In 1977, producers of Bing Crosby’s Merrie Olde Christmas had what seemed like a brilliant idea: pair the velvet-voiced king of traditional pop, Bing Crosby, with the shape-shifting rock icon David Bowie for a once-in-a-lifetime holiday duet.
On paper, it was genius.
In reality, it nearly collapsed before the first note was sung.
“I Hate That Song.”
When Bowie arrived at the studio, he was handed the sheet music for the Christmas standard “Little Drummer Boy.” The plan was simple: a traditional duet, safe and sentimental.
Bowie didn’t see it that way.
According to those present, he bluntly refused to sing it. His reasoning? He hated the song. Not disliked. Hated.
Suddenly, the festive TV special was in crisis. Crosby — already a global Christmas symbol thanks to “White Christmas” — was waiting. The orchestra was ready. Studio time was ticking away.
There was no backup plan.
75 Minutes to Save a Disaster
In a frantic scramble, the show’s musical team locked themselves in a room and started writing. They needed something Bowie would actually sing — something modern enough to fit his artistic identity, yet respectful enough to blend with Crosby’s traditional style.
In just over an hour, they created a brand-new melody and lyrics titled “Peace on Earth.” Instead of replacing “Little Drummer Boy,” they layered it over the carol as a counterpoint.
It was a bold, almost experimental solution — two completely different songs sung simultaneously.
What happened next was pure magic.
Crosby delivered the warm, nostalgic familiarity of the original carol. Bowie floated above it with a haunting, contemporary melody about hope and peace. The generational contrast was striking — a symbol of old Hollywood elegance meeting glam-rock futurism.
The performance felt surreal. Not staged. Not polished to perfection. Just two artists from different musical universes meeting somewhere in the middle.
When it aired in 1977, viewers didn’t just see a duet. They witnessed a cultural bridge.