The only non-family duo to have topped the album charts three times, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe prove that friendship and togetherness really is what everyone needs, this year more than ever, in their new festive album, Together At Christmas, writes Nick Benson.
Two of the greatest voices in the world and now the most successful UK double act, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe’s new chart-topping festive album is packed full of holiday cheer.
The magical Together At Christmas provides the heart-warming antidote to a year of isolation and social distancing and for Ball and Boe it also marks a hat trick of UK number ones.
“This is the greatest early Christmas present we could’ve wished for,” said Ball, after the album shot to the top of the UK Official Albums Chart. “Thank you so much to all our fans for buying the album, it really means the world to us, especially after the year we’ve all had. We look forward to us all being together again soon.”
Boe added: “Absolutely thrilled to be number one with our Christmas album! A huge thank you to all our amazing fans for their continuous support. Through what has been a crazy year this certainly proves how loyalty and sticking together no matter what challenges we all face pays off. It’s amazing to be able to celebrate this achievement, we are both so grateful. Thank you everyone.”
Together At Christmas, out now on Decca Records, has everything you could want from a Christmas album, and more. The pair breathe new life into favourites such as It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas, Silent Night and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, to name a few. Gregory Porter joins on The Christmas Song and the duo perform the heart-warming My Christmas Will Be Better Than Yours – a brand new original song.
Speaking of the album, Ball said: “Me and Alfie, together at Christmas, I can’t think of anything better! In these strange times, we wanted to create an album of songs that we like to listen to at Christmas, plus a few surprises along the way, including an original song! Hopefully our fans will love listening to this for many years to come. This year it’s certainly going to be a Christmas we’ll never forget.”
Boe pointed out that keeping the Christmas spirit alive is more important than ever this year.
“We wanted to create a festive album that brings joy, love and happiness,” he said. “Spreading the Christmas cheer is something we all need a little extra of during these challenging times, so however people are going to be able to spend their holiday season, we’ll be right here back together at Christmas with our fans, who we are incredibly grateful for.”
The pair added that they couldn’t wait to see their fans in person when they return with a brand new tour in 2021.
Together At Christmas follows the phenomenal success of the duo’s previous three duet albums, their debut Together, which became the UK’s best-selling album of 2016 and beat the likes of Little Mix and The Rolling Stones to the Christmas number one spot; Together Again, which brought the pair yet another number one album in 2017; and Back Together, which landed them the number two spot in the Official Albums Chart.
After meeting in a production of Kismet at the London Coliseum over 10 years ago, it is the combination of Ball and Boe’s incredible voices, instant camaraderie and loveable personalities which proves to be irresistible to countless fans across the nation.
As a duo, they have now sold just over 1.3 million albums in the UK; received two Classic Brit Awards; sold out two headline arena tours; presented three ITV specials; and have now gained their third number one album, beating the Grammy award winning K Pop Band BTS with their latest offering.
This year’s Christmas might be a little different but Ball and Boe have definitely kept the magic alive with 2020’s most poignantly titled album, Together at Christmas.
Together At Christmas by Michael Ball and Alfie Boe is out now on Decca Records.
Picture: Alfie Boe and Michael Ball. (James Hole).
