Kállay Saunders Releases R&B Version of "Merry Christmas Everyone"

American-Hungarian singer-songwriter Kállay Saunders has released his own version of "Merry Christmas Everyone," the Shakin' Stevens holiday classic that was the UK's Christmas number one in 1985. Released through Warner Music Poland in cooperation with Magneoton, the R&B-styled single arrives with an official music video on the artist's YouTube channel. As Kállay Saunders' manager, GROOVE Media planned the release with the label and produced its promotional video content.

About the Song

Written by Bob Heatlie, the original "Merry Christmas Everyone" was released by Shakin' Stevens on November 25, 1985, and topped the UK chart that Christmas. Kállay Saunders' version keeps the familiar melody almost untouched while giving the song a new tempo and modern, emotional R&B production. Speaking to the Hungarian press, he explained that the goal was a contemporary version closer to his own musical style, and that he hoped the song would remind listeners of the important message of Christmas.

The single continues Kállay Saunders' work with Warner Music. According to Hungarian press reports, the label took notice after his track "Homesick" was added to an official Spotify playlist in Italy, and "Breathing" became his first major-label single.

The original song also has a Hungarian connection: songwriter Bob Heatlie's son, Dávid Heatlie, is a Hungarian musician.

A Christmas Memory

For Kállay Saunders, the song reflects how the meaning of the holiday changed as he grew up:

"As a child, Christmas was about Santa, sledding, and gifts. But as I grew older, it became about love, family, and giving."

Born in New York, he has recalled that his grandmother flew some 7,000 kilometers every year to spend Christmas with the family there.

The Official Music Video

The official video for "Merry Christmas Everyone" is available on Kállay Saunders' YouTube channel, and Hungarian broadcaster M2 Petőfi TV covered its release in a Petőfi TV segment on the new video.

GROOVE Media's Role

GROOVE Media handled management and release planning for "Merry Christmas Everyone" alongside Magneoton and Warner Music Poland, the label that released the single and funded the song and its music video. GROOVE Media created all of the promotional video content for the campaign, separate from the official music video, and built the promotion strategy that carried the release across Kállay Saunders' channels and the Hungarian press.

About Kállay Saunders

Kállay Saunders, born András Kállay-Saunders in New York, is the son of musician Fernando Saunders, known for his work with Lou Reed, and has lived in Hungary since 2010. He represented Hungary at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen, finishing fifth with "Running." His singles "Ocean" and "Why" have charted in several countries, and in 2021 he placed in the top 20 of the International Songwriting Competition's R&B/Hip-Hop category.

GROOVE Media works with Kállay Saunders across management, social media, content, music videos and release campaigns. Read more in the Kállay Saunders case study, and see what came next with "I Need You Right Now".