New York, NY (Top40 Charts) 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.
About John Legend
Multiplatinum artist
John Legend has garnered ten Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden
Globe Award, a Tony Award, and an Emmy Award, making Legend the first African-American man to earn an EGOT. Legend has released six celebrated albums, including Get Lifted (2004), Once Again (2006), Evolver (2008), Love in the
Future (2013),
Darkness and Light (2016), and A Legendary Christmas (2018). Legend starred in NBC's "Jesus Christ
Superstar Live in Concert" in 2018, winning an Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special and nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor (Limited Series). Legend joined "
The Voice" for Season 16 (2019), winning with his mentee Maelyn Jarmon and is currently a judge on Season 17. John is a partner in Get Lifted Film Co., serving as an Executive Producer for "Southern Rites," "United Skates," WGN America's "Underground," and films "Southside With You" and "La La Land." As a philanthropist, Legend initiated the #FREEAMERICA campaign in 2015 to change the national conversation surrounding our country's misguided criminal justice policies and to end mass incarceration.
About Amazon Music
Amazon
Music reimagines music listening by enabling customers to unlock millions of songs and thousands of curated playlists and stations with their voice. Amazon
Music provides unlimited access to new releases and classic hits through multiple streaming tiers. With Amazon Music, Prime members have access to ad-free listening of 2 million songs at no additional cost to their membership. Listeners can also enjoy Amazon
Music Unlimited, which provides access to more than 50 million songs and the latest new releases. Amazon
Music HD, a new tier of the highest quality streaming audio, offers more than 50 million songs in High Definition, and millions of songs in Ultra High Definition. Customers also have free access to an ad-supported selection of top playlists and stations on Amazon Music. Engaging with music has never been more natural, simple, and fun. For more information, visit amazonmusic.com or download the Amazon
Music app.
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