As the 2024 holiday season kicks off, I wanted to highlight R&B tunes with a festive feel for Slow Jam Saturday in December. First is Jagged Edge and their contribution to the compilation album “Jermaine Dupri Presents 12 Soulful Nights Of Christmas.” Their song was titled “This Christmas” and was produced by Track Team. The group co-wrote the song with Darcy Aldridge.
The title might lead one to think it’s a remake of the classic by Donny Hathaway. However, JE presents an opulent slow jam that references themes of romance and closeness during the holiday season. The song expresses an urgent need for reconciliation and love, portraying Christmas as a celebration and a means of healing wounds and strengthening connections. The emphasis on physical and emotional warm-heartedness highlights the importance of companionship during festive gatherings and the value of unity.
Throughout the song, lines such as “All I want this Christmas is to keep your body warm” engage the physical and emotional nature of sex. Warmth represents comfort, safety, and love – implying that the singer longs for physical intimacy and feeling. The allusion to Christmas is relevant: it has cultural value as a time of sharing and fellowship.
The “many things that didn’t go as planned and I did it” screams responsibility and an ability to tolerate hurt, allowing relationship issues to resurface at times of reflection, such as the holidays. “Sclimbing down the chimney to be Santa Claus” refers to doing anything to bring joy and presents — in this case, the spiritual gift of love and reconciliation.
“This Christmas” is not only a Christmas carol; it’s an admonition to make friends at a time of love. Jagged Edge captures the spirit of yearning, comfort, and reconciliation, reminding us that Christmas is not all about gifts. The refrain of wanting to “keep your body warm” reinforces love as the season’s theme, making it an accessible catchphrase for anyone looking for holiday-time calm in relationships.
Final Grade: B+
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