Cynthia Basinet’s story about her rendition of Eartha Kitt’s 1953 classic, “Santa Baby” is one of those intriguing stories that leaves one with mixed feelings. She recorded her cover in 1997, as a Christmas gift for Jack Nicholson, and as soon as it hit the airwaves, everyone was quick to suggest that this was the late actress Marilyn Monroe’s cover. And this has been something that has now been going on for decades, with many still believing that the spotlight-stealing voice is indeed Monroe’s.
I want to leave a question hanging: suppose you were in her shoes. Would this flatter you, or would you want to be recognized for your vocal talents? I’m guessing the latter because, as much as I would be flattered by such comparisons to a legend like Monroe, at some point I’d want listeners to not actually guess and do some research and find out the person behind such a captivating voice.
And she is really enchanting. One thing about this cover is just how it doesn’t depart from the original without straying unnecessarily from the original, but Basinet still uses her vocal prowess as a trampoline to reach new, exciting musical grounds. She hits all the right notes with her jazzy, rich tones, skimming through the intricate foundation with such effortless power.
The success of this track has been global; the global resonance of this track likely exceeded her expectations when recording it. And that’s the thing about good music: it always stands out and takes its rightful place, no matter how long that takes.
This track has amassed over 1 million Spotify streams and is a staple on numerous Christmas playlists.
Cynthia tells in detail her story about this tune that has long been mistaken to be Monroe’s cover in the podcast “Discovering Truth featuring Cynthia Basinet – The Truth about Santa Baby” which you can get by checking her bio on Instagram. It is such an eye-opener that it is worth your time.
And as the world now becomes accustomed to the truth that it is indeed Cynthia’s voice and not Monroe’s, we need to acclaim her more because that voice is not an ordinary one. It is simply hard to describe but easy to listen to. She serenades a listener beautifully, tugging at their heartstrings with a strong, gentle, and evocative voice that wraps around a listener like a warm embrace while still maintaining the tongue-in-cheek demeanor of the song.
Cynthia stands out as a trailblazer in the music industry. In addition to being such a phenomenally gifted vocalist who packs powerful punches with her stunning voice, she is an iconic fashion model, an award-winning author, and an acclaimed actress. She is also the host of her podcast, “The World According to Cynthia.”
We must develop the habit of giving exceptional achievers their flowers while they can still smell them. Let’s start by recognizing Cynthia’s ineffably beautiful rendition of “Santa Baby”- a spectacular achievement for this extraordinary vocalist. While many iconic stars like Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Kylie Minogue, and others have recorded their renditions of this classic jam after Cynthia, it’s important to note that only Madonna’s earlier version, known as the ‘Betty Boop’ version, predates Cynthia’s cover.
To listen to it just one more time and marvel at such vocal beauty, check out the link below, and you will thank me later!
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