It’s officially Christmas now that the Temptations have sung
The latest version of The Temptations sang Silent Night on Wednesday on The Sherry Shepherd Show. There is a longstanding tradition of some Virginians saying that it’s not officially Christmas until they hear this song.
Each year on Facebook, several people have shared The Temptation’s rendition of the holiday hymn with the caption that it’s officially Christmas. Released in 1980, this version of Silent Night received much airplay on WTOY radio and at Addisonian Christmas dances at the Roanoke Civic Center, now the Berglund Center.
Otis Williams is the only original member
Otis Williams, the lone original member of the group, alluded to this ideology while talking with Shepherd, so it’s not just a “Virginia thang” but universal. Although the rendition was enjoyable, it was not the same as hearing the iconic voices of Melvin Franklin and Eddie Kendricks.
Only the original will do for many
For those who have listened to the original Temptations sing Silent Night for forty years, no other group lineup sounds the same. However, kudos to Otis William, 83, for still singing and keeping the group alive with new members.