Universal Child
Encyclopedia
"Universal Child" is a single by Scottish
recording artist Annie Lennox
, released worldwide on 12 October 2010 on Island Records
. It is the lead single from her fifth studio album, A Christmas Cornucopia
.
, A Christmas Cornucopia has so far been met with "generally favourable reviews". Ian Wade of BBC Music
gave the album a very positive review, saying "this collection could find itself becoming as much a part of the holiday season as arguments with loved ones." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine
awarded the album 3.5/5 and said "Lennox seems more inspired on A Christmas Cornucopia than she has in years." John Hunt of Qatar Today magazine gave the album 9/10 and said "in particular, the vocal work and musical arrangement of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" are impactful to the point of being intimidating."
in the UK and Decca Records
in the US (both part of the Universal Music Group
). Her first release was a Christmas album entitled A Christmas Cornucopia
, issued 15 November 2010. The album is a collection of Lennox's interpretations of traditional festive songs such as "Silent Night
" and "The First Noel
", along with one new composition, "Universal Child", which was released as a download-only single on 13 October 2010. Lennox had previously showcased the song on the American Idol Gives Back
TV show in April 2010. She also performed the song live for several tv audiences during the week of the album's release in November. These included The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and Dancing With The Stars
. She sang the song "Angels from the Realms of Glory
" from the album for the TNT special Christmas in Washington
.
Digital single
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
recording artist Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox, OBE , born Ann Lennox, is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving minor success in the late 1970s with The Tourists, with fellow musician David A...
, released worldwide on 12 October 2010 on Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
. It is the lead single from her fifth studio album, A Christmas Cornucopia
A Christmas Cornucopia
Metacritic gives A Christmas Cornucopia a weighted average score of 73 based on 9 critics, meaning "generally favorable reviews". Ian Wade of BBC Music gave the album a very positive review, saying "this collection could find itself becoming as much a part of the holiday season as arguments with...
.
Release
"Universal Child" was released digitally on 12 October 2010. According to MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, A Christmas Cornucopia has so far been met with "generally favourable reviews". Ian Wade of BBC Music
BBC Music
BBC Music is a team working in the department of Audio and Music Interactive at the BBC. Responsible for the BBC Music website - the portal site to music content across the BBC website....
gave the album a very positive review, saying "this collection could find itself becoming as much a part of the holiday season as arguments with loved ones." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
awarded the album 3.5/5 and said "Lennox seems more inspired on A Christmas Cornucopia than she has in years." John Hunt of Qatar Today magazine gave the album 9/10 and said "in particular, the vocal work and musical arrangement of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" are impactful to the point of being intimidating."
Live performances
In August 2010, Lennox signed a new contract with Island RecordsIsland Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
in the UK and Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
in the US (both part of the Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
). Her first release was a Christmas album entitled A Christmas Cornucopia
A Christmas Cornucopia
Metacritic gives A Christmas Cornucopia a weighted average score of 73 based on 9 critics, meaning "generally favorable reviews". Ian Wade of BBC Music gave the album a very positive review, saying "this collection could find itself becoming as much a part of the holiday season as arguments with...
, issued 15 November 2010. The album is a collection of Lennox's interpretations of traditional festive songs such as "Silent Night
Silent Night
"Silent Night" is a popular Christmas carol. The original lyrics of the song "Stille Nacht" were written in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, by the priest Father Joseph Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Xaver Gruber...
" and "The First Noel
The First Noël
The First Nowell is a traditional classical English carol, most likely from the 18th century, although possibly earlier...
", along with one new composition, "Universal Child", which was released as a download-only single on 13 October 2010. Lennox had previously showcased the song on the American Idol Gives Back
Idol Gives Back
Idol Gives Back is the name of a charitable campaign that spanned two episodes of American Idol during its sixth season. A second Idol Gives Back concert and fundraiser occurred on April 9, 2008, during the seventh season of the show. Idol Gives Back was not held in 2009 due to the ongoing...
TV show in April 2010. She also performed the song live for several tv audiences during the week of the album's release in November. These included The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and Dancing With The Stars
Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
. She sang the song "Angels from the Realms of Glory
Angels from the Realms of Glory
"Angels from the Realms of Glory" is a Christmas carol written by English poet James Montgomery. It was first printed in the Sheffield Iris on Christmas Eve 1816, though it only began to be sung in churches after its 1825 reprinting in the Montgomery collection The Christian Psalmist and in the...
" from the album for the TNT special Christmas in Washington
Christmas in Washington
Christmas in Washington is an annual Christmas television special that currently airs on the U.S. TNT network.-Background:One of two annual holiday specials produced by George Stevens, Jr. , the variety show first aired in 1981 on NBC before moving to its current home on TNT in 1998. Recorded in...
.
Track listings
CD single- "Universal Child" (Radio edit)
Digital single
- "Universal Child" – 4:14
Chart performance
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Charts | 88 |