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HO HO WHO: The Jonas Brothers, the former Disney Channel heartthrobs who after nearly 10 years of silence had the audacity to waltz back into my life in March and act as if nothing had changed. And if I’m being honest, nothing really has. The trio came back swinging with “Sucker,” a smashing success of a pop song that immediately whistled its way into my heart—and into the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. They followed up with Happiness Begins, a feel-good summer album that puts the musical growth they’ve undergone in the past decade on full display. “Like It’s Christmas,” the group’s latest release, is the sparkly bow on top of their gift of a comeback.
WE GET IT, YOU’RE HAPPY: Over the clapping of hands and a guitar riff that could not possibly be catchier, the Jonas Brothers remind us once again of how gosh darn in love they are, as if the image of them prancing about with their ridiculously attractive wives Priyanka Chopra, Danielle Jonas, and Sophie Turner isn’t already burned into the back of my eyelids. “Like It’s Christmas” tells the story of a lover so divine they make every day of the year feel like Jesus’ birthday bash, from warm fires and singing angels to Central Park covered in snow. It should come as no surprise that these fine young men are good at making love songs. Their 2008 bangers “Burnin’ Up” and “Lovebug” may not have garnered the respect they deserved in the moment, but have stood the test of time as genuinely good anthems for the romantic.
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE: Turns out “Like It’s Christmas” isn’t the first Christmas tune from the Jo Bros. They took a stab at yuletide back in 2008 with “Joyful Kings,” an adapted version of “Joy to the World” for the compilation album All Wrapped Up. And guess what? It’s atrocious! The brothers were still struggling to shake their wannabe punk phase, and Nick’s strained vocal runs make for a very uncomfortable listening experience.
CHEER FACTOR: 10/10. It’s catchy. It’s adorable. And it’s been stuck in my head this entire month. These shiny-haired brethren have me right where they want me.
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