What Year Did the Song Mary Did You Know Come Out?
Music enthusiast FlourishAnyway introduces some fun contest into the holidays by ranking cover versions of popular Christmas songs.
Some of the best-known Christmas songs have been covered past a variety of artists. We expect at Michael English's classic tune "Mary, Did Y'all Know?" and rank 14 contenders. Who exercise YOU prefer?
TerriC via Pixabay, Free Domain, modified by FlourishAnyway
"Mary, Did You Know?" Is a Controversial New Favorite
You don't take to be Christian or fifty-fifty religious to appreciate the raw emotion of this popular song's lyrics, merely it certainly helps. Nonplussed that Mary gave birth to Christ, the narrator asks her a series of xviii questions most whether she realized at the time the full magnitude of the miracle she was participating in:
Mary, did you lot know that your baby boy volition someday walk on h2o?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did yous know that your baby male child has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon evangelize you?
Most of us know that songwriters take artistic license with their lyrics. However, Biblical purists still object to the vocal'due south depiction of Mary as annihilation less than a fully knowledgeable political party.
Every bit a result, naysayers take disparaged this song as "biblically illiterate" and "the hymn that cancels Christmas."ane,two Another critic called it "typically Protestant in sensibility . . . emphasizing Mary's ordinariness rather than her extraordinariness."iii Whoa! Throwing shade over a baby Jesus song? Rather than wade into that thorny thicket, I'll just present you with the songs and let you decide for yourself.
The 1991 melody was outset released past American Christian creative person Michael English, and in the ensuing years, artists of multiple genres have stepped upwards to comprehend it. With so many musicians recording "Mary, Did Yous Know?", perchance y'all wonder, "Who sang information technology best?" If so, then hither'southward your take chances to compare their efforts.
"Who Sang It Best?": Here's How It Works
With many artists singing the same Christmas tunes, the sleigh has become overloaded. Let'southward rank them and cross some off the listing.
In the "Who Sang It Best?" series, we start with the original version of popular songs that take been covered multiple times. Then nosotros present a fix of contenders, artists who have released comprehend versions in any genre. Some cover versions honor the original artist's style while others are reinterpretations.
Since the original vocal version is typically considered "the standard," we don't include it in our overall rankings. Instead, we display it get-go for comparison, with up to xiv contenders presented side by side in ranked gild. Vote on your preferences:
- Do yous adopt the original song or a embrace version?
- Which of the comprehend versions practise you prefer?
"Mary, Did You Know?" by Michael English (1991)
Michael English'due south career in gospel music once flew high as both a solo artist and a vocalist in ii Christian groups, The Gaither Vocal Band and First Telephone call. The Southern gospel vocaliser released this original Christmas vocal every bit a function of his 1991 debut album, and information technology has since become a holiday classic.
Scandal, all the same, brought his career to a full finish in 1994. Ironically, this was simply a week subsequently English had won four Dove awards from the Gospel Music Association (GMA) and shortly after completing a successful tour for unwed mothers. The woman English had been having an extramarital affair with was significant with his child. Both were married to other people.
At that place was an image to consider, so English language publicly apologized and returned his Dove awards to the GMA in shame. He divorced and stayed out of the public eye for several years before successfully returning to gospel music several years later with the help of famous friends and fellow musicians.
Read More than From Spinditty
Although the vocal itself is lovely, I found English's functioning of this original Christmas vocal to be guarded. I wished that he had opened upwardly his vocalization to sing the song "loud and proud." Additionally, the tune's electronic vibe is retro 1990s and doesn't fit the mood conveyed by song'southward lyrics. There is plenty of room to improve on this mod Christmas classic!
i. "Mary, Did Y'all Know?" past Pentatonix (2014)
The existent test of whether someone tin sing is to strip away the instrumentals and let them sink or swim on the uncomplicated merits of their vocals. Based on this 2014 cover version of "Mary, Did You lot Know?", Grammy Award-winning a capella group Pentatonix clearly deserves all the hype that surrounds them.
Pentatonix is a quintet formed in 2011, afterwards winning the third season of the NBC a cappella competition, The Sing Off. The group has since gained international prominence, specially for covers of popular and Christmas songs. Pentatonix's music also represents a significant presence on YouTube with total views over five billion.
