V (left) and Bing Crosby (right). Photo: courtesy of Big Hit Music; U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Public Domain.
Venerated American composer-songwriter Irving Berlin’s song “White Christmas,” featured in the 1942 musical movie Holiday Inn, receives a new twist with a duet, featuring vocals by K-pop sensation V and the late legendary American artist Bing Crosby, due out on December 6.
Big Hit Music is seeing this as an “era-bridging” collab, happening 47 years after Crosby’s demise (October 14, 1977). According to a recent Billboard article, V conveyed his gratitude for the opportunity through a statement calling Crosby “my all-time favorite jazz artist.” He said that he’s been avidly consuming Crosby’s songs growing up and feels very grateful to share his voice with his “idol” on a timeless track like “White Christmas.”
Photo: courtesy of Bing Crosby’s Instagram.
Awarded the Best Original Song at the 15th Academy Awards, “White Christmas” has had hundreds of cover versions since its release from Otis Redding, Martina McBride, Gwen Stefani, Michael Bublé, Taylor Swift, and artists of sorts, but Crosby’s rendition remains an all-time hit. He initially performed it in 1941 on NBC’s popular weekly radio variety show, The Kraft Music Hall (1933 to 1949), of which he was the show host. The following year, Crosby recorded it, which became a part of Holiday Inn’s album thereafter.
The song’s lyrics, like “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas/Just like the ones I used to know/Where the treetops glisten and children listen/To hear sleigh bells in the snow/I’m dreaming of a white Christmas/With every Christmas card I write/May your days be merry and bright/And may all your Christmases be white,” which express a yearning for home and the joys of Christmas, have always caught on emotionally with listeners, especially in times of crisis, reminiscent of when it was first released, shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack. Crosby’s smooth, expressive delivery, amid a lavish orchestral accompaniment, gives off that sense of peace and warmth synonymous with Christmas time.
The song’s appearance in classic movies, including the 1954 musical White Christmas, where Crosby co-starred with Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen, has also contributed to its enduring legacy. Crosby’s famous performance and the film’s heartfelt portrayal of the festive season reinforced the relevance of the title track.
Years later, “White Christmas” is as beautifully resonant as it always has been. Its new rendition of V’s amazing vocals alongside Crosby’s is not only a distinct collaboration but also a reminder of the song’s timeless appeal across decades and generations. “White Christmas,” blending the voices of the past and present, is an inviting new sound of Christmas cheer to stir up fond recollections of wintertime and the good times with loved ones once again.
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