December 17, 2024
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by Jeff Meier (FB: Jeff.Meier.90)
Hey Good Black News Fam – it’s time for a bonus playlist – this year’s edition of “Ultimate Soul of the Season – The Black Christmas Soundtrack 2024 Edition,” which you can click here: Ultimate Soul of the Season – The Black Christmas Soundtrack – Expanded for 2024
Each year, we’ve updated our popular holiday music song mix by adding a selection of new releases and new discoveries, and though we’re a little late this year, better late than never.
Now reaching over 45 hours long, it’s intended to be a mainstream background for your Christmas season – like those radio stations that turn holiday music 24/7 – except that all the music is done by Black artists (with an occasional duet with a soulful ally).
The big new Black holiday release this year comes from Jennifer Hudson (from her album The Gift of Love), but there are also new yule tunes from Mary J. Blige, Kanye West’s Sunday Service Choir, H.E.R., and other American Idol vets like Ruben Studdard and Jordin Sparks, modern jazz master Robert Glasper featuring Wicked superstar Cynthia Erivo, ‘it’ girls Coco Jones and Saweetie.
Broadway stars Norm Lewis and Ariana DeBose are also represented, along with veteran Black Brits Rebecca Ferguson, Craig David and Deniece Pearson (of Five Star fame), Tower of Power, Eric Roberson and gospel stars Anthony Evans, Jonathan McReynolds, Naomi Raine, BeBe Winans and CeCe Winans.
Inspired by the Sister Act 2 reunion on The View earlier this year, we’ve uncovered a couple songs from cast members Ryan Toby (formerly a member of City High) and Tanya Blount (now Trotter). Singing as part of the Black alt country act The War & Treaty, Tanya & her husband Michael Trotter duet with Josh Groban on “Do You Hear What I Hear”.
And, in this year of Cowboy Carter, we’ve added a handful of additional Black country Christmas songs from Jimmie Allen, Breland, Cecily Wilborn, Sacha and female trio Chapel Hart.
We’re always on the hunt for Black versions of holiday standards that don’t get covered by Black artists that much – and to that end we’ve found Black versions of two songs from The Polar Express – Disney star Dara Renee performing “Believe” and internet personality Kalen Allen performing “When Christmas Comes to Town” (as a duet with Deon’te Goodman).
As always, we’re most excited about some of our new discoveries (admittedly, from looking at their careers and subscriber counts, some of them are just new to me), which include pop duo CoCo and Clair Clair, retro soulsters Wesley Bright, DeRobert & the Half Truths and Alex Harris, the female folk singers Ruby Amanfu and Valerie June and a handful of new guys with powerful voices including Christian music vet Jermaine Bollinger, LA singer Tabon Ward, Southern soulster TA Thomas (with his sexy new holiday track “Under the Tree”), Memphis’ EJ Jones and former The Voice contestant Blessing Offor.
Internationally, we’re excited to celebrate the holidays with Canada’s Kellylee Evans, eclectic British women Celeste, Nao and Laura Mvula, South Africa’s Kingdmusic, and former Australian Idol winner Stan Walker. All of these artists are worthy of further exploration.
Finally, keep an ear out for perhaps our favorite new addition to the list. Prominent folk artist, actress, musicologist Rhiannon Giddens, founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, issued the lovely “How I Long for Peace” this fall. While not explicitly a Christmas release, the song’s sentiments certainly fit both the tone of the holiday and the tone of our times.
Enjoy.
Published in Anniversaries, Entertainment, Gospel/Country, Hip Hop/Rap, Holidays, Jazz/Blues/Folk, Music, Playlists, Podcasts/Audio and U.S.
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