Zooey Deschanel is not just a Christmas icon because she was the apple of Will Ferrell’s eye in Elf. Her holiday output with M.Ward and their group She & Him also offers some of the finest yuletide cheer this side of the North Pole. Through both 2011’s A Very She & Him Christmas and 2016’s A Christmas Party, the pair enacted classic Christmas carols with a modern vintage feel.
Now for the album’s 10th anniversary, a deluxe edition of A Very She & Him Christmas is being released on November 12th via Merge Records. Today, the pair have put out a heartwarming version of “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas.” It’s such a lovely nod to Meredith Wilson’s 1951 original that was popularized by singers like Bing Crosby and Perry Como, that when Deschanel sings over Ward’s delicate guitar and a softly-singing backing chamber choir, it might as well trigger snow to fall outside your window.
The deluxe album features the original album, plus a bonus 7-inch disc with the group’s previously released version of Madonna’s “Holiday” and a cover of Wham!’s “Last Christmas.” “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” arrives as a bonus download and all-in-all, this feels like a quintessential indie holiday album. And keeping with the spirit of Christmas, She & Him will continue their decade-long effort of donating a portion of the album’s proceeds to 826 National, the creative-writing non-profit co-founded by Dave Eggers that works with young people to “encourage the exploration of endless possibility through the power of writing.”
Ever since the album was first released in 2011, She & Him have donated a portion of sales from the album to 826 National, a non-profit for young people to ignite and channel their creativity, explore identity, advocate for themselves and their community, and achieve academic and professional success. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been donated to date, and She & Him are proud to continue that initiative with this reissue.
Listen to “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” above, check out the album artwork below, as well as December tour dates for She & Him.
12/02 — Santa Barbara, CA @ Arlington Theater
12/03 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Theatre at Ace Hotel
12/04 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Theatre at Ace Hotel
12/07 — Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
12/08 — Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
12/09 — Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
12/11 — Dallas, TX @ McFarlin Memorial Auditorium
12/12 — San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theater
A Very She & Him Christmas (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) is out 11/12 via Merge Records. Pre-order it here.