As you can probably tell by its title, ‘december is lonely’ is not your typical jolly Christmas song. Singer-songwriter MOLLY SUE dropped the track on December 20th, and with it manages to talk about a difficult topic in the most touching way.
Starting off with slow, sombre piano notes, the song introduces you to its sad theme with the lyrics “I’m back in the place with joy that feels strange, I’m home again. I’ll save you a seat right next to the tree, I know it’s gonna stay empty”. Those four lines perfectly capture the complexity of grief during the holidays; there’s an obligation and a simultaneous inability to feel joy.
Especially the second verse is deeply personal as it includes the most gut-wrenching lyric in the whole song: “We fill up our stockings with your favourite chocolates, it hurts that yours will stay empty”. The power of those lines lies within their simplicity.
Although each of the verses is touching, the highlight of the song is inarguably its chorus, which has an incredible sonic richness to it. The backing vocals create the illusion of a choir, adding to the Christmas feeling of the song. And while the bells in the background do give the impression of a classic Christmas tune, they only add to the heavy melancholy here. This sense of desolation is intensified by the bridge of the song, its overdubs especially.
MOLLY SUE has an extraordinarily beautiful voice which enriches the track but doesn’t eclipse the lyrics, nor the melody. She effortlessly switches between a tentative, breathy voice and more powerful vocals, creating an enthralling dynamic. In addition, the song is supported by a flawless production.
Written by: Melanie Falkensteiner
Edited by: Nèri Cliteur
