Spanish singer David Bisbal has released 'Amigos del mundo', a Spanish version of John Lennon's classic Christmas song 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)'.
The track arrived on digital platforms on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, bringing a Christmas mood forward to the final days of August as summer draws to a close.
The release marks a continuation of the holiday musical project Bisbal launched two years ago with his studio album 'Todo es posible en Navidad'. That initiative was followed a year later by a live concert tour across Spain. The new adaptation respects the spirit and essence of the original 1969 classic while bringing its message to millions of Spanish speakers more than 50 years after its creation.
While the musical production evokes a holiday atmosphere, the heart of the work focuses on peace, hope, and solidarity as universal values that remain deeply necessary in the modern world.
Recreating the 1969 Classic Choir
John Lennon and Yoko Ono originally released the song in 1969 under the slogan that the war is over if you want it. To honor the essence of that original recording, Bisbal reproduced one of its most iconic elements by featuring a children's choir.
For his new recording, Bisbal partnered with the Children Choir of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, known as UNAM. In the original 1969 track, that vocal role was performed by the Harlem Community Choir of New York.
The National Autonomous University of Mexico, founded in 1910, is Mexico's flagship public university and one of the largest academic institutions in Latin America. The Harlem Community Choir gained international fame after joining Lennon and Ono at the Record Plant studio in New York to record the background vocals for the anti-war anthem.
Bisbal aimed to restore full relevance to the classic composition, demonstrating that 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)' carries a timeless message that can be revisited even during the closing days of summer.
Spanish Christmas Music Tradition
In recent years, Bisbal has established himself as a prominent voice in Spanish Christmas celebrations through seasonal songs that have connected with audiences for their warmth and emotion.
His holiday repertoire includes 'Todo es posible en navidad', the title track of his 2024 album, alongside his version of the traditional holiday song 'El burrito sabanero'. With 'Amigos del mundo', the singer expands that connection beyond seasonal holiday dates into a broader message of peace and unity.
Bisbal, a native of Almería in southeastern Spain, first rose to national prominence in 2001 on the inaugural season of the Spanish reality music competition 'Operación Triunfo'. Over a career spanning nearly 25 years, he has become one of Spain's most successful pop artists, with his music featured regularly on major Spanish radio networks such as Cadena 100.
Upcoming Eternos Album and Summer Tour
The new single arrives during an intense period of work for the singer. Over the summer, Bisbal served as a judge on the television program 'OT USA' while completing a festival tour across Spain that featured the major hits of his career as he approaches his 25th anniversary in music.
Bisbal is also preparing to release his next album project, titled 'Eternos', which will land on digital platforms on October 2, 2026. The album is a detailed tribute to major figures in Spanish-language music.
Ahead of the single release, Bisbal unveiled a preview from the upcoming project in his hometown of Almería, performing a tribute to Spanish singer Julio Iglesias with a cover of the 1982 track 'Quijote'.
Julio Iglesias is one of the most commercially successful Latin music artists in history, having sold more than 100 million records worldwide across an international career spanning five decades.
