Eartha Kitt passed away over Christmas, which is slightly ironic as many people recognize her not only as Catwoman, but for singing the holiday hit song, Santa Baby.
It’s incredible that since she first sang the song in 1953, it’s actually gained popularity around the holiday season. Since Eartha Kitt first sang the now infamous holiday jingle, it has been repeated and recreated by countless celebrities. It has also inspired a series of photoshoots of women in ‘sexy Santa’ outfits and flirtatious music videos like the one below of Heidi Klum for Victoria’s Secret.
Some of the modern interpretations of Santa Baby are by Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Kellie Pickler, the Pussy Cat Dolls and one of my favourites, Kylie Minogue, which can be seen below.)
Kylie
Heidi Klum
Holiday Cabaret Reincarnations
Eartha Kitt Hit ‘Santa Baby' Still Charms the World
Trend Themes
1. Holiday Music Revivals - There is a growing trend to revive classic holiday songs like 'Santa Baby' with modern interpretations that target a younger audience creating an opening for tech-enabled personalized listening experiences.
2. Fashionable Holiday Renditions - Holiday jingles have inspired a series of fashion shoots of women in 'sexy Santa' outfits and flirtatious music videos creating opportunities for fashion and beauty brands to tap into this trend.
3. Celebrity Holiday Music Covers - Celebrities like Britney Spears, Taylor Swift and The Pussycat Dolls are releasing high-production value covers of classic holiday tracks paving the way for music apps, AR/VR and talent agencies to capitalize on this trend.
Industry Implications
1. Music - The resurgence of classic holiday songs presents an opportunity for music streaming services to create personalized holiday playlists that cater to modern interpretations of these tracks.
2. Fashion and Beauty - Fashion and beauty brands can leverage the popularity of 'sexy Santa' outfits to create holiday-themed collections and promotions, which may resonate well with their audience.
3. Talent Management - The trend of celebrity holiday covers can spawn opportunities for talent agencies to scout for young, up-and-coming artists who can put their own spin on classic songs to appeal to the younger audience.