Sara Groves

Sara Groves’ O Holy Night is definitely not your mother’s Christmas album. Even the “traditional” Christmas songs found here are given a makeover with new arrangements and even new melodies, but the effect is surprisingly beautiful. On her first full Christmas release (she’s recorded a few other Christmas songs here and there over the years), she brings a unique vision to the sometimes oversaturated Christmas music market. Sara Groves takes risks on this album, and her creativity and refusal to follow a traditional route shine on every song.

The album opens with “Star of Wonder,” an excerpt of “We Three Kings” that immediately establishes Groves focus on Christ in the Christmas season. The album is full of stories of family brought together despite everything, of unwrapping presents and making dinner with each other, of fighting with twist-ties and plastic toy packaging, of a Christmas season full of joy. But the focus is always firmly on a baby born 2000 years ago, a baby who turned the world upside down and brought hope where there had been none before.

It is that hope that is the focus of “Peace Peace.” One of the original songs on the album, it is such a fitting song in the midst of all the uncertainty in the world today. Groves sings “Peace, peace / It’s hard to find/ Trouble comes like a wrecking ball to your peace of mind/ And all that worry /You can’t leave behind you/ But all your hopes and fears are met in Him tonight.” It is a wonderfully encouraging song in the scary days we’re facing now.

“It’s True,” a piano-based Sara Groves original, was first written for a Blood:Water Mission Christmas benefit. Toby, Sara Groves’ little boy reads part of the Christmas story throughout the song, a sweet reminder of childhood innocence and excitement for Christmas Day. The song traces the Christmas story, gently whispering truth in the crazy story of God born in a stable, announced to shepherds, coming to save the world.

“It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” “O Holy Night,” “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” are the most surprising songs on the album. Each one has been given a new melody, which was a risky move in recording such well-known songs. While it is possible that the new melodies may turn off some listeners, the new arrangements are achingly beautiful, full of the richness Groves is well-known for. From 50’s Motown to family sing-alongs to mariachi bands, there are all sorts of new musical ideas brought into these songs. And Groves pulls them off with aplomb. These new arrangements also put a fresh focus on the lyrics of the songs, so often almost brushed over in Christmas albums. We’ve all heard these songs hundreds of times before, so it is tempting to sing the lyrics without even pondering the heart behind them. But in these new wrappings, the lyrics are put center-stage again.

“To Be With You” shares an intimate glimpse of a family brought together across the distance for a beautiful Christmas morning. The song is a great reminder of some of the best parts of Christmas, amid all the busyness of the season. We are invited into a Christmas Day with the Groves family, and is such a welcoming and inviting place you may never want to leave.

Talking about O Holy Night, Sara Groves said, “I wanted to convey this story of Christ that’s been told so many times with as much artistry and creativity as possible because it bears repeating.” She has succeeded beautifully.

Tagged as: O Holy Night, Sara Groves

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