You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Gwen Stefani - DeepRiffs

ALBUM

Showbiz has been in Gwen Stefani's blood since the start of her career, which is the reason why she, unlike many '90s alt-rock veterans, can seem at home within the confines of the televised musical competition The Voice. Her very presence on The Voice, one of the last genuinely popular franchises on network television in the 2010s, guaranteed the existence of an album like You Make It Feel Like Christmas, one that's pitched directly in the mainstream. You Make It Feel Like Christmas plays upon her romance with co-host Blake Shelton, making her bouncy duet with the country singer the album's title track and first single. "You Make It Feel Like Christmas" bops along to a Motown beat, just one of many intentional nostalgic nods at the past -- "Never Kissed Anyone with Blue Eyes" grooves to a simmering '60s soul groove, her version of "Santa Baby" has a mid-century swing, Wham!'s "Last Christmas" is given drippy strings that turn it into a girl group number -- but the record is surprisingly heavy on new material for a holiday album. Occasionally, this means Stefani veers into territory that doesn't feel strictly seasonal: "When I Was a Little Girl" plays like a diary entry, not a memory of Christmases past, "My Gift Is You" is a love song bearing the faintest hint of mistletoe, and "Never Kissed Anyone with Blue Eyes" has only a tangential relationship with Christmas. They don't seem out of place, since they're given the same bells and whistles as "Let It Snow" and "White Christmas," but they also diminish the album, making it seem smaller than the season. Still, the moments that work have a coquettish charm that is appealing, which is reason enough to warrant a listen. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

1. Jingle Bells

by Gwen Stefani

Composer: James Pierpont; Composer
Lyricist: James Pierpont; Composer
Mixing: Dave Clauss; Production
Producer: Eric Valentine
Busbee; Production
Studio Personnel: Dave Clauss; Production
Immersive Mix Engineer: Brad Wood; Other

2. Let It Snow

by Gwen Stefani

Composer: Sammy Cahn
Jule Styne; Composer
Lyricist: Jule Styne
Sammy Cahn; Composer
Mixing: Dave Clauss; Production
Producer: Eric Valentine
Busbee; Production
Studio Personnel: Dave Clauss; Production
Immersive Mix Engineer: Brad Wood; Other

3. My Gift Is You

by Gwen Stefani

Composer: Justin Tranter
Gwen Stefani
Michael Busbee; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Busbee
Gwen Stefani
Justin Tranter; Composer
Mixing: Dave Clauss; Production
Producer: Eric Valentine
Busbee; Production
Studio Personnel: Dave Clauss; Production
Immersive Mix Engineer: Brad Wood; Other

4. Silent Night

by Gwen Stefani

Composer: Franz Xaver Gruber
Joseph Mohr; Composer
Mixing: Dave Clauss; Production
Producer: Eric Valentine
Busbee; Production
Studio Personnel: Dave Clauss; Production
Immersive Mix Engineer: Brad Wood; Other

5. When I Was A Little Girl

by Gwen Stefani

Composer: Justin Tranter
Gwen Stefani
Michael Busbee; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Busbee
Gwen Stefani
Justin Tranter; Composer
Mixing: Dave Clauss; Production
Producer: Eric Valentine
Busbee; Production
Studio Personnel: Dave Clauss; Production
Immersive Mix Engineer: Brad Wood; Other

6. Last Christmas

by Gwen Stefani

Composer: George Michael; Composer
Lyricist: George Michael; Composer
Mixing: Dave Clauss; Production
Producer: Eric Valentine
Busbee; Production
Studio Personnel: Dave Clauss; Production
Immersive Mix Engineer: Brad Wood; Other

7. You Make It Feel Like Christmas

by Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton

Featured Artist: Blake Shelton; Main Performer
Composer: Blake Shelton
Gwen Stefani
Justin Tranter
Michael Busbee; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Busbee
Blake Shelton
Gwen Stefani
Justin Tranter; Composer
Mixing: Dave Clauss; Production
Producer: Eric Valentine
Busbee; Production
Studio Personnel: Dave Clauss; Production
Immersive Mix Engineer: Brad Wood; Other

8. Under The Christmas Lights

by Gwen Stefani

Composer: Justin Tranter
Gwen Stefani
Michael Busbee; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Busbee
Gwen Stefani
Justin Tranter; Composer
Mixing: Dave Clauss; Production
Producer: Eric Valentine
Busbee; Production
Studio Personnel: Dave Clauss; Production
Immersive Mix Engineer: Brad Wood; Other