In their cover of "Mary, Did Y'all Know?", the musical grouping uses the diversity of their commonage vocal ranges to emphasize that a small gathering (rather than 1 inquisitive narrator) is in awe of Mary and her role. Each of the five vocalists asks her their gotta-know questions. Having multiple curious narrators magnifies the sense of wonder in this embrace version, peculiarly as contrasted to a unmarried querying narrator.
Pentatonix's book in the Christmas melody ranges from a hushful, empathic whisper to soaring, harmonic celebration. This multifariousness adds emotional depth. In improver, especially pleasing are the instrumental-similar song effects and the resplendent displays of song harmony. Altogether, Pentatonix's impressive performance of this new Christmas classic opens the song upwardly to a more general audience.
2. "Mary, Did You Know?" by Peter Hollens (2016)
Unless yous hang out on YouTube, you may not accept heard the compelling voice of Peter Hollens, a classically trained American vocaliser who has earned recognition on social media for his music covers of popular songs. Hollens has participated in NBC's The Sing Off, has released EPs of his music, and has made a guest appearance in a Broadway show. He also actively publishes an all-encompassing library of artistic a capella YouTube videos that is worth post-obit.
Vocally, Peter Hollens' 2016 a capella comprehend of "Mary, Did You Know?" is extremely sound, simply information technology is the unusual video that will make you do a serious double take. As the song narrator, Hollens begins in hushed tones. Then he chimes in with background vocals.
Expect, what? Yes, the twist is that this rendition's supporting vocals are all Peter Hollens' voice, a point that is not lost on the YouTube viewer who sees five Peter Hollens doppelgängers joining the original. The showtime fourth dimension it happened, I thought he had a twin. The second time it happened, I was like, "Wait just a minute! All these guys look eerily akin." You'll want to spotter this mindbending creative experience more than once.
3. "Mary, Did You lot Know?" past Anthem Lights (2017)
I like the pianoforte accessory and soft vocal harmonies offered by Christian boy band Anthem Lights in this 2017 version of "Mary, Did You Know?" Their voices convey the song's rich emotional texture without rising so much that the narrator is overwrought. It'southward equally if the immature men questioning Mary understand that there's a sleeping infant present.
The group was formed in 2011 and was previously known as Yellow Cavalier. They take released several EPs that have performed solidly on the Christian song charts.
4. "Mary, Did You Know?" past Danny Gokey (2015)
Quondam American Idol contestant Danny Gokey delivers a deadening, earnest treatment of "Mary, Did You Know?" in this 2015 encompass of the Christmas melody. Violins provide a beautiful complement to Gokey's vocals, and although much of the vocal enjoys hushed tones, there are notable crescendos that include a choir-backed commemoration of the Savior'due south nascency.
Gokey'due south version institute success on the US Christian music charts. A old church music director, he has returned to Christian and gospel music in his post-American Idol career following a period of recording country music.
5. "Mary, Did You Know?" by Voctave (Featuring Mark Lowry) (2016)
Have the angels gathered themselves around Mary? In this 2016 cover version of "Mary, Did You lot Know?", it sounds as if that is the case. Slowly and delicately, they pepper her with questions.
Mark Lowry, co-writer of the original vocal, leads this gorgeous, fully expressive cover of the Christmas favorite. Lowry is an American Christian vocaliser-songwriter and comedian, and he is joined by the lyrical strength of Voctave, an 11-member a capella group. Voctave'southward group members accept professional roots equally Walt Disney World entertainers.
Lowry'due south lyrics for "Mary, Did Yous Know?" began in 1984 when he was requested to write a script for a church Christmas play. The result was a list of questions that he wished to inquire Mother Mary.
Past 1991, Lowry found a collaborator to add the musical score. Although he allowed boyfriend Gaither Vocal Ring vocalist Michael English to first record this song, Lowry has released his own version of it several times over the years. This 2016 version with Voctave is especially noteworthy.
