As the Christmas season winds down, the last pick for my holiday-themed slow jam is one that recently saw a release, “Bad Santa,” from legendary balladeer Johnny Gill. Fans received an early gift from the legendary vocalist when he announced that he and the rest of New Edition were hitting the road for The Legacy Tour starting in the spring of 2023.
So imagine everyone’s surprise when Gill dropped the slow jam “Bad Santa .”The song is part of the soundtrack to the romantic comedy A Miracle Before Christmas, starring songstress LeToya Luckett. While I haven’t seen the film yet, upon listening to the lyrics and the production, my first reaction was that it’s the perfect song for a streaming movie or a holiday play. As my family and friends will attest, I am a die-hard New Edition fan, so I will support anything they do.
A borderline gritty string section is in the song’s opening before Gill starts vocalizing. Skillz’s take on beloved Santa tropes (“I’m checking my list twice”) may seem corny to those unfamiliar with Gill’s singing style, but if you are, you may also find it funny.
Despite this, JG has always possessed the kind of sound that makes him like a singer’s singer, so it’s no wonder that if any artist is capable of transforming beloved yuletide phrases into a sensual slow jam about Kris Kringle making his way into your home to provide some adult gifts, it’s JG.
Although the song will not become a significant part of the Christmas repertoire in the near future, it’s a fun song that serves its purpose well.
Final Grade: B
“Bad Santa” is available on all streaming platforms
From his early days in the family group Wings of Faith, Mr. Gill was born to make music. However, as R&B fans know, Johnny Gill’s initial release with Atlantic Records failed to make a significant impact when it first came out. The 1983 self-titled debut showed a strong voice struggling to adapt to a studio that couldn’t properly utilize its power.
My introduction to Myron was with the song “Sistas” on the “Eddie” soundtrack in the summer of 1996. Before setting up his solo album, Myron would write classics for Mya and Dru Hill. “Destiny” was written by Myron and Tyrice Jones, and the latter was also producing. Set to a sample of Herbie Hancock’s “Come Running to Me”, the song explores how fate governs the formation of connections between people meant to exist from the beginning.
Music producers transitioning to a solo album is common in the music industry. For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I want to revisit Sean Garrett’s solo debut, “Turbo 919,” released in 2008.