The title track is a really fun song. It's light-hearted and really fits the overall theme of the CD. As hard as it is to imagine spending the holidays in the island, Chesney can take you there wih his voice and with the lyrics..."Instead of turkey we'll have mahi mahi grillin' and pina coladas in the blender chillen..."

The same can be said about "Angel At the Top of My Tree". I'm sure if it was released to radio it would be an instant holiday hit. It's energetic and upbeat...and very Kenny.

In my opinion, the standout song on the album is definitely "Just a Kid", c0-written by Skip Ewing and Kent Blazy. (For those unfamiliar, these are two of the top songwriters in Nashville) Chesney brings a lot of emotion to the song, although it is not overpowering. Rather, it flows with the lyrics, which tell the story of the birth of Jesus through a very unique perspective.

Kenny also does a great job with more the more traditional cuts such as "Silent Night" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem."
I also have to mention that I loved Alabama's version of "Christmas in Dixie" but Kenny's is even better. At the end of the song Chesney deviates from the lyrics to include, "And from Fort Payne, Alabama...and Knoxville, Tennesse...Merry Christmas tonight."

Overall, this is a great CD. I didn't think Kenny could tackle a Christmas album, but he proved me wrong. I've had this one in the CD player since I purchased it.


A relief for those of us who live in the tropics   December 7, 2003
9 out of 12 found this review helpful

This is a fun album, and a relief for those of us who are tired of people (like other reviewers here) calling our locations "non-Christmas," or saying that "it's hard to imagine people celebrating Christmas on an island..." News, everyone: PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON ISLANDS DO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS, AND IT FEELS NORMAL TO US. Yes, I know I am shouting, but I am sick of this Christmas snow stereotype. Did it snow on the first CHristmas in Bethlehem?

Back to the album, it's light and fun and pleasant and gets me in a cheery holiday mood that's well suited to the nice weather we islanders enjoy at this time of year. "All I want for Christmas a real good tan" is just lots of fun. Most of us who celebrate Christmas in warm weather are pretty darn tired of all the Christmas songs that make it sound like snow is a necessity for keeping the holiday spirit alive. It isn't. Bravo, Kenny.


SIT BACK, RELAX & ENJOY CHRISTMAS - ISLAND STYLE   December 21, 2007
Stacie K. Gibson (Pickens, SC)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

I THINK THIS CHRISTMAS CD IS AWESOME! I ABSOLUTLY LOVE THE TROPICAL STYLE THAT KENNY ADDS TO THIS CD. IT MAKES IT TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM MOST OF THE OTHER CHRISTMAS CD'S! SO, DURING THESE COLD DAYS LEADING UP TO CHRISTMAS, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO SIT BACK, RELAX & ENJOY CHRISTMAS...ISLAND STYLE; WISHING I WAS THERE!!!! IF YOU LOVE WARM WEATHER, SAND, THE OCEAN & PALMS TREES...THEN GO OUT AND BUY THIS CD!


Better than expected   November 27, 2007
Judy W. Thompson (Nashville, TN)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I was pleasantly surprised how good this Christmas CD is by Kenny. His voice comes out in these songs as the professional singer and performer he is, and I love the collaborations. I wish I had bought it sooner.


Not Baldy's Best   November 24, 2003
5 out of 7 found this review helpful

As Christmas music and cueball head Kenny Chesney seem like a natural pairing, Chesney's less than festive All I Want For Christmas Is A Real Good Tan must rank as one of this holiday's biggest musical letdowns. The title track and a steel-drummed "Jingle Bells" get the CD off to an overtly slow pace, while modern standards like "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and an overly electronic "Silver Bells" receive bland interpretations. Alabama's Randy Owen then stops by to dominate the thin-voiced Chesney on a duet of "Christmas In Dixie." When he tackles a few new songs towards the end of the CD (the sacred ballad "Just A Kid" and the toe-tapper "Angel At The Top Of My Tree"), Chesney finally demonstrates the charisma that has made him one of country's top stars. Unfortunately, we return to snoozeland for the closers, with uninspired takes on the hymns "Silent Night" and "O Little Town Of Bethlehem." If he ever records another Christmas cd, I hope he spends more time in the studio and less time working on his tan.