6. "Mary, Did Yous Know?" by Jordan Smith (2016)
Within minutes of becoming available on the iTunes store, Hashemite kingdom of jordan Smith's cover of this tune became a best-seller, knocking Adele'south "Hello" out of the top spot. Hashemite kingdom of jordan Smith was the winner of season nine of The Phonation.
Smith's rendition here receives bonus points considering it'due south in front end of a live audition. With its soaring loftier notes, this impressive cover conveys an inquisitive, wonderstruck narrator nearly brought to his knees with emotion regarding Mary and the newborn Prince of Peace.
vii. "Mary, Did You Know?" past Mary J. Blige (2013)
It'southward refreshing to hear a female solo of this song, specially when it's past someone as talented every bit Mary J. Blige, Queen of Hip-Hop Soul. The Grammy Accolade-winning singer-songwriter and actress treats listeners to a tender, soothing rendition of "Mary, Did You Know?"
Her cover of the song features a narrator who empathizes deeply with the experience of Jesus' mother ("Oh, Mary, Mary, Mary"). Although Blige doesn't enunciate a couple of the lyrics, the total outcome of her vocal try is convincing, equally she holds no emotion back.
8. "Mary, Did You Know?" past Kathy Mattea (1993)
Known for her traditional country sound, Mattea won a Grammy for Skillful News, the Christmas album that her comprehend of "Mary, Did You lot Know?" appeared on. She was one of the showtime major artists to cover the Christian tune and bring it to a more mainstream audience.
In her 1993 land version of "Mary, Did You Know?", Kathy Mattea's voice is non besides sugariness but instead filled with experience and feeling, only every bit this vocal requires. The guitar instrumentals are non as effective equally some of the instrumental effects used in other songs, but particularly if you lot appreciate traditional country music, y'all'll enjoy her version.
nine. "Mary, Did Y'all Know?" by Cee Lo Green (2012)
This cover of "Mary, Did Yous Know?" is a far cry from some of CeeLo Dark-green's other creative endeavors. CeeLo Light-green is a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, record producer, and erstwhile estimate on NBC'south The Voice.
There were points at which I struggled to hear his distinctive voice above the instrumentals. (Projection your powerful voice, Cee Lo! The groundwork music is taking centre stage!) In spite of this, the 2012 tune performed well on the R&B charts. It was also used for the endmost credits in the 2014 major motion motion-picture show, Son of God.
10. "Mary, Did You Know?" past Clay Aiken (2004)
Click, click, click. I could have done without the distracting finger snapping in this otherwise tender, sincere cover version. American Idol runner-upward Clay Aiken doesn't take many vocal risks here, but he delivers a solid functioning. One of the almost successful Idol alumni, Aiken institute several years of moderate success in country music then seemed to slip from the airwaves.
This comprehend version appeared on his Merry Christmas with Love album, the acknowledged Christmas album of 2004 and best-selling Christian album of 2005.
11. "Mary, Did You Know?" by Zara Larsson (2017)
Young Swedish singer Zara Larsson lends her song talent to this 2017 rendition. She recorded it for the soundtrack of The Star, a Christian computer-animated comedy film portraying the nascence.
Larsson'south youthful vox meshes perfectly with the innocent questions that the narrator asks Mary. Larsson adeptly leaps from soft tones to belting information technology out with equal ease, and her innocent sound tin assist placidity critics who contend that the narrator's questions are inappropriate. Larsson can easily convince the listener that she is inquiring out of a sense of naiveté and fascination.
12. "Mary, Did You Know?" by Sanam (2014)
In that location aren't too many Christmas songs about the birth of the Holy Savior that characteristic electrical guitar riffs and Eastern-influenced instrumentals. However, this cover "Mary, Did You Know?" by Sanam, hailed equally India'south One Direction, manages to practice precisely that.
13. "Mary, Did You lot Know?" by Rascal Flatts (2010)
Although I'm typically the get-go to line upwards behind annihilation released by superstar country group Rascal Flatts, their cover of "Mary, Did You Know?" is an exception. I found the vocals to be overly nasal and wished they had more than consistently hit the high notes more effectively. For a better executed Christmas song by Rascal Flatts—a group that is a perennial audience favorite among country music fans—instead try "I'll Exist Home for Christmas" (2009).
fourteen. "Mary, Did Y'all Know?" past Kenny Rogers and Wynonna Judd (1996)
State musician Kenny Rogers is one of the best-selling musical artists of all time. He is the winner of multiple Grammy and other prestigious awards, including a lifetime accomplishment award. Unfortunately, nonetheless, this rendition of "Mary, Did You lot Know?" is non his all-time piece of work. Sadly, Rogers' vocalism is flat and unlively, as if he's bored with the questions he's request Mary.
