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Yoko Ono and Flaming Lips Cover John Lennon’s ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’

Yoko Ono, the Flaming Lips, All Is Bright, Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

We at SPIN are of the opinion that mid-November is too early to start playing Christmas music. That said, a new cover of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s emotional carol, “Happy Xmas (War Is Over),” by the Flaming Lips and Yoko herself is good enough that you should, at the very least, remember it after Thanksgiving rolls around.

The new version, which the Flaming Lips and Yoko have performed live before, is a little more experimental sounding than Lennon’s original, but it contains the same passion and all the cautious holiday optimism of the 1971 classic. Listen above.

The cover is part of All Is Bright, a new Christmas compilation from Amazon, featuring the talents of Amanda Palmer, Ashley Monroe, Brandi Carlile, Jessie Baylin, and many more. The record is available on Amazon Prime

All Is Bright, track list:
1. Lucinda Williams, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”
2. The Rosebuds, “Let it Snow”
3. Ladyhawke, “Merry Xmas Everyone”
4. Liz Phair, “Ho Ho Ho”
5. Brandi Carlile, “O Holy Night”
6. Beth Orton, “River” (Joni Mitchell Cover)
7. Anna Nalick, “Till The End Of The Year (Bye Buy By)”
8. Yoko Ono & Flaming Lips, “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”
9. PHOX, “The Christmas Song”
10. Little & Ashley, “Someday At Christmas”
11. Ashley Monroe, “Tennessee Christmas”
12. Kelly Hogan, “Blue Snowfall”
13. Jessie Baylin, “Purple Snowflakes”
14. Houndmouth, “Blue Christmas”
15. Heartless Bastards, “White Christmas”
16. No Sinner, “Baby Please Come Home”
17. Ruby Jane, “Make A Wish”
18. Lauren Shera, “(It’s Gonna Be A) Lonely Christmas”
19. Jillian Edwards, “O Come, All Ye Faithful”
20. This Is The Kit, “Christmas Time Is Here”
21. Shelby Earl, “We Three Kings”
22. Shaprece, “Carol Of The Bells”
23. Natalia Clavier, “My Favorite Things”
24. Escort, “Last Christmas”
25. Ruby The RabbitFoot, “Under Any Limb”
26. Lauren Gibson, “Wonderful Christmastime”
27. Amanda Palmer, “The Angel Gabriel”
28. Selena Garcia, “Hold Up Holidays”
29. Ruthie Foster, “Amazing Grace”
30. Jenn Bostic, “Light A Candle”
31. Sinclair, “This Christmas”
32. Emi Meyer, “Everything This Christmas”
33. Tal Wilkenfeld, “All I Want For Christmas Is You”
34. Julian Moon, “Best Christmas Ever”
35. Kate Davis, “Greensleeves (feat. Gabe Schnider)”
36. Tom Tom Club, “Il Est Ne”
37. Mia Doi Todd, “The Cherry Tree Carol”
38. Hero Fisher, “Pretty Paper”
39. Kat Parsons, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”
40. Blondfire, “Christmas Lights”
41. Elastic Bond, “Winter Wonderland”
42. Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas, “I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas”
43. Natalia Zukerman, “What Are You Doing New Years Eve”