Why Celine Dion’s ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ Is Better Than John Lennon’s
If anyone knew how to write songs destined to be covered again and again, it was the members of The Beatles. John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” inspired several renditions, including one by Celine Dion. It might be rock ‘n’ roll blasphemy to say this, but Dion’s version works better than the original.
Why Celine Dion was made for ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ and John Lennon wasn’t
John’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” has a lot going for it. It makes powerful use of the melody of “Skewball,” a beautiful British ballad. The backing vocals are lovely. Furthermore, John was one of the rare rock stars who knew how to talk about moral issues without coming across as presumptuous.
However, Christmas is all about beautiful sentimentality. And who embodies beautiful sentimentality every time she blesses us with her voice? Dion. If anyone has the voice of an angel, it’s her. It’s as if the “My Heart Will Go On” singer was born to sing Christmas songs.
The way Dion sings the song, she sounds like she’s in awe. In awe of the holiday, of John’s vision of peace, and of getting to sing one of his songs. So many Fab Four covers are disposable, but this one speaks to the heart.
What John Lennon was thinking when he wrote the song
During a 1980 interview from the book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, John discussed his approach to peace. “The other day, I saw an article,” he said. “This guy had predicted the Third World War and what world events would lead to it. Now they’re all saying, ‘Oh, look, it’s happening just like he said!’ Our game, or whatever it is, has always been the same. While that kind of article is actually a commercial for war, eventually creating war, we were doing commercials for peace.”
In the same interview, he discussed the origin of “Happy Xmas (War Is Over).” “Yoko and I wrote together,” he recalled. “It says, ‘War is over if you want it.’ It was still that same message — the idea that we’re just as responsible as the man who pushes the button. As long as people imagine that somebody’s doing it to them, and that they have no control, then they have no control.”
How the 2 versions of ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ performed
John’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” has been a minor hit on the charts. So far, it has peaked at No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 and lasted on the chart for six weeks. The tune appeared on the compilation album Shaved Fish. That record peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 and remained on the Billboard 200 for 32 weeks.
Dion’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” has not managed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Her cover appeared on the Christmas album These Are Special Times. That album climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and charted for 80 weeks. With that in mind, it seems like more people might have Dion’s on record than the original.
Whether you are listening to John’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” or Dion’s cover, be prepared to have a truly transcendent Yuletide musical experience.
