{"id":57055,"date":"2019-11-08T11:32:28","date_gmt":"2019-11-08T11:32:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/?p=57055"},"modified":"2019-11-08T11:32:28","modified_gmt":"2019-11-08T11:32:28","slug":"timi-dakolo-announces-christmas-album-merry-christmas-darling-and-reveals-title-track-featuring-emeli-sande","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2019\/11\/timi-dakolo-announces-christmas-album-merry-christmas-darling-and-reveals-title-track-featuring-emeli-sande\/","title":{"rendered":"Timi Dakolo Announces Christmas Album \u2018Merry Christmas, Darling\u2019 And Reveals Title Track Featuring Emeli Sand\u00e9"},"content":{"rendered":"

He\u2019s been dubbed \u2018the golden voice of Africa\u2019 by 16-time Grammy Award-winning Humberto Gatica (Michael Buble, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion) and now Nigerian sensation Timi Dakolo releases his debut UK album \u2018Merry Christmas, Darling\u2019 November 22nd on Hafe Music\/Virgin EMI. The stunning title track, featuring Emeli Sand\u00e9, is released today – stream and download here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London, Timi presents a simply gorgeous, heartfelt collection of soulful Christmas ballads backed by the London Symphony Orchestra. \u2018Merry Christmas, Darling\u2019 combines Timi\u2019s unique voice with some of the greatest classical standards ever written. The album, which was two years in the making was additionally recorded in Libreville, Budapest, Lagos and Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

The album is Executively Produced by Mr. Ali Bongo Ondimba – the visionary behind the project. Producers Humberto Gatica and award-winning jazz composer Frederic Michel Gassita came together with co-Executive Producer Efe Ogbeni, to create what is set to be the soundtrack of the Holiday.<\/p>\n

Timi said of recording at Abbey Road studios,<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cRecording this album one of the greatest experiences of my life. It was like a dream I didn\u2019t want to wake up from.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Born in Ghana to a Nigerian father and a Ghanaian mother, Timi was primarily raised by his grandmother in Port Harcourt, south-eastern Nigeria, after his mother died when he was just 13. His love of singing was nurtured by his grandmother.<\/p>\n

Timi is well known in Nigeria since winning the country\u2019s first ever televised talent competition. His soulful, RnB debut album followed as did a series of stirring, emotional singles including \u2018Great Nation\u2019 which has been adopted as the nations second national anthem. His determination to stay true to himself has made him one of Africa\u2019s most loved artists in a music scene dominated by Afrobeats. Influenced by Teddy Pendegrass, Michael Buble, Sam Smith and Luther Vandross, Timi\u2019s eclectic musical palette has inspired him to create music with crossover appeal.<\/p>\n

\u2018Merry Christmas Darling\u2019 is his first Christmas album and also features Eric Benet on \u2018White Christmas\u2019, Kenny G. and The Eben Voices of Gabon Choir on \u2018Hallelujah\u2019.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

