Christmas Cheer: 'The Best Man Holiday' Soundtrack

The Best Man Holiday: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack to the 2013 film of the same name. The album features Christmas music, including songs by R. Kelly, Jordin Sparks, Mary J. Blige, Monica, Ne-Yo, Marsha Ambrosius, John Legend, and Emeli Sandé. The soundtrack includes both original and existing tracks. It was released by RCA Records on 25 October 2013 and was made available for streaming exclusively on iTunes on 16 October 2013.

Track listing

The Best Man Holiday: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was released by RCA Records on 25 October 2013. The album features Christmas music and songs by R. Kelly, Jordin Sparks, Mary J. Blige, Monica, Ne-Yo, Marsha Ambrosius, John Legend, and Emeli Sandé, among others. It includes both original and existing tracks. Here is the track listing:

• "Christmas Time to Me" – Jordin Sparks
• "Someday at Christmas" – Mario
• "What Christmas Means to Me" – Fantasia
• "I Still Have You" – Charlie Wilson
• "Christmas I'll Be Steppin' – R. Kelly
• "This Christmas" – Mary J. Blige
• "Shelter" – John Legend
• "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" – Monica
• "Winter Wonderland" – Emeli Sandé
• "Can You Stand the Rain" – New Edition
• "I Want to Come Home for Christmas" – Ne-Yo
• "O Holy Night" – Jayda Brown and Jasmin Watkins
• "As" – Marsha Ambrosius and Anthony Hamilton

The album also includes covers of Christmas songs performed by Stevie Wonder, Nat King Cole, and Marvin Gaye.

Featured artists

The Best Man Holiday: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack features a roster of artists, including R. Kelly, Jordin Sparks, Mary J. Blige, Monica, Ne-Yo, Marsha Ambrosius, John Legend, and Emeli Sandé. The album, released by RCA Records on 25 October 2013, includes both original and existing Christmas tracks.

Jordin Sparks performs "Christmas Time to Me", written by Steve Daly, Phil Bentley, Aimee Proal, and Appu Krishnan. Sparks is known for her powerful vocals and has gained recognition for her songs "Tattoo" and "No Air".

Mary J. Blige, an award-winning singer, songwriter, and actress, performs "This Christmas" on the soundtrack. Blige has achieved critical acclaim for her music and has won numerous awards, including multiple Grammys.

Ne-Yo, a singer-songwriter known for his smooth R&B style, performs "I Want to Come Home for Christmas". In addition to his solo career, Ne-Yo has written songs for other prominent artists, showcasing his versatility and talent.

John Legend, a celebrated musician and producer, contributes "Shelter" to the soundtrack. Legend has established himself as a highly respected artist, with numerous awards and accolades to his name, including multiple Grammys.

Marsha Ambrosius and Anthony Hamilton collaborate on a soulful rendition of "As", originally written by Stevie Wonder. Ambrosius, known for her powerful vocals, and Hamilton, recognised for his distinct voice and emotional delivery, create a magical interpretation of this classic.

The Best Man Holiday: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack brings together a diverse array of talented artists, each contributing their unique style and sound to create a memorable holiday listening experience.

Track reviews

The Best Man Holiday: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was released by RCA Records on 25 October 2013. The album features Christmas music by R. Kelly, Jordin Sparks, Mary J. Blige, Monica, Ne-Yo, Marsha Ambrosius, John Legend, and Emeli Sandé, among others. It includes both original and existing tracks.

"Christmas Time to Me" by Jordin Sparks is a highlight of the album, with Sparks' impressive vocals evoking comparisons to Mariah Carey. "Someday at Christmas", written by Ronald Miller and Bryan Wells and produced by Harvey Mason Jr., is another well-loved Christmas track. Performed by Mario, it appears courtesy of RCA Records.

"What Christmas Means to Me", written by George Gordy, Allen Story, and Anna Gordy Gaye, is a soulful and heartfelt performance by Fantasia Barrino. Produced by Harmony aka "H-Money" Samuels for BOE Global, the song showcases Fantasia's powerful vocals and has become a favourite among fans of the film and the holiday season.

