Kelly Clarkson gets in on the holiday standard fun with her loungey and jazzy rendition of the classic ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas.’ Clarkson, who has a powerhouse voice capable of conveying a truck full of emotion without ever drifting into glass-shattering, acrobatic or “look at me” diva territory, makes the song her own. For real.
She gives the song an old soul makeover and slows it down a little. She is accompanied by a saxophone and uses her voice to convey the emotion in the lyrics. When you break it down, it’s a sad lament about not being with the ones you love during the holidays and relying on your dreams to feel connected to the people you wish you could be with.
In the final moment, Clarkson belts out “I’ll be home for Christmas / If only in my dreams.” She’s pining for her loved ones and she sings in a style that lets you know it. So if you’ve yet to trim the tree, grab a mug of steaming hot cocoa and play this while you decorate. If you are far from home this holiday season, wrap yourself in the warmth of Clarkson’s song. She certainly knows how you feel and her performance is proof of that.