Megan Moroney, Blue Christmas …duh Review

by Eliana Fermi

Megan Moroney, one of country music’s rising stars, delivers a fresh holiday offering with her EP, Blue Christmas …duh, produced by her frequent collaborator Kristian Bush. This three-song EP isn’t your typical festive fare; it’s a blend of honky-tonk charm and seasonal melancholy wrapped in Moroney’s Southern country girl style. The EP is a compact trio: two original songs—“All I Want for Christmas is a Cowboy” and “Christmas Morning”—paired with a solid rendition of the Elvis classic, “Blue Christmas.” With this release, Moroney shows her versatility and knack for storytelling that resonates on multiple emotional frequencies, appealing to her country fans and the holiday crowd looking for something deeper.

The EP kicks off with “All I Want for Christmas is a Cowboy,” a playful, swing-infused track that invites listeners to don their boots and hit the dance floor. Written by Moroney, Ben Williams, Mackenzie Carpenter, and Micah Carpenter, the song captures Moroney’s sassy, unfiltered style, with lyrics like “Wrap a bow ‘round a boy in some Wrangler jeans / The only thing I’d like to see under my Christmas tree.” Moroney’s vocal twang, combined with just the right amount of flirty sass, turns the track into a single woman’s anthem for the holiday season, and it’s unapologetically fun. The song builds to a honky-tonk finish, leaving listeners wanting more of this boot-stomping, cheeky holiday cheer.

Then, Moroney shifts the mood with “Christmas Morning,” a ballad that taps into the bittersweet side of the holiday season. Opening with a melancholic acoustic guitar and light fills from the pedal steel, the song tells the story of a relationship unraveling against the backdrop of Christmas. Moroney sings, “We’ve been fallin’ apart all year, and today I can’t ignore it,” painting a vivid picture of heartache that contrasts sharply with the song’s title. Her voice carries a gentle raspiness that enhances the vulnerability in lines like, “Take down the tree, unplug the lights / It’s colder in this bed than it is outside.” The lyrics conjure up a sense of lost innocence as Moroney compares the hollow feeling of a fading relationship to the gradual disappearance of Christmas magic. This track is a standout not just on the EP but within the larger realm of holiday music—it’s introspective and raw, a fresh addition to country’s tradition of holiday heartbreak songs brought to life by Moroney’s excellent singing.

The EP concludes with Moroney’s rendition of “Blue Christmas,” a cover that honors Elvis’s original while adding a touch of Southern country charm. Moroney’s interpretation is delicate and emotional, marked by a poignant pause at the end of specific phrases that let the weight of the lyrics sink in. She sings, “I’ll have a blue Christmas without you / I’ll be so blue just thinkin’ about you,” with a warmth that feels tender and desolate, perfectly capturing the loneliness woven into the song. Her vocal delivery, soft and slightly restrained, complements the understated instrumental arrangement, allowing the emotional core of the song to shine. Her tone and vocal inflections show her style and will capture your ears for the season and beyond.

Overall, Blue Christmas …duh showcases Moroney’s ability to bring nuance to holiday music, balancing lighthearted fun with moments of genuine pathos. In just three tracks, she takes us through a spectrum of holiday emotions, from the cheeky wish for a “cowboy under the tree” to the somber reflections of “Christmas Morning.” Moroney’s unique blend of contemporary country and classic holiday themes results in an EP that is refreshing and timeless with her deeply personal storytelling and singing style. That’s the short it!