5 Unexpected Covers of Holiday Songs That You Should Listen To!

One of the best parts of the Christmas season is the music! But sometimes you don’t want to keep listening to the same versions of holiday songs over and over again. If you’re looking to shake up your holiday playlist, here are 5 unexpected covers of holiday songs we think you should listen to!

1. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by Destiny's Child

This track comes from the 2005 reissue of their 2001 album, 8 Days of Christmas. While this cover still has the same fun, upbeat charm as the original, it gives the song’s sound a more contemporary twist. The song starts out a cappella, highlighting the trio’s gorgeous tight-knit harmonies, then reinvents the holiday classic by transitioning to their signature R&B style. This cover would be a fun addition to any holiday playlist!

2. "You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" by Tyler, The Creator

Mr. Grinch may be a bad banana, but this cover of the song isn’t! Tyler, The Creator recorded this cover, along with an original song called "I Am the Grinch", for the story’s most recent film adaptation, The Grinch (2018). While the song’s lyrics have always resembled a diss track, the hip-hop arrangement of this version makes it feel like one too. And Tyler doesn’t roast the Grinch on his own -- he has a whole group of children backing him up! This version even transcends holidays, with Tyler emphasizing that, when Halloween comes around, he and the children’s choir will NOT be knocking on the Grinch’s door, making it a perfect song for anyone who likes to start listening to Christmas music as early as October! 

3. "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by My Chemical Romance

Now you might be thinking, "Wait, MCR doesn’t have a Christmas album!" And you’d be correct. They did, however, record this cover for the 2004 compilation album Kevin & Bean’s Christmastime In The 909. This cover puts a unique twist on Mariah Carey’s iconic pop classic by turning it into an angsty punk-pop song. Even though MCR’s cover sometimes makes the title feel a little more like a threat than a Christmas wish, it’s a huge part of what makes it such a fun and interesting holiday song to listen to!

4. "Santa Baby" by Miss Piggy

Miss Piggy first performed a snippet of "Santa Baby" for the TV film "It’s a Very Muppet Christmas Movie" (2002). If that fabulous performance left you wanting more, have no fear, because Disney blessed us with her full recording of the song in the 2006 album, The Muppets: A Green and Red Christmas. She keeps the song grounded in its jazzy roots, even including whispery backup vocals that lean into its fun and flirty vibe. However, she also adds her iconic sass to the song’s delivery, providing lots of funny moments throughout!

5.  "Drummer Boy" by Justin Bieber feat. Busta Rhymes

This hip-hop cover comes from Bieber’s 2011 album Under the Mistletoe. The album features both holiday classics and originals, this song being a combination of both! The song starts out as a seemingly normal, albeit modern, cover of "The Little Drummer Boy", but about a minute into the song, Bieber starts rapping! While the original song’s lyrics and melody are still there, Bieber and Busta add a few additional rap verses throughout. The new, modern lyrics do everything from reference pop culture to encourage listeners to donate to charity. If you love Christmas songs and also love rap, this unique take on the classic song is definitely for you!