The Enduring Spirit of Christmas Joy, Wrapped in a Monkee’s Signature Cheer
There is a timeless magic to certain Christmas tunes, an alchemy that transforms simple melodies and lyrics into shimmering threads of memory, and one such perennial favorite that gained a special, warm-hearted resonance in the hands of a pop icon is Davy Jones’ rendition of “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.”
🎙️ The Story and The Sound of Nostalgia
While many listeners will forever associate this cheerful holiday standard with its original singer, Brenda Lee, whose 1958 recording (penned by the legendary Christmas songwriter Johnny Marks) ultimately soared to chart heights, peaking at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960, the version by Davy Jones offers a slightly different, yet equally endearing, flavor. This track was initially recorded by Jones in 1991 for a cassette-only release titled It’s Christmas Time Again. Far from being a major chart contender at the time—as solo Christmas releases from artists outside the primary holiday music cycle often were—it was a quieter, more personal offering to his enduring fanbase. However, the track later found a wider audience when it was included on the posthumously released and enhanced album, It’s Christmas Time Once More in 2020. This later release, overseen by famed Monkees producer Chip Douglas, saw Jones’ original 1991 vocals refreshed with new arrangements and even featured contributions from his fellow Monkee, Micky Dolenz, and Jones‘s daughter, Annabel Jones, adding a layer of poignant, familial warmth to the project.
The true meaning of Davy Jones‘ recording lies less in chart statistics and more in the sheer undiminished joy and optimistic effervescence that defined his public persona. As the charming British heartthrob of The Monkees, Jones had a voice that was synonymous with effervescent, feel-good pop music. He was the perpetual youthful spirit, and this recording is a sonic postcard from that very spirit. When he sings lines about the “Christmas party hop” and dancing “in the new-old fashioned way,” he isn’t just reciting lyrics; he’s inviting us back to a simpler, more innocent time—the golden era of television and pop music that his career helped define.
🌟 More Than Just a Cover
For those of us who grew up with The Monkees’ infectious pop and the lighthearted silliness of their television show, hearing Davy Jones’ distinctive, bright tenor on a track like “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” is an instant trip back in time. It doesn’t try to replicate Brenda Lee’s rockabilly edge; instead, Jones injects it with a pure, unadulterated sunshine pop sensibility. His voice, matured but still instantly recognizable, conveys a sense of heartfelt holiday sentiment.
It’s an emotional artifact, one that takes on an even greater significance following Davy Jones‘ passing in 2012. The posthumous re-release highlights the track’s enduring message: that the merriment and light of Christmas are eternal, much like the indelible mark Jones left on music history. Listening now, we hear not just a singer covering a classic, but the sound of a beloved star embracing the timeless tradition of a joyous, communal Christmas. It becomes a nostalgic echo of decades past, a reminder of every Christmas celebrated with the Monkees on TV and the general feeling that everything was, quite simply, wonderful. It’s an invitation to pull out the tinsel, crank up the volume, and let the sheer, uncomplicated cheer of Davy Jones‘s Christmas spirit wash over us once more.