It’s hard to imagine Mariah Carey’s timeless Christmas tune, ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’, being performed in a different style. In fact, the song is so iconic and instantly recognizable that many of its millions of listeners worldwide no doubt believe that no one could cover the song and do a better job than Mariah herself.
Postmodern Jukebox, however, has gone some way to changing that opinion in recent weeks, having uploaded a jazz-inflected, 1940s-style cover of the song which the Internet has gone wild for. Based around distinctive close harmonies, gorgeous piano, and a walking double bass line, the cover puts a fresh twist on ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ whilst also honing in on the essence of the 1940s sound.
Since the video’s upload, even hardcore fans of the original have taken to the YouTube comment section to praise the cover. “Please please please produce a whole album of holiday classics in this style” begged one fan, while another simply said “this is the Christmas cover that I never knew I was waiting for. It’s spectacular.”
Of course, most Music Man readers will probably already be familiar with the name Postmodern Jukebox; their unique musical twists on famous songs have long been popular on YouTube in particular. You may well recognize the cover below, for instance, which sees the group put Radiohead’s ‘Creep’ in a sultry vintage style, complete with the incredible vocals of Haley Reinhart.
For the Christmas season, however, the ultimate Postmodern Jukebox cover surely has to be their version of Mariah Carey’s festive classic, ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’. The cover might come as a surprise to many, particularly those who love the original, but the fact remains that more and more fans are flocking to the cover every day to see and hear it for themselves!
Postmodern Jukebox’s 1940s-style take on ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ proves a classic can feel utterly new again. With tight harmonies, elegant piano and a walking bass, it’s easy to see why listeners are raving. Want to explore the video and more from the group? Check the useful links below.