MotD favorite Voctave included “Silent Night” on their 2017 album Snow. The track begins in C and modulates up a third to E at 1:21.
Category: Henry
Faith Hill | Where Are You Christmas?
Written for the end credits/soundtrack of the 2000 film How The Grinch Stole Christmas, “Where Are You Christmas” is a pop adaptation of the song “Christmas, Why Can’t I Find You” that is featured in the movie.
Mariah Carey, who wrote both songs, originally recorded the former, but due to a legal dispute with her husband it could not be released, leading to Faith Hill recording it instead.
The power ballad starts in Bb, modulates briefly to C at 2:59, and ultimately lands in D at 3:16.
Katherine McPhee | Blue Christmas
American singer Katherine McPhee and her husband, producer and MotD royalty David Foster, released a holiday EP titled Christmas Songs in 2022. “Blue Christmas,” composed by Billy Hayes and Jay Johnson and originally made famous by Elvis, is the second track.
The tune begins in Eb and glides up to E at 1:48.
Travis Cottrell (feat. Natalie Grant) | Ring The Bells
“Ring The Bells” is the title song on Christian singer and worship leader Travis Cottrell’s 2008 holiday album. The track also features Grammy-nominated singer Natalie Grant.
Beginning in F, the song shifts up to Gb at 3:26.
Tyler Shaw | Christmas Time
“Christmas Time,” written originally by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, is the ninth track on Canadian singer Tyler Shaw’s 2021 holiday album A Tyler Shaw Christmas.
The tune begins in Bb and modulates up to B at 2:37.
Adam Hawley (feat. Julian Vaughn) | God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Guitarist Adam Hawley released his first holiday album, What Christmas Means To Me, this past October. On this track, the second on the record, he features Kansas City-based bassist Julian Vaughn.
The track begins in E minor and shifts abruptly up to F minor at 2:25.
Cher | DJ Play a Christmas Song
“DJ Play a Christmas Song” is the lead single on Christmas, American singer Cher’s first holiday album. “This is a cut-glass powerhouse pop-dance banger” said critic Jamie Tabberer, writing for Attitude. The record, released in October, is Cher’s first to include original material since 2013, and her first ever to feature duets.
The track begins in G and modulates up a half step at 2:41.
Andy Williams | Sleigh Ride
American singer Andy Williams made Leroy Anderson’s 1948 standard “Sleigh Ride” the lead track of his 1965 album Merry Christmas. According to Anderson biographer Steven Metcalf, ‘Sleigh Ride’… has been performed and recorded by a wider array of musical artists than any other piece in the history of Western music.” This is our first time featuring the tune on MotD.
Williams’ cover begins in Eb and quickly modulates up to E at 0:18. This is followed by series of successive half-step modulations at 0:45, 0:53, 1:39, and 1:48.
Phil Vassar & Kellie Pickler | The Naughty List
Reminiscent of the classic “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” but leaning more towards a PG-13 rating, “The Naughty List” was written by country singer/songwriter Phil Vassar and released as a single with Vassar and former American Idol contestant Kellie Pickler.
It begins in A and modulates up half step to Bb at 1:57.
Stephanie J. Block | Manhattan in December
“Manhattan in December” is featured on Merry Christmas, Darling, Tony-winning actress Stephanie J. Block’s debut holiday album released earlier this year. The record also features tracks with Block’s husband and daughter.
The jazzy number starts out in F and shifts up a half step to Gb at 3:08.
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