Chris Young, ‘O Holy Night’ – Song Review

Chris Young is one of eight Sony Music Nashville artists featured on 'A Very Country Christmas.' Fans of his are familiar with this version of 'O Holy Night' (two years ago, he sang it on GAC) but the new recorded cut doesn't live up to what he's proven capable of live.

Young's is a straightforward approach to this song. He doesn't try to get cute or creative with the melody or lyrics. We all know the words and can sing along: "O holy night / The stars are brightly shining / It is the night of the dear savior's birth."

It's difficult to stay true to an original yet somehow still put your stamp on the end product, but it's been done before (most memorably by Martina McBride). Young's version just fails to stand out for any notable reason. It's good because he's a great vocalist and his deep, traditional voice is made for this sort of song. But it's not memorable.

"Truly he taught / Us to love one another / His law is love / And his gospel is peace." It's worth wondering if Young really wanted to sing something else for the special Target release but Ronnie Dunn or Carrie Underwood took his song.

Listen to Chris Young, 'O Holy Night'