South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Artist celebrates 50 years of ‘Navidad’
LOSANGELES — Jose Feliciano is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his bilingual Christmas classic “Feliz Navidad” by releasing a new version featuring Jason Mraz, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Shaggy and more.
Pop balladeer Michael Bolton, Latin boy band CNCO, country duo Big & Rich, and Mexican singer and actress Patricia Manterola are among the 30 acts who teamed up remotely for the re-imagined track, which was recently released by Amazon Music.
The collaboration of artists from different backgrounds and musical genres reflects Feliciano’s original goals for the song.
“The idea of ‘Feliz Navidad’ was to try and unite the people,” the nine-time Grammywinner said. “My thought when I wrote the song was that it didn’t matter what language you were singing in, the feeling of Christmas is privy to all of us.”
The 75-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter says that back in 1970, he never imagined the song’s catchy but minimalist lyrics— just six words in Spanish, 14 in English— would become a holiday standard.
“Iwould have to say it fulfills a dream,” he said in an interview. “I had the dream inmy mind, but that’s as far as it went until I wrote ‘Feliz Navidad.’”
He has been celebrating the 50-year anniversary on socialmedia by posting vintage photos and memories.
The tune has charted on the Billboard Hot 100 repeatedly over the years, and has become one of the most played and recorded Christmas songs around theworld.
Itwas part of Feliciano’s 1970 self-titled holiday album, later renamed “Feliz Navidad.”
He says “We Three Kings” and “The First Noel” served as inspirations.
“I didn’t want to do a Christmas album thatwas syrupy,” he said, but one “that really told the story of the savior’s birth in a way thatwas musical and people could get behind it.”
Adocumentary about Feliciano, who has been blind since birth, is expected to be released next year.
“Behind This Guitar” tracks his journey from poverty in Puerto Rico and NewYork to performing at the Vatican’s Christmas celebration.
“The cards thatwere given to me were not such great cards to deal with,” Feliciano said. “I came froma foreign land, I had no vision, or at least I thought I didn’t— until I found out that I did have a vision and that I saw things theway they should be seen.”
Feliciano is also hosting a Dec. 20 concert featuring “Feliz Navidad” and his versions of other Christmas carols livestreamed fromhis Connecticut home.
Nov. 29birthdays: Musician John Mayall is 87. Actor Diane Ladd is 85. Singer Felix Cavaliere is 78. Comedian Howie Mandel is 65. Actor Cathy Moriarty is 60. Actor Andrew McCarthy is 58. Actor Don Cheadle is 56. Singer Jonathan Knight is 52. Actor Anna Faris is 44. Actor Diego Boneta is 30. Actor Lovie Simone is22.