Holiday music is a cutthroat business. Every year, pop stars try to throw their hat in the ring, hoping to snag even a fraction of that "All I Want for Christmas Is You" royalty money. Most fail. They release a generic cover of "Silent Night" or a cringe-inducing original about Santa being "lit," and by January 2nd, the tracks are buried in the digital graveyard of Spotify. But when the JoBros dropped their Jonas Brothers Christmas song "Like It’s Christmas" in 2019, something felt different. It didn’t feel like a cynical cash grab.
It felt like a comeback.
Coming off the massive success of Happiness Begins, Kevin, Joe, and Nick were in a weirdly perfect position. They had the nostalgia factor for the 20-somethings who grew up on Camp Rock, but they also had a new, polished "adult pop" sound that actually sounded good in a Starbucks or at a holiday office party. You’ve probably heard it while browsing for candles at Target. It has that bouncy, hand-clapping energy that makes you forget, just for a second, that you’re stressed about buying gifts for your in-laws.
The Recipe Behind Like It’s Christmas
Why does this specific Jonas Brothers Christmas song work when others don't? Honestly, it’s the horns. The production leans heavily into a 60s Motown-lite vibe, which is the "cheat code" for holiday longevity. If you make a song sound like it could have been recorded by The Jackson 5, it automatically feels timeless.
The lyrics aren't revolutionary. They’re basically saying, "You make every day feel like Christmas." Simple. Effective. It avoids the trap of being too "holiday-specific," meaning you could technically listen to it in July without feeling like a total weirdo, though I wouldn't recommend it. It was written by the brothers alongside Freddy Wexler, Gian Stone, and Jason Evigan—the same team that helped craft their "Sucker" era sound.
People forget that the Jonas Brothers had a Christmas song way back in their Disney days called "Joyful Kings." It was... fine. It was very 2007 pop-punk. But "Like It’s Christmas" is the one that actually charts every December now. It’s become a legitimate modern staple.
The Chart Data Doesn't Lie
If you look at the Billboard Holiday 100, this track consistently resurfaces. It’s not hitting Mariah levels—let’s be real, nothing is—but it holds its own against Kelly Clarkson’s "Underneath the Tree" and Michael Bublé’s entire discography. In 2019, it hit number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. That’s a big deal. It means the song transitioned from "teen idol fluff" to "music that adults actually choose to play."
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Don’t Forget About I Need You Christmas
About a year later, they took a completely different turn. They released "I Need You Christmas" in 2020. If "Like It’s Christmas" is the high-energy party starter, this one is the "drinking cocoa by the fire while staring pensively out the window" track.
It’s a ballad. It’s piano-heavy. It’s sentimental.
Nick Jonas mentioned on social media when it dropped that the song was a reflection on how much they missed being together during the pandemic. You can hear that yearning in the vocals. It’s less "pop star" and more "theatrical." Some fans actually prefer this one because it showcases their harmonies better. It feels more intimate. Like they’re singing in your living room instead of an arena.
But let’s be honest: it’s not the one people play at the Christmas party. It’s the one you play when the party is over and you’re cleaning up wrapping paper. Both serve a purpose.
The Disney Era Throwbacks
We have to talk about "Girl of My Dreams." It’s 2007. The hair is shaggy. The vests are tight. This was the first real Jonas Brothers Christmas song for many of us. It appeared on the Disney Channel Holiday album.
Is it a masterpiece? No.
Is it nostalgic? Absolutely.
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It’s a time capsule of that mid-2000s Hollywood Records sound. If you listen to it now, the vocals sound so young it’s almost jarring. It’s a far cry from the falsettos Joe and Nick pull off today. But it laid the groundwork. It proved that the Jonas Brothers brand and the Christmas season were a natural fit. They’ve always had a "wholesome but cool" vibe that parents approve of and kids love, which is exactly what the holiday market demands.
Why Holiday Music is a Career Survival Tactic
There’s a reason artists like the Jonas Brothers lean into Christmas music. It’s about the "long tail." A hit single might last three months on the radio. A hit Christmas song lasts forever.
