The most beautiful rendition of 'O Holy Night'

Michael Crawford's version from the same year.

Mariah Carey's is pretty darn good.

Leontyne Price

Some say this singer David Phelps has sung the best version here, but it does nothing for me. He's way too theatrical for the song. (Some say he's one of the greatest singers in the world, but I'm not getting that.)

Jussi Bjørling has a huge following with this recording. It is very moving.

Glorious, if I do say so myself.

That last little bump did the trick.

Merry Jebusmas.

Cher's version of O Holy Night

Paul Shaffer's imitation of Cher's O Holy Night

Bingo, r3! Leontyne all the way.

OP that lovely.

She was still in her prime.

Young singers today trash these traditional songs. Note that Dionne sings it straight. NO caterwauling. no melisma, no showing off. No making it about her.

Great Michael Crawford too at R1. These people are pros.

^ that was lovely.

I had a feeling that a country singer would do a good rendition. Here's Martina McBride's.

I love Dionne, but that was in such a low key.

R10, that was not Dionne in her prime.

R10 Agree ! I couldn't last through the whole Mariah Carey version with her vocal acrobats.

I remember the Cher version of their Christmas show. Not great by any means, but a hell of a lot better than that shitty Christmas album she put out last year - awful !

[quote] but that was in such a low key.

Wow. Someone used "low key" properly.

Edna Garrett did a great version of it.

R12 Martina McBride with that harsh thin reedy voice? Are you joking?

She sounds like a very good Miss America contestant.

She definitely would have won the talent competition

We always had an each year of these. And they were good.

Edna Garrett singing sounds like Senator Sue Collins (R-ME) to my ears.

Celine Dion, then. Late '90s. I feel like she lip syched a couple of notes towards the end, though ...

I'm putting Donna Summer's recording in the Top Three. Beautiful.

I made my family copy this pose as a kid.

Donna Summer's live recording ("Solid Gold" 1982) is even better than the 1994 recording. How did I forget this one ? (And isn't Rex Smith a cutie ?)

Supposedly, Streisand had caught this episode and was moved by Summer's live version. It left such an impression on her, she asked Summer to sing 'Papa Can You Hear Me?' at the Oscar's two years later.

Josh Groban.... I suspect he can convert atheists with his version. I get misty eyed when it comes on the car radio.

Johnny Mathis has a version that is beautiful in its simplicity.

I love Nils Bech version in Swedish, O Helga Natt, from the Norwegian show Skam

Joan Baez en Français

King's College Choir doing John Rutter's arrangement.

Dionne for the win because of the tasteful arangement and the glorious Vienna Symphony backing her up.

One of the highlights of my childhood was a yearly rendition of "O Holy Night" performed at my small (Swedish American) Lutheran church by local farmer Harold Hanson.

Harold looked like LBJ and delivered the song at quite a speedy clip - around the tempo of "Colonel Bogie March" from "The Bridge on the River Kwai."

My brothers and i would tap our toes along with the rhythm - much to our parent's displeasure. But we all had a good laugh in the car on the way home.

I'm with R23. The live and the album version almost move me to tears. I was raised (mostly) nominally Catholic, went through the typical teenage religious rebellion, explored other religions in my early adulthood, found out I had Jewish ancestry some time after that—long story short, I have a very complicated relationship with religion and spirituality that feels like it's been a lifelong psychological mindfuck—and even with all of that, I am never not moved by his rendition of that song. I have yet to hear a superior version. I listen to it every Christmas.

Kiri. It shows her at her best and is quite a lovely thing.

Joan. Exalt in the glory!

R24 When I was little, my family played Johnny Mathis Christmas albums constantly in the house (my parents were in love with him, played his albums year round). His recording is what turned me on to the beautiful Christmas hymn, as he really is one of the best when it comes to this song.

Johnny is the best when it comes to most anything.

He's definitely a member of the 'National Treasure Club.'

(I love his version, always, and I know she's not "cool", but Celine Dion's version is perfection.)

Nothing to add but I did enjoy this thread.

Mariah's version is really excellent. Merry Christmas may be her best album.

I'm with r3 - Leontyne Price's performance is really special.

Mariah represents everything that's wrong with today's singers.

Dionne and Leontyne for the win.

R3, Leontyne’s rules! Check out that video at 3:30– her high note is just extraordinary

Samara Joy

I don’t like Corpse anymore

I just had to share this incredible rendition of O HOLY NIGHT, performed by Willie K, a renowned Hawaiian performer who died in 2020. We have many outstanding artists here in Hawaii, and Uncle Willie was one of the best. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.

"Merry Christmas, everybody!"