When it comes to the tracks the world can’t get enough of during the holiday season, fresh pop moments like this “Oh Santa!” rendition by Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, and Ariana Grande might come to mind. Or, perhaps, one might be more attuned to the familiar sound of Justin Bieber’s Christmas album, Under the Mistletoe, or the iconic (and appropriately named) A Legendary Christmas by John Legend. Whatever one’s melodic holiday taste, one thing is certain: love trumps all during the coziest time of the year.
This year, Ella Henderson and AJ Mitchell collaborated on a track that serves holiday-romance fans their fix of sweet, first-date-esque moments with “Blame It on the Mistletoe.” The song, which features the trademark bells of the season paired with a danceable beat fit for isolated twists and twirls, finds Henderson and Mitchell at their sweetest with soft, often sultry vocals and flirtatiously festive lyrics.
The message of the song is simple, but the imagery the lyrics provide will have listeners longing for the days in which holiday parties and making connections with strangers were safe and sound. “Blame It on the Mistletoe” captures the thrill of newfound love, featuring lyrics like, “Oh, you melt me when you get this close/ Like the snowflakes on your winter coat/ Baby, kiss me, or we’ll never know/ We can blame it on the mistletoe.”
Mitchell is practically the king of collaborations, proving to be a strong emerging artist in the pop scene in work with Ava Max and Rich The Kid. “Blame It on the Mistletoe,” though, marks Mitchell’s first venture into the musical world of the holidays and, in a press release for the track, he expressed his unbridled joy to be entering the space. “I’m not just getting socks for Christmas this year, because I also get to drop my very first Christmas record. I’m so excited to be a part of this amazing song with Ella and I know this will be one that comes around every Christmas.”
Henderson, who recently released “Dream On Me” in collaboration with Roger Sanchez earlier this fall, shared the excitement for the track, also marking her first Christmas discography addition. In particular, Henderson praised the collaboration with Mitchell. “Writing and recording this song was a lot of fun, and having AJ involved is amazing!” Henderson shared in a press release. “I wanted to share something festive with my fans to sign off 2020. Sending so much love to everyone at this time and wishing you all Happy Holidays.”
“Blame It on the Mistletoe” has proven, thus far, to be a standout in the clutter of end-of-year releases; it practically puts a bow on itself. The final product comes across as satisfying as placing the final touches on an impressively wrapped gift, and the collaboration feels promising enough to persist beyond the bounds of sleigh bells and snowfall.