Jose Mari Chan to launch 2nd Christmas album

MANILA, Philippines – Veteran singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan thinks it is high time that he releases another Christmas album 22 years after he launched the best-selling “Christmas in Our Hearts.”

In an interview with ABS-CBN News on Tuesday, Chan said he has been writing new Christmas melodies and songs for the past few years and it is about time to put it all together in an album.

“Music styles have changed from 1967 when I started recording, from 1970s, 80s and 90s. I feel that the only style that has not changed is the generic Christmas genre. Since my ‘Christmas in Our Hearts’ is the biggest selling album of all time in the Philippines, I felt that that’s the niche that I have,” he said.

Veteran singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan

“There is a Christmas song for everyone, for little children, for OFWs that are missing the country, for young lovers, there’s one that talks about the traditional family gathering, and most of all there’s a song that’s about the real meaning of Christmas which is the birth of Jesus Christ,” he said.

Asked what is his favorite song in the album, the singer said: “Each song is like a child of mine. I’ve written many many songs over the years and each one is special. My kids, wala akong favorite, they are all special. In the same way, all the songs in this new Christmas album are special for me.”

Being someone who has already achieved a lot of things in life, Chan said he still wishes for a few things in life every Christmas.

“I always pray for good health for the family. I always pray that my siblings and my children will never quarel, that there will never be a reason to fight over. My greater wish, this is what I said in my series of shows, my wish sana is for the gap between the rich and poor in our country to narrow because the gap is so wide,” he said.

Chan said he wants the “prosperity in the country to filter down to the grassroots.” - from a report by Ginger Conejero, ABS-CBN News