Gone are the days when Santa’s appearance at the end of the Thanksgiving Day parade would ring in the Christmas season. Sure, when shops trade in their Halloween decorations for Christmas wares it’s a clear sign, but nowadays we’re only sure that Chris Kringle is approaching when Pentatonix releases their annual Christmas album.
Pentatonix is back in 2023 with a brand-new holiday release that may be their most ambitious project to date. Titled The Greatest Christmas Hits, this 2-CD album features 31 Christmas-themed songs. The double-length record includes 23 songs the group has previously recorded over the acclaimed a cappella ensemble’s storied 12-year career, as well as 8 new recordings.
Today we’re looking at a brand-new song released for the 2023 Christmas season, “Please Santa Please.”
Christmas spirit with energy
The song is an energetic holiday anthem that bears much of the same energy as “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” driven by the always impeccable vocals of Kirstin Taylor Maldonado. In the first verse she sets the Christmas mood, singing of all the sights and sounds of Christmas time, while in the second verse it turns into a little more of a love song, with the singer asking Santa for the gift of her true love.
The tune is supported by a splendid music video that features all five members of Pentatonix getting into holiday hijinks. The video plays with the lyrics, too; whereas the verses note that the singer is seeking a kiss under the mistletoe, in the video we find the desired kisses were actually from a group of puppies that Santa left at the band’s door.
This is a very different song from what we expected from Pentatonix. For years the group has dropped jaws with their keen a cappella style, meaning only voices make the music. Here, however, the group fills out the song with a full band and those jingling bells that have become ubiquitous with all modern Christmas songs.
Still, while their style has changed a bit, there can be no mistaking the melodic and harmonic prowess of these hitmakers. We fully expect this tune to dominate the airwaves this Christmas season and to take its place as a timeless holiday classic to stand next to those of Mariah Carey and Irving Berlin.
