Lo those many years ago, 2009 to be precise, the standard bearer for the Great American Songbook, Canada's Michael Buble, appeared as the Canadian teen heartthrob Justin Bieber in the video for "Hollywood". But the real comparison would occur two years later as both Michael and Justin are going head to head with Christmas songs and, more shockingly, versions of "All I Want For Christmas Is You"
Justin dubs his "Superfestive!" and shares vocal duties with standard bearer as the two singers go falsetto in the over arranged, over the top production. Not that I don't like it -sometimes restraint isn't necessary.
And sometimes restraint is exactly what you want. Michael Buble has apparently read the lyric and decided it could do with a "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" type arrangement: piano lead, slow burn sadness and Michael's lovely baritone with that sweet edge. The song builds to a simmer.
So who wins the battle? Buble does. He has a better voice but that isn't why, Buble rethinks the song, reinterprets it, Justin just takes Mariah and goes right over the top.
Still, I love em both.
Buble: A-
Bieber: B+