# Best version of "Santa Baby" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 8, 2017, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964 "2017-12-08T22:32:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964/21 "2017-12-09T16:47:55Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Who’s done it? > > Eartha Kitt — 1953, the original > Kylie Minogue > Ariana Grande > The Cast from Glee > Michael Bublé > Megan Nicole > Taylor Swift > Madonna > > Who else? The Pussycat Dolls versions have already been mentioned. [Gwen Stefani](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Jdc7FXupWQ) [Mariah Carey](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyGx9WMrCvU) I also remember Bernadette Peters singing it on SNL but I can’t find it online. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964/22 "2017-12-09T16:52:00Z")
Yeah, I can’t exactly say that the song represents a healthy, well-adjusted view of sexuality, but it’s certainly not rapey. And I’ll agree with **astorian** that singers of this song fall into two categories: First, Eartha Kitt, and second, people trying to be Eartha Kitt. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964/23 "2017-12-09T17:04:26Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And I’ll agree with **astorian** that singers of this song fall into two categories: First, Eartha Kitt, and second, people trying to be Eartha Kitt. I agree - mostly. That’s why it’s not high on my Christmas faves list. Too Betty Boop-y. But there are some great versions by unknowns. Check out [Megan Nicole](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kkh2O7IkDqc)’s version, for example. Or [Daniela Andrade](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ1HRRcG1vg)’s version which I found by randomly googling. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964/24 "2017-12-09T17:39:01Z")
Eartha Kitt, the one and only. Of all the others only Madonna’s shows any real character. ---
**Author:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964/25 "2017-12-09T18:06:33Z")
I thought that song was cute the first time I heard it. Now I hate it. What’s the true meaning of Christmas? Getting as much as you can? And “Santa Buddy”? Barf. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964/26 "2017-12-09T18:13:30Z")
I’ll admit Kitt is the standard by which all others are judged. But I have to say, I think I actually enjoy the Madonna version better as much as that surprises even myself. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964/27 "2017-12-09T20:29:09Z")
> [@CelticKnot](#): > > I thought that song was cute the first time I heard it. Now I hate it. > What’s the true meaning of Christmas? Getting as much as you can? > > And “Santa Buddy”? Barf. “Santa Buddy” is a real headscratcher. When Eartha (or one of her many, but lesser imitators) sings the original, you have a pretty clear notion of WHY she thinks Santa will be inclined to comply ('cos it’s gonna get him laid). With “Santa Buddy,” since there’s no reason given to suggest that he’s into that sort of thing (not that there’s anything _wrong_ with that), one is left to suspect that the singer is offering to let Santa hang with a huge douche. How is that supposed to be any sort of motivation? ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964/28 "2017-12-09T21:13:46Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Who’s done it? > > Eartha Kitt — 1953, the original > Kylie Minogue > Ariana Grande > The Cast from Glee > Michael Bublé > Megan Nicole > Taylor Swift > Madonna > > Who else? [Jane Krakowski](https://youtu.be/RY6hrdKpEh0) [Macy Gray](https://youtu.be/9-dIqVwKPYA) ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964/29 "2017-12-09T21:19:40Z")
The Madonna version gets me right in the short-and-curly area ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964/30 "2017-12-10T00:52:46Z")
Eartha Kitt, of course. There can be only one! I’ve only ever heard two other people sing it to my knowledge, Madonna and Kylie Menogue. Madonna’a version was surprisingly good. Kylie Minogue’s version was dreadful. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964/31 "2017-12-10T01:44:03Z")
Not liking Eartha Kitt’s version is like not liking _Citizen Kane_ because it’s all cliche. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964/32 "2017-12-10T03:54:05Z")
Not my favourite song, but I’ll go with Madonna or Eartha Kitt. I haven’t heard all of the versions. It’s better than Last Christmas, Two Front Teeth and I’m Getting Nothing… ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964/33 "2017-12-10T14:24:33Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Not liking Eartha Kitt’s version is like not liking _Citizen Kane_ because it’s all cliche. This. And for those one or two in the audience who’ve not heard it, [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFMyF9fDKzE) it is (with a lot of cheesecake). ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964/34 "2017-12-10T15:45:25Z")
Put me down as another vote for Madonna’s version. ---
**Author:** ![jerseymule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jerseymule/32/3155_2.png) [@jerseymule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerseymule)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964/35 "2017-12-13T22:16:30Z")
> [@CelticKnot](#): > > I thought that song was cute the first time I heard it. Now I hate it. > What’s the true meaning of Christmas? Getting as much as you can? > > And “Santa Buddy”? Barf. Where does anyone say “Santa Buddy”? In the Eartha Kitt version I only hear Santa Baby, Honey, and Cutie. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964/36 "2017-12-13T22:31:38Z")
> [@jerseymule](#): > > Where does anyone say “Santa Buddy”? In the Eartha Kitt version I only hear Santa Baby, Honey, and Cutie. Michael Buble sings the song as “Santa Buddy.” ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2017, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964/37 "2017-12-13T22:32:39Z")
> [@jerseymule](#): > > Where does anyone say “Santa Buddy”? Bublé. ---
**Author:** ![jerseymule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jerseymule/32/3155_2.png) [@jerseymule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerseymule)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964/38 "2017-12-14T19:58:54Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Bublé. I have not heard this version. I’m not sure that I _want_ to hear it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964/39 "2017-12-14T20:27:15Z")
Eartha Kitt, hands down. She also wins as best voice for Catgirl (Julie Newmar wins for best figure and walk). ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2017, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964/40 "2017-12-15T00:05:46Z")
Michael Bubbles don’t count. Didn’t Jessica Simpson cover it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-version-of-santa-baby/803964.md?page=3)