Cover Photo Credit: Robbie Joseph
On November 3rd, 2023, singer Ally Brooke released her Christmas EP titled Under The Tree. Brooke is a San Antonio native and of Mexican-American descent. She had previously been a member of the girl group Fifth Harmony which disbanded in 2018. Weeks before the release, Brooke had been teasing the EP on social media, and appeared to be ecstatic about it, “I’ve dreamed of releasing my own collection of Christmas music since I was a little girl, and I can’t believe it’s become a reality,” she stated on Instagram. The EP features 4 songs beginning with the classic “White Christmas” originally sung by Bing Crosby and written by iconic composer Irving Berlin (1942) for the musical Holiday Inn. The song has been covered numerous times over the years by artists, and Brooke does a good job with her rendition. I really loved the symphonic instrumentation through the song, and especially the beautiful violin progressions.
Adding to the EP, is the second song originally penned by Brooke and her team titled “Under The Tree.” The song is a fun take on Christmas, with lyrics such as, “You can find me under the tree, I’ll be waitin on Christmas Eve, Baby unwrap me.” The song is perfect for holiday parties and will get you in the mood for festive Christmas activities. I will be listening to this on my way to Seattle’s Christmas Market this season. The next song is “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” another classic originated by Crosby in 1943. The song was written during World World II and took on a special meaning at the time for servicemen stationed overseas who longed to be home for Christmas. In Brooke’s rendition, you can clearly hear her strong and beautiful vocal abilities. The last song on the EP is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” This song was originally sung by Judy Garland for 1944’s Christmas film Meet Me in St. Louis. Brooke’s version is sweetly sung, and a bit more up-tempo than the original, adding a modern feel to the song. Today, Brooke released a music video for the song featuring Fifth Harmony’s Dinah Jane.
Currently streaming on all digital platforms, check out Ally Brooke’s Christmas EP to get you in the holiday spirit!
