American comedian and talk show host Jimmy Fallon released a Christmas album, Holiday Seasoning. It’s a comedic Christmas record with fun duets with singers and actors.
The music consists of various musical genres, including Pop and Techno. Jimmy Fallon and his musicians adapt to the singer/band’s musical style when there are duets.
Christmas Ding Dong starts the album on an energetic note. It reflects Jimmy Fallon’s comedic personality. Holiday (with The Jonas Brothers & LL Cool J) has a party vibe with 90s-style music. This piece nicely complements the Jonas Brothers and LL Cool J’s musical styles. Hey Rudy (Jimmy Fallon & The Roots) has fun music that is similar to children’s music compilations. It has a lovely choir vibe when kids sing in the background. Wrap Me Up (Meghan Trainor) has a sound that parallels Meghan Trainor’s music, including her 2014 All About That Bass. You’ll Be There (feat Justin Timberlake) has a beat that parallels N’Sync’s music. It has a bold sound, and the rhythm is wavy yet smooth. The song It Was (A Masked Christmas) (with Ariana Grande and Meghan Thee Stallion) has a 90s vibe combined with contemporary sounds, impressively combining Pop with R&B. The beat is catchy. New Year’s Eve Polka (5, 4, 3,2,1) (feat Weird Al Yankovic) reminds me of the parodies for which Weird Al Yankovic was known, especially with him playing the accordion. There’s a fun 80s vibe. Coquito has a cool salsa vibe – music that may remind many of the warm weather in the South.
The semi-fast songs have incredible beats. Hallmark Movie (Cara Delevingne) has an intense piano, picks up in tempo, and then returns to slow. The song “Weird Cousin” has a bold, semi-fast beat and a fun, wavy rhythm. It perfectly represents the mixed emotions regarding that “weird cousin,” which can vary. Thanksgiving Eve has a Bob Dylan/Tom Petty vibe with that old-fashioned guitar playing. The composition has a country beat similar to the 70s and 80s. Almost Too Early for Christmas (with Dolly Parton) starts slow like a ballad, then smoothly and beautifully picks up tempo.
The ballads are lovely with bold moments. How You Know It’s Christmastime has an intimate vibe with the Ukelele playing in the background. The rhythm is nice and smooth, creating a sentimental holiday vibe. The piece One Glove (with Will Ferrell) has a lovely guitar playing in the background with sleigh bells. The music feels cosy. Merry Happy Christmas ( with Chelsea Handler) has a fun Beatles vibe, especially in their works from the late ’60s. The rhythm is consistent and easy to follow.
Jimmy Fallon’s voice is excellent. He sings with passion and comic relief, and he does it well. His solo songs, such as the pieces Christmas Ding Dong and Weird Cousin, reflect Jimmy Fallon’s humour and dynamic energy. In the song How You Know It’s Christmastime, he captures the emotions of the holiday season. When performing Chipmunks & Chestnuts, Jimmy Fallon had a Chris Isaak vibe. My favourite moment is when he sings Weird Cousin. It expresses the sentiment many of us feel regarding that one cousin – many know at least one person like that.
In this album, there are also duets. Holiday is a fun song with the Jonas Brothers and LL Cool J. Their voices complement each other nicely. Hey Rudy is a dynamic duet with The Roots and has great energy. Wrap Me Up (Meghan Trainor) is a cute duet of Jimmy Fallon and Meghan Trainor. They make a spirited duo. You’ll Be There is a heartfelt duet with Justin Timberlake. Their musical chemistry is incredible. It Was (A Masked Christmas) is a fun song Jimmy Fallon sings with Ariana Grande and Meghan Thee Stallion. The three of them do an excellent job telling the story. New Year’s Eve Polka (5, 4, 3,2,1) is a fantastic duet with Weird Al Yankovic, whose humour is priceless, complementing Jimmy Fallon’s comedic vibe. One Glove is a comedic duet with Will Ferrell. It reminds me of Jimmy Fallon and Will Ferrell during their days on Saturday Night Live. Hallmark Movie is a funny tune where Cara Delevingne and Jimmy Fallon have a witty, musical dialogue, poking fun at the dialogue in those Christmas movies. Almost Too Early for Christmas is a heartfelt duet with Dolly Parton about the right time to put up Christmas decorations.
Merry Happy Christmas is funny with Chelsea Handler’s comment at the end.
The lyrics of each Christmas song are humorous, making them an excellent alternative to the holiday classics. The album starts with a quirky and catchy tune, Christmas Ding Dong. There are tunes with Jimmy Fallon’s trademark humour and others with humour but with a sentimental touch.
Christmas Ding Dong starts the album with comic relief, reflecting Jimmy Fallon’s humour. Hey Rudy (Jimmy Fallon & The Roots) has encouraging lyrics about Rudolph, the Red Nose Reindeer. It’s a new spin on the Christmas character. It Was (A Masked Christmas) ( with Ariana Grande and Meghan Thee Stallion) is a unique song about Christmas during COVID-19. t includes Lockdown references, the vaccine, and the booster shot for COVID-19. It describes the sentiment many felt when the pandemic finally ended. The New Year’s Eve Polka (5, 4, 3,2,1) (feat Weird Al Yankovic) is a hilarious way to describe New Year’s Eve celebrations. The song Chipmunks & Chestnuts is a unique subject for a Christmas song. It has a cute charm. Merry Happy Christmas (with Chelsea Handler) is funny and has creative ways to wish Merry Christmas. His use of repetition works well with comedic songs like this one. Coquito is a fun song about Christmas in the South to escape the Winter cold. Hallmark Movie (Cara Delevingne) tells a funny story about how two people meet. The story starts with clichés and references to Christmas movies and suddenly shifts to dark humour. The mention of Candace Cameron Buré is a nice little touch. The song Weird Cousin is relatable. It’s a funny story about family dynamics, where there’s always one relative, in this case, a cousin, who’s weird and “special.” Thanksgiving Eve is an entertaining tune about preparing the day for US Thanksgiving*.
Other songs have a sentimental tone. Wrap Me Up (Meghan Trainor) is a sweet, romantic song that cutely describes how love is the best gift anyone can give. You’ll Be There (feat. Justin Timberlake) is a fun “bromance” song that celebrates friendship with fun and humour. How You Know It’s Christmastime is a sentimental song with comic relief that discusses the family dynamic in detail. One Glove (with Will Ferrell) is another unique holiday song. It is about someone who lost their glove and found it—a Christmas miracle. Almost Too Early for Christmas (with Dolly Parton) is a cute and humorous song about when to put up the Christmas lights, a classic holiday challenge. The references to Jingle Bells, ugly sweaters and Mariah Carrey add a sentimental touch.
The lyrics are unique and are a nice change from Christmas classics.
The album Holiday Seasoning is available.
*The US Thanksgiving takes place in late November.
