7 Christmas Cover Songs That May Be Better Than The Original
7 Christmas Cover Songs That May Be Better Than The Original
The Christmas season brings feelings of family closeness, generosity, love and nostalgia. A large part of the Christmas spirit is the music that comes along with it.
As “Buddy the Elf” said, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” While the classic, original versions help spur on the nostalgia of the season, several cover songs of these favorite Christmas tunes have been made that may actually be better than the original.
Take a listen to these seven covers and see how they stack up to the originals:
“Blue Christmas” by Elvis Presley
It’s hard to imagine the lyrics of this Christmas classic without Elvis Presley’s iconic voice, but the song was first recorded in 1948 by an artist named Doye O’ Dell. Just a year later Ernest Tubb, a County Hall of Famer, released a version of the song that climbed to the top of the Billboard chart. Elvis Presley didn’t record his version of the song until 1957, and it wasn’t released commercially until 1964.
Since then many artists like The Beach Boys, Sheryl Crow, and Michael Bublé have covered the song, solidifying it as a Christmas favorite for many across the world.
“Carol of the Bells” by Pentatonix
This hauntingly beautiful song is an essential Christmas tune, even if it may be a more difficult one to sing. It has been featured in movies such as “Home Alone” and “Santa Clause.” The song has Ukrainian roots, but the first American version of the song was performed in 1921 at Carnegie Hall. Peter J. Wilhousky was the composer who translated the words to English.
The 2012 version of the song performed by the a cappella group Pentatonix quickly became a favorite after its release. Even though real bells aren’t featured in Pentatonix’s version, they have done an incredible job making sure that you don’t even miss them.
“It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” by Harry Connick Jr.
This song seems more and more applicable as Christmas decorations seem to make their appearance in stores earlier each year. The song was written in 1951 by Meredith Willson, an Oscar-nominated composer and playwright. Willson also wrote the Broadway play “The Music Man.” Perry Como recorded a version of Willson’s song soon after with The Fontane Sisters that soon became an essential Christmas classic. The song was also incorporated into a pre-Broadway version of “Pinecones and Holly Berries” in Willson’s 1963 musical “Here’s Love.”
In 2008 Harry Connick Jr. released an album called “What a Night! A Christmas Album” that included a jazzy spin on the song. His album quickly climbed up the Billboard’s Top Jazz Albums Chart and there’s no doubt why!
“White Christmas” by Lauren Daigle
It’s hard to top Bing Crosby’s original version of Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas.” Crosby premiered the now beloved song on Christmas Day in 1941 on his weekly radio show “The Kraft Music Hall.” He recorded the single the following year and it became the top-selling single ever until 1997 when an Elton John single took its place. The song especially resonated with listeners of the Armed Forces Radio.
Christian artist Lauren Daigle‘s soulful voice elevates this holiday hit even more. She has recently climbed the Billboard charts with album “Look Up Child,” but her 2016 Christmas album “Behold” showcases her ability to infuse a little soul back into cherished classics.
“The Christmas Song” by Andrea Bocelli
On a particularly hot day in the summer of 1945, songwriter Bob Wells was desperately trying to get his mind to focus on cooler things. He wrote a couple lines down on a scrap piece of paper thinking nothing more of it, but when his colleague Mel Tormé saw the lyrics he encouraged Wells to finish the song. The two sat down and finished the lyrics of what would soon be “The Christmas Song.” They took the new song to VanHeusen Publishing where it was rejected. Undeterred, Wells and Tormé took the song to Nat King Cole’s house the same day and Cole instantly loved it and demanded to record it.
Andrea Bocelli brings his dynamic voice to the table with his 2009 version of the classic, featuring Nat King Cole’s daughter, Natalie.
“Holly Jolly Christmas” by Michael Bublé
This cheerful Christmas tune was written in 1962 by Johnny Marks. The song became popular, however after American folk singer Burl Ives sang the song as the narrating snowman in the 1964 stop-motion movie “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Ives recorded the song again and released it on his 1965 holiday album “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas.”
While Ives version may bring a sense of nostalgia to some, Michael Bublé‘s version of the song is a perfect example of why Bublé’s Christmas album has become a favorite over the past seven years.
“O Holy Night” by Sovereign Grace Music
This popular Christmas hymn has an interesting history. The lyrics to the song were written by a French commissioner of wine who wasn’t a super devout Christian, but was known for his poetry talent and the music was composed by a Jewish composer who didn’t even believe in the event described in the verses. Nonetheless, the song was first performed at the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass in 1847.
The hymn quickly became popular across France, but once the French church discovered that those who created the song were not “of the spirit of the religion” they tried to ban it. It continued to be popular in homes and was picked up by an American abolitionist who deeply resonated with the lyrics. He brought the song overseas to a new audience who embraced the Luke-based lyrics.
Then in 1906, a 33-year-old professor named Reginald Fessenden shocked the world by broadcasting his voice over the radio for the first time. He read from the gospel of Luke and people from all over rushed to their radios to hear his voice. After finishing, he picked up his violin and began playing “O Holy Night” to his audience. It was the first song ever to be played on the radio.
Since then many recordings have been made of this historically rich song, but Sovereign Grace Music’s rendition of the song beautifully highlights the violin and other string instruments while bringing a small, modern twist that doesn’t distract the listener from the original intent of the song.
Do you agree that these seven covers of Christmas classics may actually be better than the originals? Let us know in the comments!
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