Ariana Grande: Snow In California

I don't know how I missed this one. Maybe I was too busy belting Mariah. Perhaps I was stuck mashing repeat on Kelly Clarkson's newest holiday tune. (Her new album with Greg Kurstin really is quite good) Whatever excuses I make for myself, there's no excuse for me missing out on this Ariana track. Big fat old-school kick drums, modern R&B snaps wrapped around an 808 snare, and warm electric piano blanket this jingle-bell punctured tune.

And, of course, Ariana's voice is out of this world. Which, at this point, goes without saying. My favorite part about this Ariana record? The lyrics in this little jingle pay homage to the ultimate 20th century songwriter, Monsieur Irving Berlin. He's better known as the brilliant bastard who penned that ever-dazzling tune White Christmas. And while a lot of people mistake the lyrics in White Christmas to be written from a soldier's perspective, it was actually written while Berlin was staying in California. There's even an (omitted!) first verse where he mentions he longs to be away from Beverly Hills and back up North.

Anyway, this is no place to wax biographical about Songs of Christmas Past. Beautiful job, Ariana. I think you'd make a lot of old school songwriters proud with this number. Now excuse me while I drag this tune straight to the tip-top of my Christmas Tree playlist.

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