The original/regular version
The 25th anniversary version
FOREWORD: This post is made to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Mr. Jose Mari Chan's first Christmas album.
Merry Christmas to all of us!
We know that we have different styles and trends of the holiday season, but we have the same reason why we're here in this world... The birth of our lord Jesus Christ.
And since Christmas is just around the corner, I'd like to share with you guys a wonderful song coming from Filipino singer-songwriter and businessman that's Mr. Jose Mari Chan, Christmas in Our Hearts. Originally an arrangement titled "Ang Tubig ay Buhay (Water is Life)" that's based on a poem by written by Chari Cruz-Zarate, the former was set the words of the music, intending to make it a silver jubilee song for the now Assumption College Class of 1963. Chan described "Ang Tubig ay Buhay" as a very beautiful poem, which is why he found it easy to compose a tune for it.
"It was a catchy, pretty melody, which I felt was too precious to use only for a Class Homecoming. So I decided to turn it into a Christmas song."
Before production started, Chan had attended Mass at Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati, when songwriter Rina Canizal knocked on his car window. Canizal later wrote the words of "Christmas in Our Hearts" using Chan's melody for Ang Tubig ay Buhay.
Christmas in Our Hearts was released on November 1990 by Universal Records Philippines. The album was sold over 600, 000 copies in the Philippines in 2006, certifying Double Diamond by the Philippine Association of Recording Industry (PARI). It's also considered to be the first OPM (Original Philippine Music) album to surpass the Diamond status and currently the country's biggest-selling album, selling more than 800, 000 copies to date. The album is also making Chan the only Filipino artist to achieve the feat, with two Double Diamond albums - the other one being Constant Change. It makes the best-selling OPM Christmas album of all time. In addition, it always tops album charts during Christmas season.
On October 30, 2015, the album has been re-released in digital format in celebration of its silver anniversary while the physical format was released just last November 11. Among the songs in the album include Chan's renditions of "Mary's Little Boy Child," "Do You Hear What I Hear?," "A Christmas Carol" and "When a Child was Born;" as well as originals like the titular song "Christmas in Our Hearts;" "A Perfect Christmas" and "A Wish on Christmas Night," with two new bonus songs have been included for the silver anniversary re-release album.
Let's smooth our nerves as the cold breeze goes in and listen to the all-time OPM Christmas song that sang by the young and the old alike, "Christmas in Our Hearts!"
LYRICS:
Whenever I see girls and boys
Selling lanterns on the streets,
I remember the Child
In the manger as He sleeps.
Wherever there are people
Giving gifts, exchanging cards,
I believe that Christmas
Is truly in their hearts.
Let's light our Christmas trees
For a bright tomorrow
Where nations are at peace
And all are one in God
Let's sing Merry Christmas
And a happy holiday,
This season may we never forget
The love we have for Jesus
Let Him be the One to guide us
As another new year starts
And may the spirit of Christmas
Be always in our hearts.
In every prayer and every song
The community unites,
Celebrating the birth
Of our Savior, Jesus Christ
Let love, like that starlight
On that first Christmas morn,
Lead us back to the manger
When Christ the Child was born
So, come let us rejoice
Come and sing a Christmas carol
With one big joyful voice
Proclaim the name of the Lord!
Let's sing Merry Christmas
And a happy holiday,
This season may we never forget
The love we have for Jesus
Let Him be the One to guide us
As another new year starts
And may the spirit of Christmas
Be always in our hearts.
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