Grammy-winning Icelandic singer Laufey (LAY-vay) is climbing the charts with her Christmas single “Santa Baby,” her version of the 1953 song that’s been covered by everyone from Madonna to Taylor Swift to Ariana Grande. But Laufey’s version has something theirs doesn’t: a video starring the legendary Bill Murray.
“I actually met Bill when he was playing a concert in Iceland when I was in high school years ago. One of the musicians who was playing with him is friends with my mum, and so I got to meet him there,” she tells Music Week. “It’s the most random thing ever … but I spent a day with him basically being a bit of a tour guide!”
Lauvey says years later she ran into Murray at an Oscar party in LA. “I looked so different but I was like, ‘Hi, do you remember me…?’ and he did! So when it came to doing this, I just texted him and asked if he’d want to be a part of it … no pressure.”
“But he is such a voice for Christmas, and the most incredible storyteller, and it was perfect,” she adds. “We spent the day together, hung out, spoke about being creatives, and it was just lovely. Bill is truly the kind of person who just signs onto projects that he cares about so it was one of the best co-signs I could’ve gotten. I felt very honored.”
In the video, Murray is the narrator who begins and ends Laufey’s performance. As for her decision to record the song, Laufey says, “It’s quirky, I think oftentimes it’s painted as this sexy song, or even a little creepy, but I wanted to make it really bratty and cute!”
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