Thankfully, Wynonna significantly amps upwards the energy, emotional depth, and quality of the overall cover song with her richly textured vocals. (I'd love to hear a solo version from Wynonna.) Unfortunately, with so many other remarkable covers of this song, you'd probably have to be a fan of either of these artists to choose this version over the many other superior alternatives available.
Sources
iScheer, H. (2016, Dec 21). Why 'Mary Did You Know' Is The Almost Biblically Illiterate Christmas Tune. Retrieved from http://thefederalist.com/2016/12/21/mary-know-biblically-illiterate-christmas-tune/
2Fr Robert McTeigue, SJ. (2017, June viii). The Trouble With "Mary Did Yous Know". Retrieved from https://aleteia.org/2015/12/09/the-problem-with-mary-did-y'all-know/
threeGreydanus, South. D. (2015, December 24). What Did Mary Know and When Did She Know It? Retrieved from http://www.ncregister.com/weblog/steven-greydanus/what-did-mary-know
© 2018 FlourishAnyway
FlourishAnyway (author) from USA on May 26, 2020:
Deni - Thanks for your perspective.
Deni on May 26, 2020:
Cimorelli .... even better system then pentatonix. Amazing
FlourishAnyway (author) from United states on March 29, 2020:
Peggy - I'yard not religious, just I love it too! It really touches me. Glad y'all enjoyed the various renditions.
Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on March 28, 2020:
I beloved this song! Many people sing it beautifully. I am listening to the concluding music video right now.
FlourishAnyway (author) from United states on December 25, 2019:
Millicent - Thanks for chiming in.
FlourishAnyway (author) from USA on December 25, 2019:
Angie - Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Millicent on December 24, 2019:
CeeLo Greenish - most powerful & moving
Angie on Dec 24, 2019:
Amy Grant
FlourishAnyway (author) from United states on December 17, 2019:
RADinNH - Thanks for expressing your favorites.
RADinNH on Dec sixteen, 2019:
No one comes close to Mark Lowry on his own, he sings this with such feeling, he doesn't need the group with him, Guy Penrod is likewise astonishing with this vocal and Vince Gil does a pretty expert rendition.
FlourishAnyway (author) from Us on December xv, 2019:
Thanks, Ron!
ron on December 14, 2019:
Marking puts the About feeling in the song!
FlourishAnyway (author) from U.s. on December 07, 2019:
Kim A. - I appreciate your chiming in with your favorite.
Kim A. on Dec 07, 2019:
Kutless version is fantastic!!
FlourishAnyway (author) from USA on Nov 29, 2019:
Heather - Thank you for your comment. Have a wonderful vacation season.
Heather Pitman on November 28, 2019:
Natalie Cole performed an amazing version of Mary Did You Know
FlourishAnyway (author) from USA on October 27, 2019:
Keith - Cheers for chiming in with your favorite.
Keith on October 26, 2019:
Directly No Attorney did a peachy version, too!
FlourishAnyway (author) from USA on May 30, 2019:
JD - Thanks for weighing in.
JD on May 30, 2019:
David Phelps
FlourishAnyway (author) from U.s. on December thirteen, 2018:
Sraynaes - Cheers for alerting us to this one! Merry Christmas!
Sraynaes on December 12, 2018:
The Braxton version
Is meliorate than all the above
FlourishAnyway (author) from USA on December 12, 2018:
Shauna - Thank you for such a thoughtful comment. It is sometimes difficult to decide on a favorite for some of these holiday songs. Promise you are doing great this Christmas flavor and feeling the love of the holiday spirit.
