Are you ready to add an instant classic to your holiday music playlist?
Simply called “Merry Christmas,” Elton John and Ed Sheeran’s first-ever collaboration is set to be released on Friday, December 3. They officially announced the track today with a video inspired by the UK’s favorite Christmas flick, Love Actually.
The Best Early Christmas Present
Have you ever dreamed about your favorite pop star showing up at your door with an adorable message just for you? Elton John opened his door to find Ed Sheeran with a stack of notecards and a cheeky smile.
In the brief video, Ed reveals that he wrote the chorus of “Merry Christmas” the same day that Elton asked him to team up for a song. He promises that the tune has sleigh bells. “A lot of them….”
I don’t know about you, but I’m sold. Apparently, Ed and Elton really are great friends. Earlier in November, Sheeran told Jimmy Fallon that they speak every day. And although Sheeran wasn’t initially keen on the idea of recording a Christmas single, he couldn’t possibly have said no.
Elton John is feeling collaborations right now. He released The Lockdown Sessions in October, featuring duets with artists ranging from Lil Nas X to Stevie Nicks.
Music for a Good Cause
While “Merry Christmas” is sure to be a hit thanks to the combined star power of Elton John and Ed Sheeran, the collaboration will be raising money for charity. Along with the video above, John tweeted:
“Just under a year ago, I called @edsheeran to see if he wanted to make a Christmas single with me and now it’s nearly here! ‘Merry Christmas’ will be out Fri 3 Dec with all proceeds from this year’s Christmas period going to the Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation & [the Elton John Aids Foundation].”
The Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation is a charity that supplies grants for young people from Ed’s home county of Suffolk to pursue music. According to the foundation’s website, “[t]hese grants could be used for almost anything, such as buying an instrument, funding your music studies, or paying for rehearsal space.”
Elton John established his foundation in 1992 with the goal of creating an AIDS-free world. The money raised goes to frontline efforts to treat, destigmatize, and ultimately prevent AIDS and HIV infections around the globe. If you’d like to learn more or donate directly, click here.
