SEATTLE — Amazon Music today announced critically acclaimed, multi-platinum singer-songwriter and EGOT winner, John Legend, has released a beautiful version of “Happy Christmas (War Is Over),” a Christmas song originally released in 1971 as a single by John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir, as an Amazon Original for the holidays.
Produced by Raphael Saadiq, with additional vocals by Chrissy Teigen and daughter Luna, “Happy Christmas (War Is Over) (Amazon Original)” is out today, available to stream and purchase exclusively on Amazon Music.
Watch John Legend discuss his inspiration for recording “Happy Christmas (War Is Over)” HERE and listen to the song at https://amzn.to/HappyChristmasWarIsOver.
Legend says, “Recording this song was such an inspiration, and I got to include my wife and my daughter in the process. We all came together to sing a beautiful song that needs to be heard, and I’m thrilled for my fans to be able to hear it on Amazon Music. In their original version, John Lennon and Yoko Ono were speaking to that desire for peace, and I think it’s a good message for us right now.”
Recorded at Blakeslee Studio in North Hollywood, CA, “Happy Christmas (War Is Over) (Amazon Original)” also includes harmonies from the children’s choir of The Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide quality performing arts instruction to at-risk youth and help them build self-esteem, develop civic responsibility, and achieve academic success.
“Amazon Music is the biggest destination for holiday music, and we love working with artists from all genres to create unique, original recordings during the season for our customers. We saw a tremendous opportunity to work with John to bring a new take on this classic song to life, and the end result speaks for itself,” says Dan McCarroll, global head of Amazon Originals for Amazon Music. “We’re thrilled to kick off the holidays with such a wonderful song, exclusively for our customers.”
Legend recently released an expanded version of his first Christmas album, A LEGENDARY CHRISTMAS: THE DELUXE EDITION.
The album, executive produced by Raphael Saadiq, features new original recordings and holiday classics and is available HERE. “A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy” Holiday special will also air on Thursday, December 12 at 10pm ET/PT on NBC where John Legend and Chrissy Teigen celebrate the season of joy and laughter with music alongside the couple’s family and talented celebrity friends.
Holiday music is quickly charting on Amazon Music, with the Holiday Favorites station already hitting #1, and 2019 voice requests for holiday music on Alexa 70% higher than last year’s rate.
In addition to “Happy Christmas (War Is Over) (Amazon Original),” hundreds of Amazon Originals featuring both emerging and established artists across numerous genres are available to stream and purchase only on Amazon Music.
To date, Amazon Music has worked with an incredible range of artists, including recent new Amazon Original holiday songs by Ellie Goulding, Ingrid Michaelson & Jason Mraz, as well as past songs from Katy Perry, Beck, Jack White, The National, Al Green, Sia, Brett Young, Snoop Dogg, King Calaway, J.S. Ondara, Ruston Kelly, producer Matt Ross-Spang and more.
Legend’s new holiday song is now available on all Amazon Music streaming tiers, including Prime Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, and on Amazon Music HD, in the highest quality streaming audio available.
For more information, please visit: www.johnlegend.com.