"I Still Have You", written by Gregg Pagani, Lil' Eddie, Jimmy Burney, Lance Tolbert, Mahin Wilson, and Charlie Wilson, and performed by Charlie Wilson, is a timeless and emotional track that has garnered praise from listeners.

"Christmas I'll Be Steppin'" by R. Kelly is an upbeat and festive song that has become a popular holiday tune. It showcases Kelly's talent for creating catchy and memorable melodies.

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", written by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin, and performed by Monica, is a heartwarming addition to the album. Produced by Jermaine Dupri for So So Def Productions and co-produced by Bryan Michael Cox for Team Idris, LLC, the song has become a staple of the holiday season.

"Can You Stand the Rain", written by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and performed by New Edition, is a soulful and emotional take on the classic Christmas song.

"I Want to Come Home for Christmas", written by Marvin Gaye and Forest Hairston, and performed by Ne-Yo, is a beautiful and poignant addition to the soundtrack. It captures the spirit of the film and the holiday season, tugging at the heartstrings of listeners.

Overall, the soundtrack to The Best Man Holiday has been well-received by critics and audiences alike, with many praising the blend of soulful and festive tunes. The album has become a go-to choice for those seeking unique and contemporary Christmas music, with a mix of veteran R&B stars and current urban hitmakers.

Track listing by track performer

The Best Man Holiday: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack features a roster of artists, including R. Kelly, Jordin Sparks, Mary J. Blige, Monica, Ne-Yo, Marsha Ambrosius, John Legend, and Emeli Sandé. The album, released by RCA Records in 2013, includes both original and existing Christmas tracks.

"Christmas Time to Me" – Jordin Sparks

"Someday at Christmas" – Mario

"What Christmas Means to Me" – Fantasia Barrino

"I Still Have You" – Charlie Wilson

"Christmas I'll Be Steppin' – R. Kelly

"This Christmas" – Mary J. Blige

"Shelter" – John Legend

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" – Monica

"Winter Wonderland" – Emeli Sandé

"Can You Stand the Rain" – New Edition

"I Want to Come Home for Christmas" – Ne-Yo

"O Holy Night" – Jayda Brown and Jasmin Watkins

"As" – Marsha Ambrosius and Anthony Hamilton

The soundtrack also includes "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" performed by Ray Charles, "Can You Keep Up with Me?" performed by LoVel James, and "A Very Woody Christmas" performed by Channel Two.

Track listing by writer

The Best Man Holiday: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack features a mix of original and existing Christmas tracks. Here is a track-by-track breakdown of the writers of each song:

• "Christmas Time to Me" – written by Steve Daly, Phil Bentley, Aimee Proal, and Appu Krishnan. Performed by Jordin Sparks.
• "Someday at Christmas" – written by Ronald N. Miller and Bryan Wells. Performed by Mario.
• "What Christmas Means to Me" – written by George Gordy, Allen Story, and Anna Gordy Gaye. Performed by Fantasia Barrino.
• "I Still Have You" – writers unknown. Performed by Charlie Wilson.
• "Christmas I'll Be Steppin' – written by R. Kelly (Robert S. Kelly). Performed by R. Kelly.
• "This Christmas" – writers unknown. Performed by Mary J. Blige.
• "Shelter" – writers unknown. Performed by John Legend.
• "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" – written by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin. Performed by Monica.
• "Winter Wonderland" – writers unknown. Performed by Emeli Sandé.
• "Can You Stand the Rain" – written by Jimmy Jam (James Harris III) and Terry Lewis. Performed by New Edition.
• "I Want to Come Home for Christmas" – written by Marvin Gaye and Forest Hairston. Performed by Ne-Yo.
• "O Holy Night" – writers unknown. Performed by Jayda Brown and Jasmin Watkins.
• "As" – written by Stevie Wonder. Performed by Marsha Ambrosius and Anthony Hamilton.

The album also includes "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, and performed by Ray Charles, as well as "Everyone's a Kid at Christmas", written by Ronald N. Miller and Aurora Miller, and performed by LoVel James.

Frequently asked questions