Mac DeMarco, indie rock music’s enfant terrible, continues his annual Christmas cover song tradition. This year’s selection is ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’, a song written by Kim Gannon and Walter Kent and first recorded by Bing Crosby in 1943.
‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’ is a wartime song, with the lyrics pitched from the perspective of a soldier stationed overseas during Christmas. Despite this, it has become a Christmas standard – the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Josh Groban, Michael Bublé, Brian McKnight and Camila Cabello have all released cover versions in recent years.
It’s fair to assume DeMarco’s take on ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’ won’t reach #1 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary charts like Groban’s did in 2007, but DeMarco’s version is as sincere as they come. He gives it the full Mac DeMarco treatment, incorporating electric piano and a wobbling bass tone, along with his recognisable lead vocals.
In previous years, DeMarco has covered ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’, ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’, and ‘White Christmas‘.
DeMarco’s most recent album was 2019’s Be the Cowboy. Earlier this year he contributed a cover of Metallica’s ‘Enter Sandman’ to The Metallica Blacklist tribute album. He also featured on releases by Myd and Benny Sings.
Take a look at the cheerful video for ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’ below.
