All Macy Gray wants for Christmas is universal health care, marijuana legalization and a real solution for global climate change. In her new holiday song entitled "All I Want for Christmas," the soulful R&B singer-songwriter takes on some of the most pressing social and political issues of our time and while asking Santa for some more love and peace she calls out the country's lax gun control laws and asks whether Donald Trump is even qualified for the presidential job.
Gray shared her new politically-charged holiday song this week accompanied by an animated lyric video which features a cheerful cartoon avatar of the singer strolling through a winter wonderland reminiscent of other holiday classics like the 1964 stop motion rendition of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer or 1969's animated version of Frosty the Snowman--only in the singer's version of this holiday trope, all her holiday wishes are "intangible." As Huffington Post points out, the singer's Christmas wish list sounds more like the ideal presidential debate topic list than typical holiday fodder.
After asking Santa for free healthcare and more stringent gun control laws, she urges listeners--and policymakers--to "take Mr. Gore more seriously and do what you can to stop global warming." Additionally, as Gray's avatar strolls past a tree topped with a glistening marijuana leaf, she calls on Santa to "stop by the ghetto, too" and to bring with him "lots of opportunity" as well as "the day the government will realize we'll all be happier when it's legalized."
Like most holiday staples, the song features a back-up chorus of really adorable-sounding kids and a twinkly melody. Halfway through the song, a few of the children ask one another what they want for Christmas, and instead of demanding the swift replacement of their two front teeth or a new hula hoop, they ask for peace, hope and "water for everybody." The chorus of children also sings to heart-wrenching effect: "All I want for Christmas is to have a chance so please take care of the environment."
Gray does not only list issues that need changing, but also calls listeners to action, urging people to "immigrate, stop the hate, let's educate" because "the more we do, the less we'll incarcerate," Rolling Stone reports. Throughout the song, she encourages listeners to "come and save the world with me!"
You can listen to the new holiday tune and watch the video via the artist's YouTube, below.
