Tag Archives: This Christmas

Jhené Aiko Appears on Def Jam Recordings’ New Holiday Album “Def The Halls”

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Jhené Aiko is deffing the halls…

Def Jam Recordings and 4th & Broadway have released a new compilation album featuring the 34-year-old part-Dominican American singer and others singing traditional Christmas songs and original holiday tracks.

Jhené AikoTitled Def The Halls, the holiday album also features Coco Jones, Alessia Cara and others,

The album follows the 2019 EP A Def Jam Christmas, which first featured Cara’s “Make It To Christmas.” That song also appears on this new release, alongside August 08’s reworking of “Silent Night” and Aiko’s 2013 ballad “Wrap Me Up.”

Other notables include Jones’ new “Silver Bells” and North Carolina’s Mikhala Jené, who gives an R&B twist to two modern holiday classics: “This Christmas” (from Donny Hathaway) and “Please Come Home For Christmas” (from Charles Brown). Los Angeles duo Calabasas pay homage to the beloved ’80s duo, Wham! with their rendition of “Last Christmas.”

The original Christmas tunes “BBC” by DaniLeigh, and “Underneath The Mistletoe” by August 08 are both collaborations with rising star Kendra Jae. Another duet brings together 4th & Broadway’s Kidd Kenn and Pap Chanel on “Naughty.”

Def the Halls is rounded out by the originals “Trinket” by UK artist Debbie, “Christmas” by global Latin-pop star Trinidad Cardona, “Cold With You” by young Anaheim rapper OHNO, “Everyday” from Kennedy Stephens, “Snowed In” by newly-signed St. Louis artist Bry Bee, and “A Hoe’s Christmas” by Broadway actress Jai’Len Josey.

“Def The Halls” tracklist:
Mikhala Jene – Please Come Home For Christmas
Alessia Cara – Make It To Christmas
Trinidad Cardona – Christmas With You
August 08, Kendra Jae – Underneath The Mistletoe
Debbie – Trinket
Calabasas – Last Christmas
DaniLeigh – BBC (ft. Kendra Jae)
Jhené Aiko – Wrap Me Up
Coco Jones – Silver Bells
OHNO – Cold With You
Kennedy Stephens – Everyday
Mikhala Jene – This Christmas
Kidd Kenn, Pap Chanel – Naughty
Jai’Len Josey – A Hoe’s Christmas

Esperanza Spalding Earns First No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Chart with John Legend Holiday Collaboration

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Esperanza Spalding is having herself a merry holiday season…

The 34-year-old part-Latina jazz bassist and singer’s Christmas collaboration with John Legend, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” has jingled its way to the top of Billboard‘s Adult Contemporary chart dated December 8.

Esperanza Spalding

Spalding and Legend’s track soars from No. 6 to No. 1.

The ballad becomes the 22nd AC holiday leader on the ranking since 2000, around the time that a majority of stations in the format began playing seasonal songs heavily, or 24/7, between Thanksgivingand Christmas each year.

The composition is also just the second two-time AC holiday No. 1, as Josh Groban‘s take on the standard led in 2016.

Two interpretations of “This Christmas” have topped the tally.

Here’s a recap of all the holiday songs that have dashed to the top of the AC chart since 2000:

Title, Artist, Chart Date Reached No. 1, Weeks at No. 1
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” John Legend feat. Esperanza Spalding, Dec. 8, 2018, one (to date)
“Santa’s Coming for Us,” Sia, Dec. 23, 2017, three
“Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” Brett Eldredge feat. Meghan Trainor, Jan. 7, 2017, one
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” Josh Groban, Dec. 24, 2016, one
“This Christmas,” Train, Dec. 17, 2016, two
“This Christmas,” Seal, Jan. 2, 2016, one
“Baby It’s Cold Outside,” Idina Menzel duet with Michael Buble, Dec. 20, 2014, three
“Underneath the Tree,” Kelly Clarkson, Dec. 2, 2013, four
“Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow,” Rod Stewart, Dec. 8, 2012, five
“All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Michael Buble, Dec. 10, 2011, five
“Oh Santa!,” Mariah Carey, Dec. 18, 2010, four
“A Baby Changes Everything,” Faith Hill, Dec. 20, 2008, three
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” Josh Groban, Dec. 22, 2007, three
“Frosty the Snowman,” Kimberley Locke, Dec. 15, 2007, one
“It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” Daryl Hall John Oates, Dec. 30, 2006, two
“Jingle Bells,” Kimberley Locke, Dec. 23, 2006, one
“Up on the Housetop,” Kimberley Locke, Dec. 17, 2005, four
“Believe,” Josh Groban, Dec. 11, 2004, five
“Sending You a Little Christmas,” Jim Brickman with Kristy Starling, Jan. 3, 2004, one
“O Holy Night,” Josh Groban, Dec. 28, 2002, two
“Simple Things,” Jim Brickman feat. Rebecca Lynn Howard, Jan. 5, 2002, one
“The Christmas Shoes,” NewSong, Jan. 6, 2001, one

Spalding reigns in her first visit to the chart. Meanwhile, the collab is one of 15 holiday songs on the 30-position chart.

Legend lands his second AC No. 1, after “All of Me” spent 10 weeks on top in 2014.