9. Santa Baby

by Gwen Stefani

Composer: Joan Javits
Philip Springer
Tony Springer; Composer
Lyricist: Tony Springer
Philip Springer
Joan Javits; Composer
Mixing: Dave Clauss; Production
Producer: Eric Valentine
Busbee; Production
Studio Personnel: Dave Clauss; Production
Immersive Mix Engineer: Brad Wood; Other

10. White Christmas

by Gwen Stefani

Composer: Irving Berlin; Composer
Lyricist: Irving Berlin; Composer
Mixing: Dave Clauss; Production
Producer: Eric Valentine
Busbee; Production
Studio Personnel: Dave Clauss; Production
Immersive Mix Engineer: Brad Wood; Other

11. Never Kissed Anyone With Blue Eyes

by Gwen Stefani

Composer: Justin Tranter
Gwen Stefani
Michael Busbee; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Busbee
Gwen Stefani
Justin Tranter; Composer
Mixing: Dave Clauss; Production
Producer: Eric Valentine
Busbee; Production
Studio Personnel: Dave Clauss; Production
Immersive Mix Engineer: Brad Wood; Other

12. Christmas Eve

by Gwen Stefani

Composer: Justin Tranter
Gwen Stefani
Michael Busbee; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Busbee
Gwen Stefani
Justin Tranter; Composer
Mixing: Dave Clauss; Production
Producer: Eric Valentine
Busbee; Production
Studio Personnel: Dave Clauss; Production
Immersive Mix Engineer: Brad Wood; Other

13. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

by Gwen Stefani

Composer: Haven Gillespie
J. Fred Coots; Composer
Background Vocals: Grace Potter
Laura Mace
Conesha Owens; Performer
Bass (vocal): Sean Hurley; Performer
Bass Trombone: Ryan Dragon; Performer
Drums: Matthew Musty; Performer
Guitar: Gregory Camp
John Storie; Performer
Lyricist: Haven Gillespie
J. Fred Coots; Composer
Editor: Eric Caudieux; Production
Engineer: Eric Valentine
Busbee
David Way; Production
Keyboard: Kevin Patrick Warren; Performer
Performer: Matthew Musty
Kevin Patrick Warren
John Storie
Ryan Dragon
Erik A. Hughes
David A. Richards
Daniel R. Fornero
Conesha Owens
Laura Mace
Peter Slocombe
Gregory Camp
Grace Potter
Sean Hurley
Robert Moose
Michael Rocha
Blair Sinta; Performer
Mastering Engineer: Adam Ayan; Production
Mixing: Dave Clauss; Production
Violin: Robert Moose; Performer
Producer: Eric Valentine
Busbee; Production
Percussion: Blair Sinta; Performer
Synthesizer: Kevin Patrick Warren; Performer
Tenor: Peter Slocombe
Ryan Dragon; Performer
Trombone: Erik A. Hughes; Performer
Trumpet: Daniel R. Fornero
Michael Rocha
David A. Richards; Performer
Viola: Robert Moose; Performer
Recording: Eric Valentine; Production
Recording Assistant: Michael Carey
Bradley Cook
Peter Chun; Production
Studio Personnel: Busbee
Eric Valentine
Michael Carey
Dave Clauss
Adam Ayan
Bradley Cook
Peter Chun
David Way
Eric Caudieux; Production
Bari Sax: Peter Slocombe; Other
Immersive Mix Engineer: Brad Wood; Other

14. Cheer For The Elves

by Gwen Stefani

Background Vocals: Apollo Rossdale
Grace Potter
Kingston Rossdale
Conesha Owens; Performer
Bass (vocal): Sean Hurley; Performer
Bass Trombone: Ryan Dragon; Performer
Drums: Matthew Musty; Performer
Lyricist: Michael James Ryan Busbee
Gwen Stefani
Justin Tranter; Composer
Guitar: Gregory Camp
John Storie; Performer
Keyboard: Kevin Patrick Warren; Performer
Performer: Daniel R. Fornero
Michael Rocha
Matthew Musty
Kingston Rossdale
Kevin Patrick Warren
John Storie
Robert Moose
Grace Potter
Sean Hurley
Blair Sinta
Ryan Dragon
Peter Slocombe
Apollo Rossdale
Conesha Owens
Gregory Camp
Erik A. Hughes
David A. Richards; Performer
Editor: Eric Caudieux; Production
Engineer: Eric Valentine
David Way
Busbee; Production
Mastering Engineer: Adam Ayan; Production
Mixing: Dave Clauss; Production
Producer: Busbee
Eric Valentine; Production
Percussion: Blair Sinta; Performer
Synthesizer: Kevin Patrick Warren; Performer
Tenor: Ryan Dragon; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Peter Slocombe; Performer
Trombone: Erik A. Hughes; Performer
Trumpet: Daniel R. Fornero
David A. Richards
Michael Rocha; Performer
Viola: Robert Moose; Performer
Violin: Robert Moose; Performer
Composer: Michael James Ryan Busbee
Justin Tranter
Gwen Stefani; Composer
Recording: Eric Valentine; Production
Recording Assistant: Bradley Cook
Peter Chun
Michael Carey; Production
Studio Personnel: Eric Caudieux
Michael Carey
Eric Valentine
Busbee
Peter Chun
Bradley Cook
Adam Ayan
Dave Clauss
David Way; Production
Vocal Editing: Dave Clauss; Production
Bari Sax: Peter Slocombe; Other
Immersive Mix Engineer: Brad Wood; Other
Vocal Mix: Dave Clauss; Other

