“Carol of the Bells” has always been my favourite of the traditional Christmas songs and there are many noteworthy versions, from Canada’s a cappella wonders The Nylons to the boundary-breaking rock treatment by the Tran-Siberian Orchestra, plus all manner of inspiring choir performances, and even Mr. Mackey’s haunting, hallucinogenic take on South Park. And leave it to the Internet, of course, to unearth ever more…

… such as this fresh take from Cimorelli, which is every bit as worthy as more established, and familiar, holiday offerings from the likes of Bing, Burl and Elvis, and no doubt destined to join “Christmas in Killarney” (my other classic favourite), and of course, “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch,” and “Snow Miser-Heat Miser,” on my ultimate holiday playlist. (Not to be one-dimensional, there’s also Adams Sandler’s hilarious “The Chanukah Song.”)

Cimorelli are the sisters Cimorelli – Christina, Katherine, Lisa, Amy, and Lauren (and formerly Dani) – who first gained popularity singing a cappella cover songs on YouTube as teenagers and preteens. From northern California, the siblings (who also have five brothers) hit the viral jackpot in 2009 and quickly turned their explosive Internet popularity into a major record deal in 2010. Now in their 20s, the sisters have their own YouTube channel and are performing and writing their own songs, though not adverse to still delivering a classic cover now and again, like this spine-tingling 2017 version of “Carol of the Bells.”

Lyrics

Hark! How the bells, sweet silver bells
All seem to say, “throw cares away”
Christmas is here, bringing good cheer
To young and old, meek and the bold

Ding, dong, ding, dong, that is their song
With joyful ring, all caroling
One seems to hear, words of good cheer
From everywhere, filling the air

Oh how they pound, raising their sound
O’er hill and dale, telling their tale
Gaily they ring, while people sing
Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here

Merry, merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Merry, merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas

On, on they send, on without end
Their joyful tone, to every home

Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells
All seem to say, “throw cares away”
Christmas is here, bringing good cheer
To young and old, meek and the bold

Ding, dong, ding, dong, that is their song
With joyful ring, all caroling
One seems to hear, words of good cheer
From everywhere, filling the air

Oh how they pound, raising their sound
O’er hill and dale, telling their tale

Gaily they ring, while people sing
Songs of good cheer, christmas is here

Merry, merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Merry, merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas

On, on they send, on without end
Their joyful tone, to every home

Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells
All seem to say, “throw cares away”
Ding, dong, ding, dong