What Are The Most Popular Covers Of 'This Is Christmas'?

When I’m feeling festive I end up playing what most people call the big three: the original by Donny Hathaway, the soundtrack/pop cover from the 2007 movie era (Chris Brown’s take), and a modern a cappella/pop rendition that circulates on holiday playlists (think Pentatonix-style energy). Those are the ones that always surface in algorithmic mixes.

Beyond them, there’s a whole ecosystem of jazz singers, indie guitarists, and lo-fi producers who each put a personal stamp on 'This Christmas' — searches on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube will turn up cozy acoustic versions, polished R&B remakes, and even chill instrumental loops for study or wrapping gifts. My little ritual is to listen to the soulful original first, then mix in a modern cover to keep things lively; it always lifts my mood and helps with the present-wrapping chaos.

I get excited every time I pull together a holiday playlist for friends, and when people ask which covers of 'This Christmas' are the most popular I always point to a mix of the original and a few big modern remakes. Donny Hathaway’s recording is the gold standard and tends to be the one audiophiles and traditionalists favorite. On the flip side, the version tied to the 2007 movie (Chris Brown’s cover) collected mainstream attention through radio and soundtrack placements, so it’s massive on YouTube and Spotify.

Beyond those, a cappella groups — especially Pentatonix — put very modern, viral spins on classic carols, and their tracks often show up at the top of holiday playlists. Then you’ve got countless bedroom-pop and indie covers that go viral on TikTok and YouTube: acoustic artists will strip it down to guitar and voice, lo-fi producers will loop the chorus into mellow beats, and jazz singers will reharmonize it for a smoky club vibe. If you want to see what’s trending right now, search for 'This Christmas cover' on YouTube sorted by view count and scan Spotify’s holiday playlists; you’ll get a pretty current snapshot of what listeners are loving.

If you want a personal pick to start with, I usually play Donny Hathaway, then follow it with Pentatonix for a burst of energy, and finish with a quieter acoustic cover while wrapping presents.

I approach holiday covers like a musician who studies arrangements: what makes one version of 'This Christmas' more popular than another often isn’t just the singer, it’s the arrangement, placement, and timing.

Donny Hathaway’s original is beloved because of its lush chords and soulful groove — that gives other artists a strong blueprint to either honor or deliberately flip. A soundtrack tie-in (like the 2007 movie’s contemporary cover) brings radio promotion and playlists, which boosts streams dramatically. A cappella versions, especially the ones with tight, modern production, do well because they’re instantly shareable and perform wonderfully in live TV or YouTube formats. On the other end, lo-fi and indie acoustic covers get traction on social platforms because they fit background vibes for holiday vlogs and cozy videos.

If you want to map popularity, compare Spotify play counts, YouTube views, and placement on editorial holiday playlists. Personally, I love hunting for arrangements that re-harmonize the chorus — those tend to stick with me long after the season ends.

I love chatting about holiday music — it’s the sonic equivalent of draping your house in lights. If you mean the classic 'This Christmas' (the Donny Hathaway tune that shows up on almost every cozy playlist), the most-seen versions people talk about are usually his original, a big modern pop/R&B cover tied to the 2007 holiday film, and the a cappella powerhouse take that flooded streaming playlists in the 2010s.

Donny Hathaway’s original is the benchmark: warm, soulful, and the version most jazz or soul fans turn to. The 2007 film 'This Christmas' helped push a contemporary cover (Chris Brown’s version) into mainstream radio and YouTube playlists, so that one racks up a lot of views. Then there’s the Pentatonix-style a cappella/pop arrangement that streaming services love to loop on holiday collections. Beyond those, you’ll find jazzy renditions, lo-fi/indie bedroom covers on YouTube, and orchestral treatments on classical holiday compilations. For a quick deep-dive, check Spotify’s play counts, YouTube views, and curated playlists titled ‘This Christmas’ or ‘Holiday Classics’ — those metrics usually point to the most popular takes. Personally, I throw all three types into a shuffle on Christmas Eve and let the mood pick the winner.

Honestly, my go-to quick list for 'This Christmas' covers starts with Donny Hathaway’s original, because it’s timeless. After that, two very popular remakes people keep returning to are the Chris Brown soundtrack version from the 2007 film and a high-energy a cappella take from a major vocal group like Pentatonix. Those three styles — classic soul, pop/R&B soundtrack, and a cappella/pop — tend to dominate streaming numbers.

If you’re browsing right now, YouTube views and Spotify play counts will show these rising to the top, but don’t sleep on small-channel acoustic covers; I’ve found some gorgeous stripped-down versions by indie singer-songwriters that capture the same warmth in a very intimate way.