<p id=”par-1_50″>The best Christmas <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/music/”>music</a> is malleable. For example, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/writer-santa-baby-worried-embarrass-eartha-kitt.html/?swcfpc=1″>Eartha Kitt’s “Santa Baby”</a> has inspired many different renditions, including one by Madonna. The writer of “Santa Baby” discussed how the Queen of Pop’s cover changed everything for the song. It also had a significant impact on the careers of other singers.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-other-artists-mostly-left-eartha-kitt-s-santa-baby-alone-until-madonna-changed-everything”>Other artists mostly left Eartha Kitt’s ‘Santa Baby’ alone until Madonna changed everything</h2>
<p id=”par-2_44″>During a 2023 interview with <a href=”https://www.songwritingmagazine.co.uk/interviews/santa-baby-philip-springer” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Songwriter</a>, “Santa Baby” co-writer Philip Springer said he was commissioned to write the song for Kitt. The original version of the track still gets a lot of airplay. Aside from the original, Madonna’s version might be the most popular. </p>
<p id=”par-3_57″>Kitt’s “Santa Baby” is racy but Kitt sings it in a restrained way. Madonna went very over-the-top with her version, donning an old-school New York accent. The Queen of Pop’s “Santa Baby” might be the most camp moment of her career. That’s saying something, considering that she’s spent all of her career taking ideas from LGBTQ culture. </p>
<p id=”par-4_76″>Springer said Madonna’s “Santa Baby” opened the floodgates. “Keep in mind that ‘Santa Baby’ was recorded in 1953 by Eartha Kitt,” Springer said. “Nobody else really recorded it until 1987 when Madonna recorded it. Madonna was the first person to cover the song, believe it or not. But when Madonna recorded it, every female artist started recording ‘Santa Baby.’ That’s when the avalanche of records which we now have on ‘Santa Baby’ started, because of Madonna.”</p>
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<iframe loading=”lazy” title=”Santa Baby” width=”925″ height=”694″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/6tCfIfoPf7Q?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-1-madonna-hit-is-similar-to-eartha-kitt-s-song”>1 Madonna hit is similar to Eartha Kitt’s song</h2>
<p id=”par-5_93″>Madonna made the right choice when she covered “Santa Baby” in 1987. Firstly, she already gave us a gold-digging <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/classic-rock-song-stopped-madonnas-material-girl-hitting-no-1.html/”>hit called “Material Girl,”</a> which had a lot of the same spirit as “Santa Baby.” On top of that, Madonna’s sex-ed up image might have clashed with one of the overtly Christian Christmas songs like “Silent Night” or “O Holy Night.” Indeed, Madonna covering a religious Christmas song would have felt wrong after <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/madonnas-like-a-prayer-doesnt-work-deadpool-wolverine.html/”>she put out “Like a Prayer!”</a> With “Santa Baby,” the Queen of Pop found a Yuletide song that complemented her talents.</p>
<p id=”par-6_53″>Notably, many other female pop stars with risque images covered “Santa Baby.” These singers include Ariana Grande, Gwen Stefani, the Pussycat Dolls, Kylie Minogue, Sabrina Carpenter, and Shania Twain. “Santa Baby”‘s sex appeal makes it work well for many female artists, so it is probably going to stick around for a long time. </p>
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<iframe loading=”lazy” title=”Madonna – Material Girl (Official Video) [HD]” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/6p-lDYPR2P8?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-philip-springer-said-a-mysterious-force-wrote-santa-baby”>Philip Springer said a mysterious force wrote ‘Santa Baby’</h2>
<p id=”par-7_41″>Springer discussed the origin of “Santa Baby.” “I could only tell you what the masters said about [where songwriting comes from],” he said. “They all agreed that <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/madonna-said-like-a-prayer-girl-love-god.html/”>it comes from God</a>. I don’t feel in my own case that’s the answer. </p>
<p id=”par-8_72″>“But I will say this,” he added. “When I write music like ‘Santa Baby’ or any of my other songs, my pen is being moved by a force outside of myself. I don’t know what the force is, but I don’t pretend that I am that master. I was just given that particular gift to hear music when I hear words and it comes from somewhere above. But I don’t know where.”</p>
<p id=”par-9_25″>Kitt’s “Santa Baby” is one of the most famous novelty hits ever written — and Madonna was able to put her own spin on it.</p>