Whitney Houston’s classic, originally recorded in 1987, is covered here by singer/songwriters Will Gittens and Bren’nae. Gittens, who boasts 60 million views on YouTube, grew up in Nashville and graduated from Berklee College of Music. Drawing his inspiration from Stevie Wonder, Prince, Michael Jackson and others, Gittens has released two albums of acoustic covers. Bren’nae Debarge was a contestant in season 8 of the NBC reality series The Voice.
The track begins in Eb and modulates up a step to F at 2:47.
Rajaton “is a six member a cappella group founded in Helsinki, Finland, that comprises two sopranos, two baritones, and an alto and tenor each,” (DCTheaterArts). “Rajaton is a pop sensation in its native Finland, where it is renowned for its genre-crossing repertoire of classical to Europop and where it has a double platinum, three platinum, and a collection of gold records, amongst over awards under its belt. The group … continues to spread the joy of their music through touring in over twenty-five countries. … The name Rajaton is the Finnish word for ‘boundless’ and (is a) metaphor for the wide breadth of their repertoire.”
From AllMusic’s profile of the group: “The group released its first album, Nova, in 2000, and over the course of the next decade managed another eight releases, including albums and DVD offerings. Their October 2007 album, Maa, was another strong seller for the band, as it cracked the Top Ten on the Finland album charts.”
The joyful track “Laulamahan,” released in 2022, shifts in texture throughout while the overall tempo remains unchanged. There are several modulations, the first of which is a shift two whole steps downward at 0:43.
“How Much Do You Love Me” is the lead track on the 2022 album Here We Go Jack, featuring American singer Jacob Jeffries (who also co-wrote the song.) The funk-inflected tune begins in Db and modulates up a half step to D at 3:00.
” … composer, pianist, and arranger Richard Smallwood has clearly and solidly changed the face of gospel music,” (Kennedy Center). “He can impeccably blend classical movements with traditional gospel, and arrive at a mix that is invariably Smallwood’s alone. A diverse and innovative artist, Richard Smallwood has achieved many honors; Dove Awards and a Grammy also attest to his talents … Smallwood has been honored by the Smithsonian Institution as a ‘gospel innovator and songwriter,’ and his hometown, Washington, D.C. heralded two separate occasions as ‘Richard Smallwood Day,’ also, distinguishing him with the Mayoral Art Award for ‘precision and excellence in artistic discipline.'”
… His debut album, The Richard Smallwood Singers, spent 87 weeks on Billboard’s Gospel chart. “The next project, Psalms, received a Grammy nomination. Two years later, another nomination for Textures, the album that contained the classic ‘The Center of My Joy,’ penned by Richard Smallwood along with Bill and Gloria Gaither.” His career has only grown from there.
Gospel Church, a prominent French gospel ensemble, produced this video performance of Smallwood’s “Anthem of Praise” in late 2023. After a cinematic instrumental intro establishes the piece in Bb minor, the choir enters at 1:03. At 3:33, the arrangement transitions to Bb major; from there, there are half-step upward modulations with each successive vocal soloist, eventually landing in Db major. The final few seconds bring an emphasis on the original Bb, now clearly the implied relative minor even in the absence of any chord color.
**This is the first installment in a three-part series featuring covers of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”**
American singer Ariana Grande’s cover of the Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” begins in Ab and modulates up a half step to A at 1:46
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.
“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.
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.
“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.
“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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