15. Secret Santa

by Gwen Stefani

Background Vocals: Grace Potter
Laura Mace
Conesha Owens; Performer
Lyricist: Michael James Ryan Busbee
Gwen Stefani
Justin Tranter; Composer
Bass (vocal): Sean Hurley; Performer
Drums: Matthew Musty; Performer
Engineer: Eric Valentine
Busbee
David Way; Production
Recording Assistant: Michael Carey
Bradley Cook
Peter Chun; Production
Guitar: Gregory Camp
John Storie; Performer
Keyboard: Kevin Patrick Warren; Performer
Percussion: Blair Sinta; Performer
Synthesizer: Kevin Patrick Warren; Performer
Composer: Justin Tranter
Michael James Ryan Busbee
Gwen Stefani; Composer
Performer: Kevin Patrick Warren
John Storie
Gregory Camp
Conesha Owens
Laura Mace
Robert Moose
Blair Sinta
Matthew Musty
Sean Hurley
Grace Potter; Performer
Mastering Engineer: Adam Ayan; Production
Mixing: Dave Clauss; Production
Recording: Eric Valentine; Production
Studio Personnel: Eric Caudieux
Eric Valentine
Michael Carey
Dave Clauss
David Way
Busbee
Peter Chun
Bradley Cook
Adam Ayan; Production
Viola: Robert Moose; Performer
Editor: Eric Caudieux; Production
Immersive Mix Engineer: Brad Wood; Other
Violin: Robert Moose; Performer
Producer: Eric Valentine
Busbee; Production

16. Winter Wonderland

by Gwen Stefani

Background Vocals: Conesha Owens
Laura Mace
Grace Potter; Performer
Bass (vocal): Sean Hurley; Performer
Bass Trombone: Ryan Dragon; Performer
Drums: Matthew Musty; Performer
Guitar: Gregory Camp
John Storie; Performer
Keyboard: Kevin Patrick Warren; Performer
Performer: Blair Sinta
Ryan Dragon
Peter Slocombe
Laura Mace
Robert Moose
Michael Rocha
Conesha Owens
Matthew Musty
Kevin Patrick Warren
John Storie
Gregory Camp
Erik A. Hughes
David A. Richards
Daniel R. Fornero
Grace Potter
Sean Hurley; Performer
Author: Richard B. Smith; Production
Editor: Eric Caudieux; Production
Engineer: David Way
Eric Valentine
Busbee; Production
Mastering Engineer: Adam Ayan; Production
Mixing: Dave Clauss; Production
Producer: Eric Valentine
Busbee; Production
Percussion: Blair Sinta; Performer
Strings: Kevin Patrick Warren; Performer
Synthesizer: Kevin Patrick Warren; Performer
Tenor: Ryan Dragon
Peter Slocombe; Performer
Trombone: Erik A. Hughes; Performer
Trumpet: David A. Richards
Michael Rocha
Daniel R. Fornero; Performer
Viola: Robert Moose; Performer
Violin: Robert Moose; Performer
Composer: Felix Bernard; Composer
Recording: Eric Valentine; Production
Recording Assistant: Peter Chun
Bradley Cook
Michael Carey; Production
Studio Personnel: Bradley Cook
Peter Chun
Busbee
Michael Carey
Eric Valentine
Eric Caudieux
David Way
Dave Clauss
Adam Ayan; Production
Vocal Editing: Dave Clauss; Production
Bari Sax: Peter Slocombe; Other
Immersive Mix Engineer: Brad Wood; Other
Vocal Mix: Dave Clauss; Other

