As the holidays approach, you may feel overwhelmed as the same Christmas songs play repetitively, so take a listen to these fresh new takes on the timeless Christmas spirit to go with the new year.
“Underneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson’s first Christmas album, “Wrapped in Red,” released on Oct. 25, contains the festive and nearly nostalgic sounding original“Underneath the Tree.” The introduction has a classic Christmas feel to it, created by piano notes and the light sound of bell chimes. Then, a more uplifting drum sounds through the piano playing, as Clarkson begins to sing.
The chiming sleigh bells complement the upbeat percussion and make the song truly capture the Christmas spirit, while Clarkson’s harmonies give the rest of the song a classic pop-like atmosphere. Some listeners may find that it resembles a faster version of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You,” but it has its own original values and is still uniquely cheery, with Clarkson’s strong vocals singing “You’re all that I need/Underneath the tree.”
“Last Christmas” by Peace
English indie rock group Peace provides a completely different take on the classic “Last Christmas” to get ready for the holidays. Normally covered with the despaired perspective of a jilted lover, lead vocalist Harrison Koisser’s bouncy, spirited voice actually makes the cover sound a little more upbeat than its predecessors. Peace stays true to the overall beat of the song, but the addition of a genuinely trippy, indie vibe, complete with guitars and electric keyboards, gives the once sad song a hopeful and plucky feel.
“Little Drummer Boy” by Pentatonix
The five-person a capella group Pentatonix uploaded a video on YouTube on Nov. 25 of their impressive vocals-only rendition of the old classic “Little Drummer Boy,” which then garnered more than six million views in less than a week.
Even without a single instrument, they manage to continuously fill the listeners’ ears with one of the members beatboxing a strong, steady bass, backed up by the melodious background vocals from the others. Every now and then they are accompanied by a percussion comprised of clapping and stomping, but the members never miss a single beat, and their harmonious voices begin to converge beautifully as they sing about the little boy who dutifully played his drum for the birth of Christ.