One of the most exciting parts of the holiday season is Christmas music. Whether a classic tune like Frank Sinatra’s “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” or a newer hit like Taylor Swift’s “Christmas Tree Farm” — I’ve always adored the happiness of a simple Christmas tune hummed on the radio can bring.​
Despite the song’s popularity, it’s been known to receive backlash for lyrics that suggest problematic themes. To poke fun at the annual debate of whether the song is appropriate, John Legend and Kelly Clarkson recently teamed up to create a modern twist on the classic.
Their version places a lot of emphasis on consensuality, to a point where people have joked that it almost seems like John Legend WANTS Kelly Clarkson to leave, and she just isn’t getting the hint. But it’s supposed to be comical, and the duo nailed that bit. With lyrics like “Your driver, his name is Murray,” and “I’ve got to get home (oh, baby, I’m well aware),” the song proved to be a light-hearted take on a song that’s been deemed a topic of controversy. The funniest part of all is after the second verse, when the rideshare driver, Murray, interrupts the duet to call out, “Ma’am, I really can’t stay!”
While there really is no reason to be offended by a comical take on a song like this —of course, the duo’s version faced a lot of criticism. From comments stating their version is “Absolutely absurd,” to others saying the original “Shouldn’t be messed with,” to even a select few stating, “Leave your PC b.s. for your own music, please!” The remake certainly caused a lot of uproars, and it’s honestly absurd.
John Legend’s done his best to defend their version, stating “The song was supposed to be silly,” nothing “It wasn’t supposed to be preachy at all. I never disparaged the old version. And, by the way, the original writer, or his family, gets paid for my version, too.”