He\u2019s been dubbed \u2018the golden voice of Africa\u2019 by 16-time Grammy Award-winning Humberto Gatica (Michael Buble, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion) and now Nigerian sensation Timi Dakolo releases his debut UK album \u2018Merry Christmas, Darling\u2019 November 22nd on Hafe Music\/Virgin EMI. The stunning title track, featuring Emeli Sand\u00e9, is released today – stream and download here.<\/p>\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":57056,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7,21455,9],"tags":[470,132,4809,23438,23437,21990,144,77,7192],"class_list":["post-57055","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music","category-new-albums","category-new-releases","tag-christmas","tag-emeli-sande","tag-ghana","tag-humberto-gatica","tag-merry-christmas-darling","tag-milo-ventimiglia","tag-new-album","tag-new-release","tag-nigeria"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/merry-christmas-darling.jpg?fit=3000%2C3000&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5yMhl-eQf","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":57252,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2019\/11\/timi-dakolo-releases-video-for-merry-christmas-darling-ft-emeli-sande\/","url_meta":{"origin":57055,"position":0},"title":"Timi Dakolo Releases Video For ‘Merry Christmas, Darling’ ft. Emeli Sand\u00e9","author":"Essentially Pop","date":"18\/11\/2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Dubbed \"the golden voice of Africa\" by 16 time Grammy winner Humberto Gatica, Nigerian sensation Timi Dakolo is set to release his debut UK album, 'Merry Christmas, Darling', this Friday, 22 November, through Hafe Music\/Virgin EMI.","rel":"","context":"In "Christmas"","block_context":{"text":"Christmas","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/archived-categories\/christmas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Timi-and-Emeli-Satya-Zoa.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Timi-and-Emeli-Satya-Zoa.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Timi-and-Emeli-Satya-Zoa.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Timi-and-Emeli-Satya-Zoa.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Timi-and-Emeli-Satya-Zoa.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57404,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2019\/11\/timi-dakolos-merry-christmas-darling-is-the-only-christmas-album-we-need-this-year\/","url_meta":{"origin":57055,"position":1},"title":"Timi Dakolo’s ‘Merry Christmas, Darling’ Is The Only Christmas Album We Need This Year","author":"Lisa Hafey","date":"22\/11\/2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Ordinarily I would find it difficult to believe Christmas is just over a month away, but listening this morning to 'Merry Christmas, Darling', the new album from Timi Dakolo, I'm ready for it. Lay it on me!","rel":"","context":"In "Album Reviews"","block_context":{"text":"Album Reviews","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/reviews\/album-reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/merry-christmas-darling.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/merry-christmas-darling.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/merry-christmas-darling.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/merry-christmas-darling.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/merry-christmas-darling.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57837,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2019\/11\/timi-dakolo-releases-behind-the-scenes-video-for-merrychristmas-darling\/","url_meta":{"origin":57055,"position":2},"title":"Timi Dakolo Releases Behind The Scenes Video For ‘MerryChristmas, Darling’","author":"Lisa Hafey","date":"28\/11\/2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Following the release of his debut UK album, 'Merry Christmas, Darling', last week, Timi Dakolo, also known as \"the golden voice of Africa\", has released a behind the scenes video for the title track and latest single, 'Merry Christmas, Darling', which features Emeli Sande.","rel":"","context":"In "Music"","block_context":{"text":"Music","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/merry-christmas-darling.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/merry-christmas-darling.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/merry-christmas-darling.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/merry-christmas-darling.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/merry-christmas-darling.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":58253,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2019\/12\/review-jemma-michael-covers-have-yourself-a-merry-little-christmas\/","url_meta":{"origin":57055,"position":3},"title":"Review: Jemma Michael Covers ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’","author":"Essentially Pop","date":"10\/12\/2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Jemma Michael is a singer\/songwriter from London. In 2015, her friends got her up, when she was watching X Factor auditions, onto the stage at Wembley. The crowd loved her, and it spurred her on to do more singing\/songwriting.","rel":"","context":"In "Christmas"","block_context":{"text":"Christmas","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/archived-categories\/christmas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/img_6215.jpg?fit=413%2C709&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16186,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2015\/12\/essential-advent-calendar-shakin-stevens-echoes-of-merry-christmas-everyone\/","url_meta":{"origin":57055,"position":4},"title":"Essential Advent Calendar: Shakin’ Stevens – ‘Echoes Of Merry Christmas Everyone’","author":"Essentially Pop","date":"04\/12\/2015","format":false,"excerpt":"It's day four of our Essential Advent Calendar, and it wouldn't be Christmas without Shakin' Stevens and 'Merry Christmas Everyone' would it??","rel":"","context":"In "Christmas"","block_context":{"text":"Christmas","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/archived-categories\/christmas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Shakin-Stevens-2.jpg?fit=851%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Shakin-Stevens-2.jpg?fit=851%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Shakin-Stevens-2.jpg?fit=851%2C315&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Shakin-Stevens-2.jpg?fit=851%2C315&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":73035,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2021\/12\/the-essential-advent-calendar-december-18-decca-christmas-roundup\/","url_meta":{"origin":57055,"position":5},"title":"The Essential Advent Calendar: December 18 – Decca Christmas Roundup!","author":"Essentially Pop","date":"18\/12\/2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Check out these Christmas new releases for the festive season, thanks to Decca Records!","rel":"","context":"In "Christmas"","block_context":{"text":"Christmas","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/archived-categories\/christmas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Essential Advent Calendar: December 18","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/5E41385A-C820-4464-8769-9E4246F3E9F6.png?fit=623%2C495&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/5E41385A-C820-4464-8769-9E4246F3E9F6.png?fit=623%2C495&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/5E41385A-C820-4464-8769-9E4246F3E9F6.png?fit=623%2C495&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57055","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57055"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57055\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57056"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57055"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}