Big swinging drums and the chime of sleighbells await those who take a peek at the new music video for Ingrid Michaelson’s “Merry Christmas, Happy New Year,” and between the rambunctious rhythm and the gilded harmony Michaelson stirs up with Zooey Deschanel, this is a song almost certain to get you in the Christmas spirit. There’s been a lot of talk about minimalism in American pop music recently, but this is a track that demonstrates how important a little bit of indulgence can be, especially when it’s being presented by singers as gifted as these two stars are.
Zooey Deschanel is far more acclaimed for her skill before the camera than she is her abilities as a vocalist, but this track offers us yet another instance of her singing stacking up brilliantly beside a true professional like Ingrid Michaelson. Neither one of these crooners sound like a feature; they’re co-headlining this single with a melodic moxie that has become increasingly hard to come by in pop these last few years, and giving a tried and true Christmastime narrative the kind of refresher generations both young and old the same will be more than happy to embrace.
Ingrid Michaelson has plenty of hits underneath her belt and millions of streams online, and I’ve got a strong suspicion this latest release is going to live up to the standard of “You and I” and “Light Me Up” excellently. With Zooey Deschanel riding shotgun, she produces Christmas cheer of the most melodic variety in “Merry Christmas, Happy New Year” whilst exhibiting originality that isn’t normally found in seasonal tracks of any kind. This isn’t the first time I’ve been swept away by her talent, but I will say that this is one of the only new holiday singles I’ve listened to this year and immediately clicked with.