The Struts frontman Luke Spiller has shared a cover of Slade’s festive classic ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’ – check it out here.
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Spiller’s version is a little different from the original, which became Christmas Number One in 1973 and was certified double platinum in 2021 after repeatedly returning to the charts during the holiday season.
It’s more stripped-back and mournful, and it’s joined by a video which features Spiller sporting a Santa hat and riding through the concrete channel of the Los Angeles River.
“Like so many of us, I have always loved Christmas,” he said about the track. “For me personally, it’s a time where I often travel back to the United Kingdom and spend quality time with my family after a long year of touring and seeing the world.
“I grew up listening to this song and have such great memories being surrounded by the people I love celebrating the year coming to a close. I wanted to put my own spin on this classic and decided to strip back the music so people can really focus on the lyrics.”
He also paid tribute to Slade, describing them as an “incredible band” and a “huge influence” on him, “so I really wanted to do it justice”.
Spiller isn’t the only artist to cover ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’. Last month, Anne-Marie released her own version, while Oasis, Suzanne Vega and Steps have also shared their own renditions over the years.
Robbie Williams covered it in a duet with Jamie Cullum for his album ‘The Christmas Present’ in 2019, while it’s also on Girls Aloud’s ‘Christmas ‘Round At Ours’ album, which first came out in 2005 as a bonus disc with their album ‘Chemistry’ but was rereleased on CD and vinyl last month.
A whole host of artists have released Christmas songs this year, too – both originals and covers. Kylie Minogue is set to release a new version of her 2015 album Kylie Christmas tomorrow (December 5). Entitled ‘Kylie Christmas (Fully Unwrapped)’, it features four new tracks including the already-released single ‘XMAS’.
Olly Murs has teamed up with The Ordinary Boys for ‘Christmas Starts Tonight’, while The Coral released the “cursed carol” ‘She Died On Christmas Day’ earlier this week. Leon Bridges has shared two Christmas songs this year, including one with Norah Jones, and Laufey recently shared her cover of ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’ – part of her ongoing ‘A Very Laufey Holiday’ project.
Home Counties shared the festive single ‘Better Last Year (Home Counties For Christmas)’, while Kings Of Leon said last month that they’d written a Christmas song but that it might be “too Christmassy” to share.
Rivalling these Christmas songs in the race for Christmas Number One are tracks including Together For Palestine with the charity single ‘Lullaby’, McFly’s Tom Fletcher and Paddington with ‘One Of Us’, and perennial Christmas favourites by the likes of Wham! – last year’s Christmas Number One – and Mariah Carey.
As for Spiller, he released his debut solo album, ‘Love Will Probably Kill Me Before Cigarettes And Wine’, in April this year. The Struts last released an album, ‘Pretty Vicious’, in 2023.