Shauna L Bowling from Central Florida on December 12, 2018:
Flourish, I had a really hard fourth dimension choosing. I beloved Pentatonix and anything they practice. I also enjoyed CeeLo'south rendition, although I'm personally not a fan of his. Sanam's version is amazing. Notwithstanding, I have to go with Dirt Aiken for the simple fact that his video told the story best. His is the but one that features Jesus and all the wonder he's brought this earth. I thought it was very well washed, and Dirt's voice sets the mood, despite the finger snapping.
By the way, "Mary, Did You Know?" and "The Little Drummer Boy" are my favorite Christmas songs.
FlourishAnyway (author) from U.s.a. on Dec 06, 2018:
Linda - I'thou happy you enjoyed this. I have enjoyed learning more than almost the artists and their backgrounds as well as about the songs.
Linda Crampton from British Columbia, Canada on December 05, 2018:
I didn't know that the lyrics of the vocal were controversial. The Peter Hollens version is very interesting. Thanks for sharing his video and all of the others, Flourish.
FlourishAnyway (author) from USA on December 05, 2018:
Tim - I'm glad that he didn't deny having affair and refuse the kid he fathered. He had some pretty big proper name friends help him in getting dorsum into Christian music.
FlourishAnyway (author) from United states of america on December 05, 2018:
Liz - It'southward very surprising, isn't it? Thanks for stopping by.
FlourishAnyway (author) from USA on December 05, 2018:
Venkatachari 1000 - I'k glad you enjoyed this article and the various versions. With my next "Who Sang Information technology Best?", there'due south quite a variety of effort and genres (shockingly and so!). Have a wonderful calendar week.
FlourishAnyway (author) from USA on December 05, 2018:
Dora - I agree that it'south difficult to shell Pentatonix when they're on tiptop of their game! They certainly were first-class with this song. Give thanks yous for chiming in! Hope your vacation season is a happy ane thus far.
Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on Dec 05, 2018:
Cute song! Was not aware of the controversy. I think the Pentatonix volition become my vote on every song they sing.
Tim Truzy from U.South.A. on December 05, 2018:
Howdy, Flourish,
I love the Pintatonix version. Information technology tops the original in my view. I also similar Clay's version, but I can hear a story meliorate in the Pentatonix tale.
Great piece of work.
I'chiliad sorry about what happened to Michael English, I guess he didn't know. There's something ironic there that makes yous scratch your head with a big "hmm."
Sincerely,
Tim
Liz Westwood from Great britain on Dec 05, 2018:
I never realised at that place were so many covers washed of the same vocal.
Shawindi Silva from Sri lanka on Dec 05, 2018:
Thanks and then much and I wish you the same.
Venkatachari M from Hyderabad, India on December 05, 2018:
A great commodity presenting the various styles of singing the wonderful vocal "Mary did y'all know?". I enjoyed almost of them and information technology is hard to cull anyone as the best.
FlourishAnyway (author) from Usa on December 05, 2018:
Shawindi - I'm glad you enjoyed this. Thanks for weighing in. May you have a joyous December.
FlourishAnyway (author) from USA on December 05, 2018:
Mary - It is a pretty song. Thanks for stopping by to compare the various efforts of the singers who sung their versions. Hope you're having a marvelous holiday season.
Shawindi Silva from Sri lanka on Dec 04, 2018:
I like your commodity, and Canticle Lights is my favorite.
Mary Norton from Ontario, Canada on December 04, 2018:
Enjoyed listening to these dissimilar renditions of the song. Each 1 has its own merit and I came to appreciate the song.
FlourishAnyway (writer) from United states on December 04, 2018:
Linda - Isn't information technology compelling? Try singing it. Gosh, I establish it challenging to sing well. Although I don't often listen to a capella music, I'd say the better a capella versions probably could non take been improved with instrumentals. They were so skilful. I'll put on the Christmas music and you bring u.s. all some cookies from your kitchen, CarbDiva. Maybe nosotros'll get Beak to apparel equally Santa.
FlourishAnyway (writer) from United states of america on Dec 04, 2018:
Beak - The very first time I heard this, it was Cee Lo'south version and I was really taken with it. Glad yous enjoyed the variations presented. Hope you lot're doing well on that urban subcontract. Write u.s.a. something good when yous have time.
