Santa Baby

About

Santa Baby appears on the first disc of The Christmas Present as a playful duet between Robbie Williams and German pop star Helene Fischer. Written in 1953 by Joan Javits, Philip Springer and Tony Springer, the song was originally made famous by Eartha Kitt. Its flirtatious lyrics and light jazz melody have since been covered by artists including Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Taylor Swift and Gwen Stefani. Williams’s version keeps the song’s sultry charm while introducing a humorous male perspective rarely heard in other renditions.

Williams said he had always loved the song but wanted to reinterpret it with a twist. “It’s one of my favourite Christmas songs, but it’s always sung by a woman. I thought I’d give it a crack,” he explained. Fischer, one of Germany’s most successful singers, was a natural partner: “She’s got no sticky-out bits, as I like to say. She’s just a nice person with a great voice.” The pair recorded together in the studio, creating a lively chemistry captured in the accompanying video that shows their easy camaraderie.

The arrangement, by Guy Chambers and Richard Flack, combines soft brass and brushed percussion with tongue-in-cheek theatrical flair. Williams adapts the lyrics to fit his own story, adding the line “Been singing angels all year,” a nod to his signature hit. The result is a smooth, humorous and light-hearted track that bridges vintage cabaret style with his trademark self-awareness.

“We did it in the studio together, and more quality, more charisma and more magic happens when you’re together in the studio instead of through computers.”Robbie Williams

Though recorded with a wink, Santa Baby highlights Williams’s command of swing and his playful rapport with Fischer, adding a cheeky, continental sophistication to the album’s mix of classics and originals.