Faith Over Fear: A Bizarre & Beautiful Christmas Duet

Dear Customers and Friends, David Bowie and Bing Crosby may be the most bizarre pairing of two singers ever assembled. However, the polar-opposite yet harmonic blending of their voices created a beautiful and meaningful song that stands the test of time today as one of our greatest Christmas classics. . . . and to think it almost didn’t happen.

It was 1977 and American TV producers were preparing for Crosby’s annual Christmas special. That year, looking to draw a younger audience, they had invited Bowie, a huge British pop icon, to join the traditional “White Christmas” crooner in a duet performance of “The Little Drummer Boy.” 

Bowie hated the song but (at the insistence of his mother who was a huge Crosby fan) he still showed up in September of that year at a London studio to meet with Crosby for a pre-recording session. In line with his rebel reputation, Bowie walked in wearing a huge mink coat, heavy make-up with lipstick, and an earring, horrifying the producers who feared they had made a big mistake. 

Bowie then made matters worse by flatly rejecting the song choice, implying that “Little Drummer Boy” was too cheesy for his image. It appeared all was lost until it was suggested that the songwriters try to come up with another option on the spot.

In a spirit of compromise that would sharply contrast with today’s politics, a new song was hastily written (in just 75 minutes). It blended lyrics about peace on earth to pair Bowie’s high-pitched tenor voice with Crosby’s soothing bass-baritone humming lyrics from “The Little Drummer Boy” in the background. 

Something beautiful and quite unexpected began to happen. Bowie, the brash 30-year-old, sat down at a piano with the grandfatherly Crosby, 73, to perfect the music to their own liking. Within a few minutes, the two singers were viewing each other through different eyes and ears, respecting the talents that each man bore. Seeming to warm up to his new friend, Bowie even agreed to remove his make-up and dress down to a more traditional blue blazer. Then it was time to perform.

Crosby’s young daughter, Mary, was on the set that day and later recalled that the pair, especially Bowie, initially seemed awkward and nervous.

“Eventually, Dad realized David was this amazing musician, and David realized Dad was an amazing musician. You could see them both collectively relax and then magic was made.”

The song was completed in a single take. Sadly though, Crosby died from a heart attack a few weeks later and never lived to see the performance on his CBS-TV Christmas special.

However, the odd pairing of Bing and Bowie captured hearts around the world for its symbolic spirit of bringing together opposing images from two different generations. The song was never intended to be played beyond Crosby’s Christmas show, but when it was released a few years later, it instantly became Bowie’s fastest selling single at the time. 

In my Faith Over Fear messages this year, you likely have noticed an underlying theme in my call for unity as Christians and Americans in a divided world. So, it feels appropriate that we end 2025 with a reminder that – like Bing Crosby and David Bowie – our hearts, too, can beat together as one even if our minds think differently. That is certainly my prayer.

This Christmas, I wish for peace on earth and good will to men – for your family and everyone around the world. Merry Christmas!

Blessed to be a Blessing,
Greg Syfan President,
Syfan Logistics