English musician Jacob Collier has released a brand new A capella cover of the holiday staple, “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)”. The four-time Grammy Award-winner also released a music video along with the timeless cover.
Similar to his arrangement of Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer‘s “Moon River”, this rendition of “The Christmas Song” hears hundreds of Colliers harmonizing in A capella fashion to create the foundation for his unique and powerful lead vocals. While Collier is best known for his excellent vocal work, he also has a long history of recording, arranging, performing, and producing his own work, as seen with his debut album, In My Room. The multi-instrumentalist used only his voice and arrangement skills on this release, however, providing a novel take on the Christmas classic.
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After starting with a groundswell of backing vocals that ramp up to the song’s first verse, a singular Collier takes over with his deep, yet feathery, lead vocals. As he moves into the song’s chorus, many more Colliers harmonize on the lines, “And so I’m offering this simple phrase/To Kids from one to ninety-two.” Before repeating this section for a second time, the first and only instrument, a keyboard, appears and produces a quick melodic breakdown. He then goes back to the chorus before ending with a far-reaching harmony on the song’s refrain, “Merry Christmas to you.”
Furthermore, the music video released is as interesting as Collier’s arrangement. After his face appears in many ornaments on several Christmas trees, a photobook opens showing him in the many different places he’s been and hopes to go. Some frames see him on a faraway beach or European city, while others see him on a soccer field or in a warm holiday-themed home. Each frame contains video of him singing, putting faces to the many voices heard on the track. Check out the official music video below and click here for additional listening options.
Jacob Collier – “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)” – [Official Music Video]
[Video: Jacob Collier]
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