FlourishAnyway (author) from Us on December 04, 2018:
Yves - I was surprised at how expert their performance was. Even though they were ranked manner down on the list, everyone was good with this song. That isn't ever the example! I had never heard of them and was glad to learn near them while doing my research. I was likewise surprised that people can get so riled upwards over a vocal not being and so literally representative. To each his or her own! Thanks for weighing in. Hope you lot're jingle belling your way through the holiday happily and so far.
Yves on December 04, 2018:
Listened to all the choices and to my surprise and delight, I voted for Sanam. They did a bully interpretation of the song. I was rather transfixed, really. Enjoyed the story backside this remarkable song, too. Information technology's rather funny that some purists cannot enjoy the lyrics, but at to the lowest degree that doesn't stop the rest of the states from appreciating this "typically Protestant" song. Lol.
FlourishAnyway (writer) from U.s.a. on December 04, 2018:
Chitangada - Everybody on this Christmas song did pretty well, and it was hard to rank them. There are some cracking covers to choose from. I hope you are having a lovely December to retrieve.
FlourishAnyway (author) from USA on December 04, 2018:
Shannon - I didn't discover Reba'south version until it was likewise tardily. HP merely seems to be able to handle virtually 15 videos from a page load standpoint so I have to limit my number of contenders. I figured that it would not be very fruitful to offer a proper name and comments on this type of ranking commodity without the accompanying video, so I express the field to fifteen full. I'll go cheque out what I missed with Reba.
FlourishAnyway (writer) from United states on December 04, 2018:
Pamela - It'south a beautiful song. I wasn't enlightened of the controversy earlier I did my research for this article. That's such a shame. Thanks for reading!
Linda Lum from Washington Land, Us on December 04, 2018:
Flourish, this has get my new favorite Christmas song. There really isn't a bad version, but every bit a vocalist, I appreciate the acapella by Pentatonix.
Nib Kingdom of the netherlands from Olympia, WA on Dec 04, 2018:
My favorite Christmas song....Smith or Mattea....although I'll listen to anyone singing this stunningly cute song.
Chitrangada Sharan from New Delhi, India on December 04, 2018:
What a beautiful collection of songs. I listened to some of your videos. Information technology's difficult to cull, 1 favourite.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful article, with wonderful collection of videos. So well timed, for the holidays and the upcoming festivals.
Cheers for sharing!
Shannon Henry from Texas on December 04, 2018:
Oh, practiced one! This is definitely a song that is not sung best by the original artist. I'm blown away by all the first-class alternatives you lot present! Although, I agree with your assessment of well-nigh of them and I was surprised to detect that I didn't intendance for the Rascal Flatts version (not just considering it isn't the normal atomic number 82 vocaliser singing it). It is very nasally, you lot're right. The first version of the song I personally e'er heard was Kathy Mattea, I call back. Or maybe Reba'southward. I really similar Reba'south version, too. I'd love to hear Wynonna practise a version past herself. She sounded cute singing information technology. Pentatonix is actually not my favorite, though I do similar the dissimilar narrators in their version. I judge I'thou saying that I think this song is difficult to choose a best. I'll mark "other" in favor of Reba, though.
Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on December 04, 2018:
It is nearly impossible to pick the very best redition of this beautiful song. I idea Pentatonix sang it beautifull, but some others were as as proficient. I hold with your comments about some of the artists or groups, such every bit non liking the snapping fingers. I love this song, which made this a fun article to read and listen to.
FlourishAnyway (author) from USA on December 04, 2018:
John, Thanks for stopping by. There wasn't a bad one in the mix hither, just variations of good. (It's not e'er the case with some Christmas songs.) I hope your holiday season is off to a bang-up start. Merry Christmas!
John Hansen from Gondwana Country on December 03, 2018:
What a bang-up collection of cover versions you take here, Flourish. The original pales in comparison to most. I chose Pentatonix every bit my favourite merely information technology was then difficult to cull the all-time. I also loved Zara Larsson'southward version every bit well as Voctave, Peter Hollens, Anthem Lights and Sanam.
Great vocal to compare versions of.
Source: https://spinditty.com/playlists/Who-Sang-It-Best-Mary-Did-You-Know
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