Lopez Blogs

Greetings from Florida! Unless the British snow prevented me from getting here as I am writing this before I go but it won't go up on the blog until I'm actually in Florida. It's one of those Doctor Who time connundrums like Amy's gash (in her wall). Anyway, two of the most glorious songs that celebrate the festive season from the last two decades also happen to be the most covered! So I thought I would celebrate the originals and some of the sublime and ridiculous covers out there :) Enjoy and do let me know what you think - comments will be texted straight to my phone!!

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU:

• Original Mariah version ~ let's face it, Mariah struck gold with this track. It's been a perennial christmas favourite, returning to the charts time and time again since 1994. It's joyful, it's upbeat, it's brimming with hope and optimism, full of jingle bells and a rollicking cantering beat propelling it all to festive glory. How can anyone hear this track and not be filled with an urge to hug everyone they are near?! Many have come close, but nothing has topped this and it's now one for the ages. And deservedly so...
• Love, Actually version ~ As long time readers will well be aware, Love, Actually is one of my favourite films of all time and definitely my most favourite film to watch several times before Christmas. This school play performance is improbably good and shows little orphan drummer boy trying to get his young lady friend Joanna to notice him through the power of beat! What follows is the young chap breaking all sorts of security rules to chase down his love through an airport all to a stirring instrumental. It's oddly affecting. Love love love. Off to watch again now!
• Mans Zelmerlow duet version ~ Well, good for Mans for turning the ebulliant original into something quite refined and dignified as a ballad version. His voices soothes like eggnog as he serenades the lovely Agnes Carlsson on this smooth, slowed down but equally lovely version. Click the link and see stills of Mans in all his winter finery. My fave ~ 22secs when his shirt sleeves are pushed up but he is still wearing a scarf. His neck is chilly but his arms are hot. Still totally snoggable under the mistletoe though!
• Lady Antebellum version ~ taken from their too short seasonal EP, this continues with the slowed down theme, but strips it back a little bit for a more countrified twang. It works quite well as it goes and makes for a most subtle rendition of a tune that works best as an over the top party poppers glitter fest. Surprisingly lovely!
• Big Time Rush version ~ I think if Simon Cowell worked it well, One Direction should be doing some songs like those on the BTR album. They've teamed up with Miranda Cosgrove on their cute tv show to perform this tune and jolly jolly they look doing it too. It's not a version that will change the world, but it's cheesy and fun and the video is too too adorable. Oh those boys!
• Mariah's extra festive version ~ There have been a couple of not very good at all remixes of this tune over the past few years (the less said about the hip hop version, the better) but Mariah has kept the essence of the original on her latest album, amped up the orchestral beginning and added a generous sprinkling of rousing drum beats. Reinvigorates the tune without losing any of the charm of the original. Well done Mrs Canon - it makes me want to write a whole musical based on her albums (hint, check back soon).

LAST CHRISTMAS:

• Wham version ~ Frankly i love a bit of heartbreaking tragedy set to a percolating and festive groove. Wham perfected this with their joyous (musically) and sad (lyrically) yuletide tune that quickly became as longlasting as their partnership was short. Try and find a Christmas store around the world that doesn't play this. Still the original and the best, though many others have tried (no, let's not discuss the Whigfield or Crazy Frog versions...)
• Alcazar version ~ look, if anyone is going to do a jingled up euro-pop version then it should absolutely be Alcazar. It's exactly the same as the Wham version but with female vocals, a higher bpm and a whole plethora of santa's crackers sound effects added in for good measure. It's jolly and jolly fantastic.
• Kimberley Locke version - presented as a stripped back acoustic hand clapping groove - her whole Christmas album is one of the best I've ever heard and this is a giddy treat. Beautiful vocals, different version but familiar enough that it is instantly warming and brimming with charm. Oh I adore Kimberley so very very much.
• Puppini Sisters version ~ As you already know, I'm loving their Christmas album and this jazzy version gives the song a whole new vibe and totally sounds like it belongs in some smoky downtown nightclub where sozzled old drunks are nursing their sorrows in a double brandy. Yes, it's that good.
• Glee version ~ the song that was released for the sake of it last year WITHOUT EVEN FEATURING IN AN EPISODE. Oh the avant gardness of it all. And they've tagged it onto this year's fairly disappointing festive album. It's a decent version - totally sounds like an X Factor single I suppose. Not the best of the bunch, but you can also check out versions by Atomic Kitten, Cascada, Busted, Coldplay, Darren Hayes, Hilary Duff, Human Nature, Jamelia, JLS, Little Boots, The Ordinary Boys, Taylor Swift, Travis and probably many more...

Did I miss any other versions of these songs? Back on Fri with a chart run down and more festive playlist madness :) Do stop by!