Coco Jones is having an outstanding year. As the final season of “Bel-Air” recently kicked off, she got engaged and released a new single just in time for the holidays titled “Skip My House.” Co-written by Jones, Avital Margulies, and Sara Diamond, this catchy song continues the trend she started last year with her impressive EP, “Coco By The Fireplace.”
On that project, Jones made a wise choice by avoiding cover songs and standards, instead focusing on original material that highlights her songwriting talent. This decision affirms that, with dedication, R&B artists can create engaging modern holiday music.
In “Skip My House,” produced by Johnny Thomas Jr., Jones finds a rare sense of satisfaction. She sighs with relief as the groove unfolds. The beat flows gently, like a crackling fire, and she moves into it as someone who has finally learned to appreciate happiness right on her porch.
There’s no rushing toward the next miracle or anxiously checking off items on life’s to-do list. Instead, there’s a peaceful acceptance of the idea that this is what she needs, and it is enough. Her voice conveys this message with a light but persistent touch.
Rather than asking the universe for something new and shiny, she embraces gratitude and savors the moment as if it’s the last delicious cup of hot cocoa on a snowy night. “I already counted, and my blessings came pouring in,” she sings, her voice filled with contentment.
She’s not in a hurry to rush through the season: “Hoping I can freeze the time now while it’s snowing.” In a line that feels like a warm hand on your chest, she tells the universe—and Santa—to take a break this year: “You can skip my house this year. I already have everything I need right here.”
“Skip My House” is a song that radiates contentment without losing its sparkle, gently reminding us that sometimes having enough is truly enough.
Final Grade: B+
“Skip My House” is available on all streaming platforms.
As a longtime music enthusiast, I’ve often wondered how quickly record labels expect lead singers from groups to release solo albums. This question came to mind recently when my iPod played “So You Like What You See” by Samuelle. Listening to the song, I realized he would be a great choice for this week’s Second Listen Sunday.
You know the voice. The moment Michael Marshall starts singing the hook in Luniz’s “I Got 5 on It,” anyone who grew up in the nineties knows exactly what time it is. However, nearly a decade before that 1995 hip-hop classic, Marshall was already responsible for another instantly recognizable vocal.
There are some albums you revisit because of nostalgia, and then there are albums you return to because they remind you just how high the standard used to be. Anita Baker’s Rapture falls into that second category. Released in 1986, the album did more than make Baker a star. It helped define what sophisticated, grown R&B could sound like without losing any soul, sensuality, or personality.