwriter Ariana Grande. It was released on December 13, 2013, in most countries, and on December 17, 2013, in the United States, as a collection of two covers of classic Christmas songs, and two original songs. On December 3, 2014, the Japanese special edition was released for CD and two days later for digital download. It peaked at number twenty-five on the Oricon chart. The EP went on to sell 68,871 copies in the US and over 405,000 copies worldwide.
YANKEE is the second studio album by Japanese musician Kenshi Yonezu and fourth original album release. It was released on April 23, 2014, followed by his first live concert on June 27, 2014. It was selected as best album of the year by iTunes in 2014.
"My Avatar" is the fifth Japanese single by South Korean boy band Boyfriend from their 5th Japanese single album of the same name. This single was released physically on March 26, 2014.
Gossip Girls is the fourth studio album and third Japanese release by South Korean idol group T-ara. It was released on May 14, 2014, as their second album release under Universal Music Japan sub-label EMI Records Japan in two limited editions and a regular edition.
With is the eighth Japanese studio album by South Korean pop duo Tohoshinki, released by Avex Trax on December 17, 2014. The record was released in four physical versions – Version A, a CD+DVD version with music videos and live performances; Version B, another CD+DVD version with off-shot movies; Version C, a CD only version with two bonus tracks; and Version D, a fan club limited edition with a CD-Extra. Recording and writing for the album roughly began in the summer of 2013. With is described to be an album composed of nostalgic dance-pop songs that are influenced by disco and jazz, accompanied by marching drumbeats. Its lyrical content explores the general concept of love and friendship.
Colorful Pop is the second studio album of the Japanese super girl group E-girls. It was released on March 19, 2014 in two different editions.
You Make It Feel Like Christmas is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Gwen Stefani. The album, which is Stefani's first full-length Christmas-themed album, was released on October 6, 2017, by Interscope Records. The record was executively produced by Stefani and Busbee, with additional production coming from Eric Valentine. The standard version of You Make It Feel Like Christmas contains twelve songs, featuring six original songs penned by Stefani, Busbee and Justin Tranter, and six cover versions of Christmas standards. While going on a nature walk near the Oklahoma ranch house belonging to boyfriend Blake Shelton, Stefani felt inspired to record a Christmas album and began writing what would later become "Christmas Eve". Recording sessions took place in the summer months of 2017; several of the tracks' titles leaked in August, leaving Stefani to confirm the project in September. The album's original songs make references to Stefani's newfound love and relationship with Shelton.