17. Feliz Navidad

by Gwen Stefani, Mon Laferte

Lyricist: José Feliciano; Composer
Background Vocals: Conesha Owens
Laura Mace
Grace Potter; Performer
Recording Assistant: Michael Carey
Bradley Cook
Peter Chun; Production
Additional Vocals: Mon Laferte; Other
Bari Sax: Peter Slocombe; Other
Bass (vocal): Sean Hurley; Performer
Bass Trombone: Ryan Dragon; Performer
Drums: Matthew Musty; Performer
Featured Artist: Mon Laferte; Main Performer
Guitar: John Storie
Gregory Camp; Performer
Percussion: Blair Sinta; Performer
Composer: José Feliciano; Composer
Keyboard: Kevin Patrick Warren; Performer
Performer: Peter Slocombe
Grace Potter
Blair Sinta
David A. Richards
Daniel R. Fornero
Conesha Owens
Laura Mace
Ryan Dragon
Sean Hurley
Mon Laferte
Robert Moose
Michael Rocha
Matthew Musty
Kevin Patrick Warren
John Storie
Gregory Camp
Erik A. Hughes; Performer
Synthesizer: Kevin Patrick Warren; Performer
Tenor: Ryan Dragon; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Peter Slocombe; Performer
Trombone: Erik A. Hughes; Performer
Trumpet: David A. Richards
Michael Rocha
Daniel R. Fornero; Performer
Viola: Robert Moose; Performer
Editor: Eric Caudieux; Production
Engineer: David Way
Eric Valentine
Busbee; Production
Mastering Engineer: Adam Ayan; Production
Mixing: Dave Clauss; Production
Recording: Eric Valentine; Production
Studio Personnel: Michael Carey
Peter Chun
Busbee
Eric Valentine
Eric Caudieux
David Way
Dave Clauss
Adam Ayan
Bradley Cook; Production
Violin: Robert Moose; Performer
Producer: Busbee
Eric Valentine; Production
Vocal Editing: Dave Clauss; Production
Immersive Mix Engineer: Brad Wood; Other
Vocal Mix: Dave Clauss; Other

18. Sleigh Ride

by Gwen Stefani

Composer: Leroy Anderson
Mitchell Parish; Composer
Acoustic Guitar: Luke Sullivant; Performer
Background Vocals: Laura Cooksey; Performer
Bass: Matt Melton; Performer
Cello: Paul Nelson; Performer
Drums: Jon Hyrkas; Performer
Electric Guitar: Luke Sullivant; Performer
Lyricist: Mitchell Parish
Leroy Anderson; Composer
Keyboard: Grant Pittman; Performer
Performer: Brandon Collins
Laura Cooksey
Luke Sullivant
Matt Melton
John Nathaniel
Betsy Lamb
David Angell
Paul Nelson
Ryan Tedder
David Davidson
Gwen Stefani
Grant Pittman
Jon Hyrkas
Mike Kutzle; Performer
Engineer: Tyler Spry
Mike Wilson
Doug Sarret
Grant Pittman; Production
Mastering Engineer: Chris Gehringer; Production
Mixing: John Nathaniel; Production
Producer: Brandon Collins
Brent Kutzle; Production
Viola: Betsy Lamb; Performer
Violin: Betsy Lamb
David Angell
David Davidson; Performer
Vocals: Gwen Stefani; Performer
Strings Contractor: Brandon Collins; Production
Studio Personnel: John Nathaniel
Chris Gehringer
Doug Sarret
Grant Pittman
Tyler Spry
Mike Wilson; Production
Vocal Producer: Ryan Tedder
John Nathaniel; Production
Additional Keyboards: Mike Kutzle; Other
Immersive Mix Engineer: Brad Wood; Other

19. Here This Christmas

by Gwen Stefani

Background Vocals: Josh Varnadore
Laura Cooksey; Performer
Bass: Matt Melton; Performer
Cello: Paul Nelson; Performer
Electric Guitar: Loren Ferard; Performer
Performer: David Davidson
Loren Ferard
Josh Varnadore
Elizabeth Lamb
David Angell
Brandon Michael Collins
Laura Cooksey
John Nathaniel
Paul Nelson
Ryan Tedder
Gwen Stefani
Matt Melton; Performer
Viola: Elizabeth Lamb; Performer
Violin: Elizabeth Lamb
David Angell
David Davidson; Performer
Vocals: Gwen Stefani; Performer
Composer: Josh Varnadore
Ryan Tedder
Brandon Collins
Brent Kutzle; Composer
Lyricist: Brent Kutzle
Ryan Tedder
Brandon Collins
Josh Varnadore; Composer
Mixing: John Nathaniel; Production
Producer: Brent Kutzle; Production
Strings Contractor: Brandon Michael Collins; Production
Studio Personnel: John Nathaniel; Production
Vocal Producer: Ryan Tedder
John Nathaniel; Production
Immersive Mix Engineer: Brad Wood; Other