Episode 3: Who Sang it Best? Holiday Edition

Episode 3: Who Sang it Best? Holiday Edition

Photo: Stevie Wonder's "Someday at Christmas" album cover.

Stevie Wonder's "Someday at Christmas" album cover.

You know the drill! For this installment of “Who sang it best,” we’re taking a look at “What Christmas Means to Me.” Originally performed by Stevie Wonder for his Someday at Christmas album, this song is the definition of Soul Christmas. Let’s hope these versions live up to it!

1. Stevie Wonder (Original Version) - Stevie Wonder can’t not win with “What Christmas Means to Me.” This song is Christmas in capital letters. It’s a song to dance to and sing along with family and friends; it's putting up the Christmas tree, drinking apple cider by the fire and wrapping Christmas presents. Wonder performs it with a passion and soul that can’t really be lived up to. 
2. Cee-Lo Green - Cee-Lo Green’s voice is perfect for this song. This is probably one of the best covers on this list, but it can’t beat the original. There’s nothing wrong with it though – it actually does everything right. This cover is jolly, fast-paced, joyful and brilliantly festive. Green does an amazing job of upholding the Christmas spirit. 
3. John Legend - John Legend’s cover of “What Christmas Means to Me” is jolly, but not very innovative. It features Stevie Wonder, which does give it some points, but it’s still nothing revolutionary. There’s not much passion to it, making it not stick out much as a cover. 
4. Pentatonix - Acapella Christmas does not work. Christmas is all about real sounds: the sounds of jingle bells, the rustling of tree leaves, fire crackling. Vocal imitations of these sounds, even in song, do not work. This song is a little bit too forced, and it tries too hard to be enjoyable. 

It’s three days until Christmas! Come back tomorrow for our second to last holiday ranking!