Honestly, if you haven't seen the music video for the Jingle Bell Rock Hall Oates cover, you haven't truly experienced the 1980s. It’s a trip. We aren't talking about a polished, high-budget holiday masterpiece. We’re talking about Daryl Hall and John Oates basically deciding to throw the most chaotic office party ever recorded on film.
It was 1983. The duo was untouchable. They had just come off a string of massive hits like "Maneater" and "Say It Isn't So." They were the kings of blue-eyed soul, yet they decided to spend their capital on a campy, low-budget cover of a 1957 Bobby Helms classic.
Most people don't realize there isn't just one version. There are two. One with Daryl on lead and one with John taking the mic. It’s a rare moment where the world’s most successful duo let us see them just... goofing off.
The Story Behind the Jingle Bell Rock Hall Oates Sessions
Back in December '83, Daryl Hall and John Oates weren't looking to reinvent the wheel. They wanted to give their fans a "Christmas card" in musical form. They went into the studio and knocked out a version of "Jingle Bell Rock" that feels more like a 1950s sock hop than a synth-pop ballad.
What makes it weird? The video.
Directed by Mick Haggerty and C.D. Taylor, the video features the band members dressed up in increasingly bizarre costumes. The standout is G.E. Smith—the legendary guitarist who later led the SNL band. He’s dressed as a grandmother. He’s wearing a floral dress, a grey wig, and playing a guitar while wearing mittens.
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Seriously. Mittens.
The whole thing feels like it was filmed in about two hours after someone had a bit too much eggnog. It’s messy, it’s slightly out of sync, and it’s genuinely charming because of that lack of polish.
Why there are two versions of the same song
You’ve probably heard both on the radio without even noticing. On the original 7-inch vinyl release (RCA JB-14259), the A-side featured John Oates on lead vocals. The B-side featured Daryl Hall.
Most radio stations ended up gravitating toward Daryl's version because, well, he was the primary voice of the "Hall & Oates" sound. But John’s version has this specific, Elvis-lite rockabilly charm that actually fits the song's 1950s roots a little better.
The Chart Stats Nobody Expects
For a song that was essentially a throwaway promo, it has had an incredible second life.
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- 1983 Release: It was a non-album single, meant for holiday airplay.
- 2005 Revival: It actually hit #30 on the Billboard Hot 100 Recurrents chart.
- 2008 & 2011: It climbed into the Top 10 of the Billboard Holiday Airplay charts.
It turns out that people really like hearing Daryl Hall’s soaring ad-libs over a jangly Christmas beat. It has outlasted almost every other "80s star covers a classic" attempt from that era.
What went wrong (and right) with the music video
You can’t talk about Jingle Bell Rock Hall Oates without mentioning the dancing. Or the lack thereof. The duo stands in front of a giant storybook, swaying awkwardly and pointing at things.
At one point, there's a guy dressed as a deranged Santa Claus. There are people in lime green pants. There’s a general sense that the lighting director was on a lunch break for the entire shoot.
But that’s the appeal. In an era where Michael Jackson was making Thriller, Hall & Oates were making something that looked like a local access cable show. It’s human. It’s a reminder that even the biggest stars in the world used to have a sense of humor about themselves.
The Gear and the Sound
If you listen closely to the track, it’s not all 80s glitz. They used a fairly traditional rock-and-roll setup. You’ve got a walking bassline that feels very 1957. You’ve got the signature Hall & Oates vocal harmonies—those tight, soulful layers that made "You Make My Dreams" a hit.
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Daryl’s version is a bit more polished. He throws in those "Whoa-oh" runs that define the duo's sound. John’s version is more "down the middle," a straightforward tribute to the original.
Is it actually a "good" cover?
Music critics are usually split on this one. Some find it a bit too kitschy. Others argue that it’s the only version of "Jingle Bell Rock" that actually feels like a party.
The truth is, it’s a perfect bridge between eras. It takes a song your grandparents liked and injects it with just enough MTV-era personality to make it stick. It doesn't try to be "cool." It tries to be fun.
How to add this to your holiday routine
If you’re tired of the same five songs on repeat, you need to dig up the John Oates version. It’s the deep cut. It’s the one that makes people at the party go, "Wait, is this Hall & Oates? Why does it sound different?"
You should also look for the "Literal Version" of the video on YouTube. It’s a parody from years ago that narrates exactly what’s happening on screen (e.g., "Daryl looks at his watch... John points at nothing"). It highlights just how absurd the original production was.
Actionable insights for your holiday playlist:
- Hunt down the Daryl Hall & John Oates "Home for Christmas" album. This was released much later, in 2006, and features a more mature, acoustic-heavy holiday vibe.
- Compare the leads. Play the John version followed by the Daryl version. It’s a great lesson in how a lead singer changes the "vibe" of a track without changing a single note of the arrangement.
- Watch the video on a big screen. Don't just listen. To get the full 1983 experience, you have to see G.E. Smith in that dress. It is a mandatory holiday tradition.
Stop taking your holiday music so seriously. If the biggest duo in pop history could dress their guitarist up like a grandmother for a laugh, you can afford to have a little fun with your December playlist.