OK, so listening to Josh Groban singing “It Came Upon a Midnight CLear” again, just to peg what bugs me so about his performance of the tune. Generally decent vowells. Check. Pitches true. Mostly, check. Tempo, accompaniment, etc., OK. Check. So what bugs me? Ah, it’s his melodic variations that are Signature Groban but which add nothing to the piece.
If it’s unnecessary and adds no musical value, it should just not be done. Period. There. Groban Gripe finished.