Pop stars are bringing the Christmas vibes early as fans demand festive mood boost

Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson and Ed Sheeran are among the superstars releasing new Christmas songs early. Vote for your all-time favourite.

The world’s biggest pop stars are bringing the Christmas cheer early as a flood of festive songs and albums are released now to boost the spirits of pandemic-weary fans desperate for 2021 to end.

While the race for the Christmas charts typically kicks off in early December, Kelly Clarkson, Norah Jones, Carrie Underwood, Paul Kelly and Ed Sheeran and Elton John are among the superstars bringing the silly season forward to October and November.

Pop star and talk show host Clarkson even recorded a new song called Christmas Comes Early on her new album released on October 15.

Kelly Clarkson brought Xmas forward to mid-October this year with her new record. Picture: Supplied

The holly jolly post-divorce record Christmas Comes Around also features the sassy diss track Christmas Isn’t Cancelled (Just You) and a duet with her The Voice sister coach Ariana Grande called Santa Can’t You Hear Me.

“When Christmas Comes Around … captures how different the holidays can be for all of us during our lives,” Clarkson said on Twitter, “and I hope everyone can find something on the record they relate to. Hopefully the happier songs, but if not, hey, you’re not alone.”

That is a mood for a lot of people right now.

You want a snow vibe? Carrie Underwood releases My Gift album. Picture: Supplied

Clinical psychologist Amanda Gordon said the premature appetite for a cool Yule soundtrack is indicative of “people wanting this year to be over with.”

Our need for something to look forward to is also fuelling the early arrival of new and reissued Christmas albums.

“Xmas symbolises the end of the year and we just want this year to end in the hope 2022 is going to be a whole lot better,” she said.

Norah Jones is one of the pop star elves getting in the Xmas spirit early in 2021. Picture: Supplied

Gordon believes the festive soundtrack also helps to alleviate people’s anxieties about heading back into the post-lockdown world.

“People are finding it a bit weird going back into the shopping centres and department stores again and in a way, Christmas gives them that extra excuse to get back out there,” she said.

IHeartRadio launched their annual Elf Radio digital channel earlier this week – a month earlier than planned – in response to fan demand.

“I am always amazed at how early in the year and how frequently I’m asked when ELF Radio will start. We get inquiries from listeners as early as August every year. And, let’s face it, this year we all want to get to Christmas right now, that’s all we are thinking about,” iHeartRadio Content Director Brett Nossiter said.

Australia’s Christmas playlist king Michael Buble. Picture: Supplied

“After almost two years of limited or no family contact due to Covid, we decided to launch ELF Radio early this year because anticipation for Christmas this year is massive.”

Nossiter said Mariah Carey and Michael Buble are Australia’s favourite musical “elves” while enduring classics from Wham!, Sia, Justin Bieber through to Dean Martin and Bing Crosby are also popular additions to the season playlist.

“Apart from the big names, we’ve found our listeners are wanting to hear an Australian take on the Christmas experience with Kylie and Dannii Minogue’s 100 Degrees more relatable to Aussie audiences than Frosty the Snowman,” he said.

“But there’s no bigger Aussie Xmas hymn than Paul Kelly’s much-loved How To Make Gravy. A truly Aussie story, it’s hard to explain to someone outside of Australia why a song like this resonates so deeply with fans because a letter written from prison isn’t exactly jingle bells.”

Paul Kelly’s How To Make Gravy is an Australian Christmas institution. Picture: Supplied / Michael Hill

Kelly is vastly expanding his silly season repertoire this year with his Christmas Train double album, out on November 19.

It’s a wildly eclectic mix of 22 classics, hymns and new stuff which also features Vika and Linda Bull, Kasey Chambers, Kate Miller-Heidke, Marlon Williams, Waleed Aly and Kelly’s daughters Memphis and Maddy.

“I’ve always been interested in Christmas songs and the variety of them,” Kelly said.

“There is a double-edged sword to Christmas music because every year it is everywhere, pumped to you in supermarkets and malls.

“There is a lot of schlock attached but on the other hand there are so many great Christmas songs and so much to explore. I’ve chosen songs I love, which led me often to wander off the well-worn path, then chosen singers I thought best suited to them.”

Rob Thomas also wants a slice of that Christmas song streaming action. Picture: Supplied

Besides a rumoured new Christmas song from Mariah Carey, one of the most anticipated releases for the 2021 playlist will be the Ed Sheeran and Elton John duet.

Seasonal movies are also hitting television channels and streaming services to satisfy fan demand.

Foxtel and Binge have slotted last year’s Kristen Stewart film Happiest Season and the perennially popular Love Actually, Four Holidays and Fred Claus into their programming.

Originally published as Pop stars are bringing the Christmas vibes early as fans demand festive mood boost