Cliff Richard says he’s “learning reggae” for new version of ‘The Lord Is My Shepherd’ for Christmas single

Cliff Richard has said he is “learning reggae” for a new version of ‘The Lord Is My Shepherd’, which he plans to release as a Christmas single.

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The singer, 86, is set to record a new take on the Bible psalm alongside Chris Eaton, who wrote his 1990 UK Christmas Number One single ‘Saviour’s Day’. It’ll likely form part of a festive album in 2027.

Some music fans have ridiculed and criticised Richard for his forthcoming pivot into reggae, with one saying that it “sounds so wrong”. Another person wrote: “Dear God, wasn’t ‘Mistletoe & Wine’ bad enough?”.

Eu não esperava ver reggae e Cliff Richard na mesma frase e, ainda assim, aqui estamos… https://t.co/gAnrSrHuIB pic.twitter.com/rfUwTlAi1g.

Spliff Richard https://t.co/rX1ETUiKVX.

Oh dear gawd. Just reading it sounds so wrong 🫣😳.

He won’t be singing it in the original,Hebrew,though.. https://t.co/WOih01wdsr.

God forbid!! Apparently Cliff Richard is aiming for his 4th Christmas Number One with Reggae Psalm 23.

Acho que prefiro ele durante sua fase de culto satânico ao Diabo!!… pic.twitter.com/aEesAbGlYe.

A sessão de perguntas e respostas da semana passada foi realizada para promover o novo álbum de Richard, “Only Number Ones”, que será lançado em 27 de novembro.

A coleção que se aproxima mostra o astro “colocar seu próprio selo único em uma seleção de seus hits favoritos que dominam as paradas”, incluindo uma nova versão de “White Christmas”.

He has also covered smash songs by the likes songs by the likes of Harry Styles and The Monkees for the project.

The 2CD deluxe edition boasts all of Richard’s own hits, including his other festive chart-toppers ‘Mistletoe And Wine’ and ‘Saviour’s Day’, and UK Number One single ‘The Millennium Prayer’.

He has had four UK Christmas Number Ones in total, also including 1960’s ‘I Love You’ with The Shadows, and 1989’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ with Band Aid II.

Falando sobre 'Only Number Ones' em uma declaração, Richard explicou: "Eu sugeri à Warner Music que eu gravasse um álbum de músicas que chegaram ao Number One. Graças a Deus eles concordaram.

Late last year, Richard revealed that he was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, and said the screening process was “absolutely ridiculous”. Around the same time, he played a festive show at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Meanwhile, Christmas 2025 saw The Darkness put a shoegazey spin on ‘Mistletoe And Wine’.

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