by The Cowl Editor on December 5, 2019
Music
by Grace Whitman ’22 A&E Staff
Arguably one of the best parts of Christmas is the new music that is released. There is a universality to Christmas music that even transcends religion. Artists in all genres put their spin on Christmas classics and some write original music as well. From country to pop and rock to rap, a plethora of Christmas songs and albums have already been released and some have already seen growth on the Billboard Charts.
The Jonas Brothers were one of the first ones to put out Christmas music this year. In their love song “Like It’s Christmas,” the brothers tell a story about how the people that they love make it feel like the holiday season throughout the entire year. The song goes, “You make every day feel like it’s Christmas,” playing on the idea that Christmas is not just a holiday, but a feeling of love and joy. This song will get you into the warm and fuzzy holiday spirit.
John Legend, who recently performed at Providence College’s Late Night Madness event, came out with a brand-new duet version of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” with Kelly Clarkson. “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” originally sang and written by Frank Loesser, was under fire last year during the #MeToo movement from critics who say the song is sexist and hints at date rape. Legend and Clarkson changed the lyrics drastically to now include lyrics like, “If I have one more drink? It’s your body and your choice.” During his appearance on The Tonight Show, Legend said, “We thought it would be fun, you know, we knew there was some controversy around the original lyrics and looked at it with 2019 eyes.” Overall, this song still brings the same winter spirit and Christmas feeling that we all love. It is truly impossible not to get in the spirit listening to their voices together.
Another artist who released a Christmas cover was Chelsea Cutler. In January 2019, Cutler performed at PC on the Peterson Recreation Center stage. She offers a unique take on Justin Bieber’s “Mistletoe.” Cutler’s version is a slow piano ballad, while Bieber’s original version opens with jingle bells before guitar and bongos come in, creating a more up-beat pop, R&B single.
Cutler’s cover is part of the Spotify Singles: Holiday Collection. These songs are exclusively available on Spotify which incentivizes fans to create a Spotify account. This year’s other holiday Spotify singles include Liam Payne’s “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow,” Tori Kelly’s “Angels We Have Heard on High,” and Adam Lambert’s “Please Come Home for Christmas.” The singles series features original songs and covers by artists, all recorded at Spotify’s New York recording studio throughout the entire year.
So, while you are decking your halls this December, make sure to give these new songs a listen. They will most definitely get you in the Christmas spirit.