Stevie Nicks Added Her Own Magic To Her ‘Silent Night’ Cover To Make It ‘More Compassionate’

Producer Jimmy Lovine created a charity album, A Very Special Christmas, in 1987 for the Special Olympics. Many music icons contributed their voices to the album, including Stevie Nicks with her “Silent Night” cover. Singer-songwriter Nicks admitted adding her own spin with extra lyrics to sound more compassionate.

Other artists that added either originals or classic covers to Lovine’s album include Whitney Houston, The Eurythmics, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Sting, U2, Madonna, The Pointer Sisters, The Pretenders, John Cougar Mellencamp, Run-D.M.C, Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi, and Alison Moyet.

Nicks’ Touch On The Christmas Classic

Nicks’ version of “Silent Night” is arguably one of the finest, thanks to her efforts and powerful vocals to make it so. She had support from Robbie Nevil and Sharon Celani, her longtime backup singer. On 2020’s Christmas Eve, Nicks brought back memories, revealing on Twitter that she “wrote the bridge in the middle of the song.”

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“I am bringing out one of my favorite things I have ever done (ever), because I think the world might need it,” she tweeted. “It is my ‘Silent Night’ from 1987. I wrote the bridge in the middle of the song and I really thought it made it more compassionate than it already was. Please enjoy it and think of me as I will be thinking of you on this unusual Christmas. It’s really just a love song. Sing with me — I will hear you. Love, Your Stevie Nicks.”

The Story Behind ‘A Very Special Christmas’

The album Stevie Nicks contributed her “Silent Night” cover to, A Very Special Christmas, was a successful effort for charity, raising over $100 million. The album is recognized as the biggest benefit recording in musical history, selling over four million copies in 2014 and spawning sequel albums. However, Nicks recognized the reason for the album, so she recorded it with more passion and intention.

Lovine had a tragic experience in 1985 after he spent the Christmas holiday with his ailing father, who died in January 1985. He decided to separate the incident from Christmas and chose to make better memories of the special holiday instead, birthing A Very Special Christmas. The beneficiary of the charity album, Special Olympics, was founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1968. The Special Olympics received over $100 million and a royalty check of $5 million in 1988. Since it was for charity, none of the contributing artists received payment for their service.