Every December, the royalties start rolling in again. It keeps them relevant during the industry’s "quiet" month. It also allows them to do those big TV specials—the Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting, the Disney Parks Parade. Those aren't just gigs; they’re branding opportunities that keep them in the public eye without having to release a full new studio album.
The Nuance of the "Brother" Harmony
The secret weapon in any Jonas Brothers Christmas song is the blend. There is a specific acoustic phenomenon that happens when siblings sing together. It’s called "kinship harmony." Think of the Bee Gees or The Beach Boys. The Jonas Brothers have a vocal symmetry that you just can't manufacture with backup singers. In "Like It's Christmas," when the chorus hits and all three of them are layered, it provides a fullness that feels "warm"—and warmth is exactly what people want in December.
What Most People Get Wrong About Their Holiday Strategy
A lot of critics think pop stars just pick a random jingle and record it in an afternoon. For the JoBros, it’s more calculated. They didn't just release one song; they built a mini-catalog.
- "Like It's Christmas" (The Upbeat Hit)
- "I Need You Christmas" (The Emotional Ballad)
- "Joyful Kings" (The Nostalgic Cover)
By covering different moods, they ensure they’re on every type of holiday playlist. They aren't competing with the classics; they're trying to sit alongside them.
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They also understand the visual side. The cover art for "Like It’s Christmas" features them in hand-drawn, cartoonish styles with Santa hats. It’s playful. It doesn't take itself too seriously. In a world where some artists try to make Christmas "sexy" or "edgy," the Jonas Brothers stayed in the lane of "fun and festive." It was the right call.
How to Actually Enjoy the Jonas Brothers’ Holiday Discography
If you’re looking to add some JoBros to your festive rotation, don’t just hit shuffle on a "Pop Christmas" playlist. You have to time it right.
Start with "Like It’s Christmas" while you’re decorating the tree or driving to a holiday party. It’s high-energy and keeps the mood up. If you’re feeling nostalgic for the 2000s, throw on "Girl of My Dreams" just for the laughs and the memories of 14-inch TV screens and Disney Channel commercials.
Save "I Need You Christmas" for the actual Christmas Eve. It’s slower, more reflective, and fits that quiet moment before the chaos of Christmas morning.
Actionable Steps for Your Holiday Playlist
To get the most out of your holiday listening experience, you should consider how these tracks fit into the broader landscape of your music library. Don't just dump them into a 500-song folder where they get lost between Mariah and Bing Crosby.
- Create a "Modern Classics" Playlist: Pair "Like It’s Christmas" with Ariana Grande’s "Santa Tell Me" and Justin Bieber’s "Mistletoe." These songs share a similar production polish and energy. They flow better together than jumping from a 1940s mono recording to a 2019 digital master.
- Check the "Happiness Begins" Concert Film: If you want to see the energy of their holiday tracks live, the Amazon Prime documentary and concert footage often capture that specific era’s vibe. They occasionally weave these songs into their winter tour dates, and the live horns make a massive difference.
- Watch the Official Lyric Videos: The "Like It’s Christmas" lyric video is actually pretty great for holiday parties. If you have a TV in the room, playing the lyric videos provides a visual "Yule Log" vibe but with better music. It’s a low-effort way to add atmosphere to a room.
- Follow the Solo Projects: Sometimes the brothers drop holiday "nuggets" on their own. Nick has been known to do festive covers during his solo appearances. Keeping an eye on their individual social media around December often reveals acoustic versions that never make it to Spotify.
The reality is that the Jonas Brothers have successfully navigated the transition from teen heartthrobs to a legitimate fixture of the American holiday season. They did it by respecting the genre—giving us songs that feel familiar but fresh. Whether you're a "Jonatic" or just someone who likes a catchy tune, their contribution to the Christmas canon is undeniable. It's catchy, it's well-produced, and honestly, it’s just fun. And isn't that what the holidays are supposed to be about anyway?
Check your streaming settings to ensure you're listening in "Very High" quality (320kbps) to really catch those layered harmonies in the chorus of "Like It's Christmas." The production depth is where the real magic happens.