The key to a Christmas-themed pop single is to keep the message clear, and preferably gift-themed. In “Last Christmas,” George Michael gave you his heart. Mariah Carey famously sings that all she wants for Christmas is you. And now, a new festive banger is here to say that the best present you could get this year is a booster shot for the Covid vaccine.
“It Was A… (Masked Christmas)” is the new, Covid-safe collab between rapper Megan Thee Stallion and singer Ariana Grande, featuring the vocals of late night TV host Jimmy Fallon. The video, which dropped last night, is a glorious homage to the Christmas music videos of yore, complete with a roaring fireplace in a cozy cabin, chunky white knitwear, and of course, skiing.
“Last Christmas we stayed in our house / covered our nose / covered our mouths,” sings a heavily autotuned Fallon in the opening verse. “But it’s Christmas time / we’ll be in line / for a booster.” The song goes on to recount how last year’s festive season fell flat for many of us, with family gatherings only possible via Zoom as travel was limited and large get-togethers were strongly advised against. This year, however, Ariana is singing that she is ready for someone to hold her tight—provided that he is fully vaccinated.