As the world turns from “Monster Mash” to “All I Want for Christmas is You,” Jason Kelce put out The Philly Special Christmas Party on Nov. 22, helping his more musical fans bring Christmas and holiday cheer to their speakers.
Looking back at the 2018 Super Bowl, the “Philly Special” (also known as “Philly Philly”) football play won the Philadelphia Eagles the NFL championship. In the rundown, Kelce snapped the ball to Eagles running back, Corey Clement. Clement pitched the ball to Trey Burton, who passed it to quarterback, Nick Foles, leading his historic highlight in becoming the first player to ever throw and catch a touchdown pass in the biggest game of year.
Not many football fans are able to say their favorite football players can hold their own in the music world. But three years later, offensive linemen Kelce, Lane Johnson, and Jordan Mailata took the play’s name on for their musical group, the Philly Specials.
In what they’re calling their third and final album, the Philly Specials have brought us Christmas classics and multiple originals, with contributions from Stevie Nicks and Boyz II Men.
Their classics include “Last Christmas” (originated by Wham!), “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Feliz Navidad,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Parting Glass,” and “Maybe This Christmas,” featuring Nicks. The athletes brought the classical Christmas feels to these renditions. While “Last Christmas” is a little less synthesized than the original version, Johnson brings his deep, Texas voice to “Rudolph,” emulating what you’ve been hearing since childhood, and giving the song the vintage feel you’ve come to expect.
“Having a Party,” though not explicitly a Christmas song, brings the, “Party,” to the title of the song, and the album. It includes a chorus of trumpets and Kelce’s silly personality at the end. “It’s Christmas Don’t Be Late,” originally performed by Alvin and the Chipmunks,brings the Philly Special’s Three Musketeers attitude out, featuring their offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland.
But, for what may be the best parts of the new album, this year brings us three originals songs, created by those on the Philly Specials’ team.
One of the singles off the album, “It’s Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights),” features Boyz II Men and Kelce’s younger brother, Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs tightend extraordinaire. This is his second appearance on a Philly Special album, following his debut last year on, “Fairytale of Philadelphia.”
The original song is an ode to the Kelces’ hometown, Cleveland Heights, and Boyz II Men’s soul/R&B style — brought on, because the vocal group is originally from Philly.
“He said, ‘Son, you’re famous in Philly
– The Philly Specials & Mt. Joy in, “Santa Drives An Astrovan”
You’ll always be famous in Philly’
And you know you’ll always be winnin’
When you’re comin’ home for Christmas
And I don’t wanna see those tears again
You know Santa drives an Astrovan“
“Santa Drives an Astrovan,” featuring Mt. Joy Band, as a rewrite of their song, “Astrovan,” brings some indie rock to this year’s Christmas.
It’s another fun, Philly-themed song, that has a fantastic beat drop and totally allows for singing along. A few weeks ago, Kelce even performed (with a very hoarse voice) the song live with the band before an Eagles game versus the Washington Commanders.
The final original, and perhaps the most beautiful, is surprise song “Loud Little Town,” featuring Kylie Kelce, Jason’s wife, written by Brandon Beaver. The ballad captures the love story that the world has seen from Kylie and Jason, from their social medias, to Travis and Jason’s New Heights Show, and from the Amazon Prime documentary Kelce (2023). In Kylie’s music debut, she stunned social media with her skills and a truly beautiful, but hidden, voice.
“They’ll come and go, but once they leave, it’s just you and me by the Christmas tree / Two thankful hearts who got to see a year turn over again”
– The Philly Specials & Kylie Kelce in, “Loud Little Town”
Not only are the Philly Specials bringing holiday cheer to the world, but they’ve continued to grow their, “love letter,” to Philly by donating proceeds from the albums to Philadelphia charities like Children’s Crisis Treatment Center’s Holiday Toy Drive and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Snowflake Station. Last year, A Philly Special Christmas Special raised $3 million. The proceeds from this year’s top-selling album will go towards The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia’s Operation Snowdrop, aiming to, “give a gift to every kid in Philly public schools this holiday season.”
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