On this edition of 5ive Songs, we select five songs that are associated with SANTA in some form or fashion.
On 5ive Songs, we (I) keep things short and sweet โ no extra calories or needless fluff. Thereโs a topic, five songs, and a short blurb that doesnโt exceed a paragraph. Yes, itโs a playlist, but itโs a miniature playlist that shouldnโt take much time to consume. On this edition of 5ive Songs, we select five songs that are associated with SANTA in some form or fashion.
1. Mariah Carey, โOh Santa!โ
Ft. Ariana Grande & Jennifer Hudson
Mariah Careyโs Magical Christmas Special (Apple TV+ Original Soundtrack) โข
MARIAH / Apple Video Programming โข
2020
Mariah Carey and Christmas go together perfectly, PERIOD. How so? Well, Carey has long reigned supreme when it comes to festive music, thanks especially to her former no. 1 hit,
โAll I Want for Christmas is Youโ. Donโt get it twisted โ โAIWFCIYโ is still the jam โ but Carey has managed to resurrect her 2010 gem from
Merry Christmas II You,
โOh Santa!โ.
โOh Santa!โ reappears in all of its glory on Mariah Careyโs Magical Christmas Special (Apple TV+ Original Soundtrack). Sweetening things, she invites two artists than donโt just merely sing โ they SANG! Thatโs right, you know you truly have a big-time gift from Jolly Old St. Nick when
Ariana Grande and
Jennifer Hudson join the show. As awesome as the 2010 solo version is, it gets a big-time lift from J Hud and Ari. The best part of the song? Harmonized whistle tones baby!
2. Pentatonix, โSanta Tell Meโ
We Need a Little Christmas โข
RCA โข
2020
Pentatonix always brighten the season, particularly Christmas
season. In 2020, they returned with a mighty gift
, a brand-new Christmas album,
We Need a Little Christmas. One of the awesome songs appearing on We Need a Little Christmas is none other than
โSanta Tell Me,โ an
Ariana Grande cover. Grande penned โSanta Tell Meโ alongside
Ilya and
Savan Kotecha, recording it in 2014.
Scott Hoying handles the majority of the lead with his compelling baritone on this. Even so, both
Mitch Grassi and
Kristin Maldonado have some awesome featured moments, backed superbly by
Kevin Olusola and
Matt Sallee. As always, PTX donโt disappoint โ their voices definitely โshine bright like a diamondโ,
Rihanna!
3. Sia, โSantaโs Coming for Usโ
Everyday is Christmas โข
Monkey Puzzle Music / Atlantic โข
2017
โSantaโs coming for us / Oh, Santaโs coming for us!โ No doubt about the subject or the name of this particular song, right? Right!
Sia kicks off her accidental Christmas album,
Everyday is Christmas, incredibly enjoyably with the groovy original,
โSantaโs Coming for Us.โ The production work, courtesy of
Greg Kurstin, is bright and energetic. Matching the exuberant backdrop, Sia delivers her usual brand of distinct, energetic vocals, intact with those signature vocal cracks. Whether itโs a fun Santa song or a soaring ballad, Furlerโs tone always stands out. That, my friends, is quite the gift
if I do say so myself!
4. Dolly Parton, โI Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clausโ
A Holly Dolly Christmas โข
Butterfly / 12Tone Music โข
2020
Can the iconic country musician
Dolly Parton do any wrong? Of course, she canโt! She does an absolutely exceptional job covering the Christmas classic,
โI Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,โ on her 2020 Christmas album,
A Holly Dolly Christmas. Indeed Dolly, indeed! What makes her rendition so awesome is that signature tone, her nuances, and the amount of personality and playfulness she infuses. Rather than just singing it straight, she brings in some brilliant tongue-n-cheek touches that feel right for this novel gem. Sure, itโs been covered by everybody and his brother and sister, but Dolly โ she makes this kiss particularly special!
5.Jackson 5, โSanta Claus is Coming to Townโ
Christmas Album โข
Motown โข
1970
As a youngster, I remember my favorite version of
โSanta Claus is Coming to Townโ being the soulful, Motown rendition by
Jackson 5. Let me make it clear, Iโm NO 70s baby โ just an old soul! That said, this version of โSanta Claus is Coming to Townโ with
Michael Jackson excelling in his role as a charismatic lead singer at the young age of 12 is timeless and transcendent. There are plenty of bops to be found on The Jackson 5โs masterpiece,
Christmas Album, but arguably, nothing tops this funky take on โSanta.โ Canโt we agree, hearing MJ sing and his bros sing this that Santa was black? Ha-ha!