Lady Gaga has a surprise early Christmas present for her Little Monsters. Without any prior announcement, a cover of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” by the superstar appeared overnight on streaming services Monday (Dec. 16), featuring a soulful rock twist on a timeless classic.
Opening with bright electric guitars and some rock n’ roll scatting from Gaga, the A Star Is Born actress’ energetic cover is pushed forward by pounding drums and tumbling organ riffs. “You better watch out/ You better not cry/ Better not pout/ I’m telling you why,” she belts. “Santa Claus is comin’ to town.”
The holiday recording accompanies the vocalist’s appearance on the surprise Apple TV+ special A Carpool Karaoke Christmas with Zane Lowe, on which she performed “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” with the radio host and her band. It follows a year of major releases from Gaga, who dropped “Disease” — the lead single from her February-slated seventh studio album — in October. The track debuted at No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The month prior, the 13-time Grammy winner subverted expectations by releasing Harlequin, a companion album to Joker: Folie à Deux, in which she starred opposite Joaquin Phoenix. The LP reached No. 20 on the Billboard 200 in October. A couple months before that came “Die With a Smile,” Gaga’s duet with Bruno Mars that spent eight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200.
Gaga’s take on “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” follows a long line of covers of the song, which was written by Haven Gillespie and J. Fred Coots. The Jackson 5 and Bruce Springsteen’s versions of the tune are possibly the most well-known contemporary iterations, but Mariah Carey, Michael Bublé, Justin Bieber and more have also all prepared listeners for the arrival of Mr. Claus through the song.
Listen to Gaga’s new cover of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” below.
