The Worst Cover Song Ever
A Reflection on “Secular” Christmas
Throughout the history of rock and roll, artists have covered each other’s songs – at times without much of the listening public knowing it. Upon hearing Jeff Buckley’s version of “Hallelujah,” for example, I had no idea it’s actually a Leonard Cohen song. Nor did I know that Dave Matthews’ “All Along The Watchtower” was first a Bob Dylan song. Certain “cover songs” are done so well that at a certain point, the song itself becomes property of the artist who recorded the rendition. While Otis Redding’s original version of “Respect” is spectacular, Aretha Franklin owns that song, turning it into an anthem of the feminist movement of the 1960’s. It’s as if Aretha found a deeper soul to the song than Otis even knew was there.
But such cover songs are few and far between: bad cover songs are much easier to achieve. Aside from a poor performance, the most cringeworthy covers are when the new artist either misses the point of the song or sings it only to serve themselves, reducing the song to a commodity from which to gain. Such is the case with the worst cover song ever: the secular version of Christmas.
The birth of Jesus was the deepest, most heartfelt song the world has ever heard. God’s beautiful masterpiece made its debut with a note ringing out clear and bright. It has resonated throughout the ages in the hearts of those whose longing ran too deep to be satisfied by the pervasive but placid promises of this broken world. For centuries, followers of Jesus developed Christmas into a joyous recognition that where there is darkness, the Light of the World will shine through.
Fast forward to the 21st century and you mostly hear a loud, unavoidable cover version of Christmas. Like Michael Bolton stripping away the heart of classic soul songs and liberally brushing them with power-ballad lacquer, the secular world has removed the soul from the song that is Christmas. It’s stuck in our heads; for millions, the idea of “Christmas” is a consumeristic holiday where we worship togetherness, comfort, and overindulgence. The common graces of God – family, warmth, traditions, laughter, and memories – have been elevated to a place of glory. A position they’re unable to occupy for long, but that doesn’t stop us from trying.
It’s understandable that people would take such beauty and desire to use it as a defense against the darkness of this broken world and our broken hearts. We experience hurt, racism, hatred, and violence on levels great and small throughout the year, so a chance to look beyond that to themes of “peace on earth, good will to men” is a welcome respite. And for those few weeks in December it seems to work: the world seems full of happiness and hope. While this grasp at Christmas is understandable, it’s ultimately misguided and foolish; it’s like a song missing its soul. And as the calendar turns to January, we discover that brief season of surface-level hope and happiness has shown its true colors, as we return to our 11-month-long sad but steady state of searching and longing.
As followers of Jesus, we have the true “Light of the World” in our hearts. We have the beautiful opportunity to sing the original song that is the true Christmas. To do so, we must not only point it back to the Savior, but also face the truth of the darkness and brokenness head on.
This is where Advent comes in. Think of it as the opening of a beautiful song. Advent is the song’s verses; it sets up the coming chorus of Christmas, explaining why a Savior is even needed in the first place. You may ask, “Why would you dwell on the darkness? People want hope, warmth, and joy! Get to the chorus!” But the darkness of the weeks leading up to Christmas can actually show people just how bright the light of Christ is, and how deep God’s love truly runs. Advent is the minor chords which set up a tension which the major chords of Christmas resolve.
This year, sing out the full song that is Christmas, which includes a full acknowledgment of the darkness of this world. In doing so we’ll remind one another that while the world seems cursed at times, Christ came to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found.