Why Nat King Cole and Donny Hathaway Dominate Christmas Playlists — Queue Points

Holiday music might feel inescapable, but some songs hit different. On this episode of Queue Points, DJ Sir Daniel and Jay Ray unpack why Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song” and Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” continue to dominate Black holiday playlists decade after decade. They trace the origins of both tracks, the recording histories, and the social context that shaped how these songs landed in Black homes—from Jim Crow–era respectability to the post–civil rights “I’m Black and I’m proud” generation.

Along the way, they share personal memories, from working retail with holiday music on loop to the ritual of pulling out a tattered Nat King Cole LP to soundtrack tree-decorating night. The hosts also get into the business of Christmas covers, the difference between a standard and a groove, and the question of whether anyone actually needs to remake “This Christmas” at all. If these songs are part of your family’s soundtrack, this episode feels like sitting down with cousins who love to talk music, history, and the stories behind the records.

Key takeaways

Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song” was recorded multiple times between 1946 and 1961, with four distinct versions, and the 1961 Capitol recording is the one most listeners know.
“This Christmas” was written by Donny Hathaway (credited as Donny Pitts) and Nadine Theresa McKinnor, envisioned specifically as a quintessentially Black Christmas song.
Despite its current status as a classic, “This Christmas” was not a hit on release and only grew into a staple years after Hathaway’s death.
These two songs mirror different eras of Black America: Nat King Cole as a symbol of mid‑century respectability politics and the “American dream,” and Donny Hathaway reflecting post–civil rights Black pride and self-definition.
There are dozens of covers of “This Christmas” and well over a thousand of “The Christmas Song,” raising questions about industry economics, standards, and whether some classics should simply be left alone.

#NatKingCole #DonnyHathaway #TheChristmasSong #ThisChristmas #BlackMusicHistory

Chapters

00:00 Intro Theme

00:16 Welcome to Queue Points Podcast

00:58 Holiday Music: Love or Hate?

02:14 The Magic of Classic Christmas Songs

03:34 The History Behind 'The Christmas Song'

07:06 The Story of 'This Christmas'

10:39 The Legacy and Impact of These Songs

13:32 Personal Holiday Memories

17:15 The Debate on Cover Songs

20:23 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts

22:02 Closing Theme

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