Some combinations have been around as long as time itself. The most notable? Peanut butter and jelly. The second most notable is probably twangy acoustics and vocal harmonies. You can’t listen to a banjo, strings, and soaring harmonies without getting a goose-bump or two.
The Petersens are a band that combines ALL of those things with an awesome aesthetic.
Their YouTube channel is massive! They currently sit at 397k followers are growing with each video. They describe themselves on their channel and say:
The Petersens are an American roots music band based out of Branson, MO. The band consists of four siblings (Katie, Ellen, Matt & Julianne), their mom, Karen, and friend, Emmett Franz.
When an American roots band and Christmas meet, we are sure to get some awesome music!
Christmas is special because of the holiday cheer and, in no small part, the music! Music contributes so much to the season of giving that Christmas wouldn’t be the same without it. Thankfully, The Petersons recorded some classic Christmas songs in their incredible airy and ethereal folky twang.
The young girl in a white shirt starts off the song with solo a capella vocals.
When she starts, we all know EXACTLY what she is singing. If you didn’t see the video’s caption at this point, you would still know exactly what song they are performing after the opening line. The girl sings in a gentle and lilting voice that shows the folky roots of her family.
A few lines in, and her BGVs join her!
With the word “rejoice,” the three vocalists join her, and the solo a capella turns into a hair-raising harmony that you can’t help but wonder at. The story they are singing about is brought perfectly to light by their pure voices and you can’t help but keep watching!
When the band joins, the plucky strings support the folky vibes.
There is something special about the humble origins of folk combines with the humble origins of the song the girls sing. From sweeping strings to soaring voices, the entire band is made whole from the small yet important parts that everyone plays and contributes to the work as a whole.
There is even a “twist” at the end!
When the lead singer gets to the end of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” they switch songs and launch into “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”! The transition isn’t really expected, but you start to hear it coming when the acoustic guitar picks up. Suddenly, the girl in green comes to the microphone and starts singing the next song!
The more uplifting second song is a good way to end the video.
“O Come” is a bit haunting (in a good way) but doesn’t leave you on a high note. The Petersons do a wonderful job of transitioning the song and the mood into something a bit lighter before the video ends. When the song’s end is signaled by the banjo stopping, you can’t help but feel like you just stepped off a folky-Christmas rollercoaster and are all the better for it.
Check out their wonderful video below!
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