American Christian singer Lauren Daigle released her first Christmas album, Behold: A Christmas Collection, in 2016, and then reissued a deluxe addition in 2018 featuring three new tracks, including “Away in a Manger.”
The song begins in Gb and shifts up to Ab at 1:48.
The California-based R&B/funk band Tower of Power released their first holiday album, It’s Christmas, earlier this year. The record features covers of classic songs and two original tunes as well. “Hark The Herald Angels Sing,” the fourth track, begins in G and modulates up to A at 2:05
The Christian pop duo for King & Country, comprised of brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone, released their first holiday album, A Drummer Boy Christmas, in 2021. “Go Tell it On The Mountain” features guest vocalist Gabby Barrett. The track begins in Eb and modulates up to F at 2:18.
“I always just feel more at home in the music and the sounds of the ’60s and the ’70s, and there’s so much great Christmas music that was made in those times. That’s what this album especially is about, ” singer Clay Aiken said in an interview with NPR about his latest holiday album, Christmas Bells Are Ringing, which as released this year.
“Do You Hear What I Hear” begins in D and modulates up to E at 2:58. There is another abrupt shift to B at 3:25.
“You For Christmas” is the featured single and lead track on the reissue/deluxe edition of Kelly Clarkson’s 2021 holiday album When Christmas Comes Around…. The song, written by Clarkson, Andrew Wyatt and Mark Ronson, hit the #5 spot on the Adult Contemporary chart, and Clarkson performed it on the season finale of The Voice earlier this month.
The song begins in A and modulates up to B at 2:09.
Filipino singer and actress Lea Salonga released Sounding Joy last month, her first holiday album in over twenty years. The album includes originals and covers of Christmas classics. “Love Is Our Christmas Star,” written by Trina Belamide, is the eighth track. It begins in C and modulates up to D at 3:13.
Former American Idol contestant and youngest-ever EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson released her first holiday record this year, her first studio album since 2014. The Gift of Love features four original tunes and ten covers. “What better way to come back than a Christmas album?” Hudson said an interview. “It’s been a dream of mine my whole career. I’m a holiday fanatic … so it just makes sense.”
“Little Drummer Boy” begins in D and shifts up to Eb at 1:40.
MotD holiday standby Pentatonix released their seventh holiday album, Holidays Around The World, in 2022. The record, which won a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, songs from many different cultures. Hiba Tawaji, a Lebanese singer, is featured on this track. It begins in D, shifts up to Eb at 1:20, and up another step to F at 2:07.
Straight No Chaser has become one of the most prominent professional a cappella groups in the United States after starting as a student group at Indiana University in 1996. They have released numerous holiday albums, and “I Pray on Christmas” is featured on their 2023 record Stocking Stuffers. The song was written and first released by Harry Connick Jr. on his 1993 album When My Heart Finds Christmas.
The tune begins in A and modulates up to Bb at 2:00.
Chris Butler, the songwriter and guitarist on The Waitresses’ cult classic “Christmas Wrapping,” (1981): “‘I was such a Scrooge. I hated Christmas! Also, I worked as a freelance journalist,” (The Guardian). “In December in New York, everyone with a job takes a long holiday, so I’d get offered work I was too poor to turn down. I’d have all this stuff to do when everyone else was having their eggnog. And I poured my sourness into this song. The first words I wrote down were: Bah humbug. The chorus went: Merry Christmas. But I think I’ll miss this one this year. It’s about two people alone at Christmas who meet while buying cranberry sauce, and get together. Of course, it had to have a happy ending – it’s Christmas! – but it was tongue in cheek. … I still get grumpy at Christmas. Every year, when I get stuck in traffic because of idiots buying crap for their unloved in-laws, that song always seems to come on the radio. And then I think: Lighten up, man, it’s Christmas.’”
Tracy Wormworth (bass and backing vocals): “‘At the time, Good Times by Chic was out; for bass players, Bernard Edwards’ badass bassline was iconic. I wasn’t trying to rip it off, but I was heavily inspired by it. I sat in the studio and worked out note for note what I would play. Like the band, the song is a real mix. I had no idea how catchy the song would prove to be. It would trip me out if I walked into a chain store and it was playing.”
After the second verse and second instrumental chorus (complete with its slightly off-kilter hook from the horns), a brief instrumental bridge shifts up a perfect fourth from 2:10 – 2:30. After reverting to the original key, the track’s bridge returns at 4:07 – 4:27 before a final extended chorus (this time with vocals proclaiming the hook!) wraps up the tune.
Delving into the track’s top-drawer bass line in wonderful detail is this video from bassist and music educator Paul Thompson:
modulationoftheday.home.blog 