Maybe it's really all about a soul holiday... 
Every Christmas, I take out my many Soul Christmas CD compilations and put them in heavy rotation. I have so many and there is really nothing like hearing the Temptations sing a Christmas carol, or Boys to Men or the Supremes... I love them all. Hearing little Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 sing about mommy kissing Santa Claus just warms my heart. It doesn't matter how many soul versions of the "Little Drummer Boy" I hear as CD after CD plays. There are a lot of Christmas songs, but not that many after all. And each soul artist puts his or her own spin on the song. I have to say; I don't mind a Christmas soul remake. But I do have an all time favorite Christmas song and that is Donny Hathaway's version of "This Christmas." That song just seems like the epitome of a soulful Christmas to me. It makes me think of the kind of Christmas the people in the picture above might be having. The kind of Christmas, I'm hoping for as I play my CDs and sing along with Donny... And I have to say I was happy with the movie This Christmas . The film showed a wonderful Black family Christmas. It was a nice feel good movie, perfect for the holidays. And I think Chris Brown did an excellent job putting his mark on a Christmas classic. So, enjoy both versions of this wonderful, soulful song...
Donny Hathaway “This Christmas”
Chris Brown “This Christmas” 
Thursday, December 20, 2007
This Is How We Do The Old To The New...Thursdays
Posted by Gwyneth Bolton at 12:49 AM
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15 comments:
Donny Hathaway is AMAZING, but I love young Chris' version also...I also loved the movie, I didnt see it until last week but I loved it and of course that yummy Idris Elba was in there, did I say YUMMY...
LOVE YOU...
angelia
Gwyneth, you forgot Luther!!!!! His Christmas album is my absolute favorite.
Chris Brown is such a little sweetie pie. He did a great job on that one.
I love all the soul Christmas stuff. I wonder if my children will underperform on some standardized test that is culturally biased because they don't know the original tunes for these songs but hey, not enough to keep me away from it. (I like the classic versions too but you know how it is...)
I heard the Temptations and Eddie Kendricks singing "Silent Night" on the radio this morning as I drove to work. Nobody tops Eddie on those high notes. I would have loved to hear him sing "O Holy Night".
Angelia ~ I love Donny Hathaway too. His voice is amazing. And I think the movie This Christmas will be among my all-time favorites, probably up there with Soul Food .
Chicki ~ I love his Christmas album too. I have so many Christmas CDs that my husband just shakes his head when he sees me buy a new one. LOL.
Patricia ~ LOL @ the standardized test. That's a good one. I'm glad they don't have an audio version to those tests. A whole lot of black folk would be in trouble.
Gwyneth
I've pulled out all my Christmas Cds too -- at this time I really get into Gospel Christmas music mode. My fav is Take 6's He Is Christmas -- an oldie but goodie. It's all acapella and how brothas + friends can make their voices like instruments is amazing to me. I'll be seeing This Christmas sometime next week and there is another black Christmas movie that's out too which I want to see. It's a Perfect Christmas with Queen La and that hunk of chocolaty goodness Morris Chestnut. Have you seen it? Reviews aren't the best -- but I want to support it anyway.
Hey Gwyneth!
I'm not a fan of Christmas music... only song I really like is Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer but those you posted were nice. My daughter LOVES Chris Brown.
Stay peace and happy holiday!
Genesis
I like to think that Donny Hathaway is smiling because of the movie named after and surely featuring (I haven't seen it yet) his song. Donny, you haven't been forgotten!
My favorite Christmas CD has to be A Charlie Brown Christmas. I'm a jazz lover, and every song on that CD cuts it for me. I also like Vanessa Williams' Star Bright. But the CD I play most frequently is the one I burned myself from my collection of some of my favorites: It opens with James Taylor's version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and closes with Ella Fitzgerald's jazzy cover of the same song, and in between are things like Nancy Wilson singing The Christmas Waltz, Christmastime is Here from A Charlie Brown Christmas, Johnny Mathis' Sleigh Ride, classics like Eartha Kitt's Santa Baby, The Temptations' Silent Night, Bing Crosby's I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas and, of course, Nat "King" Cole's The Christmas Song.
Merry Christmas, everybody!
We usually listen to The Temptation's Silent Night but we haven't pulled it out yet. I want to wish everyone a blessed and Happy Holidays!!
I'm feeling you Gwyneth...and I love both versions of This Christmas...either one works for me.
xoxo
Michelle ~ I haven't seen The Perfect Christmas yet. I plan to go see it. It looks like it's going to be kinda stupid. But I want to support... And I want to see that yummy Morris Chestnut... :-) We went to see Will Smith last weekend instead of checking out The Perfect Holiday .
Genesis ~ I love "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer." LOL.
Bettye ~ I bet Donny Hathaway is smiling right about now. And that Charlie Brown Christmas CD sounds wonderful. Looks like I'm gonna have to make a trip to the store to add to my collection. A jazzy Christmas is just as good as a sould Christmas. And your personal collection sounds great too.
Tiffany ~ Happy holidays to you too !
Yasmin ~ Thanks for stopping by and happy holidays, sis!
Gwyneth
Girl -- I went to see Will Smith's movie this weekend and it depressed the hell out of me -- cuz I can see that ish happening for real, especially with our wack medical system! Nothing but comedies for me -- for awhile! LOL
Michelle ~ I am Legend was rather depressing and I could totally see some craziness like that happening. And the movie ended up being what I thought it was going to be when I saw the first preview and decided to pass on it, Will Smith talking to himself. I felt like I needed more than just Will, as fine as he is...
Gwyneth
You know when I watched the movie I was ready to roll my eyes. I mean I could not believe someone was messing with my classic "This Christmas" by Donnie Hathaway. but he didn't do a bad job.
My fav's are
7. Ava Maria - Kelly Price
6. Santa Clause go straight to the ghetto - James Brown
5. Let it snow - boys II men
4. Merry Christmas, Baby - The O'Jays
3. O come all ye faithful - Kelly Price and family.
2. This Christmas - Donnie Hathaway
1. Silent Night - The Temptations
*Jaw hanging to the floor in shock*
KD King likes the same Christmas song as me and considers "This Christmas" by Donny Hathaway to be a classic... she didn't find one thing to disagree with in this post? It truly must be the season of miracles... O holy night, oh happy day (okay I know that wasn't a Christmas song...) Seriously, I don't think I've heard the James Brown song you mentioned. I'm gonna have to look for that one.
Gwyneth
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