Album Notes

When Canadian icons like Guido Basso and Ashley MacIsaac and international superstars like Jennifer Warnes and Chrissie Hynde jump at the chance to record with an unknown singer based on hearing one demo, you know that singer must have something very special.

Michel Bérubé is that singer and Basso, MacIsaac and Hynde all contributed their talents to an as-yet-unreleased album that piqued the interest of record label executives on both sides of the Atlantic who continue to follow his career closely.

Not one to wait for success to come to him, in 2004 Michel recorded and independently sent his powerful version of O Holy Night to radio stations in Canada and the U.S.A.

The song was universally praised and played on radio stations across North America. This incredible success prompted the president of Universal Music, Canada to ask Michel to contribute a song to the 2005 edition of the extremely popular series of annual compilations of Christmas music by Canadian artists.

Encouraged by this response, Michel focused his energies on producing a full Christmas album of his favorite songs and the tremendous variety of Christmas music available gave him the perfect opportunity feature his diversity as a singer.

From the uplifting and powerful O Holy Night and The First Noel on which Michel is backed up by gospel singers, to the jazz infused What Child Is This, to the slightly swinging Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, to the up tempo title track This Christmas, to the French versions of the Christmas classics he heard as child growing up in rural Quebec, the songs reflect the range and talent of a truly gifted singer.

One song Michel wanted to include on his album was The Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth popularized by Bing Crosbie and David Bowie. Feeling strongly that performing this duet with a female singer would add a different color and dimension to the song, Michel proposed the idea to a singer he admired and whose music was universally loved, Jennifer Warnes.

After hearing Michel sing, Jennifer immediately agreed to collaborate with him and the result is not only the centerpiece of This Christmas, but was also quickly added to radio stations from Canada to the USA to Europe and Australia in November/December 2005.

This Christmas is the perfect Christmas album to add to anyone’s collection with a variety of songs beautifully sung and already staples on the playlists of radio stations everywhere.

Michel’s first “mainstream” single will be released to Canadian radio stations in April 2008.