Oh Christmas cheer, Oh Christmas cheer, please help me survive Christmas shopping. I can get through this. I just need to find the perfect gift.
Imagine if there was a holiday song out there that talked about the stress and tenacity of Christmas shopping? Maybe, you’re thinking, I’m boring. I’d only want to have my favorite artists cover Christmas classics.
But think about it this way: when an artist gets to use their creativity to write an entirely new Christmas song, you would get to hear brand new music as well as a potential holiday song becoming a new classic.
Famous indie electronica and synthpop artist, Owl City (Adam Young), released his holiday single, “Humbug,” on Thanksgiving day. After releasing his third album, Mobile Orchestra, on July 10, 2015, Owl City worked this past year on not only producing solo film scores but also a Christmas single.
Young has always been insightful, sweet, charming and poetic with his lyrics, which also balances his soothing voice with his melodious tunes. As an artist known for his unique, cheerful and whimsical music style, Young wanted to create an original, upbeat and cheery jingle.
“Humbug” is filled with feel-good vibes and an energetic holiday spirit. The word “humbug” is defined as deceptive or false behavior. Young wanted to express how he often experiences negative voices that tell him his potential holiday gifts are not good enough. As a result, this is both a humbug and a frustration for him.
This whimsical song will not only make individuals smile, dance and feel the energy of Christmas cheer, but it will also make them think, “Wow! I suppose I’m not the only person who experiences stress and frustration with holiday shopping!”
Almost anyone can relate to the desire of finding the “perfect gift,” while at the same time experience a surmounting amount of stress that comes with shopping.
Young has a line in “Humbug” that perfectly sums up holiday shopping: “I’m ready to wrap that perfect Christmas gift, But I haven’t found it yet… cause I don’t have a clue what to get you… I wander around the store again and again, but all I do is shrug and I’m ready to say “Bah humbug!”
Young’s descriptive words, such as “canary yellow” and “yankee candles,” will make anyone question the amount of thought they are truly putting into what gift they will buy for their loved ones.
The song is not primarily about his frustration and distaste for holiday shopping. It also includes a warm and caring Christmas message, which is: the best gift you can give someone is your heart.
You should love and appreciate those close to you. The purpose of Christmas is not primarily about what you buy, but the thought you put into someone’s potential gift.
Young reminds us that while Christmas shopping can be a pain, it can also be filled with joy as it not only represents the birth of Christ Jesus, but also symbolizes the love that loved ones can exchange with one another.
“Cause I don’t have a clue what to get you, so I’ll give you my heart, the best gift I have to give is my love.”
